Why am I gaining weight?

[Anonymous]

This last week I've only gotten bigger. So here-
I'm 15, I weighed 117 pounds, I'm 5'3.
I don't know how much I weigh now. But my stomach gets bigger every day. I only eat one meal a day and haven't really left my house this summer, since I can't. I have a bad knee from when I accidently stabbed myself with scissors..

[AnnDZ]

I agree with everyone else here about the physical activity but I also want to add that it is not healthy for you to only eat one meal a day, compared to how much you used to eat? twice or thrice? Your body is compensating for the loss of nutrients entering your body, so whenever you eat your body is thinking, "Omg, she's not giving me enough I need to keep some of this in reserve" which translates into, your body is now storing that broken down food as fat.

[Anonymous]

awh man that sucks, I'm sorry, it is most likely because your body is trying to heal and could be stressed, also because you can't be as active with your injury. Stay hydrated and eat a low fat diet, "The fat you eat is the fat you wear" eat lots of fresh fruit. Do some light exercise to heal, like yoga.

[just_tired]

One meal a day? Unless that one meal is at least 1200 calories, you're starving yourself. You're body isn't getting enough nutrition so it has to bring your metabolism down by shutting or slowing down non vital parts of your body, not healthy.. Basically what your body is doing is that it's trying to cling on every piece of fat it has to survive.

What does that one meal of yours comprise of? Is that all you really eat?

[Asker]

I only eat what my parents make for dinner..
We don't have anything but junk food and junk food makes me sick.

[just_tired]

That's a good thing, I wish I would get sick eating junk food so I wouldn't eat it so often.. But to the issue at hand, you need to ask your parents to buy something healthy to eat for breakfast, lunch and for general snacks. The Basal Metabolic Rate for a girl your size and age is probably about 1300-1400 calories. Meaning that is the energy your body needs for it's basic functions if you do absolutely nothing during one day, it's the absolute minimum it needs. An average dinner has maybe about 300-500 calories so it's no where near enough. Starving yourself for a long period of time can have a severe effect on you health.

[just_tired]

Thank you for MH! I hope I didn't sound too harsh, I hope all the best for you :)

[Plato]

If you're exercising, could be because of muscle weighting heavier than fat or other tissues. If you're not exercising, notice the body changes a lot after puberty (that's actually plausible considering that fat usually sits in the hips and breasts at your age). Other than that, I can't think of anything.

[shadowarrior99]

Weight gain uses the following formula: If your body takes in more calories than you can burn (along with the metabolic rate), you gain weight; if your body burns more calories than you take in, you lose weigh. 3,500 calories equals a pound of fat. You would have to burn that to lose one pound. Maintaining a low weight is the real challenge.

[Asker]

I've never had a problem with my weight. Until I stopped eating. Then I gained it like crazy when I dropped out of cheer. So :P

[shadowarrior99]

Well maybe you need to eat healthy and exercise regularly again. Cheer helped, im sure.

[MysteriousFlower]

Must of been an evil pair of scissors!.
You are still growing, nothing to be concerned about.

[Asker]

I was like 9 and I tried making my mom a blanket, the ones that you knot together, and I cut through 3 pieces if fabric and went 1 inch into my leg. Eh. Stuff happens.

[wowzer]

Weight gain is just maths most of the time. Energy in is more than energy needed. Energy needed is what will maintain bodyweight plus any activity.

[Letstrend]

That last thing might be it.. You're not moving much physically. That's probably the reason why.

[Asker]

I do work out, I do sit ups and crunches.. I walk as much as I can before I can't take it. But idk.

[Slientwalker]

Do ab workouts, it looks like your metabolism is low, also eat vitamins because you most likely aren't getting a balanced diet.

[Anonymous]

Maybe your metabolism has slowed or changed due to puberty?
I know my younger sister she just recently turned 16 and she's gaining weight fast.