Expert: Jeanne Rust, PhD - 8/28/2009

Question
Hello, I am DESPERATE for help. I am 32 years old, female, 5'5, 132 pounds. My entire life I have weighed between 120-125 pounds. I have always eaten healthy and exercised. 3 years ago I started seeing a personal trainer and introduced strength training to my exercise. I lost 25 pounds in 10 months (so I got down to 100 pounds). I was eating exactly the same, just strength training in addition to the cardio I had always done. My trainer quit and so I tried to keep training myself. I eat EXACTLY the same and exercise EXACTLY the same. I wear a heart rate monitor and burn between 600-700 calories per day at the gym. I go to the gym 7 days a week. I eat between 1400-1500 calories per day. I had my RMR tested by a RD and it is 1390 at complete rest. My body fat is high- 29%. So, I should be able to eat over 2000 calories a day without gaining weight. As I said, I eat 1400-1500. I have been steadily gaining weight ever since the extreme weight loss. I now weigh more than I ever have. I have cellulite and do NOT look like I am dieting and exercising. I count every calorie and weigh all my food. I don't eat in restaurants. I have had my thyroid tested via blood tests and am completely healthy. No one can figure out why I am not losing weight. CAN YOU PLEASE PLEASE GIVE ME SOME GUIDANCE? I don't understand why I am not losing weight, and why I have gained so much, despite eating an average of a 700 calorie a day deficit. I am wondering if by getting so skinny I did damage to myself? I never lost my period and always ate 1400-1500 calories, though, so I don’t think I was anorexic or anything. But my body simply will NOT release any fat. No matter what I do! I have been trying to lose just 10 pounds for 3 years!! Here is where I am confused: I have had my RMR tested and know that my metabolic rate is normal. I wear a HR monitor so I know how many calories I am burning during my workouts. So, if I am eating less than I am burning, shouldn't I be losing weight regardless? I mean, how to movie stars lose and gain weight the way they do? People lose and gain all the time- why would I be having problems?? It is so confusing!"
PLEASE HELP ME!!!

Answer
Dear Laurie,

I just had an email from a young woman who asked me if she should see an endocrinologist.  I would suggest the same thing for you.

I think that when you became so thin you got your body completely out of balance hormonally.  

One of the things that could possibly be happening too is that you've built a lot of muscle with the strength training, etc.  Muscle weighs so much more than fat --

It sounds as if you're in fabulous shape!  Try the specialist and please let me know what the doc has to say!!

I'm sorry I can't give you a specific answer -- but the doctor will help you figure this out!

Warmly,
Jeannie Rust, PhD
www.mirasol.net
www.edrecovery.com