Having BP and having to take meds can affect your weight... i.e., meds typically either make you gain or lose weight, with the majority of them causing weight gain. Very few of them are weight neutral.

Are you satisfied with your current weight/size? (If ya really want, you can post your stats too.)

I'm not

[ComfortablyNumb5]

Well... I have years of eating disorders under my belt. I'm considered underweight but I feel like a cow. And since my seroquel got increased, I've gained a few. Makes me really self conscious but my bf keeps pinching at my new butt and says he loves it lol. So I guess that's a plus.

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[wildflowerchild25]

I'm not happy with my weight but I don't hate myself. I gained about 35 pounds since last November and still haven't figured out why I gained so drastically. I've been on Invega for 2 years so I don't think it's that. Although it's possible that raised prolactin is also causing weight gain.

Don't get me wrong, my diet is ******, but it's always been ****** and I haven't gained more than ten pounds so I don't get it. It's very frustrating.

However, at the same time, I feel indignant every time I think about my weight. I mean, why should I be forced to be skinny in order to feel good about myself? Why must I fall prey to society's expectations? Why, as a woman, am I letting my self worth be measured in body size? So really, I haven't. Every time I look at myself and say ugh, I'm so fat, I immediately think to myself "who cares?" It doesn't change who I am inside. Just because I'm not attractive anymore doesn't mean I'm less of a person. And anyway, who am I trying to impress? Any man who wouldn't like me because of my weight isn't worth my time.

So right now I'm desperately trying to lose just ten pounds so my clothes fit better, not to look better. Because I just bought a whole new wardrobe and I don't want to have to buy yet another whole new wardrobe.

I love myself and **** anyone who thinks I'm too fat.

Originally Posted by RxQueen875

Well... I have years of eating disorders under my belt. I'm considered underweight but I feel like a cow. And since my seroquel got increased, I've gained a few. Makes me really self conscious but my bf keeps pinching at my new butt and says he loves it lol. So I guess that's a plus.

At least your bf likes your new size! haha. Hopefully you can overcome the eating disorder

But yeah, I'm underweight as well @ 5'5" 100, but I'm 99% sure it's because I have undiagnosed hyperthyroidism. It's just that my GP refuses to treat it, so I have to go to an endocrinologist, which I can't afford right now... hence i am not happy with my size. I can't find clothes that fit well. I don't know if you have that problem too.

Originally Posted by wildflowerchild25

I'm not happy with my weight but I don't hate myself. I gained about 35 pounds since last November and still haven't figured out why I gained so drastically. I've been on Invega for 2 years so I don't think it's that. Although it's possible that raised prolactin is also causing weight gain.

Don't get me wrong, my diet is ******, but it's always been ****** and I haven't gained more than ten pounds so I don't get it. It's very frustrating.

However, at the same time, I feel indignant every time I think about my weight. I mean, why should I be forced to be skinny in order to feel good about myself? Why must I fall prey to society's expectations? Why, as a woman, am I letting my self worth be measured in body size? So really, I haven't. Every time I look at myself and say ugh, I'm so fat, I immediately think to myself "who cares?" It doesn't change who I am inside. Just because I'm not attractive anymore doesn't mean I'm less of a person. And anyway, who am I trying to impress? Any man who wouldn't like me because of my weight isn't worth my time.

So right now I'm desperately trying to lose just ten pounds so my clothes fit better, not to look better. Because I just bought a whole new wardrobe and I don't want to have to buy yet another whole new wardrobe.

I love myself and **** anyone who thinks I'm too fat.

Yeah, I looked up prolactin real quick, and it looks like research studies have concluded that it indeed causes weight gain. Sorry to hear that. Meds suck, don't they?

I agree that weight doesn't determine who you are as a person. I wouldn't date a guy who doesn't like me because of weight, either. Shallow men aren't worth anybody's time. Same thing with friends who act that way.

Good luck with your weight loss journey.

[jlil88]

Aaargh this really struck a cord with me !!
I finally bit the bullet and agreed on medication after 7 years of avoidance due to being stuck on anti depressants as a teen, which did nothing but aggravate my highs...
It's been 5 months on lamotrigine and 2 months with lithium added, I have gained 4kgs in that time. Yeah it doesn't sound like much, but I think you can sympathise when I mention a history of bulimia and what this type of weight gain does. I used to gym frequently but lost the motivation after a massive low which I'm slowly dragging my *** out of.

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[Unrigged64072835]

I don't know exactly how much weight I've gained on meds but it's quite a lot. It doesn't help that my diet is poor and I'm getting older. I can't exercise like I used to because of the weight. I overheat easily because of the meds and my weight as well. I really do need to go on a diet.

[Wander]

Lithium and Zyprexa made me gain around 52 pounds (24kg). It was really depressing me but I needed both meds to survive. Recently though I found Latuda and was able to reduce then stop the Zyprexa. It has only been a month and I have lost about 8 pounds. I do eat less but I haven't been exercising more so I guess it is mainly due to stopping Zyprexa. It is such a relief to be losing weigh instead of continuously gaining it. So yes, Bipolar has directly effected my weight through meds.

[hopeless2015]

I'm actually losing since they added Lamictal I'm down like 15 lb not complaining cause I could stand to lose another 30 yet. It just seem to be an appetite suppressant

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Originally Posted by hopeless2015

I'm actually losing since they added Lamictal I'm down like 15 lb not complaining cause I could stand to lose another 30 yet. It just seem to be an appetite suppressant

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I forgot about this. Lamictal reduced my appetite too.

[raspberrytorte]

I'm 5'4 and 121lb.

I'm fine with my weight.

The only weight gain med I've ever been on for an extended period of time was seroquel. That made me gain. And it washed me out on top of that. So I went off of it. Then I got really happy, which went up into hypo, and then I crashed, and then I went up again... And well, my most recent episode happened. I'm pretty sure it's because I went off of seroquel anyway.

[lacerta]

48 kg (105 pounds) overweight. I was about 20 kg overweight after my 2 one after another pregnancies. After my second was born I was diagnosed. Damn depakote, I gained 30 kg. Ok, being stable is more important than being thin, but this year I was diagnosed pre-diabetic. Scared me a lot. Now on metformin and diet to keep weight down.

[Anxiousvalkyrie]

I hate my weight. Physical medical issues have caused me to gain over the past year because I can't go to the gym like I want to due to chronic pain. But I've been dieting and started to lose weight again. I've been on medication for my BPD for a very short time so I haven't noticed any weight gain from it yet. I'm on Zyprexa which I hear can cause massive weight gain, but I'm hoping it won't.

I'm nearly 50, 5'3", and 216.6 pounds.

In my case, i don't know if the weight problems i've had were due to meds or just atrocious eating habits. I ate a lot of junk, bag after family-sized bag of chips and cheesies. Coconut cream pie daily, New York Fries until they knew my order and fish and chips. Lots of fried, salty stuff. Kit Kat bars -- so many i bought them in the grocery store, a sleeve of four, four at a time, so 16 bars total.

I'm very unhappy with my weight. It's hard to find clothes and to move around. I carry most of my weight in my belly so it sticks out hideously. Before i let my hair go grey i used to get asked if i was pregnant. Seven months along? one woman asked. B&tch!

I go from being rebellious about my weight to dieting. Over the years i've gone on kicks of saying, "I'm large and in charge!" "I'm puff not buff!" "I'm Rubenesque!" "I'm large and lovely!" I've championed the size-acceptance movement at times. I've spouted the socialist analysis of the idea of female beauty and thinness being a way of oppressing women by the male-dominated capitalist elite. I found that analysis in a book called "The Beauty Myth," by Naomi Wolf and was quite insufferable about it, up on my soapbox to anyone who would listen.

Then again, i diet. I've lost weight on meds before. In 2007 / 2008 i went on a year-long diet and lost 65 pounds. Once i got going, it just took a little diligence to keep eating healthy and in moderation. I maintained for about another six months and then wandered away from my healthy habits and gained all the weight back.

Which brings me to my present diet. It's exactly one month today and i have lost six pounds in the first four weeks! I'm thrilled! I'm nearly 50 and on Seroquel now so i didn't know if it would be possible. But i am losing at a rate of 1.5 pounds a week so if i can keep this up in a year i will have lost my 80 pounds and be at 140 -- what my doctor says is a healthy weight.

I was a skinny kid and an anorexic teen so i'm really f&cked up about my weight. I think i go from one extreme to the other because of my borderline black-and-white thinking. I tell myself it's different this time: it's a lifestyle change. And it does feel different. But i've said that before...

I gained 40 lbs on Seroquel and then 40 lbs on zyprexa. Since having my zyprexa reduced I've lost 31 lbs in about 5 months. Still have a ways to go tho. But I'm not gonna let my weight rule me like I was. It happened, now time to deal with it...

[ComfortablyNumb5]

Originally Posted by rose1985

I gained 40 lbs on Seroquel and then 40 lbs on zyprexa. Since having my zyprexa reduced I've lost 31 lbs in about 5 months. Still have a ways to go tho. But I'm not gonna let my weight rule me like I was. It happened, now time to deal with it...

How is it that seroquel made you gain? Did it make you're appetite increase? Did you eat more? Or were you eating the same and gained anyways? I'm curious because I'm on seroquel and I don't want to gain any more weight than I have.

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[Victoria'smom]

I gained on seroquil and zyprexa. I'm over weight now but I eat the same as always like a toddler.

[Secretum]

I gained 40 pounds on zyprexa, lost 15, gained all 15 back plus 5 more. I am no longer on zyprexa, but I think both the risperdal and zoloft I am on can cause weight gain. I weigh 149 lbs and I am 5'3''. I want to lose 40-50 lbs to get back to where I was before zyprexa, but it is hard.

I'm not happy with my body. I am not supposed to be overweight. This is just not who I am. I have little to no control around food-if I taste something good, I will wolf it down and keep eating it until I am stuffed. It's disgusting. My arms are huge. There is honestly a sweater dress I used to wear that no longer fits solely because the sleeves are too tight, lol.

But I'm going to lose the weight. I've been on a diet since last Saturday, and I have a feeling that this is going to be the time I legitimately lose the weight!

Originally Posted by RxQueen875

How is it that seroquel made you gain? Did it make you're appetite increase? Did you eat more? Or were you eating the same and gained anyways? I'm curious because I'm on seroquel and I don't want to gain any more weight than I have.

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Increased my appetite and I ate more. It was right after the psychosis. So I was not really eating much for like a month. So that may also be part of the reason I put it on...

Originally Posted by apfei

I'm nearly 50, 5'3", and 216.6 pounds.

In my case, i don't know if the weight problems i've had were due to meds or just atrocious eating habits. I ate a lot of junk, bag after family-sized bag of chips and cheesies. Coconut cream pie daily, New York Fries until they knew my order and fish and chips. Lots of fried, salty stuff. Kit Kat bars -- so many i bought them in the grocery store, a sleeve of four, four at a time, so 16 bars total.

I'm very unhappy with my weight. It's hard to find clothes and to move around. I carry most of my weight in my belly so it sticks out hideously. Before i let my hair go grey i used to get asked if i was pregnant. Seven months along? one woman asked. B&tch!

I go from being rebellious about my weight to dieting. Over the years i've gone on kicks of saying, "I'm large and in charge!" "I'm puff not buff!" "I'm Rubenesque!" "I'm large and lovely!" I've championed the size-acceptance movement at times. I've spouted the socialist analysis of the idea of female beauty and thinness being a way of oppressing women by the male-dominated capitalist elite. I found that analysis in a book called "The Beauty Myth," by Naomi Wolf and was quite insufferable about it, up on my soapbox to anyone who would listen.

Then again, i diet. I've lost weight on meds before. In 2007 / 2008 i went on a year-long diet and lost 65 pounds. Once i got going, it just took a little diligence to keep eating healthy and in moderation. I maintained for about another six months and then wandered away from my healthy habits and gained all the weight back.

Which brings me to my present diet. It's exactly one month today and i have lost six pounds in the first four weeks! I'm thrilled! I'm nearly 50 and on Seroquel now so i didn't know if it would be possible. But i am losing at a rate of 1.5 pounds a week so if i can keep this up in a year i will have lost my 80 pounds and be at 140 -- what my doctor says is a healthy weight.

I was a skinny kid and an anorexic teen so i'm really f&cked up about my weight. I think i go from one extreme to the other because of my borderline black-and-white thinking. I tell myself it's different this time: it's a lifestyle change. And it does feel different. But i've said that before...

Thank you for the honest, insightful reply

I'm so sorry that someone asked if you were pregnant. That's not cool.

Congrats on losing 1.5 lbs a week! Do you feel better overall with your new diet? I used to eat loads of candy, cake, etc., and as a result, I was probably deficient in certain vitamins and minerals. Then when I started eating better, I felt a lot better because I was getting more nutrients in me. I had more energy overall! I just felt like I had a bunch of toxins in my body and they were all being flushed out at once. That's the best way for me to describe the feeling. It was pretty great.

Hopefully you can keep up the diet. I basically eat the same things that I used to eat, but I've made slight lifestyle changes to make my meals healthier. For example, instead of eating my sandwiches with white bread, I'll use whole wheat bread instead. Or if I buy pasta, I buy the Barilla Protein PLUS pastas, which are made with chickpeas and don't taste any different. (The only "catch" is that this kind of pasta is more expensive than regular pastas.) I've also completely cut out red meat. Just turkey and chicken for me. Also, no duck or pork.

I'm 5'8" and 105 lbs. weight is a confusing thing to me. it's a whole other issue of mine, like RxQueen. I manage ok I think.

I did gain 40 lbs on Lithium but I lost it after I went off it

Hi Blue,

I do notice an improvement in my health. It's that i have 'more regular bathroom habits' -- i guess that's how i'll put it delicately. It was becoming a real problem so i am very grateful. However, that's the only improvement i notice. I haven't had better energy, concentration or mood. Glad to hear that you have -- that's great!

Yours,

Jane.

[not_amanicpixiegirl]

No. One thing that I won't be able to deal with is the weight gain from these meds. A large majority of my self-worth is about my weight, soooo I would rather not take my meds and be skinny and depressed rather than fat and happy. Because I feel like no matter what being skinny will make me happy.

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[funkymonkey47]

I have gained about 30 pounds since being on seroquel xr and I also take vintrellix (was brintellix). I am weaning off my medication as my husband and I would like to have another baby. No depression or mania since lowering it and I am excited to lose weight before I gain it being pregnant. The weight gain does upset me though.