Ask The Doctor

Dear Ask The Doctor: Please help me. I am currently on a very strict diet concentrating between 1200-1400 cal per day. I eat very healthy which means lean meats, lots of non-starchy veggies and some fruit no processed foods. I keep my alcohol intake at a min and I drink fat free skim milk. I am very disciplined in eating right and exercising daily sometime 2X per day yet I keep gaining weight as in inches and fat not muscle. I suffer from low thyroid (which they say I'm regulated with meds and bloodwork is fine), low sugar, Vit D deficiency, I am only able to sleep 45 min to 2.5 hours per night, I feel as if I am in a fog all day, moody, and just don't feel right. I am gluten intolerant so I rarely eat breads even if gluten free. I am also allergic to molds and yeast. The doc's which I have seen tell me that I'm lying cause I have been gaining between 1-3 lbs per week which they say is impossible. Impossible or not I will lose my Military Carrerr henceforth my job if I don't lose weight by May. I NEED HELP!! I CAN AND WILL LOSE MY JOB if I don't get my weight off by May and I am at a loss. Something is wrong with me and I don't know what and no one is willing to listen. Please help. Beginning of last week I was 195 lbs and now I am 200 lds. A few weeks ago I was around 180-185 lbs. I live in Ohio if there are any caring doc's who are willing to listen and help. Please! I implore you, please help me.

Dear Michelle: We all think of weight gain as an increase in body fat; however it can also be caused by increased muscle mass or increased body fluid/water. Body fat will be stored if calories consumed in food are greater than the calorie expenditure in exercise activity. Several medical conditions can promote weight gain including: hormone imbalances (hypothyroidism, Cushing’s disease, pregnancy, polycystic ovarian syndrome); organ dysfunction (heart, liver or kidney disease can promote fluid retention); rare pancreatic disorders (insulinoma) and the use of prescribed drugs (oral contraceptive pill, HRT, steroids, antidepressants, diabetic medications, alcohol, and smoking cessation). I advise you attend your family doctor for a full history and clinical examination. He may investigate this problem with a series of blood tests to exclude any of the above causes.