Unexplained weight gain

[autumn62]

I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 19, I'm now 56. I've struggled with my weight most of my life until 6 years ago when joined SW. I reached my target weight within 14 months and managed to stay within my target range until recently. I still follow SW and exercise 5 days per week but I'm struggling with my weight and can't lose no matter what I do. Has anyone else experienced this?

[IndigoBlue61]

Hello and welcome to the forum autumn62 😊

Very well done for losing weight and keeping it off, that’s not easy for anyone, but especially difficult was we get older. As women age the hormonal changes affect how our bodies utilise sugar and carbohydrates. Please read this for a more detailed explanation healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh... I don’t know much about SW but it could be you need to eat differently?

You will have been given links to our Pinned Posts in your Welcome message when you first joined, please read them carefully, especially the Welcome Newbies and the Security Post. (I notice your post is unlocked) This is a very busy forum with lots going on but feel free to ask if you have any questions 😊

Best Wishes in your weight loss journey

Indigo 😊

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone]

It sounds as though you might need to make a change to your eating plan, if it is no longer working. IndigoBlue has given you something very important to read that could give you a different approach.

This link and video are specific to PCOS and I hope you'll find them useful

bda.uk.com/foodfacts/pcos.pdf

The video is only 18 mins long and very informative

youtu.be/N2KD-nTiJ14(Not working as expected?)

[Hidden]

Have you seen your GP yet and has he/ she taken bloods? It might be worth you posting on thyroid uk to help eliminate a thyroid issue. Do you have any other symptoms maybe tiredness, hair loss, constipation, low mood? You have done incredibly well to have maintained your weight loss for so long and I feel for you as I went through the same thing. I lost 15 stone in weight over a ten year period and kept it off for another 3 with over eaters anonymous but then despite running at least 15 miles a week and not changing my eating weight piled on for no apparent reason. It is soul destroying. I found my way to thyroid uk and have been helped with so many of what I thought were unrelated issues. SW is a very low fat diet and fat is needed to produce hormones.

[autumn62 in reply to Hidden]

I had a thyroid test a couple of months ago but it didn't show anything abnormal. After reading a few articles that the administrators linked me in to I'm going to try a low GI diet although I will still go to SW too. This last year has been very difficult and I feel every day is a battle. I've gained weight for no apparent reason as my diet is healthy & I do exercise. I've tried switching foods around, omitting various food groups etc but nothing helps. My SW advisor is also at a loss as we've tried everything.

[Hidden in reply to autumn62]

There is a lot of debate about the current bloods tests and one of the issues is that what is considered normal in the uk would indicate the need for treatment in other countrys. The Uk has the widest range of normality in the world. I was also told my bloods were normal but I have learn never to accept that now and always get a copy of my blood results. What is also happening is people re being told bloods are normal when borderline or just over or below, not just with thyroid with alsorts of issues. My store of thyroid hormone was below range for 15 years but told normal as the TSH was in range. It was also missed that my ferretin was low and vitamin D low. It is up to you and low GI is I think healthier than SW but unexplained weight gain, when you are clear that you have not been over eating and you have been moving around indicates a physical issue. You are legally intitled to a copy of your blood results, just ask receptionists at your surgery or access online.