Weight Loss Issues & Swimming

**kuzulamb04** · 12-18-2011 03:27 PM

Hello,
I just joined and I was hoping for some help/advice! Here's a quick background:
I am a 20-year-old college student, very active, and keep a healthy diet. I do not eat junk, eat out, any "white" foods (bread/rice... I replace it all with wheat/brown rice). I don't drink soda or juice (I have fruit when I have a chance to go to the market), and I don't party very often.

Since I was 17 I have been trying to lose weight, but looking back I was actually at a GOOD weight then. Over the past 2 years I've gained about 20 pounds, and am very concerned about it. I am not "overweight", my main concern is my hips ("love handles" I guess).

Until this year I hadn't swam since high school. But transferring to my current college I started the club swim team. We practice for a good hour/hour 15 minutes 4x a week. I aim to make at least 3 practices (I live off campus so it's hard). When I don't practice, I am to do my regular workouts (elliptical - I hate running. At my home gym I also go spinning which I love), weights, abs, etc. My issue is I've gained 10 pounds since I started this school (September), and I am not sure if that's just another one of my "transition" weight gains (I have transferred schools before and for have some reason gained weight when I did that before), or if it's from the change from consistent summer gym-going to swimming. I know that swimming builds lean muscle mass, and I do not weigh myself regularly. I am just judging by looks, and I can't fit into shorts/jeans I did in September. I am very concerned about this/what the cause is because I don't want to give up club swim, the one sport I'm involved in here just because it's leading to my weight gain.

So first main question - what does this sound like to you? Do you think swimming could be holding back my weight loss? The main issue really is just my hips. I would, theoretically, like to lose 20lb though.

I know what foods to eat, so I'm not sure if I'm making a huge mistake with amounts or something? I snack a lot (on applesauce or low fat string cheese, stuff like that), and try to keep my dinner carbs small, but my school is huge so I am always moving, meaning I'm always hungry.

Sidenote: I am on medication, which does not have weight gain as a side affect. I know stress leads to weight gain, and I am diagnosed with anxiety disorder and depression, but I don't FEEL stressed with my medication, so I don't know if that could be a true cause. I've had it since 7th grade so it's hard to know.

Sorry for the essay, but I really appreciate any help I can get! For the past year I've had a goal to look how I want by the time I'm 21, which is in July, and I am kind of nervous I won't meet that goal!

**Aeryn Sun** · 12-18-2011 05:56 PM

When I swam in HS, I put on the most weight of my life, and looking back, I had the best body ever.
I have never been able to achieve that look since, but I felt and looked amazing. Since then, I have been up to that weight or about 10lbs below it.

I would look at the medication and how many calories you are taking in vs working out. You can have the best food in the world, but if you are eating 2000 calories of produce, lean meat and cheese, and only burning 500cal a day, you can gain weight. Also, look into Quinoa over rice.