Hello there, my name is Sunny and I'm new to this website. I've been calorie counting since May, and I've gained 5 pounds since then. It is driving me nuts!

I am 17 years old, 5'4.5, and I weigh 147-150 lbs. I am borderline overweight and I typically hang right around the middle of the BMI range (120-130 lbs). I currently walk about 14-16 miles per day at a 4 MPH pace (I go outside and enjoy the bike paths when I'm bored rather then jumping in front of the TV...I go out with my friends, my dog or with a book on CD). Sometimes I'll bike instead or do a bit of jogging. I do full-body weight training every other day as well. I don't sit down unless I have to...it really makes my back ache. I might sit for an hour per day going to appointments or eating dinner, but that's it. I sleep 7 hours per night and eat about 2700 calories per day on average. I have calculated the calorie burn of a full day's worth of activity (all 24 hours, including sleep and standing around, housework, etc) using caloriesperhour.com, and it said 3200 calories. In theory, this should be a 500 calorie deficit.

I have quite a few medical issues and allergies/sensitivities: IBS, Acid Reflux, Bile Reflux, Hypoglycemia, Amenorrhea, wheat intolerance, and an extreme sensitivity to fatty/sugary foods. I had my gallbladder removed in 2006, and have developed most of these issues since then. My gallbladder was bad for a long time prior to its removal; it took my doctors 2 years to consider checking my gallbladder for gallstones, inflammation, etc. When they did, they discovered a ridiculously inflamed gallbladder littered was gallstones and basically rotting in my stomach. Black bile was drain from the organ during my surgery, and a cyst and multiple adhesions were discovered growing on my gallbladder. The cyst was huge and had spread to my liver. During the two years of confusion prior to the discovery of my gallbladder, I ballooned up to 200 from 130 lbs within 4 months without any changes to diet or exercise. I then dropped weight insanely rapidly after adding a 1 hour walk to my daily routine and changing nothing else. Eventually I lost my appetite and had to force down meals...some days I just ate nothing and only drank a bit of juice. Eventually I tried drinking Ensure and boost and making high calorie smoothies. I managed to reach about 3,000 calories sometimes. Still, my weight plummeted from 200 to 70 lbs within one year. Once my gallbladder was finally removed, I stopped losing weight, and, though it was painful to eat still, I began a weight gain program and got up to 120 lbs in about 8 months (at this point, it was the late summer of 2007). My doctor explained to me how my ill gallbladder messed with my weight (both the gaining rapidly and losing rapidly--though my lack of eating at times surely didn't help me to avoid weight loss). I still struggle to eat, because it hurts terribly, but I've learned to just tough it out and eat. I plan balanced, light meals and snacks now in order to ensure that I eat enough and that I control my hypoglycemia. I maintained a weight of 120-130 lbs from late summer 2007 to spring of 2009.

Here is the issue at hand. I have had Amenorrhea since soon after I began losing tons of weight (around April of 2006). My GP finally sent me to an OBG/YN in an attempt to figure out why my period was still MIA. After a slew of tests, she found that my progesterone levels were low and put me on Provera for one week. It did nothing. She then decided to try using birth control for one month, which did give me a spotty period in May, but didn't kick-start any more. Between the end of April and the beginning of May I gained 20 lbs in a matter of 2 weeks. I figured that I'd gained a bunch of water weight from the pills, but the pounds stuck around. I continued gaining a bit each week even after stopping the birth control and reached 145 lbs by the beginning of June. I suffer from severe depression, anxiety and stress, PTSD, OCD and mild Bipolar, and was admitted to a psychiatric hospital for medication purposes right around that time. After 10 days IP, I returned home on Wellbutrin and Abilify. I was also 10 lbs lighter. However, I gained those 10 lbs back within a matter of 3 days. I do bloat up a LOT (I appear 6 months pregnant), and I wasn't bloated at all when I returned, but once the bloating came back, so did the weight. I've gained another 5 pounds since then and I just keep feeling worse and worse with every day. I feel heavy/weighed down and fatigued. My stomach feels worse than ever and I never have normal bowl movements anymore. I'm getting headaches more often and I'm getting a ton of acne and growing a bunch of excess hair all over my arms, legs, belly...etc. I really DO NOT feel healthy at this weight, and I miss feeling vibrant and alive like I did when I was in my "happy weight" range that I held for so long. I could bike and run, I could participate in all of my acting groups, singing groups and volunteer jobs...I could enjoy myself without feeling bogged down (unless I was in a depressive state, of course-but I was unmedicated then). I want to get back to that place and I just don't know how to. I have been trying so hard, but I just keep gaining more and more weight and feeling more and more ill. All of my doctors are clueless now after running every test that they can think of. I am in perfect health according to every test.

Thanks for reading this all and for any help...

Have they checked to see if you have polycystic ovaries? If not I would mention it to them and ask them to do a test. They can do an ultrasound scan of your ovaries to check it out.

PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) ladies often have trouble with their weight, period regularity, skin and also get very hairy.

I am a PCOS lady. Be aware that laser only works on hair which contains pigment - so hairy ladies benefit from having laser treatment while they are still young. Some of my hair now grows in white or grey and it cannot be effectively lasered.

Wow. You've been through a lot! Kudos to you for pushing through and trying to keep a positive attitude.

I think the bottom line is that if you're gaining weight, then your maintenance calories are lower than you think they are.

I just ran a quick calculation and for 150lbs I come up with maintenance calories for you of 2250. (That's 150 lbs * 15 calories for a moderately active adult). Even if you bump that up to 17 calories per pound for a very active adult, I still only get 2550 calories to maintain your current weight.

So if you're eating 2700 calories a day, then you're eating at 500 calories ABOVE your maintenance. Now I know you said you walk a lot and are always active, but if you're normally like that, then your body becomes more efficient at those activities. Combine that with whatever drugs you're taking and the health issues - and I suspect you're simply eating too much.

My recommendation would be to cut back to around 1800 calories and see what that does for you. Make SURE that you're eating healthy calories - lots of veggies, lean protein, complex carbs, and healthy fats. Also make sure that you're accurately measuring your food - it's very easy to over measure and get an additional 300-500 calories a day (watch this video for an example: YouTube - Fat Loss Tips! Shocking!

I've read studies that say that over 70% of people over estimate their level of activity and underestimate their level of calorie intake. I really think it's possible that's what you're doing here.

They checked my ovaries via ultrasound back in April... I do seem to exhibit the symptoms of both PCOS and also Hypothyroid, but my tests came back normal. A friend of mine suggested that I am Hypothyroid despite the blood test coming back borderline, as my body temperature is always low (94-96) and she said that if it's under 98.6 degrees, your thyroid is under active. That's what her holistic doctor said anyway.

Thanks for replying.

Jeez...I was planning on reducing my activity level come school time, but then i guess that it'd be impossible to lose weight, since teens aren't supposed to eat under 1500 calories according to some kid/teen health websites that I've read.

I already eat a bunch of fruits and vegetables, along with lean proteins (fat free yogurt, cottage cheese, egg whites/eggs, chicken, turkey, fish, beans, peas, lentils...no red meat or pork--I hate both), very small amounts of healthy fats, oatmeal, buckwheat, barley...etc. I only consume natural, unprocessed products and I'm well known for my hatred towards sweets. That shan't be of issue. I also am carful to be accurate with my serving sizes...espcially with fatty foods and bulky foods (which is basically my entire diet!). I have a food scale and I use that all of the time.

I'm surprised that standing almost all day, cleaning around the house and staying generally active, and exercising PLENTY only requires a smidge over 2000 calories. Even when I went to the USDA website, it said 2400 calories for my age and activity level...and that was for 2 hours a day! I knew that the body can adapt to high activity like mine...I never would have guessed that it would adapt that much. Ah well, it's worth a shot, I'd suppose. My mom told me not to eat under 2500 calories, but I guess that I can discuss this again with her...

Well ... I just know that for me (and I weigh about 30 lbs more than you), I can't lose on 2500 calories. I lose at a steady rate when I eat between 1600 and 1800 calories a day.

The thing is, standing doesn't really burn that many calories. Walking at an average pace doesn't burn that many calories - especially if you do it all the time and your body has become efficient at it.

But the thing is that maintenance calories - from any source - are only an ESTIMATE. And given that you're not losing, then it follows that your maintenance calories are much lower than you've calculated - no matter what a website says.

It won't hurt you to drop down to 2000 or 1800 calories just to see. Your diet seems to be really good - lots of solid nutrition - so you're not going to deprive yourself of anything at that point. It's worth a try. I wouldn't drop down below 1500, I agree.

Yup...as I said, I'm going to try that. I guess that I'll try 2000 first and see what happens from there. Thanks for your advice.

You sound PCOS to me so it cannot harm to follow advice based on it just incase the doctors have missed something. Clearly it was one of the first things that your doctors thought - explaining why they organised the tests.

The best posting on PCOS that I have seen on the forum is the following... I had come to the same conclusions when I read this - but I loved hearing it from someone else. Follow most of the suggestions - I am sure that they will help.

Omega- Thanks for the tips...I already do eat like that aside from the fact that I eat carrots, yams and potatoes. I also don't take any supplements...would a supplement really help that much? Should I then be eating 2000 calories and following these guidelines?

I did talk to my mom an she thinks it unwise to decrease my caloric intake...but she said that I can if I really want to.

Is your mom a nutritionist or a dietitian or a doctor? I'm not trying to dismiss your mom's advice, but as I said, 2500 calories is normally maintenance for someone of your weight ... so why she'd say you shouldn't reduce more sort of baffles me.

No, she's just paranoid after I lost so much weight before. Motherly instinct, you know? That was the only time in my life that I lost weight, so it's likely a scary thought for her. I'd not purposely starve myself or undereat, however. She knows that...I'm definately going to try your suggestion, as it does make sense.

Thanks again. I'll let you know what happens.

I do take supplements - but not PCOS specific ones.

I found that I had to cut out all bread, rice, pasta (be they wholemeal or not) in order to lose weight. I also cut out potatoes. Even wholemeal things were able to sabotage my weight loss. I made sure that I was covering all my carb needs with fruit and veg (and I eat a lot of those).

I went through on fitday and ensured that all the aspects which showed any deficiency from my diet (which may have been caused by cutting out the above) were covered by the vitamins and supplements that I take every day.

I must say that I would have thought it worth cutting your calories down to 2,000 a day. It may be worth asking your mother if you can consult a nutritionist to get her spin on this - if your mother really does not want you to do this. I can understand how she will worry about you.

Careful measuring of your food and exercise and logging in FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal can only make the job of such a nutritionist easier. It would also satisfy your mother that you were acting responsibly and ensuring that you were not depriving your body of anything that it needs.

We both know that medical issues can cause our body to switch over into a mode where we can suffer an enormous gain. The bigger it gets before action is taken - the harder the task to fight our way back to a more normal size.

Hi Sunny,

Having read through your post I would not go it to any nutritional advice becuase I think whatever you are doing is not working due to so many underlying health issues that have not been repaired suffeciently for the body to operate and repair itself.

I will be brutally honest and tell you the things i think you need to look into with a GOOD naturapathic doctor or high quality nutritionist that has experience with advanced functional diagnostic nutrition. Your digestive system will be in bits due to all the treatments and anti-biotics you have had, your liver and detoxification systems are likely to still be toxic which reminds me i feel you should get screened for heavy metal toxicity via hair mineral analysis (if this is the case it can screw up everything even if you are doing EVERYTHING 100% correctly).

If you have an overactive thyroid this could be due to underactive adrenals which the thyroid is picking up the slack for. many many reason for this being the case.

Again i would stress working one to one with a highly qualified individual as i feel there are many underlying issues that need repairing!

good luck and ask more questions if you would like. Ben

I'll have to try cutting out the grains...that is something that I've not tried for a while! I used to do that (by mistake, and this was when I was trying to gain weight), and I kept losing weight on 3,500 calories per day--with practically no activity! I'm sure that things are different now, but it would probably still help. Thanks for mentioning that! I'll miss oatmeal, as it is an easy food to eat, but I'm willing to do ANYTHING for the sake of my heath (I've already been forced to severely decrease my nut/seed intake and cut out wheat from my diet--I've also previously been told by my doctor to see is cutting out dairy or fruit would help...thankfully I can still tolerate those two food groups ). I eat a good bit of beans, peas, and lentils...do I need to cut these out, too? They are extremely nutritious, but I'm not sure if they're too starchy.

I log my food intake on nutritiondata.com, as they seem to provide the most extensive nutritional data. I come up short on one or two vitamins/minerals each day, but they are always different, and everything averages out to be fine within the week.

My mom is okay with me trying it for a little while. She said that she just wants to see me happy and healthy again. She is really good to me...I have been to a bunch of dietitians and nutritionists in and out of various hospitals (I was placed IP for three months at my lowest weight because I was completely medically unstable and passed out on the floor one night--turns out I had a severe electrolyte imbalance). We have gone to every non-holistic dietition in our area at this point...I'm visiting a holistic one on Tuesday (there finally is one in the area). I'm also starting accupunture on Tuesday, and I've already been visiting a chiropractor. Thanks god we have good insurance. The accupunturist, chiropractor, and dietition are all in the same office, and they carry a wide range of natural supplements. The dietition will be discussing them with me.

Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to give me advice.

I will search around and try to find a doctor like this...I have not had any of those tests run and I do tend to have random and uncommon medical issues (my father had a rare congenial heart disease that only a handful of people have...perhaps I got his "rare illness" genes...haha).