Wait a minute...No, Weight a minute...
 

I'm just going to whine a little here and welcome anyone who wants to have some whine and cheese with me.

I have always been a thin person. I put on a little weight a couple of years ago but not enough to make me freak out. Since February, I have put on almost 50 pounds!!! Yes, you read that right, 50 pounds! I am beside myself and am having body image issues now. Well, I've always had them but this is way worse. I just dipped over into the obese category. I have had many tests (thyroid since I had a goiter pop up in February) done and all have come back negative, including my biopsy. I swell up all the time now and retain fluid at the drop of a hat. I was advised to not take the diruetic at this point as I am severely allergic to sulfa antibiotics.

So, here's my whine. I have no idea how to diet to lose weight. I know how to diet to keep weight on as that has been an issue for me since I was a kid. If I cut anything more out of my diet I won't be eating anything as there are a lot of things I can't eat. We know that there is some medical reason for this as the weight came on so quick, within 4 to 5 months. The doctors have yet to figure out the cause other than the goiter may be effecting my metabolism but my thyroid function is showing up normal at the time of testing. It may not be normal at other times, is what I was told. There has also been some talk about my kidneys not working properly too. That aside, I still can't figure out how to lose weight. I watch what I eat and recently cut breads and grains (cereal - even oatmeal) from my diet. I eat mostly fruits, veggies, and proteins (chicken, fish, yogurt).

Ok. Whine is over. Anyone want to join in?

I'm right there with you. :(

I'm not sure how old you are but it seems like as soon as I turned 50 my metabolism went on vacation.

I also had a hysterectomy several years ago so that might be part of the problem.

I really try to watch what I eat but I think it's the sedentary lifestyle that I now have that is the problem. I can't exercise like I used to. Can't walk on a treadmill. I used to walk for 1 1/2 hours on the treadmill three times a week and that really helped. I miss it.

I never envisioned myself as a chubby Grandma at 55 but that's what I am! I love being a Grandma.......NOT being chubby!

Welcome to my club, ladies! I was very petite until I had my first child in 1984, it was then that my metabolism went south. I became dysmetabolic or metabolic syndrome X. I really struggle with my weight. All my weight seems to settle in the abdomen, but it is stable. I have a sluggish thyroid, Fibromyalgia, and MS. I was working towards my BS in nutrition sciences when I withdrew from school. I had developed so many issues with my cognitive and memory. I forgot that I am also diabetic, though I have it very well controlled and keep my numbers in the pre-diabetic range. I try to keep my foods in the whole foods and none processed, lots of vegetables, some fruits, and meats...normal portions, whole grains and stay away from processed grains and white foods (sugar, bread, flour,, rice).

Kelly - I never thought I would be a chubby grandma either. I don't know if you experience this but weight hurts! It hurts to sit cross legged on the floor with my grandson. MS plus extra weight makes it harder to get up off the floor. :D I did have a hysterectomy and my ovaries removed and I knew that putting on a few pounds may happen. But this, this is not a few pounds.

Bd - Have you had your hormones checked? I don't know how old you are but it might be worth getting them checked.

I've been trying to work on my leg strength but it is a slow process. I am exercising more than I have in a long time. I walk in my apartment now but will be heading outside for walks when it cools down. I walk anywhere from 1 to 3 miles a day. I added in jogging in place for 30 seconds or so for every 5 minutes I walk. Side note but somewhat related - My girls have gotten huge! It's like I hit puberty at 52. I swear I put on 10 pounds just in that area alone. I have to wear a good support bra when I do jogging in place intervals.

If I find the magic bullet, I will let you all know.

ya know, it sounds like maybe some specialist consultations might be in order.
endocrinologist....cardiac dr....kidney dr (altho they can tell a lot by just doing a urinalysis).

i would definitely persue and answer. somethings seems out of whack.
i don't understand what a diuretic has to do with sufur antibx?
who wanted you to take the diuretic? did they also tell you should balance the diuretic with potassium?

keep us posted. don't give up.

tkrik I turned 50 this past March. Weight has been a struggle since my first pregnancy 32 years ago. I have managed to stabilize my weight, though I want to lose weight. I have actually lost about 10 pounds since my hysterectomy last year and I refused HRT since I was already in menopause. I am planning to get a recumbant bike to try to help with strengthening my legs and getting exercise. I am hoping it will do some good.

I have gained weight over the past 7 years since working in retail. Mine is related to having to sit most of the time due to the fatigue worsening my energy. Also, the odd hours have me snacking more at night.

I was diagnosed with low thyroid and take meds each morning but I don't know how that affects my weight.

I know that part of mine is also my decreasing ability to walk and burn calories. I still have the same appetite of when I was much more active. Also, I love to cook.

It sounds like you are doing the right things with your diet. If you are drinking fruit juices or sugared sodas those can be calorie heavy. I switched to water for my main drink during the day.

I was up 30 pounds at one point but I have lost ten of those. As long as I can stay at that level I'm ok with that.

Judy - Thanks! I have been tracking my eating habits, exercise, and even sleep for a few months now. Something is just not right. Again, I have had lots of tests done and nothing has shown up positive. My PCP is the one who prescribed the diuretic. Apparently, the one she prescribed is a sulfanomide and can cause allergic reactions in people who are allergic to sulfa abx. I had a severe allergic reaction to them so was told to not take them. There is another diuretic that I would be able to take, I can't remember the name of it though. And, yes, I will continue to pursue this as I know this is not normal. I have been to so many doctors the past few months - neurologist, GI, endocrinologist, rheumy, endocrinologist/oncologist surgeon, etc and will be seeing the GYN next month to see if she can shed some light on this (high testosterone, maybe??). They did tell me at the endocrinologists that the goiter that popped up could be effecting my thyroid function but the testing is showing it is fine. I guess it could be swinging from normal to hypo to hyper from the way it was explained to me.

Bd - Wow! I lost a few pounds after my hysterectomy about a year ago but not 10 pounds. I do think the hysterectomy is contributing but certainly not the cause. I was not in menopause when I had the hysterectomy.

Wiz!!!! - We miss you here.:hug: Glad to see you posting. I am sure being less active doesn't help. For me, I am more active than I have been in a few years. Maybe I need to become more sedentary again.:D:D Has it really been 7 years since you went back to work? That's crazy! It doesn't seem that long at all - at least to me.

trik, are you sure about the diuretic your pcp ordered. Sulfanomide is an antibiotic.

I don't remember what year it was that I went on 'a life change', not a diet. I lost 60 pounds in about 2 years. Then I gained back all but 15 of those. So now I am down from the 218 to 207. I think a lot of it was fluid but I have been off a diuretic since the first of the month so I don't know what I am doing right since I'm not doing anything to lose weight. Like last night when we went to Walmart. I am a sucker for raisin bread. I bought a loaf but I eat the whole loaf in one night. But the last week or so it has been very slow. But I know I need to do it. My bursitis in my hips and everything else will be better, I can get off all the heavy medicine I am on. But like the others have said. You are doing the right things. Maybe you are doing to much? Are your calories so low that your body then has to hold on to your fat cells in order to survive? You should have at least 1300 calories unless your doctor is supervising you in a lower calorie.

Doydie - Apparently, the diuretic the doctor prescribed has sulfanomide in it and has caused those with sulfa abx allergies as well as penicillin allergies to have an allergic reaction to it. The pharmacist recommended I contact the doctor and discuss using a different diuretic. I have an appointment with her next month to discuss this as well as review some more blood work that I need to get done.

I have been tracking my diet for a few months now. On average, I take in around 1200 to 1500 calories a day. I brought my food diary with me and showed the doctors (a few of them) and there is nothing in there that would cause such a jump in weight. I do occasionally have some ice cream or something more fattening but not on a regular basis or enough that it would tip the scale. I scoop of ice cream a month is not going to make much of a difference.

The answer will come up but it's the waiting and worrying as being overweight/obese can cause all sorts of problems (diabetes, heart disease, and more mobility issues to name a few).