Health kick, still gaining weight

[princess_tristesse]

Hi there,
I hoping someone out there can help me out. I'm a 24-year-old female looking to undo the damage caused over the holidays. I'm usually quite slim (103lbs), but over the Christmas period, I managed to pack on an extra five pounds that I could really do without. Since Hogmanay, I've quit drinking alcohol (I'm quite a heavy drinker, and alcohol is usually a high proportion of my daily intake) and switched my diet to one extremely low in fat and carbohydrate - about 1500-1700 cals per day, with a BMR of 1750. I eat small meals constituting mostly fruit and vegetables and lean protein, drink no more than 3/4 pint skimmed milk daily, cut out all treats barring a couple squares dark chocolate per day and watch my salt intake. I keep a rigorous food diary charting what I eat and measure portions, so I know I'm not underestimating what I eat.
I have problems with my joints and osteoporosis, preventing me from taking intense cardiovascular exercise, but I have been sure to go walking for 2-3 hours per day at a steady 3mph pace (burning between 300 and 500 calories per session). I've been at this regime for a week, and to my horror, not only have those extra five pounds refused to shift, I've gained an extra couple on the way, bringing me up to the 110lbs I haven't seen since I was a chubby teenager. My clothes are tighter than they've ever been, and I have a perceptible layer of surplus fat on my torso and abdomen. If weight loss comes about by burning more than you eat, how can this be possible, especially on such a healthy diet and exercise plan, and particularly without all those alcohol calories?
Any help anyone could give would be very much appreciated.

Wow, if you exercise 2-3 hours per day and you take in only 1700 calories and you are only 24 years old and gaining weight, there is definitely something wrong.  I am 58 years old and walk 5 days per week for 1-2 hours per day, and I eat 2,000 - 3,000 calories per day while maintaining 115 lbs. over 10 years.  (I'm 5 foot 6 1/2 inches tall.)  I would advise that you go to a doctor and have him/her order the tests that Barb135 recommends.  My thyroid quit years ago, and I supplement the thyroid hormone that my body no longer supplies (by prescription only)--you must visit a doctor.  A physician may only want to run the TSH test, but demand all three that Barb135 recommends, because the Free T4 will find it there's something wrong that a basic TSH won't.  I also advise you to get rid of the drinking alcohol habit for good--it contains empty calories--if anything, drink ONE glass of red wine per night.

[Barb135]

Go get your thyroid tested.  Get the following tests done --- TSH, Free T3 and Free T4.

That's exactly what happened to me; I was always thin (5' tall, 95 - 105 lbs) and all of a sudden I packed on 30 pounds in < 3 months.  My doctor kept telling me it was my own fault, until I finally convinced him to test my thyroid.........  I'm still struggling to lose the weight.