Comments on: Ask Aunt Fattie: What if I never stop gaining weight?

By: Finding Stability: (Body Confidence - A learning process) « I AM in shape. ROUND is a shape.

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:01:42 +0000

[...] After finally deciding to stop all the harmful yo-yo dieting and work on accepting myself for who and what shape and what size I happen to be I went through a rough time trying to find my footing. Going from absolute control over every morsel to enter your mouth; counting each crumb and every calorie; to a free method of trying to listen to my own body’s signals was very difficult. How would my body know what it wanted?? Worse, how was I supposed to know how to LISTEN to it!? What if all I THOUGHT I wanted was cookies and instead I really needed celery? Would I become the stereotyped fat person out of control, eating everything in sight?!?? Did I want to lose that much control? What if I NEVER stopped gaining weight?!?!? [...]

By: Pam

Pam — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:03:13 +0000

A fasting blood sugar test is not enough to test for type 2 diabetes. Some people have a good fasting test, but their blood sugar goes way high one hour or two hours after eating. When it comes crashing back down most people feel desperately hungry. She may already be treating for this in her approach to hypoglycemia, but I would ask a doctor to prescribe a meter and test strips (available without a prescription but expensive) and check blood sugar after meals (and not just at 2 hours, at one hour as well).

By: Heidi

Heidi — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:20:20 +0000

I just wanted to mention that getting a thyroid problem diagnosed is not as simple as a blood test. Many of us with thyroid problems have “normal” blood levels, but an underlying adrenal problem (that prevents thyroid hormones from getting into the cells and tissues), or some sort of tissue resistance. I was dx’d with thyroid problems a little over a year ago by a savvy, holistic doc who recognized that my clinical “presentation” showed my thyroid was involved with my symptoms, even though my blood levels were normal. I am on thyroid hormone now, and it’s starting to heal my metabolism.

For more info, check out http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com – lots of good info there on how to find a good doc and how to get diagnosed, and what other symptoms are involved other than uncontrollable weight gain.

Good luck!

By: Christine

Christine — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:07:01 +0000

Scared,

Your post resonated with me because I had the exact same weight gain between 15 and 25. And the early years – probably 14 through 22 – were marked by heavy duty dieting. From what you’ve said, your diet efforts were even more extreme than mine, and that could be the problem.

My cycle was that I would lose 10 lbs before summer and then gain twenty over the winter. When I stopped dieting, the weight came on a bit more quickly until I was about 245 at 25. (What happened after that is another story – but DON’T break your leg in the middle of winter in Maine).

Check out all of the medical issues mentioned. It’s possible, however, that your early anorexic behavior might have messed up your metabolism. By “messed up,” I mean made it super efficient, so to prevent weight gain you need to eat less than you do and exercise more than you do. This isn’t a judgment on your lifestyle, which sounds extremely healthy. But I think maybe you’re body may be afraid that another famine is coming, and just won’t let you eat less without making you miserable.

I really don’t think you will continue to gain weight forever if you continue your current lifestyle. I would be on guard about your activity level, though. If something in your life changes that makes you more sedentary (like you get a car), this might throw things out of balance.

By: klara

klara — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:51:37 +0000

As I am autistic and have ADD I have to say thank you sweetmachine. Being disabled is certainly not the worst that can happen. I am even retired at an age of 35 and that is’nt so bad either. Actually I have never felt better then my last years.

Btw: that site meg thorn linked – wrongdiagnosis – was like playing dr house :D

By: jenjen

jenjen — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:30:25 +0000

Hi.

This is totally just my own experience so, yeah, I’m not a doctor or anything.

Since I was born I’ve been gaining 10lbs a year. I only remember as far back as being 80lbs when I was 8, and crying when I turned 11 and was 110lbs.

I thought I was the only person this happened to! Wow!

Now? I weigh less than my age plus a zero :) for two years now. It stopped going up when I was 30. I only went on one diet for one month when I was 19…and (I’m not bragging) I have no health problems at this time. Just so you know the background on my situation.

So…while it is possible that it won’t stop, and you may have a medical condition…it’s also totally possible that while you haven’t stopped yet, you will. Naturally.

Of course, knowing that doesn’t stop me from freaking out now and then and worrying that when I’m 80…well…yeah…I’m just a fan of my mobility, that’s all, so I get scared now and then.

I think that’s normal.

By: sweetmachine

sweetmachine — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:10:28 +0000

Sue, now I’m the one tearing up. Thank you for your comment.

By: Madge

Madge — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:12:02 +0000

Since i’m on a food allergies kick today ( see other comments), I want to reiterate the importance of testing out this possibility.
Food allergies can do crazy things to us…. But many doctors never even think to consider them if you aren’t having the standard rash, itching reaction.
My life/health (again more anecdotal data) changed dramatically after the discovery of a wheat/gluten allergy and it’s subsequent elimination from my diet.
My allergic reactions included acne, extreme fatigue, thinning hair, sadness, and binge eating. It sounds as though your diet is nourishing and healthful, but perhaps one of the foods you are consuming is causing edema or improper metabolism? Just a thought, and something you could do on your own – without the help of a doctor, until you find one you like. Just eliminate a food for a week or so (since it can take up to 3 days for a food to trigger the allergic reaction) and see how you feel.

By: Becky

Becky — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:50:48 +0000

To add to what Thorn said, I’ve read in several places that we reach our adult weights at 25. So while it can’t hurt to get checked out, I don’t think you need to start worrying yet.

By: ket

ket — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:40:29 +0000

I worry about this same issue too now and again, though my weight fluctuates a lot more than Scared’s seems to. And like a previous commenter, the disability paragraph was very, very helpful. Disability isn’t the worst thing that can happen to someone, and neither is weight gain. Though seriously, the buying of multiple wardrobes blows balls. As a fluctuator, I hear you on that.