Why am I putting on weight?

Andrea T · Yahoo User

Im 36 and have never really been into fitness or dieting. To keep myself at my ideal weight I normally just try and cut down on the junk food and also keep myself active. Being aware of my body naturally gaining a few pounds through the winter (I am in NZ in case you are confused!), I have been power walking in combination with a bit of running and I have been trying to do that at least three times a week plus going for an hours long hill walk on a sunday morning. So I have been doing that for about two months of so. Now the weather is warming up, out come my summer clothes and I cant get into any of them! I seem to have gained about 10 pounds over my normal weight before I started exercising! Every pair of jeans and summer dress tells a story and things that previously hung off me are now skin tight, and I can remember wearing all these clothes without much exercise. My eating habits havent really changed.. I like the odd treat and I dont like following strict diets - I just try and eat healthily without counting the calories. I am desperate to lose the weight but I am feeling really depressed and de-motivated to continue with the power walks and running. I am 5"5 ish and now weigh about 10stones (140 pounds) which is the heaviest I have been in about three years. Help!