I gained how much!?!?!?

I just stepped on a scale for the first time in a while, and I've gained +25lbs since I came back to America in June.  (I lost 15 lbs while I was living in the UK) I've never put on this much weight before. I noticed my jeans were getting a little tighter, but I didn't think I'd gained this much! Diet time!!! 

Oh goodness, if I was to go back to America and spend some time, I would totally put on the weight!!!!!! I would be hogging out on all the things I'd missed!! Good thing I'm not going back for awhile, being as I just finally got myself to my perfect weight!!!!!

I was out of the country for two years and it was amazing how fast it is gain weight in the US, not even from eating junk! In Kenya, I was eating loads of carbs (contrary to US diets) so I never got skinny, but the food was so far from being refined or processed with additives, fake sugars and fats. You really have to make an effort to eat wholesome in the US since there are so many substitutions in so called "healthy" options. And well, we all know portions are out of control in the US. I would have no problem with half the size at half the price!

Have you checked out the new food pyramid yet? http://www.mypyramid.gov/

When I was in England, I didn't drive. I walked ALOT. I've been dancing 3-5 times a week here, but it's obviously not helping enough. I'm going to try to start walking some here. (we don't really have any sidewalks, so I have to go to a trail or a park) And I'm going to cut back on the junk/fast food!! (no more chick-fil-a for me  :\\\'( )

I don't believe in the food pyramid.  The human body is not designed to digest large amounts of grains.  We haven't been around long enough to evolve a digestive system different from our hunter-gatherer ancestors, who did not have agriculture. We are also not designed to drink milk (primitive people did not have domestic cows).

Hence, the large number of people today with coeliac disease, diabetes, lactose intolerance, etc.

I actually gained weight when I moved to the UK, but that's because the doctor here changed my birth control pill. I just changed to a lower dose pill and lost it all.

The "healthy" food in the UK is loaded with sugar and/or glucose syrup. Probably not much better for you than additives/preservatives.

I've never really been on "a diet" before. I've been researching them on-line, and I don't really agree on all this "no carbs" or "no meat" or "no whatever" stuff. I think it's more cutting out the junk food, and eating a good balance of the other stuff.

I lost...25 pounds before I went to England through a couple low-carb diets.  Got to England just before Christmas, ate loads of food, fry-ups, chocoate, etc...and put on about 10 pounds. That weight came right off, though and I was back to where I was when I got there...and continued to eat McDonalds or KFC or something like that sporadically through my year long visit...all the while remaining the same weight.

Within 2 months of returning to the US, I had put on 35 pounds...and now, a year later, I'm still trying to get the firstr 10 of those pounds completely gone.

It's shocking how quickly weight comes back on in the US...and just how damn hard it is to take it off.

It's actually the opposite for me.. I was at my slimmest and fittest when living in New York, and when I got here, I think I gained about 5-10 pounds. I do walk a lot here, but I also eat more 

I did so much more walking when I was back at home. I guess that's because I just loved to walk there and i felt comfortable walking all over the place. I lost 30 pounds 3 years ago ( I used to be 150 pounds and I"m 5'4 ) just walking.. well no I used to jog too a bit and bike during the summer. Here, I haven't had the courage to go out and explore , so I stayed indoors more. But lately I've been feeling more up to going out. Walking is great! It's the simplest form of exercise, anyone can do it, and you can definitely lose weight doing it.

I want to join a gym, but I'm having a hard time balancing all my school (full time) and work (35+ hrs/wk) as it is. I'm so sleep deprived (averaging 5 hrs a night at this point) ....I'd probably injure myself if I tried to work out at this point. Hopefully over Christmas break I'll have time. I've cut out fast food, and cut back on sweets, but I haven't noticed any change.

Since I've moved here to the UK, my fiancé has gained about 1 stone.  His family all joke with me that it's my cooking, but I make the same dinner for both him and me every night.  I haven't gained any weight in years.  I try to cook as healthily as possible.  I don't fry much, and I make as many vegetables as he'll eat.  I never make any dessert.  He walks about 1.5 miles each day to-and-from home, the station, and his office.  He's unhappy with his new weight, but when it comes to the will-power scale, if there were a number less than zero, that would be for him.  He always has to have chocolate and crisps in the house.  It's annoying when people we haven't seen for a while comment on his belly and say things like, "she feeds you good, eh?"   

I gained a full stone after one year here...I think it's the influence of more alcohol, more unhealthy foods and having a bf who loves to cook & eat.  But slowly, very slowly, I'm trying to move it away...my hope is that I lose it in one year...one pound a month is fine as I'll definitely keep it off that waay.  So cutting back on crisps, chips, alcohol and candy.  And portion control!

I've actually lost weight since being here and kept it off. My mom always comments on how thin I am whenever she sees me. It's probably because I've managed to not get sucked into "comfort eating" since coming over, and kept my healthy diet I started back in college in the US. I also have to walk a heck of alot more here, especially since my flat is at the bottom of a huge hill!

My 26-year-old fiance on the other hand has gained a little weight, but on his tall frame it's not very noticeable. 

I gained a full stone after one year here...I think it's the influence of more alcohol, more unhealthy foods and having a bf who loves to cook & eat.  But slowly, very slowly, I'm trying to move it away...my hope is that I lose it in one year...one pound a month is fine as I'll definitely keep it off that waay.  So cutting back on crisps, chips, alcohol and candy.  And portion control!

I gained a stone very quickly as well! I wasn't really paying attention because I never really had to watch my weight. One day I was like "oh my god" what's happened to me? For me, it was mostly stress eating at work and making big dinners for us and probably my age catching up with me. I have started to go back to my single girl dinners and can see a difference, portion control does work!  Also, we walk a lot especially on the weekends out in the Chiltrens....which is a real pleasure! Walking is one great thing I have picked up over here, in fact when we go back to the states my sister thinks we are nuts how we walk everywhere instead of taking a taxi.

I have a medical condition called PCOS, which in many women, causes unexpected weight gain VERY easily. Several years ago, I lost 60lbs, by drinking a LOT of water (like 3 gallons right before bedtime) and a very strict exercise routine (about an hour a day). I lost it all in 3 months and kept it off for 2 years. Then my PCOS began flaring up as I was leaving my teenage days and over the last 2 years, I have gained almost 50lbs!!! I'm working very hard on trying to get it off now, but I can't seem to handle as vigorous an approach as I did when I was younger.

My family says that when they look at me, they see a little extra baggage, but nothing too extreme. However, on the chart my Dr showed me on my last check-up, I fall in the 'obese' category...the very low end of it, but still...I know I've GOT to get this weight off!

I have a medical condition called PCOS, which in many women, causes unexpected weight gain VERY easily. Several years ago, I lost 60lbs, by drinking a LOT of water (like 3 gallons right before bedtime) and a very strict exercise routine (about an hour a day). I lost it all in 3 months and kept it off for 2 years. Then my PCOS began flaring up as I was leaving my teenage days and over the last 2 years, I have gained almost 50lbs!!! I'm working very hard on trying to get it off now, but I can't seem to handle as vigorous an approach as I did when I was younger.

My family says that when they look at me, they see a little extra baggage, but nothing too extreme. However, on the chart my Dr showed me on my last check-up, I fall in the 'obese' category...the very low end of it, but still...I know I've GOT to get this weight off!

Have you looked into the South Beach Diet?  I have PCOS (whoo hoo!  ) and my doctor suggested it as our bodies have such a hard time with sugar and simple carbs.  It's been a lifesaver for me...have been following the plan for nearly a year and have lost about 70 pounds.

There's a little group of us here who are trying to firm up --- Shrinkers.  PM vnicepeeps for access!