Struggling with weight gain: How to manage unwanted weight?

Jason Lee81 NewcomerOP

1 message
joined Sep 2007

#1 · Sep 26, 2007

I am 15 years old, and I am struggling significantly with my weight and body composition. My weight gain became uncontrollable when I was about seven, though the issue isn't just the number on the scale—it's more about how much body fat I carry. Over the last year, I’ve been hitting the gym consistently, and I managed to drop from 158 lbs down to 127 lbs. While it's clear I've lost fat, the scale doesn't tell the whole story, as luckily my muscle gains have helped mask some of that loss. However, my main struggle is that I feel like I can't eat anything at all; if I indulge in something like chips or a candy bar, I seem to gain a pound or two almost instantly, even though I train for two hours every single day. I’ve cut out sodas and chocolate entirely, but if I eat
for instance, a small pastry or a sweet snack, the scale immediately jumps by two or three pounds the next morning. I used to think these fluctuations were just random daily variations, but there was one week where I actually gained 15 pounds. Because of this, I feel forced to practically fast the following day, otherwise, that weight just stays stuck. I can't help but wonder if there is an underlying medical issue or something else going on... and it isn't limited to just sweets or sandwiches. It's frustrating because I see my friends during summer break eating burgers and several donuts, then having huge home-cooked meals right after, yet they don't play any sports and never seem to put on a single pound
Just as a side note, I have never been someone who overeats. I’ve always maintained a normal appetite, so I don't believe this is a simple matter of excessive calorie intake or a lack of activity, especially since I burn so much through exercise

analogseal32 Newcomer

1 message
joined Sep 2007

#2 · Sep 26, 2007

...but honestly, it seems a bit off to be putting on 2 or 3 pounds just from snacking on cookies and chocolate.
Why don't you go see a doctor and get a professional opinion? If you find a good one, they can actually help you figure this out. You didn't mention—or maybe I just missed it—how tall you are? Because, looking at the numbers, 127 pounds feels pretty light to me. Just try not to overthink things too much. At the end of the day, staying healthy is what matters; everything else is secondary. If you’ve been feeling sluggish or just totally unmotivated, you might want to check out that thread about thyroid issues; it might be worth getting your hormone levels checked. I really want to see you maintain that persistence and drive of yours—those are the exact qualities that are going to take you far in life!

coastalmarlin84 Newcomer

4 messages
joined Jun 2004

#3 · Sep 26, 2007

It’s either a hormone issue or all in your head.
Go see a doctor and actually talk to them. Just out of curiosity, how tall are you and what's your BMI?

Sam Hall15 Active Member

225 messages
joined May 2006

#4 · Sep 27, 2007

How tall are you? A one-pound daily fluctuation seems somewhat unrealistic; perhaps you should verify if your scale is functioning properly...
One factor that might partially explain your situation is that you likely have the hyperplastic type of obesity. In simpler terms, you have an excess of fat cells. While you can reduce their size, you cannot eliminate them entirely. This doesn't mean you can't achieve a lean physique, but it does imply you may need more time than those with the hypertrophic type, and you might find that weight returns much more rapidly...
However, if your weight truly fluctuates by as much as fifteen pounds in a single week, you should consult an endocrinologist immediately.

Nancy Adams79 Newcomer

7 messages
joined Jun 2009

#5 · Sep 27, 2007

Get some practice in.

Sam Hall15 Active Member

225 messages
joined May 2006

#6 · Sep 27, 2007

And try to get some decent sleep at a reasonable hour 😁

Alex Chavez5 Newcomer

6 messages
joined Aug 2008

#7 · Aug 1, 2008

Which kind of specialist should I be looking for regarding obesity? I really need someone who can dig into the underlying causes and then put together a solid diet and exercise plan.
Since the root issue could fall under several different specialties—like a gastroenterologist or an endocrinologist, for instance—where's the best place to start? Also, do those big-name weight loss clinics actually employ medical specialists?

rapidcanyon9 Member

14 messages
joined Jul 2009

#8 · Aug 1, 2008

Look.🙂

First off, you gotta be honest with yourself. Are you actually overeating to the point where it's all on you, or... maybe this is an endocrinologist thing? It’s possible your thyroid is acting up, just like mine did, and that's why the weight is piling on. If that's the case—go see your doctor and get a referral for blood work sent out to a lab. In the States, it takes maybe two weeks to get results back, and... well, you just follow whatever your doctor tells you.
But if it's the first thing I said... then you have to change your lifestyle. Now... should you go to some fancy institute or whatever? Honestly, I wouldn't. It's summer. Just go swim. The ocean, a lake, Cleveland, a pool... doesn't matter.
Once fall hits, you could try yoga if that's your thing, or aerobics, or Pilates. Maybe join a hiking club. The main thing is moving. Just move as much as possible.
Forget fast food places and all those greasy chains. Cook your own meals. Stick to cooked food more than grilled stuff. Eat more veggies, fruit, chicken, fish. Drink enough fluids—I mean soups, plain water, tea. You can have sweets too, just don't overdo it. The worst thing is when you start craving everything at once. That's how you fail. Good luck.

Dana Miller2 Member

16 messages
joined Sep 2008

#9 · Aug 1, 2008

I don't really have the answer to that, but you could always start by checking in with your General Practitioner... they can usually point you in the right direction if you need a referral.
A friend of mine actually went to this super expensive weight loss clinic once. Everyone was giving her crap about throwing money down the drain, but honestly? It worked for her. They put together a custom meal plan, but the real kicker was that it finally got her moving... and at the end of the day, that's the part that actually matters.

mistyranger51 Member

44 messages
joined Jan 2009

#10 · Aug 1, 2008

Alex Chavez5 said:Which kind of specialist actually handles obesity? I need someone who can dig into the root causes and then build a solid diet and workout plan.
Since the cause could fall under anyone—like a gastroenterologist or an endocrinologist—where do I even start? And do those big-name "weight loss centers" actually employ medical specialists?

Down in Cleveland, there’s a weight loss clinic over at the Mayo Clinic, and when I was in Washington, D.C., I saw that Professor Koršić—an endocrinologist at the major university hospital—specializes in weight issues. If you aren't near Washington, D.C. or Cleveland, though, you're probably looking at those commercial weight loss programs. Just search Google and maybe something will pop up near you.

Alex Chavez5 Newcomer

6 messages
joined Aug 2008

#11 · Aug 2, 2008

rapidcanyon9 said:First off, you have to be honest with yourself. You need to admit if you’re actually overeating to the point where your weight is caused by bingeing, or if... well, you really need to see an endocrinologist.

It’s not even about me (I’m "just" overweight, and I know exactly why that is ;-)), it’s about my boyfriend. He’s about 5'9" and weighs over 300 pounds. Honestly, he eats pretty well—lots of veggies, way more fish than meat, he isn't crazy about sweets, snacks, or soda, and he only drinks in moderation. I'd say he actually eats less than the average guy his age. It's true he spends most of his days glued to a computer and doesn't get much exercise, but looking at old photos, he was already heavy back when he was 25 and working as a scuba instructor... this has been a lifelong thing for him.
Last year, he went for a checkup at a clinic in Nemetov and he's perfectly healthy; his cholesterol is totally fine. Neither Montignac nor the Dietitians Association approach really made a dent, so I'm convinced he needs to see a specialist.
It's not that he's willing to go on his own accord 🙄 ... but man, I would love to avoid worrying about a heart condition if there's any way possible. 🤣

Alex Chavez5 Newcomer

6 messages
joined Aug 2008

#12 · Aug 2, 2008

Dana Miller2 said:I don't have a definitive answer for you, but your best bet is to start with your General Practitioner—they can get you a referral to a specialist.
A close friend of mine actually signed up for one of those high-end weight loss schools. Everyone gave her a hard time for throwing money away, but honestly? It worked for her. They built a custom meal plan, but more importantly, it finally gave her the push she needed to actually get moving. That was the real game-changer.

This thread is picking up, but I'm seeing zero actual results here so far. :-(
Those "weight loss schools" always feel a bit sketchy to me when they promise stuff like "lose 40 pounds in two weeks." We aren't looking for a miracle cure; we're looking for a sustainable program where you lose maybe 3 pounds a month and actually stay healthy.

Alex Chavez5 Newcomer

6 messages
joined Aug 2008

#13 · Aug 2, 2008

mistyranger51 said:Down in Cleveland, the Mayo Clinic actually has a dedicated weight loss clinic.

Have you ever been there? How often do you usually have to go in? We’re living in Washington, D.C., but he's from out of the country, and people in Cleveland mostly speak his language... I’m worried I might need a translator, especially since my medical vocabulary isn't exactly top-notch.

I saw in Washington, D.C. that Dr. Koršić—an endocrinologist at Johns Hopkins—specializes in weight issues.

That’s great info! I'll give them a call. I assume I'll probably need a referral from my General Practitioner first... but what if the issue isn't endocrine-related? I know plenty of general internists deal with weight management too.

Anyway, thanks so much for all the suggestions, everyone. I'm hitting the phones this Monday!

mistyranger51 Member

44 messages
joined Jan 2009

#14 · Aug 2, 2008

Alex Chavez5 said:Have you ever been there? How often do people actually go? We're based in Washington, D.C., but he's from out of the country—and since folks in Cleveland usually speak his language... I'm worried I'll need a translator, especially since my medical vocabulary is pretty much non-existent.

Awesome, I'll give them a call—I'm assuming I'll need a referral from my General Practitioner first... but what if the issue isn't hormonal at all? (I know plenty of internists deal with weight issues too)

Anyway, thanks for the tips everyone, I'll start making calls on Monday.

Maybe try seeing Koršić first. Has he ever checked thyroid levels? Could be hypothyroidism.

Alex Chavez5 Newcomer

6 messages
joined Aug 2008

#15 · Aug 2, 2008

mistyranger51 said:Maybe try seeing Professor Korsic first. Has he ever run thyroid hormone tests before? It could be hypothyroidism.

Not yet. I did a little digging on Korsic, and it looks like he might be getting ready to retire soon. 😢 I’m going to give the Mayo Clinic a call on Monday.

For anyone stumbling upon this thread, just so you don't have to go hunting for the info:

Mayo Clinic, DEPARTMENT OF ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLIC DISEASES
Head: Professor Mirko Koršić, PhD
Head Nurse: Đurđa Hršak, RN

tel. +1 555-012-3886, 555-012-301, 555-012-867
Endocrinology Lab +1 555-012-299
Fax +1 555-012-517

http://www.mayoclinic.org/endocrinology-dept-info

Benjamin Sanchez51 Member

41 messages
joined Jul 2008

#16 · Aug 3, 2008

Check out these threads—lap banding, gastric balloons, sleeve gastrectomy... all different ways to tackle weight loss. There are hundreds of posts in these discussions, so dig in if you want.

Alex Chavez5 Newcomer

6 messages
joined Aug 2008

#17 · Aug 3, 2008

Elizabeth Richardson said:You’ve actually got a few different things going on here—lap banding, gastric balloons, sleeve gastrectomy—they're all just different ways to tackle obesity. There are threads with hundreds of posts discussing them, so definitely take a look around.

Before I even start looking at treatment options, I really want to get to the root cause of the problem. Once we figure out what's actually driving this, I assume the doctors will be able to point us toward the right procedure.

Benjamin Sanchez51 Member

41 messages
joined Jul 2008

#18 · Aug 3, 2008

You missed my point—those threads show you how consultations actually work, like who you can even talk to... You don't have to commit to any procedure at the end, just go in there and explain what's up.

Nathan Moore95 Newcomer

2 messages
joined Dec 2008

#19 · Dec 5, 2008

I know people who’ve dropped 7 to 10 pounds a month without even touching a fad diet or starving themselves—they just followed this healthy weight loss program I’m on right now... and I've already lost about 7 pounds in my first month🙂

Scott Allen10 Regular

315 messages
joined Jun 2005

#20 · Dec 5, 2008

Nathan Moore95 said:I’ve actually known a bunch of people who have managed to drop like 10 to 15 pounds a month without ever touching a fad diet or starving themselves, just by following this healthy weight loss program I'm on right now... and honestly, it’s working wonders because I'm already down about 7 pounds in my first month.🙂

I'm just sitting here watching you...🙂Look, if I see one more ad popping up for some "miracle" detox water, a magic powder, or some sketchy link promising a god-tier weight loss formula, I’m gonna lose it—you’re getting kicked straight into outer space.

Struggling with weight gain: How to manage unwanted weight?

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