Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with weightgain

All I want for Christmas is...two butt cheeks

bilabial — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:01:56 -0800

Ravenously hungry in the middle of the night, lazy, and bored with my known options. Also: eating plenty in the daylight. Bonus round: I'm poor. I've been adding some physical activity to my life. 10 - 20 minutes of bike riding, 2-4 days a week. I got the brilliant idea that building some upper body strength would improve my confidence, so I went to a rock climbing gym. Which I love. I'll be going back (the confidence? I brought some of it home from the gym! It doesn't even smell bad!).

But. I'm already to small for the regular adult harness. I eat nearly all day long - nuts, fruit, cheese ravioli, ice cream when it's BOGO at Publix. I try to drink juice instead of water (again, I stock up at sales) and I just started making alcoholic drinks with I syrup, limes, and seltzer.

Oatmeal with whole milk for breakfast. Eggs. Plenty of bacon (on sale a lot! I have 2 packs in the freezer!), fruit, and fresh veggies in my diet.

I carry candy bars everywhere when if remember to look for them cheap - bags of Baby Ruth bars were on sale last week.

I live alone, so buying bread is not cost effective, especially as even when toasted, previously frozen bread is...ick.
Protein shakes are expensive, the stuff made with powder requires lots of willpower (to be less polite, that shit is nasty) and I really think eating is fun. I don't want my unconceived children to ever see me choking down something I clearly don't enjoy.
Help me improve my lifestyle, not just find a quick fix. Exercise depletes my calories quickly. Before I added the climbing 2 days ago I was down 10 pounds below my comfort level. If I can't stem this tide, I'll have to quit climbing. (also, I got a package deal with a harness that's too big. If I keep going with this I need to sell it and buy one that fits, but I'm not investing until Im pretty sure I can sustain it.)

Metafilter, fatten me up. Delicious beans and rice recipes that feature
lard? Yes please. Websites for reaaly good grocery coupons on junk food I can eat at home? (I like doritoes, and ice cream, but sadly I often prefer more natural choices. Butter is natural though...) I'd like things I can prepare ahead, that might freeze well (or not), some things that require little prep - adding calories to a hot dog? I'm game.

My bloodwork is good, you are not my doctor, and I am not asking for medical advice.i

They want me to nag. I don't want to

Anonymous — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:28:58 -0800

Have you succeeded in losing (and keeping off) a lot of weight? Were you in a relationship at the time? Great! What did your partner do to help? I don't intend for this to be relationship filter. My partner has gained, then lost about 30 pounds in the past, then put on another 50. I love them, and am in it for the long haul, but the only thing that they themselves say works coming from me is guilt and nagging, and I hate doing that. I hate how it sounds/feels, and I really don't like what taking that posture does to us.

In the past, we've tried working out together, meal planning, calorie counting, etc., and sometimes it works, but the only real weight loss came before an event where my partner didn't want to be seen at that size. They described it as the fear of shame from external sources.

Basically, is there a way I can help without going negative? Cause, the positive route hasn't ever helped in the past. I'd live and let live, but we're now running up against real health issues, and I want my partner and I to continue to live happily ever after. Thanks in advance, AskMe.

obligatory: sock.puppet.me@gmail.com

Loss of libido with Levlen/Levora?

roxie110 — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:32:13 -0800

Has anyone taking the birth control pill Levora/Levlen had a loss of libido? I've been taking this pill for a year now, and (along with some weight gain that kicked in about 6 months later, yuck) I've noticed a pretty steep drop in my libido.

This is the first time I've ever been on the pill, and I'm trying to figure out whether this may be related to the pill itself, or whether I'm just not that attracted to my boyfriend anymore (it's been 6 years)!

Any info or advice would be welcome.

Weight gain causes amenorrhea because...?

starbaby — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:45:14 -0800

How does weight gain cause you to stop having your period? I was on two medications that cause "massive weight gain." I have since come off of them, but in the meantime, I gained about 30 pounds in about three months. As a result, I have not had a period in 90 days or so. I've been to my GP, who ruled out all the thyroid/anemia/bloodwork-related causes. I have been to my gyno, who pretty much just said, "it's the weight gain."

So now that I know the cause, I'd like to know how it works. Why does weight gain or loss cause changes in your period? It's my understanding that I am probably not ovulating, and that's why my period isn't happening, but why does obesity cause anovulation?

And, finally, if I am not ovulating, is there a lesser chance of a horrible, month-long period when it finally does come back? I'm sure hoping so.

Not a Loser

Scattercat — Sat, 16 May 2009 04:13:46 -0800

GlandFilter: My SO has a problem. She has numerous symptoms of thyroid imbalance, but she shows up on tests as normal. Now she's trying to lose weight. Basically, she's been exercising regularly and trying the low-carb diet. Absolutely no refined sugars, some carbs (i.e. fruit, mostly) along with lots of fiber and water. Eating several meals spaced out through the day. She's been keeping a food diary; 1200 calories per day. After four weeks, she has lost... nothing. She's currently two pounds under her starting weight; last week she actually went above it slightly.

In addition to the apparently stubborn excess weight (which appeared inexplicably several years ago, without any change in eating/activity habits, and has lingered since), she also has a family history of thyroid issues (mother and grandmother), a personal history of depression and anxiety (which didn't respond well to drug treatment), disrupted sleeping patterns, is always cold (to the point where she's running a space heater when I'm actively sweating and turning on a fan), and has unexplained fatty deposits in odd places like the back of her neck. However, blood tests for hypothyroidism came back "low normal." So my question here is twofold:

1) Does anyone know of a good way to lose weight under these conditions? Anything we're not already trying, that is?

2) Is there any other medical diagnosis that would explain sudden weight gain of this kind? Alternately, is there any way to get treatment for hypothyroidism if you're a textbook case but your scores aren't in the official "abnormal" range?

Explain my gain (weight) and my loss (motivation/sanity).

Anonymous — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:49:57 -0800

I gained 6 lbs. overnight. WTF! I am a committed runner and healthy eater who lost 50 lbs. over the last year by changing my lifestyle and eating habits completely. I am now at a weight I am happy with and work to maintain it.

On Saturday night I snacked A LOT because I was, heh, a tad inebriated and stopped policing myself so damn vigilantly. I ate chips, bean dip, salsa, carrots, grapes, even some m&m's. A LOT of all of it especially considering I'd had a big, indulgent dinner.

All the stuff I ate was from Trader Joe's and so it was mostly the not so bad for you kind of bad for you food--flax seed chips, blue corn tortilla chips, bean dip, salsa and crackers with good ingredients, etc. However, I ate a ton and I felt totally manic while doing so. Having lost a lot of weight and becoming somewhat obsessive about maintaining not just my weight, but my commitment to eating mindfully (I used to be a wicked bad emotional/bored/anxious/angry eater), it feels horribly bad to overdo it like this.

I guess my question is how did I gain 6 lbs in one night? Will this weight stick or is it water retention weight from salty snacks? I'm already 2 lbs. lighter, so I guess it's already showing itself to be not "real" weight gain. I am trying to think of this as "relapse is part of recovery" and use it as a good reminder to not go crazy like this. My other question, if it's kosher to ask something related, is can you help me see this in a different way and not be so down on myself about it that I lose motivation or beat myself up? Obviously I need to lighten up a bit on myself and not let it run the rest of my weekend (which, yeah, it did) because I'm obsessing about what I ate or what I should eat/not eat to "compensate" for the binge.

Thanks, a lot, hive mind. I'm going a little crazy.

Help me gain weight/muscle tone!!!

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:21:49 -0800

How does a total novice gain weight and muscle tone? I'm 20 years old, 5'5", weigh 125 lbs (I'm very skinny!). I'm tired of it, and I want to change this - problem is, I'm a total novice. I've never been to a gym, and I'm so skinny that I'm too embarrassed to go to one!!! Are there any tips for gaining weight and muscle tone in the comfort of your own home, especially my arms and chest? Are there any tips for potential workout regimens (in a gym or not)?

Also, I should say that I'm not in college right now, so I can't really use any of those facilities.

Thanks!

Healthy snacks for gaining weight?

frobozz — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:25:05 -0800

What are some healthy and high-calorie snack/light meal foods I could eat to help me gain weight? There have been many questions about healthy snack foods for people who wish to lose (or at least not gain) weight, but I have the opposite problem. I am too thin (female, 5'7", 110 lb or a little less) and would like to be - well, not skeletal, at least. There are several reasons for my thinness - I'm quite a picky eater, have a very active job, am on a strict grocery budget (so a lot of the nicer pre-prepared stuff is out), and my body naturally tends towards the skinny anyway - I come from a very thin family. Since I have a small appetite just trying to eat larger meals doesn't help - I know I won't finish them, but I do need some way to add more calories to my daily intake. I don't want to just eat chocolate or chips all day; I'd like something healthier (and I'd get sick of that pretty quickly anyway). So I'm looking for food that is:

High Calorie
Healthy(ish)
Portable and can stay at room temperature for several hours
Not too expensive

Trail mix is an obvious answer but I'm really not fond of nuts (yes, picky, as I said). Any suggestions? Or even general suggestions for gaining and keeping weight for someone who spends a third of her time being highly active?

Thanks

How can I stay in shape while reading myself blind in grad school?

lxs — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:08:03 -0800

I have way less time to work out now. How can I make my work outs count? I know, I know, there are a gazillion exercise questions on AskMeFi, but I swear mine is different. I spent the past three years working out a pretty decent amount. I usually made it to the gym five or six times a week, doing two days of HIIT (running), two days of weight training with a personal trainer, and sometimes one day of pilates or something like it. I'm working on my Ph.D. now, however, while working part time, and between everything I have going on, I just cannot spend that much time working out anymore. I make time to work out three or four times a week, but I'm lucky if I get a full hour in, and I have to get up super early to do it, leaving me with not all that much energy as I usually also have to stay up pretty late to get all my studying done. I've definitely noticed the difference, and have generally gotten flabbier over the past months. What can I do to get the most out of the workout time that I am able to eke out? Is there any way to deal other than just coming to terms with a spare tire? Help!

I know you are not my doctor, but right now, no one is!

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:44:01 -0800

Over the last few years, a number of health problems have flared up that I suspect might have something to do with each other: weight gain, fatigue, acid-reflux/loose stools (possibly related to gluten intolerance) and irregular periods. What kind(s) of doctor should I see? I'm in Minneapolis. I'm 30 years old, female. Oh, and my insurance ends at the end of the year, so there's a deadline.

Weight gain: In 2002, I weighed 200 lbs, now I'm up to 248. This is a lot of weight to gain in 6 years, especially given that I was already quite overweight. There have been some lifestyle changes (went from working outside to a desk job) and my eating habits haven't been the best, but they haven't been the worst, either (whole grains, avg of 4-5 fruits and veggies a day, some junk food, some fast food). I also seem to have a harder time now losing weight: I did Weight Watchers two years ago and lost 15 pounds in six weeks by staying within points and following a Mediterranean-style diet. But this last spring I went back, tried to do the same thing, and lost nothing.

Acid-reflux/loose stools: this has been a problem for a while, but recently has gotten painful enough for me to cut out gluten. I had noticed that my heartburn was much, much worse about an hour after eating anything with wheat in it several years ago, but was sort of in denial and didn't want to give up gluten. Anyway, I started a gluten-free diet this week and poof! No heartburn, and my stools are all nice and firm.

Fatigue: I've been feeling easily fatigued and a bit mentally fuzzy for the last few months. The fatigue is actually helped a LOT by the lack of gluten - I've had a ton of energy this week. But the mental fuzziness is still there. I've always been scatterbrained, but it's reaching ADD levels now.

Irregular periods: this is the part that is freaking me out most and thinking I need medical attention stat. My periods used to be extremely regular - you could set your calendar to them. But this winter they started getting all screwy. After I moved and entered a very stressful phase at work, I skipped one month and then had a super-heavy flow the month after that. Then I quit my job and moved across the country for a new one. I skipped two months and then had a period that lasted, intermittently, for 3 weeks. I know I should have gone to the gyno, but I was hoping this was all due to stress. Well, again I had a long stretch (6 weeks) between periods, and am now in the middle of another long period (2 weeks so far). And these periods are quite heavy, with mucousy chunks in them.

So of course I've been googling my symptoms like mad, and scaring the hell out of myself. According to what I've seen, it could be celiac's (which would address all my issues), a thyroid condition (which would cover the weight, fatigue and menstrual stuff but not necessarily the gastro issues) or - eep! - diabetes (which covers the weight, fatigue and menstrual stuff but not the gastro/gluten issues). And then there's PCOS, which seems to be sort of a catchall.

So now I really want to get this stuff resolved. But it seems like I need to see a gastroenterologist, a endocrinologist, AND a gyno. I got an appointment with a gastro RN for the week after next, but the others have months-long waits. And that's where the time issue comes in: the job I moved here for is just till the end of the year (it was a contract position but they gave me benefits). I can get COBRA after that, and probably will, but I will be moving again, this time to be closer to family and look for a new job. So I'm hesitant to start a rotation of seeing different kinds of doctors, only to have my quest interrupted at the end of the year and have to start all over again.

So, after that long and rambly set-up, my question is: is there one kind of doctor that I can see who will be able to help me address all of these issues? Perhaps some sort of holistic MD? I don't want to go the homepathic route to the exclusion of traditional western medicine, but it would be great to find a doctor that would work with me across sub-specialties and would be knowledgable about stuff like diet and lifestyle in addition to perscriptions. I realize this is the role primary care physicians are supposed to play, but I don't have one with my current plan, and can't get an appointment with a GP till...January (I called several).

And yes, before people jump all over me for this, I do realize it's possible that all these things could be discrete, unrelated symptoms. But given that they have all gotten worse at approximately the same time, I'd like to see someone who will be able to see those patterns if they are there. From talking to friends and other research, I know that these symptoms are often related.

So does anyone have thoughts on the kind of doctor I should be looking for in general, and maybe some recommendations in Minneapolis? Here's my throwaway email:whatkindofdoctorshouldisee@gmail.com.

I can't go to the gym and am gaining back the weight I lost - HELP!

lxs — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 19:39:01 -0800

I can't go to the gym and am gaining back the weight I lost - HELP! About three years ago, I lost around 30 pounds through exercise. Since then, I've combined cardio and weight training, usually working out five times per week. I usually did pretty intense cardio (about 45 mins of HIIT on a treadmill).

I moved out of my apartment and am housesitting for a friend until I move to a different city. Because of moving costs, I had to let go of my gym membership and I feel like my the weight I lost is quickly coming back. In addition, since I've stopped exercising daily, I CANNOT STOP EATING. I feel like I constantly have to be shoving something into my mouth. It's a compulsion worse even than smoking (which I quit about three years ago) was for me. Food is on my mind CONSTANTLY. I feel disgusting and out of control, and it's really affecting my mood, etc.

My question is how I can survive these two weeks until I can get moved and signed up to a new gym. I have a really crappy elliptical machine at my disposal, but it sucks and is located in a really hot basement. I'm fine with walking as exercise, but since I'm used to doing lots of intense cardio, I feel like walking doesn't accomplish enough. I haven't run outside in years because it always hurt my shins and knees badly. I have two 10 pound weights as well. Any ideas for how I can combine these ingredients (or lack therefore of) into a temporary exercise solution?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Late night eating

isoman2kx — Wed, 21 May 2008 17:36:40 -0800

How to deal with the late night munchies? For as long as I can remember, I've always woken up to eat. Sometimes it's because I can't fall back to sleep and feel like I need food to get back to sleep, lately as I battle depression/anxiety on a daily basis (I am seeing a psychologist and am on Lexapro though, so that's covered), I find the need to just continue eating more and more until I'm miserably full sometimes at 2, 4, 5 am, etc.

I've asked this before on other sites but I didn't like the answers of "just watch what you eat" or "it doesn't matter when you eat, it's how much you eat". Dammit, if it were that easy I'd do it. What I'm talking about is effective strategies to either trick me into being full (like oatmeal, which works sometimes but not as effective as I'd like it to be) or finding the ideal low calorie snack that doesn't consist of baby carrots, asparagus, or any other ridiculously disgusting idea like that.

I've got my symptoms boiled down, now I'm just looking to do something about them. I've even tried writing on my hand with a sharpie (ALL OVER my hand) "do not eat" , "if you eat, eat a fruit". It doesn't work. The hunger I have is very much psychological hunger too, because there's no way in hell when I eat a full bowl of oatmeal at midnight that I'm hungry at 3 am. No way.

Has anyone here successfully battled this and won?

Hypothyroidism: What can I expect?

Anonymous — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:05:01 -0800

TSH level of 4.67 = diagnosis of hypothyroidism. Seeing a specialist in 30 days, trying to hold onto my sanity until then. What can I expect? My mom, two aunts and my first cousin all have hypothyroidism. I have been feeling "off" for about 8 months (I work out and don't sweat, I get tired easily, have gained almost 20 pounds, am freezing cold ALL the time, very depressed and my libido's down as well). I went two weeks ago to my GP and was tested. My TSH level is 4.67. I got a recommendation to see an endocrinologist and will be going 30 days from now (that's the soonest anyone can see me). I've had my thyroid tested every year for 6 years and this is the first time I've had anything but a normal result. My worst fear is that I am turning into my mother: she weighs close to 250 lbs. and falls asleep so frequently it looks like narcolepsy to those who don't know her.

My real question is this: How long will it take after they prescribe me medication before I feel normal again? They WILL put me on meds, right? What side effects should I watch out for? I'm extremely anxious to get on meds as I've felt bad for almost a year now and just want my life to get back to normal. I have run the gamut of starving myself, working out for hours (1.5 to 3 hours per day until I get black bruises on my knees), crying like crazy and avoiding people because of this.

I've battled eating disorders in the past and if I can't get my weight and my depression under control soon, the urge to do bad things is rising (related to my past ED behavior). My boyfriend loves me dearly and has, in desperation, hidden my scale and measuring tape in an effort to stop me from torturing myself now that we both know I have a medical condition that's causing the weight gain. I'm having vivid dreams about cutting pieces of myself off with knives and other times I dream about eating food I won't let myself eat any more all night long. My biggest fear is that I'll finally get on medication and still not be able to lose the weight again. Should I mention this to my specialist? My self esteem is cripplingly low right now and last night I slept for 12 hours and woke up still exhausted. I'm a writer and my thinking feels "muddy" at work. I have trouble concentrating and can't remember things. Are these all symptoms that will go away with medication? Any insight from those of you that have hypothyroidism is appreciated.

The rational part of my brain knows that I am making this worse with my obsessive behavior. I just need some kind of lifeline to help me get through the next 30 days; offsite responses can be sent to thyroidgirl@gmail.com. Thanks in advance for lighting a candle in my darkness.

Please help me stop eating animal slices

milarepa — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 11:38:23 -0800

I want to stop eating animal slices. Except there's a catch. Please help. I really want to become a vegetarian for moral reasons, and ultimately want to be a vegan (maybe 4-5 years from now).

However, I am cartoonishly underweight and I need to gain about 20+ pounds before I even feel comfortable with the process of cutting meat out of my diet. Although my doctor says I am healthy, and that my metabolism is probably just a little more demanding than most people's, he suggested that I put on some pounds before I make the switch to a vegetarian diet. Basically, he was like eat more and lift weights. An otherwise great doctor, but just not that helpful.

The problem is, I can eat like 4-5 meals a day and not put on weight. I try to lift weights twice a week and load up on protein like crazy, but I never gain weight. I haven't gained a pound in like 10 years. Everyone says just wait, but I don't want to keep eating meat. I really want to speed up the process in a healthy way, not just wait until I get fat. For the record, I have been tested for all sorts of parasites, digestive disorders, etc. I am perfectly healthy.

At this point, my diet is pretty open--I just don't eat pork.

What can I do? What sort of meal or work out plans should I follow to put on 20-30 pounds in a healthy way?

What are the best vegetarian foods to eat if you want to gain weight? That way, while I am still eating meat to gain weight, I could begin the process of eating the vegetarian foods that will allow me to keep the weight I hope to gain.

Is my almost-vegetarian diet making me fatter?

Unicorn on the cob — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 09:03:23 -0800

My boyfriend is an avowed vegetarian, almost vegan. Out of respect for him (and the desire to live healthier), I have switched to an almost completely vegetarian diet. Now I've gained weight... why? I'm thinking that it's the switch from eating meat to eating lots and lots of soy products, which I know can affect estrogen levels in women. I also had a wicked sweet tooth before (imagine eating half a pound of candy in one sitting... that's me!) and have just recently cut back significantly on sugar in an effort to drop the unwanted weight (the past 60 days I have only consumed sugar for about 6 days total, and you can guess when). A few more tidbits:

1. I am a 35-year-old female.

2. I work out at least 4-5 times a week, with a minimum of an hour cardio, preferably 90 minutes of cardio with 15 minutes of weight training, should I actually make it to the gym. At the gym I use the elliptical, stair climber, recumbent bike and treadmill, and vary my times/workouts each time I go to avoid stagnation in my workouts. Otherwise, I use my elliptical at home and hand weights.

3. In the year we've been dating, I have cut back to eating meat maybe 3-4 times per week (usually in a sandwich or soup form), and our typical meals consist of such things as: tofu and veggie stir-fry, veggie burgers, Quorn fajitas with beans, falafel on pita with baba ghanoush, fake-lunchmeat sandwiches and low-fat cheez-its (I know, I know... sodium!).

4. I only drink alcohol once a week and drink coffee maybe 3-4 times per week, one cup or less. I drink regular sodas at the movies maybe twice per month and mostly drink spring water or sparkling, and avoid fruit juice and sweetened tea.

5. I am on birth control pills.

6. Over the course of the year, I tapered down on eating meat until I now no longer eat meat at all in his presence, nor do I keep it in the house, unless it's in a can of soup. At the same time, I worked out LESS at the beginning of our relationship due to the honeymoon factor, and now work out probably twice as much as I did six months ago.

7. The majority of the weight gain has been in 3 pound increments, very suddenly, over the course of, say, a two-week period when I notice it and then can't get it to budge.

8. I still drink regular, 1% milk and eat regular 2% cheese, but have subbed out Quorn or soy-based products for virtually every dinner meal where I would normally have eaten meat instead.

Now, a co-worker of mine recently gave up meat and dairy in an effort to curb her food allergies and she ALSO gained 10 pounds in 6 weeks. She is a woman in her mid-40's. She and I were commiserating over this fact on Friday, and we both thought... hmmm, is it all the soy? Could the extra estrogen be making me gain the weight? I'm trying like hell to lose the weight and I just... can't.

I have reduced the number of calories I eat, I'm pretty sure, because I no longer eat sweets or snacks (except things like birthday cake if it's a special occasion). I realize that over time, cutting out the sweets will probably help me lose the weight, but for right now, I'm beyond frustrated. The most I can get my weight down is like maybe 3 pounds, and I want to fit in my clothes again! I know this is a time in my life when my metabolism slows down, but this seems really sudden to me and not gradual at all. I searched previous questions and didn't see this exact issue addressed. Hope me, hive mind!

Will going off of Paxil help me lose the weight I gained while on Paxil?

dumbledore69 — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 18:50:44 -0800

I gained a lot of weight after going on birth control pills & antidepressants. Will going off these make it easier to lose this weight? In college, the year I went on birth control pills was the year I gained 50 lbs. That was several years ago. Two years ago, I went on antidepressants. First I was on Effexor, then Paxil. Right now I am on both Paxil & Wellbutrin. The first year I was on antidepressants, I gained 70 lbs. In a single year. The second year, I worked my ass off and lost about 15 lbs, which I keep yo-yoing with, despite my best efforts to keep it off and keep losing. Note that I have never had trouble losing weight before OR keeping it off with minimal effort. My efforts have been far more than minimal with crappy results.

Three months ago, I went off of birth control pills & am now using non-hormonal birth control methods. So far, I am still struggling.

My question is - assuming that the weight gain was a side effect of the antidepressants, will going off the antidepressants make it easier to lose the weight I've put on?

I'm really interested in personal anecdotes.

I know you are not my doctor/pharmacist/etc & that my mileage will vary.

How to regain weight lost through misery?

Ted Maul — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 05:31:36 -0800

Help a broken-hearted bloke gain back some of the weight I've lost due to breakup-related depression. You might have been there before - I actually haven't. She was my first love and the end has hit me really, really hard. I've been trying to make a real effort to eat and sleep, but having returned to university after a difficult summer, all my friends have noticed that I'm even skinnier than before and people are worried about me. I don't want to ask for breakup advice, I've read all the threads. But I think I'd feel a lot better if I could look in the mirror and not see such an emaciated and pitiful figure.

Eating more's a no brainer, but I seem to get full so quickly now that I can't finish most meals when I sit down to eat. Is there a proven way of "training" my stomach to fit more again? What foods and drinks should I be going for? Perhaps a supplement?

I really think that "regaining my figure" is an important step in moving on. Not that I feel ready for that, but that's no reason not to take care of myself.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Please help me determine the cause of my recent weight gain.

sequential — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 14:44:40 -0800

Please help me determine the cause of my recent weight gain. The Problem

A bit of history is probably important to answer the question. Since March, I have lost 59 lbs by calorie restriction, a healthy diet, and cardiovascular exercise. I have not trained with weights other than carrying 2 lb hand weights and a 8 lb to 20 lb weight vest while walking. Furthermore, I have not used any weights during the time period in question. Last Sunday, I weighed in at 176.5 lbs, my lowest weight since high school. On Thursday, I weighed in at 182 lbs. Last night, I weighed in at 189 lbs. At each of these weigh ins, my percentage body fat was approximately 14% (+/- .5%).

My weight can easily swing five pounds in a 24 hour period of time depending on calories consumed, hydration levels, regularity of bowel movements, and the timing of my weigh ins. That said, these factors remained relatively constant throughout the week and do not, alone, account for the twelve pound swing in my weight.

Caloric Intake and Expenditure

My caloric intake for the week was approximately 15k calories. My caloric expenditure for the week, on top of my RMR, was 9k calories, as determined by a Polar F11 HRM worn during all exercise. This would, presumably, lead to weight loss. However, 2k of the additional caloric expenditure came on Thursday and another 3k of the additional caloric expenditure came on Saturday. Both days resulted in significant calorie deficits.

Theory, Being What It Is

It is my understanding that when the body is stressed through exercise and calorie deprivation at these levels that the body stores extra energy in some form, which can account for temporary weight gain when one might expect weight loss. This has happened several times to me and the weight melts off after a few days without any substantial change in my diet or exercise. However, such a change in my weight has never been so large before. Is this a plausible answer to my question? What is this mechanism called? Are there other factors I am not considering?

Calorie intake and gaining modest amounts of muscle

peep — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 14:22:12 -0800

Calorie intake and gaining modest amounts of muscle (i.e. not hardcore body-building). Plus, what is happening when your muscles are getting stronger and harder, but you've been running on a calorie deficit and losing weight? I know that the question of "can I gain muscle while I lose fat?" is plastered all over the internet, and the answer from anyone remotely reputable is "no" followed by a bunch of stuff that seems to muddle the answer, summed up with, "not really."

So I think I understand the basics: to lose fat you consume fewer calories than you expend. To gain muscle, you must do weight-bearing exercise and eat more calories than you burn. But is that last part correct? Must you eat more than you burn, or do you try to break even with calories in/calories out? This would be for an average (in height, weight, and fitness level) woman who is trying to gain 5 or 10 pounds of muscle.

Also, I know that there is no such thing as "toning" or "firming" a muscle. You can build muscle or lose muscle. So what is happening when your muscles are getting stronger and harder, but you've been running on a calorie deficit and losing weight?

Note I am not talking about just the definition of the muscle, which is probably just from fat loss allowing the muscle to show, but actual physical hardness of the muscle, plus the ability to lift more or heavier weight.

Can getting off my SSRI cause weight gain?

Anonymous — Tue, 02 May 2006 06:23:10 -0800

Can going off an SSRI (in this case, EffexorXR) cause me to have an enormous increase in appetite? Under a doctor's supervision, I'm going off Effexor in preparation for getting pregnant. I had been taking a dose of 150mg for about a year, and last week she cut my dose to 75mg, which I'll take for three weeks. After that, I'll take 37.5mg for three weeks, and then be done. Also, I started taking .5mg of Klonopin twice a day about a month ago, and now am up to .5mg three times a day. The Klonopin is for anxiety.

In anticipation for trying to get pregnant, I've lost about twenty five pounds. (I'm still overweight, but working on it.) I have been counting calories, eating small meals, and I do 50 minutes of cardio exercise four times a week. I'm thinking of making it five times a week. Once I started taking the Klonopin I felt like my weight loss stalled. Before that, I'd been steadily losing one to two pounds a week. When I asked my doctor about it she said that the lowering of anxiety could cause a bit of a slowdown in my metabolism, or it could just be a plateau that's non-related to my medication. I should also note that I feel like I've gained back about four pounds in the last month, when I've actually increased my exercise level and my food intake is the same. (A month ago I was closer to thirty pounds lost.)

Since I lowered my dose of Effexor, though, I have had the craziest increase in appetite. I started my new dose on Thursday and on Friday and Saturday I had what I considered two dinners -- two evening meals of about four hundred calories or so. The meals were about five hours apart both nights. I've also been craving sweets. I haven't been having many side effects of the lowered SSRI dose except for dizziness, and I feel like the sweets help with that, but I realize that shoving saltwater taffy down my maw for the next five weeks isn't exactly the best plan of action.

Please realize that I know part of my problem is my anxiety. However, I would like to know if anyone else has had such an increase in appetite or weight after going off of an SSRI, and if it was something permanent. I've worked really hard to lose this weight and it's upsetting to me that I might be backsliding.

I have tried to put as much detail as I can in the post, but if any further details would help, you can email me at ssri.anon.2006@gmail.com.

Tasty Weight-Gain Supplements

BigLankyBastard — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 11:49:33 -0800

I have a relative undergoing Chemotherapy, who is losing weight excessively and needs to gain some back. Question inside: The Docs have already recommended Ensure and another similar supplemental drink for trying to keep on weight, but she can't stand the taste. Her appetite is bad enough as it is, so she needs something that appeals to her palate.
My question is, are there any specific brands of nutritional/weight gain supplement drinks with an appealing taste and easy preparation? I understand weightlifters like using whey protein for bulking up - are there any products using that as a base, which genuinely taste good?

How do I gain weight(fat) while remaining healthy?

sdis — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 10:31:29 -0800

How do I gain weight(fat) while remaining healthy? I went to a program this summer where I was eating very regularly, very much, and walking a mile or two a day (significantly more than my normal amount of activity).

I lost 10 pounds, and I was skinny before the summer began (I had a stomach flu and lost 5 pounds there and didn't get it back before the summer began). So now I'm too damned skinny[i.e., I'm colder than I was, and I get lightheaded when I skip a meal unlike before, and I'd rather look a little more flabby and a little less starving kid], and I got tested for everything from west nile virus to lyme disease to tapeworms, and got nothing that the doctor can find. She's recommended I wait a month or two and see if I return to my normal weight.

So I'm trying to gain my weight back for health reasons, and after seeing Supersize Me, I'm guessing that lots of crap food could up my weight but not do a great job with bettering my health. How do I give myself a little 10 lb cushion o' flab to keep me warm in the winter without hurting my health?

(Muscle is good too, but I guess I'm mostly talking about fat here)

How much weight will I gain?

bunglin jones — Wed, 03 Aug 2005 22:38:09 -0800

Can your weight increase by a greater amount than the weight of the food you eat? It seems to me that if I eat 500g of cake, then it couldn't possibly increase my body weight by more than 500g. Does this make sense? All my searching regarding this stuff deals in calories rather than mass/weight.

Beef and guns

saysthis — Sun, 20 Mar 2005 06:31:44 -0800

I am: vegan, mildy exercise-induced asthmatic, non-car owning & often-biking, slightly scoliotic (not visibly, but there's back pain here and there), have virtually no access to exercise equipment other than a set of ancient free weights, weight bench, and mat, without much money. I desire hulking guns and beefiness all over. It's high time I started exercising. I look sturdy, I'm not noticeably plush, and I've been told by various people that a larger upper body would complement me nicely (these are not understatements/I am not a pear/I am however vain). Since I don't eat meat, protein intake can be a problem. I tried a regimen recommended by the dude at the health club a few eyars ago and it made me lose muscle. Another issue is that with my back and lungs the way they are, I'm limited in how XTREEM I can make my exercise. Neither are a problem so long as I'm not moving especially fast for long periods of time or lifting three times my own body weight. I'm looking to accomplish mainly more toned legs, bigger shoulders & chest (without losing too much fat in that area), and a tighter jawline (I hear face exercise exists?). There's a Mr. Universe in all of us (with steroids, even the ladies). Help me make mine visible.

Do people not experience side effects from SSRI antidepressants?

fabesfaves — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 09:15:10 -0800

Anyone been on antidepressants (SSRIs, specifically) for a while (more than a year) and not gained weight and/or experienced sexual side effects?