Struggling with weight gain: How to manage unwanted weight?

Exactly, that’s my point—it seems like for this guy, being overweight isn't even considered a disease, let alone something that leads to one. Or maybe it won't.

I would honestly love to hear a professional explain that whole "inflammatory process" they kept bringing up in that show I was watching (they used American teenagers as the case studies). Regardless of what actually caused the weight gain—though if you look at their daily diets, nobody could argue it wasn't just straight-up overeating. We're talking zero fruit, zero vegetables, no soup, no stews, nothing whole grain... just donuts, burgers, fried eggs, sandwiches, and massive portions of all of it. They found that inflammatory marker in everyone on the show, but I can't recall if they actually treated it with anything. And honestly, does treating inflammation even make sense if these kids are still eating the exact same way?

Is there anyone living near Madison Square Garden who might be up for a ninety-minute walk every day? Gender doesn't matter to me...

I’d really love to hear from people who have dealt with both being underweight and overweight over the years—those of you whose weight tends to fluctuate quite a bit (sort of like my own experience)...
How do you actually tackle the issue, how do you deal with it, and what kind of toll does it take on you—you know, mentally and physically?

I have this feeling that my current struggle (which is carrying some extra weight right now) is pretty closely tied to the emotional stuff I'm dealing with... I tend to reach for food whenever I feel like I'm backed into a corner with no way out. Then again, I've had these issues before, too, and I managed to drop quite a few pounds back then... Granted, it wasn't exactly the healthiest way to go about it, but I did get the weight off...

I can't help but wonder why we don't have free support groups here in Washington, D.C., specifically for weight loss, similar to the ones available for alcoholics or other types of addiction?...
Do you think anyone can actually help you lose weight, or does it just require that sudden "click" in your brain—the kind of moment I seem to experience whenever I'm successfully shedding kilos?

Thanks!
🙂

shadowridge11 said:Is there anyone living near Madison Square Garden who would be up for a ninety-minute walk every day? Gender doesn't matter...

I would honestly love to hear from people who have cycled through both healthy weights and being overweight over the years—those of you where the scale is constantly fluctuating (just like it is for me)...
How do you actually tackle the issue? How do you solve it, and what kind of toll does it take on you, both mentally and physically?

In my opinion, my current struggle with weight is tied directly to the emotional pain I'm dealing with... I find myself reaching for food whenever I feel like I’m backed into a corner with no way out. But look, this isn't new; I've had issues before, and I've successfully dropped a ton of weight in the past. Granted, I didn't do it the "healthy" way, but I got the job done.

Why on earth isn't there a free support group in Washington, D.C., specifically for weight loss, similar to how they have groups for alcoholics or other addicts?..
Do you think anyone can actually help you lose weight, or does it just require that sudden mental "click"—that moment of clarity I experienced every time I managed to shed the pounds?
Thanks!
🙂

Of course they exist. There's an AA-style support group right over by Grand Central Terminal.

I have a question, and look, I apologize in advance if I should have dropped this into an existing thread—I just couldn’t find one.

I’m trying to figure out which specific sex hormones actually need testing to pinpoint a hormonal imbalance that might be driving weight gain.

From what I understand, you've got cortisol, leptin, ghrelin... but is there more to the story? Should I be looking at estrogen? Progesterone? Testosterone?

Basically, I just want to know the full list of things to check to see if there's some underlying hormonal mess causing the scale to creep up.

Thanks for any help you can give. 🙂

Donna Campbell said:I have a question, and I apologize in advance if I should have posted this in an existing thread—I just can't seem to find one.

I’m wondering which sex hormones need to be checked to identify any hormonal imbalances that might be contributing to weight gain.

From what I know, there's cortisol, leptin, ghrelin... is there anything else? Estrogen? Progesterone? Testosterone?

Basically, I want to know the full list of things to look at to determine if a hormonal disorder is causing weight gain.

Thanks for the help. 🙂

It doesn't work quite like that. You also have to look for specific physical changes that accompany certain disorders. For example, when Sy. Chusing is evaluating a patient, they look for signs like "moon face," purple stretch marks, and so on. They check for hypertension, high blood sugar, and various other indicators.
A standard initial screening should include cortisol, ACTH, blood glucose, insulin, TSH, prolactin, and potentially sex hormones.

vividsailor7 said:It doesn't work like that. You also have to look at characteristic changes that come with certain disorders, like Sy. Chusing looks for whether there's a moon face, purple stretch marks, etc. They check for hypertension, high blood sugar, and so on.
A basic workup should include cortisol, ACTH, glucose, insulin, TSH, prolactin, and maybe sex hormones.

Okay... well, that gives me a bit of a roadmap.

The thing is, for a while now, I’ve been gaining weight completely out of control. It doesn't matter that I watch what I eat, or that I'm hitting the gym, or any of the other stuff people tell you to do... I'm just bloating up, especially around my midsection. If I manage to lose a pathetic half-pound—which feels like running a marathon—I just gain two back immediately. It's infuriating. I feel like some balloon being pumped full of water; I can't wear a single thing in my closet anymore... seriously.

To make a long story short, I've tried every weight loss treatment under the sun. Zero results. They suggested that one reason this might be happening is a hormonal imbalance. Not too long ago (maybe 6 to 10 months back), I had my thyroid levels checked, and the results came back fine. Now they're telling me, "Maybe it's your sex hormones," or they mention that cortisone thing...

So, I find this list of private clinics that handle this kind of testing (because I refuse to wait months for an appointment at a public hospital), and I need to book something. But the problem is—I don't know what to ask for. I can't just walk in and say, "Just test every hormone in my body." Mostly because my bank account absolutely cannot handle that.

That's why I'm asking: where do I even start if I want to figure out if this weight gain is actually being driven by a hormonal issue?

Donna Campbell said:Alright... so we have a starting point here.

The thing is, I’ve been gaining weight uncontrollably for a while now, despite the fact that I’m watching my diet, exercising, and doing everything else you're supposed to do... I'm just bloating, especially around my midsection. If I manage to lose a measly half a pound—which is an absolute struggle—I end up gaining two back immediately. It's infuriating. I feel like a balloon being pumped full of water; I can't wear anything anymore... seriously.

To make a long story short, I've tried every weight loss treatment under the sun, and nothing works. Zero. They suggested that one possible reason for this might be a hormonal imbalance. Not too long ago (maybe 6 to 10 months back), I had my thyroid levels checked, and the results were fine. Now they're telling me, "Maybe it's your sex hormones," or they mention cortisol...

So now, I find this list of private clinics that handle this stuff (because I refuse to wait months for an appointment at a public hospital), and I need to book something, but I honestly don't know—for what exactly should I book? I can't just walk in and say, "Test every single hormone in my body." Even if I could, my bank account definitely couldn't handle it.

That's why I'm asking: where do I even begin if I want to figure out if this weight gain is actually caused by a hormonal issue?

Start with your primary care physician.
You need someone to give you a proper initial exam first.
And then they can order the tests mentioned above.

Hello everyone. Given that I have always had a natural tendency toward weight gain, and considering that I have been struggling with my weight lately despite not eating excessively, I have decided to take a more methodical approach. Before I attempt any drastic dietary changes, I want to first investigate whether there might be an underlying physiological cause—specifically looking into my hormone levels, thyroid function, or perhaps some other systemic issue.

I am curious as to what specific tests or markers I should be examining to determine if there is any underlying imbalance present in my system.

I am planning to have this done at a private laboratory later this week, though I am hesitant to authorize any additional testing that might end up being an unnecessary expense if it isn't directly linked to my weight gain.

If you could please specify exactly which markers or parameters I should request my doctor to examine during my blood work, I would be most grateful.😁 Please, I kindly ask you to write.

Furthermore, if there is any other metric or specific value you believe I should have examined, please do not hesitate to let me know. Before I commit myself to any rigorous dietary changes or intensive exercise regimens, I feel it is absolutely essential that I first identify the underlying cause of my current situation.

Thank you.

So, you aren't even overeating, yet the scale keeps creeping up? Have you noticed anything else weird going on besides that?

I don't know everything there is to know about hormone panels—like FSH, LH, prolactin, testosterone, estrogen, progesterone... I've just picked up bits and pieces from reading what other women post here—but if you're looking at your thyroid, you really need fT3, fT4, and TSH. You could just do T3 and T4, but the "f" stands for free hormones; they give a much clearer picture of what's actually happening. Since you're paying out of pocket anyway, I'd suggest getting the free ones checked.

It isn't necessarily that I overeat, but my diet is quite unhealthy, and I am far too sedentary; honestly, this has always been my baseline lifestyle. Ever since I stopped taking birth control pills—which was over two years ago now—I have noticed a steady, progressive weight gain, even though my eating habits and activity levels haven't changed one bit.

The first oral contraceptives I was prescribed were Yasmin, and while on them, my weight remained perfectly stable. I didn't experience any weight gain, and my cycles were regular (though they aren't anymore), but I suffered from frequent headaches, which eventually led me to stop taking them. Since then, I have attempted to switch to different brands, but some caused such significant side effects that I had to discontinue them as well.

Given that my mother dealt with thyroid issues and eventually underwent surgery to address them, I find myself wondering if there might be a genetic component at play here, so I am considering seeing a specialist to have my own levels checked.

I have also been under an immense amount of stress over the past year due to several life upheavals—dealing with a death in the family, my father's illness, and work pressures—and my moods have been fluctuating quite frequently. It is possible that PCOS could also be a factor in all of this.🤷

Because of these concerns, my priority is to get comprehensive blood work done first, and once I have those results, I plan to consult with both my gynecologist and my primary care physician so we can determine the best course of action. If my blood work comes back completely normal, then I will truly have to sit down and contemplate what my next steps should be.

I’m fairly certain you’ll need a referral from an OB-GYN specifically to get those reproductive hormones tested; a general practitioner usually can't sign off on that. That said, it would be a smart move to have your doctor run a full panel including your thyroid levels (though a GP can definitely handle the thyroid referral). Just make sure you coordinate the blood work with your cycle, as the timing is critical for getting accurate hormone readings.

I am planning to head over to a private laboratory so I can get this taken care of immediately and have the results ready without delay. I was wondering, though—is it necessary to test my peripheral hormones specifically during my menstrual cycle? It seems like that timing could be somewhat unpredictable, to say the least.😢

In principle, yes. You generally need to have your sex hormones drawn between days three and five of your cycle—though it can vary depending on whether you're looking at day 21 or not—but you can test your thyroid levels at any time.

Bitchy, just call the lab where you're planning to get tested and ask them what their specific protocol is for hormone panels. I'm sure they'll walk you through the whole process.

Aren't you dealing with symptoms like hair loss or feeling absolutely exhausted?

Sarah Rodriguez68, I’m planning to head straight there tomorrow to get at least the thyroid test done, and then we can figure out what to do about the external ones; it feels pointless to wait for my period to pass when I can just get the thyroid work out of the way now.

melloworca6, hmm, I am certainly feeling exhausted, and I find myself napping quite frequently in the afternoons. As for hair loss? I wouldn't say I've noticed any, though my mother would insist that my hair has thinned out. I'm not entirely sure how objective she's being, given that she struggles with her own hair issues, so I suspect she might be exaggerating things a bit.

Here’s the rundown on hypothyroidism symptoms—basically what happens when your thyroid decides to slow down:

• Dry, flaky skin that’s prone to issues like acne, impetigo, eczema, or cellulitis, plus itching (especially during the winter months);
• Fluid retention: yellowish skin discoloration, a puffy face, swollen eyelids, an enlarged tongue, a deeper voice, frequent sore throats, hearing issues, and swelling in the shins (pretibial edema);
• Thinning hair, hair loss, and patchy baldness;
• Chronic fatigue and total exhaustion is one of the biggest red flags. People often complain they're wiped out even if they sleep plenty and have no obvious reason to feel that way. That constant drain just makes you tense and irritable;
• Psychomotor slowing, brain fog, and memory lapses. You might deal with mood swings ranging from irritability and sleep disturbances (sleeping too much) to depression, or even full-blown psychotic symptoms like delusions, hallucinations, or paranoia. It can get bad enough that someone ends up in a psychiatric ward by mistake;
• A sluggish metabolism characterized by low oxygen consumption in tissues and decreased enzyme activity. This leads to a lower basal body temperature and being unable to handle the cold. Other signs include reduced sweating, a slow heart rate (bradycardia), and high cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides. Weight might go up or stay the same, while appetite stays low or normal. That relentless fatigue is also fueled by frequent anemia, even if your iron and vitamin levels look fine on paper (normochromic, normocytic anemia);
• Swelling in the neck area;
• High blood pressure;
• Constipation;
• Irregular menstrual cycles, usually involving heavy bleeding (menorrhagia);
• Infertility;
• Muscle weakness, cramps, aches in muscles and joints, and sometimes unsteady walking (ataxia);
• Slow healing—even small cuts or scratches that you wouldn't normally notice take way longer to mend;

Does this sound like you?

I’m only just realizing how many of these I actually had without ever connecting the dots. And the fatigue isn't just regular tiredness. No matter how much you sleep, you wake up exhausted. At least, that was my experience. There was a stretch where I was sleeping 12 to 14 hours a day.

I suppose I can see some patterns emerging here... I will definitely be looking into my thyroid levels, but I am also curious about what else might be out of balance besides my thyroid and sex hormones.

Since I am already planning on making the rounds with my doctors, I might as well make sure I get all those boxes checked off properly.😁

Admin, please forgive me if I’m barking up the wrong tree here. I couldn't find a specific thread dedicated to weight management, and honestly, why I ended up wandering into the women's health section is anyone's guess—I suppose it's just because this concerns my wife.
My wife (55) is struggling with her weight, and we just can't seem to get it under control.
We fell down a rabbit hole reading some alternative health blogs, where everyone insists that honey and cinnamon is the magic cure for shedding pounds. So, naturally, I've been playing barista for her, prepping two cups every single day—one in the morning and one at night. We've been at this for over twenty days now, yet there isn't a hint of progress.
If anything, the scale is actually going up instead of down. It's maddening.
Does anyone here have any actual, sensible advice on where we're going wrong? Is there any point to all this, or are we just wasting our time?

Thanks

Jeffrey Lee10 said:Look, I hope the mods don't mind me popping in here, but I couldn't find a specific thread on weight issues in the list, and honestly, I’m not even sure why I ended up wandering into the women's health section myself—I guess it's just because my wife is the one dealing with this.
My wife is 55, and she's really struggling with her weight; no matter what we try, nothing seems to stick.
We were reading some stuff on WebMD, but it feels like everyone there just pushes that same old honey and cinnamon trick like it's some magic cure-all for dropping pounds. So, I’ve been playing barista for her, making her two cups a day—one in the morning and one at night—for over twenty days now, but we aren't seeing even a hint of movement on the scale.
If anything, the numbers are actually creeping up instead of going down.
Does anyone out there have some actual, sensible advice on where we might be missing the mark so we aren't just wasting our time?

Thanks

Once you've gone through the proper clinical and lab work—specifically looking closely at thyroid hormones and reproductive hormones—you absolutely have to address and fix any irregularities that show up (assuming there actually are any).

But when it comes down to managing body mass, the gold standard is pretty straightforward:

1. Some basic elementary school math—if someone wants to shed weight, they have to consume less energy than they burn. Basically, you need a caloric deficit (you can find all sorts of charts online showing calorie counts for food versus how many calories different activities burn).
2. Picking the right foods.
3. Exercise (ideally under the guidance of someone who actually knows what they're doing)—the human body is an incredibly sophisticated system built for movement; our limbs are significantly larger than our torso for a very good reason—so we can actually perform work (and thereby burn off those calories).
4. Persistence (and a bit of stubbornness—basically a mental battle of "Who's going to win: this donut, or ME?!" 🙂 )
5. Grit.
6. Pure determination.

You should expect to see real results in about six weeks, so there's really no point in getting discouraged too early.😉

That should be enough to get started.

Goodness, what a dark honey—it’s almost as if they added extra sugar to the batch! Personally, I would much rather satisfy my sweet tooth through fruit, though even then, one must exercise a certain level of caution, shouldn't one? There is this condition known as insulin resistance, and honestly, I would much prefer to have my bloodwork checked at a clinic like Mayo Clinic before I started incorporating honey into my daily diet. You can actually get a referral from your OB-GYN for these things; I am just so incredibly grateful that mine sent me for testing—isn't it wonderful that we actually have access to these kinds of screenings?