I am sorry you are going through this. Crook32 is right. We shouldn't have to choose between our mental health and our physical health. I think it is a real crime that many of the meds we take cause weight gain and other unhealthy issues. I do not think it is hopeless though.

I was a healthy and active person before I started taking meds. My weight was optimal for me and I wasn't dieting or doing anything special to maintain it. I started taking meds last November and I gained 8 lbs in just a few months. I was only slightly less active because the meds made me sleepy. My eating was the same as before. I could only assume the meds tanked my metabolism.

I decided this trend could not continue. I worked hard years ago to get to a healthy weight and I did not want to go back. I tried adjusting my eating first. I cut out sugar and stayed away from junk as much as possible. The scale did not move, but I stopped gaining. I tried being a bit more active. I was walking almost daily and exercising here and there. The scale did not move.

I started a more intensive exercise program. I did 30 minutes of circuit training a day targeted at weight loss. The scale moved only slightly and then I gained it back. I finally started tracking my food and reduced my daily calories at a rate targeted to lose one pound a week. I did this alongside my exercise program. I started toning up and dropping the weight. I've been exercising for 2 months and tracking my food for 1 month. I've lost 6 of the 8 lbs and gained lean muscle. My clothes fit well again.

It took the combination of adjusted eating and more intense exercise to get the weight to come off. I feel like my metabolism is finally rebounding. I'm glad I took action because I imagine I would have gained 20 lbs by now.

There are also meds that are more weight neutral. Perhaps med adjustments are an option. Nobody should have to choose and it is unfortunate that so many of us are forced into it. I chose mental health and physical health and it is working for now. I am working hard at both. I hope I can maintain it. The folks who check in with me on the physical check-in thread have been a huge support throughout my journey. I'm grateful to them. Please join us if you ever want a sounding board or support on the physical health aspect of your journey.