Schneewittchen Posted June 29, 2014 Share Posted June 29, 2014 Hi everyone, my first post here so I hope I find you all well! My problem is the 20 pounds I seem to put on every couple of years, which I then have to lose - this gets a lot harder as I get older - only to somehow find it has crept back on again sometime later. Each time I swear I will never get back to that weight again as I love being slimmer so much, but seem to not notice until I am back up again. I never put on more than 20 lbs as that seems to trigger a wake up call. I am 5'4 and fluctuate between 130 and 150 lbs. I exercise 4-5 times per week without fail and look too gaunt at less than 130, but quite chubby at 150 Any advice on breaking this exhausting cycle? I seem to be sabotaging myself almost... Thanks Link to post Share on other sites
fortyninethousand322 Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Maybe start keeping a log of all your exercise routines and what you eat each day. Every single day. See if there's a pattern. Maybe you put on weight in the winter time because you loaf it on the workouts due to the cold (just guessing, not saying that's what you do, though a lot of people do that). Maybe you eat more in the winter, or in the summer. Maybe it's a certain type of food that you eat too much of without realizing. Whatever it is, it certainly can't hurt to write things down and see if something is up. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
deathandtaxes Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 You have to watch what you eat. You need to weight yourself more often. You need to know how much your body needs to maintain weight. It's a tricky process. The good thing is that you seem able to lose the weight. But you slowly put it on. That's a slight calorie surplus for you that should be easily overcome by some lifestyle eating changes. 49k's suggestion is apt. Keep a log. See what you're eating. What the nutrition is. And what you can cut back on and change. There is almost always a healthier alternative than what you're eating. And don't forget to splurge once in a while... Link to post Share on other sites
lollipopspot Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 (edited) My problem is the 20 pounds I seem to put on every couple of years, which I then have to lose - this gets a lot harder as I get older - only to somehow find it has crept back on again sometime later. Each time I swear I will never get back to that weight again as I love being slimmer so much, but seem to not notice until I am back up again. I never put on more than 20 lbs as that seems to trigger a wake up call. I think you need to weigh yourself more often. You shouldn't be unaware of it until the moment you suddenly find yourself 20 lbs heavier. If you caught it at 5 lbs it would be a lot easier to take off. Don't your clothes fit quite a bit differently with that extra 5-10 lbs? Do you wear very baggy clothes and stretch waists? If you were more carefully monitoring it, you could just cut back a little as you noticed you were getting heavier, and not have to get into the full on dieting mode of trying to lose 20 lbs. Also - I don't weigh myself often, but I notice how my clothes fit and how my body looks. So if I were gaining that much weight, I could deal with it without the scale. But it sounds as though you may need the scale to monitor yourself more objectively. Edited June 30, 2014 by lollipopspot Link to post Share on other sites
leavesonautumn Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Hi everyone, my first post here so I hope I find you all well! My problem is the 20 pounds I seem to put on every couple of years, which I then have to lose - this gets a lot harder as I get older - only to somehow find it has crept back on again sometime later. Each time I swear I will never get back to that weight again as I love being slimmer so much, but seem to not notice until I am back up again. I never put on more than 20 lbs as that seems to trigger a wake up call. I am 5'4 and fluctuate between 130 and 150 lbs. I exercise 4-5 times per week without fail and look too gaunt at less than 130, but quite chubby at 150 Any advice on breaking this exhausting cycle? I seem to be sabotaging myself almost... Thanks I'm actually in the exact same boat as you, except I'm 5'2 and I go between 125 and 145 (gaunt at 125, chubby at 145). I'm going to second the poster who said to start logging everything you eat, all the water you drink and whatever type of work outs you're doing. Pilates is really awesome because whenever I get into it, I notice myself standing taller and not slouching over. Try changing up your work outs or do different fun things so you don't get bored. My issue is that boredom takes over but I LOVE to dance so I follow along with blogilates (seriously, check it out, it's fun!). Also, if you drink pop/soda, stop Link to post Share on other sites
Author Schneewittchen Posted June 30, 2014 Author Share Posted June 30, 2014 Thanks all for your helpful replies. You are all speaking sense I know. 49k you are right that I tend to gain over the long dark northern European winter, I suffer slightly from SAD and tend to crave foods I can ignore in the summer, know it will have consequences but seem to not have the willpower to resist. You are all right that I should monitor myself more closely and in fact I am aware that I am gaining (clothes etc) but don't seem to feel strongly enough to tackle it until I feel disgusted by the amount I have gained. As a side issue I suffered briefly with anorexia in my teens and it's quite dangerous for me to weigh every day as I may slip back into obsession with my weight which I don't want to risk. Likewise with the focus on writing everything down which may trigger me. Leaves - I am relieved I am not the only one in this situation, although wouldn't wish it on you! Dies anyone think hypnotism might help me? I have been thinking of trying it... Thanks again for taking the time to reply Schneewittchen Link to post Share on other sites
fortyninethousand322 Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Thanks all for your helpful replies. You are all speaking sense I know. 49k you are right that I tend to gain over the long dark northern European winter, I suffer slightly from SAD and tend to crave foods I can ignore in the summer, know it will have consequences but seem to not have the willpower to resist. You are all right that I should monitor myself more closely and in fact I am aware that I am gaining (clothes etc) but don't seem to feel strongly enough to tackle it until I feel disgusted by the amount I have gained. As a side issue I suffered briefly with anorexia in my teens and it's quite dangerous for me to weigh every day as I may slip back into obsession with my weight which I don't want to risk. Likewise with the focus on writing everything down which may trigger me. Leaves - I am relieved I am not the only one in this situation, although wouldn't wish it on you! Dies anyone think hypnotism might help me? I have been thinking of trying it... Thanks again for taking the time to reply Schneewittchen Well another idea might be to purposely train for something that takes place in the winter. Maybe a half marathon or marathon. Or an intense sport. That way you'll continue to train hard during the months when you eat more. Help counteract some (or all) of the weight gain. Link to post Share on other sites
pink_sugar Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 That's been me the past few years. I am 5'3" and have always fluctuated between 120-130. A few times I have gotten to 140 or 156 one time and had to really change my diet. Those large weight gains are when I worked at food and drink type jobs and controlling myself was difficult. I no longer work at places like that because it's hard to control how much I eat. Sometimes when I eat more than usual, I feel really horrible about myself and I hate looking at myself when I've gained a few. I agree with the other posters that vigorous exercise may help things. I love food myself and exercise 5 times a week as helped keep the weight off. Link to post Share on other sites
FitChick Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 I'm another one who can't understand how someone can gain so much weight and not notice. Five pounds and I am struggling to zip up my jeans. I weight myself at least once a week as well as measure myself. Measurements are more reliable than the scale. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
amaysngrace Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 I gain weight in winter and lose it in summer but it's only maybe a ten pound difference not twenty. It's easy to figure out why...it's cause I'm more active in summer and eat better than I do in winter. It's really a no-brainer to figure out why you go up and down in your weight. Link to post Share on other sites
leavesonautumn Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 I'm another one who can't understand how someone can gain so much weight and not notice. Five pounds and I am struggling to zip up my jeans. I weight myself at least once a week as well as measure myself. Measurements are more reliable than the scale. My excuse is that I wear leggings in the winter and jean shorts in the summer lol. I'd only notice the weight gain once summer came around, just a personal observation. Link to post Share on other sites
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