Hi!

Until about six months ago I didn't have any weight issues to speak of. I'm forty-five, 5'1", usually weighed about 115 all my adult life. Once I got up to 123# and went on Atkins for awhile and that was that, maybe ten years ago?

Now in the last few months I have been gaining weight like mad. Looking over just the last few days, on Friday I was at 133# (an all-time high then) and today I am at 137#. This is all very strange and frightening. I feel weird in my body. My mom has metabolic syndrome and I'm scared.

I am still working out more or less as usual (I am recently recovered from a broken foot, but today I ran two miles in 23:40, not a great run for me but not nothing?)

Anyway I am freaked out and don't know what to do. Any help would be most welcome....



Best to all
Stjarna

Welcome, Stjarna!

Have you changed your eating habits? Has your appetite changed?

Have you been to a doctor? Unexplained weight changes in either direction are worth having checked.

There's lots of support here. If a diet is what you decide you need, there are even folks here doing Atkins. If it worked for you before, maybe it will again. Or there's some newer low carb diets that might interest you if you'd like something a bit different.

definitely get it checked out by a doctor then you know what you're up against or perhaps it's nothing at all....welcome to the board! whatever happens and however you decide to take the weight off, there is lots of support here!

Thanks for all the kind words!

I am really frozen with terror. Today (like a day later?) i weigh 137#.

I have an appointment for my annual checkup next month but I don't think he can see me before then. I sent an email to my psychopharmacologist but haven't received a reply.

I'm a medical professional myself (a neuroscientist) and I have no idea what could cause this. I don't have the other symptoms for Cushing's or hypothyroidism. I have been having insomnia but this weight gain seems extreme

I'm terrified they'll just say "oh you're a middle-aged woman" and brush me off.

I was making plans to start a new diet (precision nutrition which has precise start dates twice a year) in January but at this rate I'm afraid I'll be up another twenty pounds by that time, and who knows if it'll help?

Sorry to be such a negative voice but I am just terrified and can't seem to do anything. I really don't think my eating or exercise has changed, certainly not to the dramatic extent my weight has. That's what's so scary about it I guess.

Thanks,
Stjarna

I would also look into getting your hormone levels checked maybe. I'm not old enough to have experienced pre-menopausal type things myself and to be honest, I'm not even sure when women normally reach pre-menopause, so please don't be offended if I'm wrong in suggesting that, but I know that hormonal changes can cause severely fast unexplained weight gain.
I was a thin/average child, up until a few years before getting my first period and then I started putting on some weight. Once I started having periods, despite my parents not changing my diet, I kept putting on weight until I was placed on birth control and that helped me maintain that weight and is now helping me lose. But if I have a day where I eat slightly off plan, I will have the same type of incredulous weight gain you mentioned. (+ 1-3 lbs a day! Although I'm convinced it's mostly water weight when I 'gain' that fast.)
I would not be surprised if maybe a hormonal change is the culprit, it might be something to consider.
I know how it can be so scary and so saddening to feel like you have no control over your weight, but I wish you the best of luck in finding what's up and being able to fix it. Please seek out multiple opinions and do some research online! It helped me when I was struggling to find out what was going on with my body.

Hi StJarna! Peri-menopause often begins in the mid-40's and it can cause your metabolism to slow down. Add insomnia (respiration and transpiration eliminate a lot of water during sleep at night) and stress about gaining weight (stress has been linked to weight gain), and the combination may be the cause. When you see your doctor for your next check-up, have him check your hormone levels. Tell him about your insomnia and see if he can help you with that, and try not to think the worse. I'm 52 and my hormones are crazy and I'm able to lose weight. Try not to worry. I know that's easier said than done, but worrying doesn't help. I wish you the best!

I'll second Jacqui's advice to not worry so much. If it's a medical issue, your doctor will help you with that. If it's really just a weight issue, we've got you covered here. I lost my weight while going through menopause. It's not an impossible task or, even, an unpleasant one. You get to learn so many things about food and health and your own body and brain!

Having some more ideas for you, Stjarna....

Since you can't see your doctor for a few weeks, I suggest starting a diet now (or on January 1 or 2 if you want to be traditional and to give you time to set it up). I sense that it will make you feel better to be doing something and then you'll have more data to give your doctor. A tried and true weight loss technique is to log all of your food intake and that will be helpful data as well.

If you're going to weigh yourself every day (more data for your doctor), you might as well join Jacqui_D and me in the monthly weight loss challenge thread: http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/chic...challenge.html. No need to set a goal right away. You can just use the thread to track your daily weight. We are very good at helping people through freak-outs due to unexpected scale readings.

Since you've had success at Atkins, I'm going to recommend that you take a look at Jacqui_D's Slow Carb Diet. She has a support thread for that going here: http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/othe...carb-diet.html. Although, you might want to do more measuring than Jacqui does for the first few weeks so that you and your doctor can do more accurate evaluations.

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate all the support and help!

I will read up on "slow carbs". I sort of spontaeously started what I guess is "intermittent fasting", as I found today I had no appetite at all; I just drank for hydration and seem to have consumed around 300 calories. Tomorrow I plan to eat as usual.

I fear it's a little late to expect to get any change in this last week of December; are there monthly-goal threads every month?

Thanks everyone. I'm still worried but I feel much better for the support here!
Stjarna

Yes, Stjarna, there will be a new monthly goal thread starting for January 2014!