Gaining a little...?

[timetoride5150]

So i've been steadily adding carbs to my dieting and feeling like i've gained a little bit of weight since doing so but haven't weighed myself or anything. My parents thought I was way to thin so they are liking that i'm adding so many carbs to my diet. Only healthy carbs of course. I weighed myself today and i'm four pounds heavier then I used to be. I don't really mind about seeing that however I don't like how I feel now. I know it's just three pounds but since i'm normally 108 and am suddenly 112, i'm small, and I can really feel thosefour pounds. I know my parents STILL think i'm too thin so theres no way I could cut back on my carbs a little so I can be 108 again. I'm sopposed to still be adding them! Does anyone have any suggestions on what I could do? I feel like I cheated and gained four pounds and yet, I didn't even cheat at all and still gained weight. That makes me really kinda upset.
I got spine surgery last year and haven't been able to be doing excersise or anything of any kind so it only makes sense that i'de gain weight as I add carbs. Coming this week my surgeon is allowing me to do moderate excersise again so i'm thinking possibly going to physical therapy and learning some work outs i can do would help...?

[mitzimarie]

Hi, Emily

Do you count your carbs? You may have crossed your CCLM (Critical Carbohydrate Level for Maintaining). In OWL, we were concerned with our CCLL (Critical Carbohydate Level for Losing)... that number of carbs we couldn't go over, or we'd stop losing. In Maintenance, we are concerned with our CCLM... the number of carbs we can't go over, or we start gaining. You may have just found yours, and you just need to back down about 5 to 10 carbs under it to lose what you have gained. Then, you go back to the number of carbs you can eat without losing or gaining.

Another possibility is that you have come across a food intolerance. Is there any food that you suspect? Maybe you could list some of your menus, and someone may spot something that could be trouble.

Good luck!

[sallyseachange]

Ditto what Mitzi said... also, adding in the gentle exercise could just tip the balance.

[timetoride5150]

Originally Posted by mitzimarie

Do you count your carbs?

No, I don't count them everyday but I roughly have the same thing every other day and switch off so I know what i'm eating. I have just around 50 net carbs a day sometimes 5 or so more and sometimes 5 or so less.
The problem is, with two parents who are encouraging me to gain back a little weight, reducing my carbs a bit to stop gaining would be totally out of the question. It's really quite a tough situation which is why I was hoping starting to excersise would help.

Also, i've noticed that since being on this diet i've had a real lack of energy. I almost drag my feet when I walk sometimes and I have trouble climbing stairs and whatnot and get out of breath very soon.
At first I assumed it was because I was on induction and eating so little carbs which was when i'de stand up after sitting down for awhile and get really dizzy, that part of it went away awhile ago once I added carbs but here I am five or so months later and i still am lethargic and get out of breath. Could there be any reason for this?
I mean, it's quite possible its just from being out of shape seeing as how the most amount of excersise i've gotten the past year is simply from walking around on account of my surgery.
Any advice or input?

Thanks so much for your responses, they really help!

[Porcelain]

It might be the lack of regular exercise. Before your surgery, were you very active? You are going to see a physical therapist? A therapist would be a good one to ask. I have fatigue but I have fibromyalgia and they say it goes with it. Have you had any blood work lately? Have you ever been anemic? AND! Do you take vitamins?

[timetoride5150]

Yeah, I was decently active previous to my surgery. I'm guessing its just from the fact that I haven't done ANY excersise in so long. I'm probably just really out of shape. Hopefully that will change when I begin seeing this PT. Oh, and yes, I take a multi vitamin daily.

[sheddingflab]

Hi Emily! First of all congratulations on that cute little tummy...I wish mine looked like that lol. Anyways could this bit of weight gain be a normal female-related fluctuation...you know we women gain and lose up to 5 lbs back and forth. I wouldn't worry about it unless you get to over 5 lbs gain and it keeps going up. As for the out of breath thing are to able to try to walk more for a little longer or a little faster each time? This might help build up your endurance over time so you don't get out of breath so easily? And do you drink a good amount of water? That might help you feel better and flush out any water weight gain? Also make sure your multi-vitamin contains iron if you don't eat a lot of red meat, all the b vitamins, and vitamin c...plus minerals like potassium, calcium, and magnesium.

[Porcelain]

Just checking in to see if things were better for you. Hope so!

[timetoride5150]

Actually, I awkwardly haven't had my TOM since i began this diet. I'm a bit worried seeing as how it's inching on 4 months now...!
I know when you change your eating habits it effects this, but I thought i'de get it by now. So no, the added weight gain isn't from that, sadly. Any reason you think I still haven't gotten it?
I drink a lot of water and I see my PT on monday for the first time. Hopefully that will begin to get me in shape.
I'm not rapidly gaining weight anymore or anything but I do gain about a pound throughout the week. I stopped adding carbs to my diet and now stay at roughly 50 net carbs.
If I continue slowly gaining weight, I don't know what i'll do. Maybe by then i'll be excersising and it will all be muscle?

Thanks guys!

[kate58]

At 5'3" and 110lbs you are at the very lowest end of what is a healthy weight for your height. Another inch taller and it's underweight. Check your height again occasionally - at 17 you could still be growing!!!

The other thing is that at 17 you are changing from being a girl to becoming a woman. Like it or not that means more curves and a higher body fat percentage. Attemting to stop that from happening by diet isn't healthy and can do harm. I'd be concerned that your periods have stopped since you lost weight. I'd be concerned that your parents are so concerned. What does your doctor say about your weight?

I am not saying the weight you are at is too low or is not the right weight for you. I'm just saying that maybe you should pause and think about it and discuss it with those who can see you and get a better feel for it than we could. Being the thinnest you can be isn't necessarily being the healthiest you can be.