unexplained SIGNIFICANT weight gain

Question
Hi,I am a 5ft.3inch, 43yr old, mother of 3, who has had to watch and control weight issues all my life.  Until about 1 year ago, I was able to maintain a high-end, yet somewhat healthy weight of 128-132 lbs.  Not skinny, but not too heavy.  --This weight was only maintained due to ongoing strict calorie counting, exercise (running, power-walking) and was not easy for me to maintain ( I have always had to REALLY watch my calories, no sweets,etc.).  About 1 1/2 years ago, I started steadily gaining weight  in spite of my rigid dieting and exercise efforts.  I gained 10 lbs: which I attributed to aging and not as frequent all-out-running, due to a leg injury (but I never stopped exercising--just had to switch to an eliptical machine and still did it 4 times a week).  Then, in the last 5 months, I have gained another 15 lbs!  I now way 154 lbs.! I have been exercizing 6 days a week for the past 6 weeks now (45 minutes cardio getting my heart rate up between 145-160 beats,and about 15 minutes weight training).  I have read many books on fitness/nutrition and have experimented with calorie intake between 900-1400 per day.  Most recently, on a hunch that I was in permanent stavation mode, I tried eating just a bit more (1600 per day) and just gained even more weight.  I eat low carb (not no carb), and rarely touch white bread products, or potatoes,rice,etc.  I eat tons of salad, veggies, and some fruit (1 or 2 servings a day).  I try to take in protein (fish, chicken, etc) regularly.  HELP!  My doctor simply suspects early menapause, but with all I do, I find it hard to believe I could have SUCH a huge weight gain that just continues to climb at a steady rate of about a pound a WEEK!  I feel like I am losing my mind.  My Dr. said, had he not checked my thyroid about 1 month ago (which was well within normal range at 1.5), he would've thought thyroid problems for sure (he observed brittle nails and I have Raynaud's Phenemena) --so now he just thinks it's menapause and will check my hormone levels in about 3 weeks.  I also suffer from migraines several times each month and those seem to be getting worse.  My question:  can you suggest any nutrition plan I might be able to try or do you have any other explanation?  I just can't keep gaining weight and I am disciplined enough to follow any nutition plan.  I have made my husband check-up on me to make sure I am not eating more than I think.  He assures me that he observes no flaws in my diet and that I am not dillusional!  Any suggestions you have would be greatly appreaciated (sorry for the lengthy note, but I felt I needed to cover it all!). Thanks!

Answer
Diane,
This is not something I can cover in a few paragraphs.  To actually give you a nutritional plan I would have to be working with you one-on-one.  It is very difficult to read a few paragraphs about someone and know what is going on and give them an answer, basically that is impossible.  My suggestion would be to find a dietitian in your area that you can sit down with one-on-one.  A dietitian can really take a deep look into what you are currently eating, what you need to be doing, etc...  He/she can help devise a plan for you and follow-up with you on a regular basis.  That is the type of help that you need.  
You can either ask your doctor for a referral or you can go to www.eatright.org and find a dietitian in your area.
Good luck,
Kim Tessmer, RD LD
www.Nutrifocus.net

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