I've been paleo for about 3 months now and I feel GREAT! I feel like I have a new body!! But one really really big problem... I'm a size 16 female, 5'5'', started Paleo at 189lbs hoping to drop weight, but instead this morning I have reached 203lbs!! I'm gaining weight from the waist up. I have PCOS and insulin resistance. The lower carb I go the more I gain. If I have a cheat meal over a weekend that contains legumes, dairy, or grain, I drop 3-4lbs instantly the next morning and slim out. I eat around 1600 calories a day naturally on Paleo (not full, not hungry).
My shirts are really tight in the arms, bust, and waist, and I'm getting a double chin :( My jeans still fit fine but they aren't getting looser. I can lift more weight when I work out, so I know I must be gaining muscle... however at 5'5'' there's no way I should be retaining this much fat. Again, I FEEL like I have a new body, I'm energetic, my thinking is clear, and my gut functions amazingly. I just don't LOOK like how I FEEL. Any advice? Nuts, bacon, and dairy seem to put weight on me so I'm staying away from those. Any chance I could be hypothyroid now from Paleo?? I love this lifestyle and don't want to stop.
I don't workout much, about once per week lifting weights. Now that my energy is peaking I'd like to do more. But I still think that without exercise I should see at least some weight loss??