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Could the doctor help? / Weight problems

This year I've been putting on a lot of weight and I'm really not sure why. I've always been overweight for various reasons, but I've been making an effort over the last few years and it's been coming off. It always seemed to drop off at uni after holidays, but since this academic year I've just been getting bigger and bigger. I've tried, especially since Christmas, really watching what I eat (no puddings or ice cream at all, no fried foods at all, more fruit and veg etc.) and I do a sport at least twice a week and try to walk where I can. I just seem to be getting worse all the time :frown:

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My mum suggested that it could be something to do with my glands, and she's always said I have a really slow metabolism like her. Don't know if it has anything to do with it, but I was diagnosed with IBS last summer.
Is there anything I can do, and is it worth going to the doctor about? (I'm really bad about going to the doctor when I should, but this is really getting me down at the moment.)

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Reply 1

Mr Catbert

Theres no harm in going to see the doctor. If youve been doing everything you can and its not helping... Then there is nothing wrong with asking for help.

Reply 2

fleur de lis

Yes, I agree, there's no harm in going to the doctor. From what you say it's not exactly like you're lazy or eat unhealthily. You could have a thyroid problem, which can be identified I believe by a blood test, or there might be another reason. But certainly if it's getting you down, and you feel you are doing all you can, it's worth a visit. :smile:

Reply 3

tinkerbellejess

Yeah see your doctor. I talk to the doctor/nurse about my weight when I go in, and they give me advice on dieting and exercise and stuff. Don't be embarrassed about going to the doctor, that's what they're there for!

Reply 4

Adarah

Yeah, if you thiroid (sp?) gland plays up that can cause weight gain. It's worth having that checked out. If that doesn't help you might want to see if the doctor can referr you to a proper dietician. You may think what you are eating is healthy, when it actually isn't. You mentioned what food you cut out, but amongst them I didn't see white bread, pasta and alcohol. Those are often much worse for people than deep fat fried things or pudding, because people are well aware that you only eat ice cream in low amounts, but don't always realise how many carbohydrates they are forcing on their body with bread and pasta.

Reply 5

space hopper

Possibly an underactive thyroid, this could make you put on weight very easily. But then again it also makes you tired, so would u be able to do this much sport?
As someone said a lot of carbs arn't going to help, are you replacing all the sugary foods with carbohydrates, or eating more to make up for the loss of the things you like to eat?
Go to the doctor, they will be able to tell you how much weight you need to lose, and identify if you have anything wrong. Worth a try anyway, they may find a reason.

Reply 6

Bingo Jesus

You've not been skipping breakfast have you? That could lead to you gaining weight (as you retain more water if you do.)

Reply 7

Anonymous #1

Adarah - I'm teetotal, only eat brown bread, and I've cut down on my pasta eating a bit. I still eat quite a bit of pasta admittedly, but not as much as I did.

Okilidokili - I've generally been trying not to replace them with anything. Been buying a lot of fruit, and grilling or doing things in the oven rather than frying them. I used to have the tesco 200g chocolate bars in the fridge to have the odd bit of for a craving but they've gone as well, though I do buy a chocolate bar at uni sometimes. I'd be doing even more sport if I could! I'm far too lazy for my own good I think :redface:

Bingo Jesus - In truth, I do have a tendency to skip breakfast, though I've got mainly morning classes this term so I eat something before I go. Normally I eat a piece of toast or a cereal bar at about half 8, then by mid to late morning I'm utterly starving and need to go get a wrap or crisps and a banana or such :redface:

. If I'm not in uni in the morning though, I don't tend to get up til quite late so I just eat lunch when I get up.

I really appreciate all the opinions guys, do keep them coming :smile:

Reply 8

Adarah

Hmmm... well, definitely go to the doctors and have him check if everything is alright. It doesn't sound like you're eating vast amounts and you say you do exercise... It could well be that your metabolism is very low, maybe the doctor will be able to tell. If so that might mean that you should be on some kind of special diet to cope with that, but I'm not too sure.
If you get hungry and want to snack, try some protein. That normally fills you up and keeps you going. For example take a packed lunch with you consisting of a slice of brown bread and loads and loads of flow fat cheddar. The protein in the cheese should stop you feeling hungry. Milk and yogurt are also good. Maybe you could pack yourself a yogurt and a spoon for when you get hungry after/between lectures?

Reply 9

Anonymous #2

And a thyroid problem is not the only reason people put on weight...

Reply 10

Anonymous #2

loads and loads of cheese?! That's not good! Go easy on the cheese and have a bit of fruit instead. There's a weightloss thread in the fitness forum that you might find useful to look at.

Reply 11

Adarah

Protein does fill you up loads and it's not bad for you. If she wasn't trying to lose weight I'd suggest the full fat option - fat is different from carbs and much more useful to the body (the fat in cheese and yogurt and milk that is, obviously not grease from KFC). But if she eats low fat cheese, which is easily available there's no chance of putting on any extra weight really because of the cheese especially because it should fill her up so she isn't starving. You can't diet properly if you feel hungry all the time. Fruit is obviously a good snack, like little oranges. Fruit does contain sugars though. Not that I'm saying to stay away from it, but it's certainly not any better for you than cheese. I'm not saying she should only eat cheese always, just as a snack to fill her up once a day. Obviously fruit at other times of the day. It's all about eating a variety of different foods.

Reply 12

IndianDiva

About last summer I felt somewhat "slowed down" and my gym workout wasn't as easy as it used to be. I was constantly tired and sluggish and put on just under half a stone in about a month, which was unusual for me.

I went to the doctor, had a blood test, and was diagnosed with having an underactive thyroid. After being put on regular medication, my energy levels gradually crept up again and the weight I had put on came off too.

I'm now on daily medication and have to make sure I get a balanced diet and regular exercise. I'd hate to think what life would have been like had I not bothered to go to the doctors and gotten a correct diagnosis.

Do go to the doctor, that way you'll know for sure what the problem is. I think you should also see a nurse who will be able to help you with losing weight by giving you general advice, guidelines etc. As far I know, the nurse at my GP surgery also offers fortnightly weigh-ins... so maybe your surgery has something similar?

Hope that's been of some help to you. If you do need any more advice, feel free to PM me.

Reply 13

threeisthemagicnumber

I'm another person who had an underactive thyroid. All I noticed was that I was steadily gaining weight, but I thought it was to due with my other medication. I was also very cold a lot of the time. Didn't have any tiredness or depression (other signs). Anyway, now I'm on thyroxine, I feel worlds better in myself, and if I miss a few doses (like I run out, for example) I can tell a difference.

Of course this is only one possible reason for weight gain, but perhaps my experience will be useful to you.

Reply 14

Anonymous #1

I do feel cold a lot actually...I probably got home about two hours ago and still feel cold despite wearing a hoody. And my bf complains about random body parts of mine feeling cold. Someone had suggested I've got poor circulation but hmm...
Then again, I might just be being a hypochondriac :s-smilie:

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Sounds like I'm probably going to have to bite the bullet and make an appointment :frown:

Reply 15

Misogynist

There's most probably nothing wrong with your glands you just aren't working hard enough. If you REALLY want to lose weight, and you REALLY want to make a commitment to yourself to lose it, you should go to the gym everyday and do 45 minutes of HIIT till exhaustion, followed by a 30 minute run with a very low cal high protein diet. If you don't lose anything with that in a week THEN you should go to the doctors.

If you've been sitting at home just not eating chocolate or drinking fizzy drinks and expect the fat to disappear, don't go to the doctors.

Reply 16

fleur de lis

Why

If you've been sitting at home just not eating chocolate or drinking fizzy drinks and expect the fat to disappear, don't go to the doctors.

I think the OP made it quite clear that they are not just sitting at home doing that. They exercise twice a week and try to walk where they can, as well as trying to eat healthily. Granted perhaps a bit more exercise could be integrated, but I think it sounds like the OP has been making a concerted effort. :smile:

Reply 17

Misogynist

Two times a week just hopping onto the treadmill won't work. You need to make a sincere dedicated effort. Like going to the gym everyday and doing 45 minutes of HIIT and 30 minutes of a run (Non treadmill, preferrably uphill.) You should be completely exhaused by the end of it. Also, you should go very high protein and as low carbs and cals as possible. Reduce your calorie deficit from the RDA by about 500 each week, and by the end of the month you will be lean.

If this doesn't work THEN consider going to the doctors, because right now it just seems like you're looking for an excuse to know why you aren't losing weight.

(Also, not eating pudding etc will help, and walking around will help, but not enough. It'll be a very slow process. What the OP is looking for is quick fat loss I think which is what I'm showing her how to do.)