Hormone imbalance or Vegan Diet causing weight maintenance issues?

By Anonymous August 10, 2016 - 9:23pm

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Hi,
A little background: I'm 20 years old, and for almost a year now I have been steadily losing muscle mass and gaining weight, despite regular exercise (I work on a farm, walk at least 5 miles a day, and supplement with calisthenic-like exercises such as pilates and squats). I transitioned to a vegan diet a few months ago, and since then have also experienced about a five pound weight gain despite eating FEWER calories, entirely whole foods, and no sugar. I've cut out virtually all wheat as well as other inflammatory foods that don't fit in a vegan diet. I also don't have the incredible energy that most new vegans claim to have (again, I am the furthest thing from a junk food vegan!!) I have a history of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, suffer from anemia, but, last time I was checked for it, didn't have an underactive thyroid. I'm wondering if maybe my vegan diet is exacerbating the anemia and making it hard to lose body fat, because I don't understand how a 20 year old active woman with a clean diet of between 1000-1500 calories a day could possibly have even an ounce of fat on her body. Another theory I have is that I have a hormonal imbalance. The reason I'm thinking hormone imbalance is because I do not EVER get a regular period unless I am on the pill (which, since being vegan, I have not been; going vegan and stopping the pill just happened to occur at the same time. I didn't go 100% granola and decide to boycott my hormone meds.) I also have ZERO libido, although my sex drive was always barely there, and certainly feel ditzy in the brain, but this could also be anemia. UGH. I have so many issues with symptoms that overlap! Help! Do any of my ailments scream one or the other?