Question: Why do I keep gaining weight? I'm 5'3" and used to weigh 205lbs. After several years of hard work & diet changes, I got down to 125lbs. I stayed 125 for a year. I worked out regularly, I still ate fast food and sweets, but I was convinced it was ok as long as I worked out everyday(bc I just kept losing weight). Then in XXXXXXX 2012, my husband passed away. It was an incredibly stressful time for me, I was exhausted all the time, I didn't have the energy to workout(or even care to bc I was so depressed & stressed). 3 months later I started putting on some weight. It seemed sudden. From October-November I gained 8lbs, most of which seemed to be in my abdomen. I was also having trouble with my periods at the time so in December I started a birth control to regulate it. I also started working out again. Through December-February my abdomen(esp the lower ab region) kept getting bigger, despite exercise. I'd also become very constipated, had trouble with bowel movements even when taking laxatives or enemas, any movements I had were kinda thin as if something was blocking it's path. I thought it could be due to the birth control so at the end of my 3rd pack I decided not to continue to the 4th pack. I'd just finished my period when a week later(severaldays after taking my last pill) I started bleeding very heavily. I bled nonstop heavily for 36hrs(soaking thru 2 super tampons an hour, every hour for the 1st 24 hrs). Im used to heavy periods, but this was scary. The bleeding finally stopped 2 days later, my stomach deflated, I was able to have a normal bowel movement again(normal size too, not thin) and 2 wks later I'd lost 6lbs(my 1st sign of any weight loss in THREE MONTHS, despite diet/exercise). I figured the weight gain had been due to the pill, I decided to stay off the pill & assumed I was on the right track to losing weight....it was short lived.
My stomach stayed deflated for about 2 months & then started swelling again. That was also my last true weight loss. In the last year I've steadily gained 20lbs, and it keeps coming. I workout 4 days a wk for 45mins, Ive increased my water intake, I eat less fast food and instead more vegetables everyday, I do low carb protein shakes everyday for lunch. Somehow I keep gaining! 3 months ago I decided I should increase my dumbbell weights from 5lbs to 8lbs for resistance training. In those 3 months, Ive somehow GAINED 8lbs! Please help.