i have gained 20 lbs in the last yr . i'm 19 yrs old and exercise at least 3X a week & eat healthy
HI, my question is about unexplained weight gain. I am 19 years old and have gained 20 lbs in the last year. I rarely have unheallthy food. I eat very healthy at least 99% of the time. I exercise at least 3 times a week. Only 3 times if i have a test or a littl bit more work to do. I just seen to keep gaining a little bit at a time. I had blood work done a little while ago and my thyroid,blood pressure and choloesteral are good. I would like some tips to get back to my highschool weight which was 105.. i know it seems small but i am only 4"11! any help would be great.
Hi Marlena:
I am not a physician, but it appears your doctor has checked you out pretty thoroughly and medically you are ok.
What it sounds like is that you may have gained the infamous "Freshman 20" the weight that many college students gain in their first year or so.
There are a few things that typically happen in college that don't occur at home. You say that you are eating healthy food, and I have no doubt that's true. Do you ever find yourself snacking, especially late at night when you are studying? Study groups often have snacks and beverages in order to stay awake.
Second, your sleep patterns may have changed and this can have an effect on metabolism. College can also be very stressful, and stress can put on the pounds, since stress hormones include cortisone, which can cause weight gain.
You are exercising, but are you getting as much activity as you are used to? That is, are you spending time with friends the way you did before this year? Sometimes friends like to walk around at shopping malls and that, while you may not consider it exercise, is activity that burns calories.
You are not doomed to this weight gain, but may have to work harder than you did in the past to keep it off.
Best of luck,
Dr. Diana Walcutt
*Dr. Walcutt is a Psychologist. Dr. Walcutt's answers are not intended to diagnose or treat any medical or mental disorder. Any information given in a post about medication is for educational purposes only, and primarily to aid you in having an informed discussion with your own Psychiatrist/Physician.
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...also keep in mind that muscle weighs more than fat and that "healthy" foods have sugar in them too...even your favorite fruits. Eating more roughage(like a lettuce salad) and drinking lemon water can flush those fatty cells away. You could also concentrate more on exercises that trim that waistline, thighs, arms....yoga and pallates(?spelling) work great for me; and then I take a good 30 to 45 minute walk, (with my dog), every evening after dinner
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