[mgran]

I've been keeping track of what I'm eating online, and I'm surprised to find that I'm eating less than I thought. Perhaps there are hidden calories in some of what I'm eating? I'm over fifteen stone (last I checked) and I can't figure out where that weight has come from, if I'm not overeating.

I did overeat when I first went on rispiridone, and relied on takeaways because I was too stressed for a while to go shopping, but now that I'm on quetiapine things have changed. Even so, it's been four or five months now... I'd have thought I'd lose more than a stone.

[codeWeasel]

It isn't always about how much you eat as it is what you're eating.
500 calories of high fat, high cholestoral is not going to react with your body the same way 500 calories of high fiber, lean protin will.

Unfortunatly, the only sure healthy way to lose weight is eating good healthy food in reasonable portion sizes, and exercise. If anyone tries to tell you otherwise, they are selling something.

Also keep in mind that a good healty weight loss target is 1-2 lbs a week. 1 stone in 4 months is just under 1 lb a week. Its hard to tell from your post how active you have been in the process over those weeks, but so far its a decent start.

The hardest thing to keep in mind is that is doesn't go on quickly and it won't come off quickly. With perservence, it will.

[SunReach]

Originally Posted by mgran

I've been keeping track of what I'm eating online, and I'm surprised to find that I'm eating less than I thought. Perhaps there are hidden calories in some of what I'm eating? I'm over fifteen stone (last I checked) and I can't figure out where that weight has come from, if I'm not overeating.

I did overeat when I first went on rispiridone, and relied on takeaways because I was too stressed for a while to go shopping, but now that I'm on quetiapine things have changed. Even so, it's been four or five months now... I'd have thought I'd lose more than a stone.

The only thing I can think of is that your metabolism has slowed down...And even though no doc has confirmed that to me, I think that antipsychotics can do that. Also, how you feel affects a lot your digestion, which then affects how nutrients and fats get absorbed etc. Final point that might help - it's not so much about the calories but where you get the calories from and bear in mind that a diet very low in calories also slows down your metabolism.
Maybe see a nutritionist or dietician? And do some sort of exercise you enjoy to boost your metabolism and release some feel-good endorphines?

I hope you're well respecting everything else

[Lostime]

...exercise is very important even if it is just walking to get the metabolism going.

[Mac Murphy]

I have been losing 1-2 pounds a week for the last 8 months and that is a combination of my meds (side effects weight loss) and eating a healthier diet. I need to get more exercise for sure but I have found if you lose the weight slowly and build a habit of a healthy diet and at least moderate exercise you are more likely to keep the weight off.

Best wishes going forward!

Originally Posted by mgran

I've been keeping track of what I'm eating online, and I'm surprised to find that I'm eating less than I thought. Perhaps there are hidden calories in some of what I'm eating? I'm over fifteen stone (last I checked) and I can't figure out where that weight has come from, if I'm not overeating.

I did overeat when I first went on rispiridone, and relied on takeaways because I was too stressed for a while to go shopping, but now that I'm on quetiapine things have changed. Even so, it's been four or five months now... I'd have thought I'd lose more than a stone.

Quetiapine is the same as Seroquel right?

I gained so much weight when i started taking it- and it's very difficult to lose it now - you have to eat smart - like codeWeasel said - what you eat is really important, and exercise - I was able to lose most of it but I still struggle and am not quite where i was - I got my dr to cut my dosage down but it is really the only thing that keeps my mood swings down and it helps my sleep a lot - it's the best mood stabilizer for me.

Try smaller meals more often to keep your metabolism moving and even if you can just walk for 20 minutes a few times a week it will help.

[mgran]

Thanks, all of you guys...
I guess you're right, some of what I'm eating is junk, when I don't feel up to cooking. I cook for my son, but often don't eat myself. Like today he had a friend around, and I made a pizza for them. My son won't eat fruit anymore, but he'll eat veggies and salad... they ate what I put in front of them, and then some, and there wasn't enough left for me, so I ended up having egg on toast.

I've started walking more since I've been getting better, and would really like to be able to start running again... but I'm not anywhere near that point yet.

Jade,you're right, quetiapine is seroquel. I'm on the slow release stuff, it seems to be helping.

(Even if I am still wide awake at half one am.) For a long time the sleepiness was making it hard for me to excercise, but it's getting better now.

Originally Posted by mgran

I've been keeping track of what I'm eating online, and I'm surprised to find that I'm eating less than I thought. Perhaps there are hidden calories in some of what I'm eating? I'm over fifteen stone (last I checked) and I can't figure out where that weight has come from, if I'm not overeating.

I did overeat when I first went on rispiridone, and relied on takeaways because I was too stressed for a while to go shopping, but now that I'm on quetiapine things have changed. Even so, it's been four or five months now... I'd have thought I'd lose more than a stone.

Originally Posted by mgran

Thanks, all of you guys...
I guess you're right, some of what I'm eating is junk, when I don't feel up to cooking. I cook for my son, but often don't eat myself. Like today he had a friend around, and I made a pizza for them. My son won't eat fruit anymore, but he'll eat veggies and salad... they ate what I put in front of them, and then some, and there wasn't enough left for me, so I ended up having egg on toast.

I've started walking more since I've been getting better, and would really like to be able to start running again... but I'm not anywhere near that point yet.

Jade,you're right, quetiapine is seroquel. I'm on the slow release stuff, it seems to be helping.

(Even if I am still wide awake at half one am.) For a long time the sleepiness was making it hard for me to excercise, but it's getting better now.

I'm going to be switching to the slow release stuff when I finish my bottle of the regular. My dr said you have to take it 12 hours before you want to wake up. Is that what you do? How much are you taking - i was down to 100 mg but went back up to 200 bc I can't sleep (sounds like you can't either) when I first started taking it I felt like a zombie.

The food thing is hard - i don't cook at all and I pretty much despise exercising. but I try to push myself to walk. if you ever get to running let me know - you will definitely inspire me!

[mgran]

I'm on 300, and no, I hadn't realised I had to take it so early.
When I was first on it, I was so exhausted that I didn't want to take it too early or I'd crash. But now my body's used to it, and I know when I take it I'm still awake hours later.

In this case, I took it at nine, and here I am at nearly four in the morning...

Anyway, I'm coming off, and I'll lie and look at the ceiling if nothing else.

[blueoctober]

Go easy on yourself mgran. There aren't very many people that don't eat a little junk food now and then. Certainly we should all watch what we eat and exercise, but for some the side effects are weight gain and it's at no fault of the person. Not everyone experiences the weight gain, but for those of us that have it's highly frustrating.

I weighed 125 lbs. since I was 18 (I'm 5'7"). After being diagnosed at 31 and put on psychiatric meds I gained a total of 60lbs. It really bothered me when people (including my pdoc) suggested I watch what I ate and exercise more. I did cardio and weights 5x / week and ate well. The weight continued to creep on until it leveled out at an extra 60lbs. It was devastating for me. The meds that caused the weight gain was risperidone then serequel and lithium.

I have now been switched to lamictal and have started to lose the weight (30lbs. so far). It definitely is coming off much slower than it came on. The last pdoc appointment I had she commented on the weight loss and asked what I did. I told her I had done nothing differently and it only started after I was put on the lamictal. I wish my pdoc had discussed other medication options. I had assumed I had 2 choices: be fat and stable or fit and crazy.

[mgran]

I must admit, I'd sooner be fat and stable than skinny and bonkers. I really was in a state before I got on these meds. So, I'm thankful, despite the weight gain, that I'm actually able to think coherently about things like nutrition and so on.

[blueoctober]

Originally Posted by mgran

I must admit, I'd sooner be fat and stable than skinny and bonkers. I really was in a state before I got on these meds. So, I'm thankful, despite the weight gain, that I'm actually able to think coherently about things like nutrition and so on.

I agree that if I had to choose between being stable or fit I would choose stable.

When I was first put on the meds I was in-patient and at that time it felt like a lifeline. It's been almost 4 years since my diagnosis and since there are med options that work for me and don't cause the weight gain I'm not willing to choose between the 2. Being overweight isn't healthy for my physical or mental health.