[gina_re]

Quite a few of us have gained weight from psych meds. And I'm sure that some struggle more than others to lose the weight. I'm just curious, how many of you feel like you have to get it off, or if you just except it?
Personally, when I was thinner, I wasn't the healthiest in the first place. I was a size four from eighth grade on up. It wasn't until I was in my early 20s when all this started to happen. Coincidently it was when I started these psych meds.
So because I was a lazy person to begin with, I have no drive to exercise and eat super healthy and whatever else you have to do. Is this just me? Because I see quite a few posts about going to the gym and putting in a lot of effort.
Sure I'm not happy with the way I look, but I struggle otherwise to even try to lose it, and sometimes I just flat out don't care and deal with it.

[Nammu]

I could have written that Gina. I didn't start taking AP until in my mid 30's but that was when I started the weight gain....then I would stop the meds and lose weight without much effort. But I did use to eat very healthy, vegetarian and organic ( before it became a fad and became very expensive---there was a time when co-ops were far cheaper than grocery stores) and I got a lot more excercise and worked. Now I'm kind of liking the stability and not ready to give it up to lose weight. I don't do any extraordinary activities, pretty lazy actually, I'm on SSDI now and rarely leave the house which doesn't help, I've never weighed as much as I do now...but I'm ambivalent about it. I do wish I could wear my hippie clothes instead of sweats.

[gina_re]

Exactly! There was a period of time when I was off everything and lost about 40-50 pounds. Then I couldn't take the madness anymore and I gained it back. Mostly once I was put on an AD after being on Trileptal for about a year or so. Paxil made me feel wonderful, but it was like I gained 40 pounds overnight! Everything since then has been weight neutral, so I'm just fluctuating within 5 pounds or so. When I was emotional eating last year, that didn't help.

I think the gym helps, but as my nutritionist told me: weight is 90% diet and 10% exercise. So, even if you became a gym rat, it wouldn't help that much (IMO). So, I wouldn't worry too much about the gym thing. I just do the gym to alleviate stress.

I'm on the thinner side, BUT my cholesterol is extremely high, so I'm sort of in the same boat as you guys. I have to eat super healthy in order to drop my cholesterol, just like you would have to eat super healthy to lose weight... and I'm sure it'll take me years to drop my cholesterol. Latuda makes my cholesterol worse, too.

It was hard for me to adapt to a healthier lifestyle, especially since I'm soooo used to eating junk food all the time. I kind of took it slow. For example, I like oatmeal, so instead of eating plain oatmeal, I added flax seeds, which don't change the taste at all, but they're great for you. Another example: if you love pizza, get pizza, but add veggies on top to fill you up. Heck, you can add anything on a pizza... oats, fruits. potatoes... The options are limitless.

Other things you can do: let's say you like Mac & cheese. Make your own with low fat cheese instead of normal, "full-fat" cheese. Save yourself the added calories.

One thing I LOVE to do is make tortilla pizzas. You just take a tortilla (the soft ones), pour some sauce and cheese on it, and add your own healthy condiments to them. (Bonus points if it's on a wheat tortilla.) Bake in the oven for 5 mins. It's healthier than getting takeout pizza, and it takes 5 mins. Tastes pretty good, especially if you add olive oil.

My nutritionist also told me that processed foods really cause your cholesterol to go up, and can contribute to weight gain. (I ate too many carbs and processed foods.) So, she advised me to shop in the organic food section. Surprisingly, the organic food is tastier and it has lower cholesterol, lower carbs, and lower fat. It's just a wee bit more expensive, but I think it's worth it and it's a very simple diet change.

[gina_re]

Yea, since I live alone I don't really get the urge to cook. I have cut out like 80% of processed foods, however.
My cholesterol is up there too, but, eh, it'll be up there...
I have to be in a super great wonderful happy mood to attempt to eat healthy. When I'm in the office it's hard because of all the junk upstairs. I'm about to grab some skittles. When I go grocery shopping, I don't buy the cookies, candy, etc. But every once in a while it can sneak in (especially that time of the month, goodness!).
But if you're depressed, it's harder to get it going. So I need to work on that for anything to change, but I'm just not there.
The exercising has never been my thing. Even in middle school I would walk the majority of that mile they made you do.
My weight loss typically comes from a change in diet, which isn't easy.

Originally Posted by gina_re

Yea, since I live alone I don't really get the urge to cook. I have cut out like 80% of processed foods, however.
My cholesterol is up there too, but, eh, it'll be up there...
I have to be in a super great wonderful happy mood to attempt to eat healthy. When I'm in the office it's hard because of all the junk upstairs. I'm about to grab some skittles. When I go grocery shopping, I don't buy the cookies, candy, etc. But every once in a while it can sneak in (especially that time of the month, goodness!).
But if you're depressed, it's harder to get it going. So I need to work on that for anything to change, but I'm just not there.
The exercising has never been my thing. Even in middle school I would walk the majority of that mile they made you do.
My weight loss typically comes from a change in diet, which isn't easy.

Yeah, my total cholesterol is like 350. It's awful lol. I think Anything greater than 180 is considered "high"? I'm basically double that!!! I'm a waking heart attack

My office has free candy, and I actually just ate a mini Twix and mini Reese's peanut butter cup.

I think it's fine to cheat a little. In fact, if you don't cheat, I think your cravings will get worse. (I made the mistake of totally cutting out junk food, and I ended up eating half of a 9-inch cake in one sitting LOL)

What kind of stuff do you normally eat?

[gina_re]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

Yeah, my total cholesterol is like 350. It's awful lol. I think Anything greater than 180 is considered "high"? I'm basically double that!!! I'm a waking heart attack

My office has free candy, and I actually just ate a mini Twix and mini Reese's peanut butter cup.

I think it's fine to cheat a little. In fact, if you don't cheat, I think your cravings will get worse. (I made the mistake of totally cutting out junk food, and I ended up eating half of a 9-inch cake in one sitting LOL)

What kind of stuff do you normally eat?

The last check of my cholesterol I think was either 230 or 250.
And I don't cheat a little. Think of all the stuff five year olds want to eat, that's me. I don't eat any veggies. I will eat some fruit here and there. It's like I don't care. When it's time to go, it's time to go. YOLO!!

Originally Posted by gina_re

The last check of my cholesterol I think was either 230 or 250.
And I don't cheat a little. Think of all the stuff five year olds want to eat, that's me. I don't eat any veggies. I will eat some fruit here and there. It's like I don't care. When it's time to go, it's time to go. YOLO!!

Ah.. I've got another 100 LDL's on you

I don't mind fruits and veggies, but I don't like to eat them. If I have the choice of cake or veggies, I'm picking cake.

I think you can eat kiddie foods and still be healthy. For example, CLIF bars are ridiculously delicious... especially the chocolate chip ones. They taste like chocolate chip cookies.Also, I eat KIND salted caramel bars, which are super healthy and taste like a delicious cookie. (I'm not even joking.) They're both huge snack bars and they only have like 130 calories.

I also bought these healthy Oreo equivalents in the organic aisle. I think 3 cookies is 70 calories? Normally 3 Oreos are 170 calories in total. These organic ones taste pretty close to Oreos, too. I think it's worth giving the organic section a shot. They have less calories, they aren't processed, and they taste pretty good. It's where I buy all my junk food, including gummy worms!

idk... try one of the gummy candies there. See how you like them. Their flavoring is made from real fruits, so they're actually full of nutrients and low on calories. I can't taste the difference between organic gummies and non-organic ones

[Nammu]

When I went back on the AP my cholesterol blew the the top off the gage, then after a year I quit and my weight and cholesterol went down but I had to go back on it. I do eat a lot of preserved foods but I love vegetables. I keep bags of frozen veggies especially broccoli and cauliflower, the kind you nuke and then pour balsamic vinegar over them. And I love salads. I don't put a lots of high calorie stuff in them but is that processed food cravings I get on this meds that do me in...that and I live alone too and cooking just seems like a waste on time. Cheese...mmmmmm cheese!

[gina_re]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

I think you can eat kiddie foods and still be healthy. For example, CLIF bars are ridiculously delicious... especially the chocolate chip ones. They taste like chocolate chip cookies.Also, I eat KIND salted caramel bars, which are super healthy and taste like a delicious cookie. (I'm not even joking.) They're both huge snack bars and they only have like 130 calories.

I've tried those too...nope. Gross. I'm telling you, it's bad.
But I'll try the organic stuff..

[gina_re]

Originally Posted by Nammu

When I went back on the AP my cholesterol blew the the top off the gage, then after a year I quit and my weight and cholesterol went down but I had to go back on it. I do eat a lot of preserved foods but I love vegetables. I keep bags of frozen veggies especially broccoli and cauliflower, the kind you nuke and then pour balsamic vinegar over them. And I love salads. I don't put a lots of high calorie stuff in them but is that processed food cravings I get on this meds that do me in...that and I live alone too and cooking just seems like a waste on time. Cheese...mmmmmm cheese!

Everybody tells me to try salads. My excuse is always "I don't eat rabbit food, I need some meat!" lol
I've tried, it's so hard to finish them, I can start, but I don't get very far.
I LOVE cheese!!
Guess I'll be 'chubby' for life!
YOLO!!

Originally Posted by gina_re

I've tried those too...nope. Gross. I'm telling you, it's bad.
But I'll try the organic stuff..

Lol you're pickier than I am... and I thought I was picky!

But yeah, as a picky person, I completely understand where you're coming from. I'm kinda like a kid too. Hope you can find something you like in the organic section.

[gina_re]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

Lol you're pickier than I am... and I thought I was picky!

But yeah, as a picky person, I completely understand where you're coming from. I'm kinda like a kid too. Hope you can find something you like in the organic section.

I'm so picky that I pick stuff out of my food (especially fried rice) before I eat it!

I was put on an anti-anxiety med before Christmas and have ballooned in weight. I've been up and down before. I never was svelt but most of my life I've been extremely active. Thus, it's not just the physical increase in size but the hate I have for now leading a sedentary lifestyle. I have tried in earnest to change that - walking and biking alternate days for min 60min. I watch my diet. Yet I STILL am gaining the weight. It is devastating. Not to mention I am running out of clothes to wear and can't afford new ones.

Originally Posted by gina_re

I'm so picky that I pick stuff out of my food (especially fried rice) before I eat it!

Oh I do that too with fried rice. I pick out the scrambled eggs (if there are any), the pork/chicken, peas, etc.. I just want the rice part

the only Chinese food I like is general gau's, sesame chicken, and hibachi chicken. I pick out any and all vegetables that are thrown in there. I also pick out the sesame seeds oh and I like beef/chicken teriyaki... but that's all I like

[RomanJames2014]

When I take my lithium (900MG a day at 300MG x3) I seem to actually not feel as hungry all the time. It all sucks the life out of me so the way I look at it, "Why live without wanting to eat cheesecake?" I am all for meds but they make me not want to eat at all and I truly like to eat. It is more of a social thing for me and that is something that I kind of miss out on. Also there is a stigma on being anorexic because I dont want to eat. To make a long sotry short, food is my comfort and the meds take it away.

I still have issues with loosing weight. Its like the drugs make me not eat but gain weight. I hate them. I wish there was some sort of a diet pill to help me out with this because clearly working out two times a day is not worth it.

[violetgreen]

I'm not accepting the weight gain from my ap. I sort of watched it slowly go up for the last few months, but it's just too uncomfortable being heavy. Clothes pinch, rolls spill over, moving is more effort, and I perceive it as tiredness. I'm motivated to lose it now, and I am losing weight. I had a treat this afternoon, a dish of low fat no sugar frozen yogurt with berries and no sugar chocolate sauce. Mmmmm. I really needed a treat today, and I'm still following my weight loss program. But no, I'm not accepting weight gain.

[wildflowerchild25]

I was about 110 lbs from middle school into my 20s. Once I moved in with my husband I gave up being a vegetarian and started eating fast food again which I hadn't done for years. Then I started gaining weight. Went up to about 130. Had my son, kept an extra fifteen pounds. Stayed mainly between 145 and 150 until this past fall. I went on Effexor and suddenly I was absolutely ravenous all the time. And when I'm really hungry I do not make good choices. So even though I went off the Effexor within a month, I somehow managed to gain about twenty pounds over the winter. I'm the heaviest I've ever been (besides pregnancy) and wearing the largest size. I had to buy all new clothes and will have to buy all new shorts for the summer.

But...I don't ****ing care. I've hated my body since I was ten years old. Struggled with going between starving myself and bingeing. Now I feel like what's the point? Why do I hate myself so much? Just because society says it's wrong to be overweight? **** that. I don't care. I'm comfortable in my clothes and comfortable with my new weight. I don't starve myself. I do try to eat healthy for health's sake, but I'm not ruled by that number on the scale anymore. I'm not morbidly obese. My weight is not affecting my health. So guess what? I don't care. Sometimes I think I'll never find another man because I'm not attractive enough, but then I think why would I want to be with a man who won't date me if I'm overweight? That's not the kind of man I want anyway.

So yeah, I've gained weight. And I'm fine with it. I'm tired of pouring so much energy into self hatred.

Now I do still keep track of my calories and what I eat because I don't want to gain any more, simply because I don't want to keep having to buy new clothes and I don't want to run into medical problems. So I make sure to eat less than 1600 cals most days. But some days, like today, I have a bad day emotionally and I decide I'm going to have a cheat day. Today I've eaten like crap all day and I don't care. It's one day. I'll eat better tomorrow. And I will. I'm able to have a cheat day and then get back on track the next few days.

So yeah. **** anyone who thinks I'm unattractive because I'm overweight. I like food. Sue me.

[Marylin]

The AP's definitely made me gain weight.My cholesterol is about 6.8 I am in the UK,it shouldn't be over 4.I am also type 2 diabetic and started insulin last year which means another two stone weight gain,not good.Insulin makes you gain too as well as the AP's.
I try not to worry about it,I am 308 pounds so it is obese.I don't want to get any larger so I am looking into joining a slimming club.

I know the AP's and insulin have made me gain but there is scope for improvement because I eat a lot of the wrong foods too.That includes,bacon and brie paninnis at my favorite cafe, creme cakes, bakewell tarts,chocolate eclairs, sweet flapjack biscuits,( ten in one sitting), ice creme with chocolate etc.I also eat junk on visits to the cinema,crisps,fizzy drinks, hot dogs, muffins, carrot cake with butter icing.So plenty of scope to cut all that out and the result will definitely be lose weight!Not to mention lower blood sugar levels.

[Nammu]

Mmm bacon. It's funny before I started APs I didn't crave food. Now pizza, fast food, processed food, candy...all the bad for you stuff, I crave it. There used to be a potato chip commercial that said, you can't eat just one. Before APs I could eat just one, I didn't crave foods....now a bag of chips disappears if it comes into the house...so I try not to buy it. But I go nuts if I haven't chocolate I have to keep it in the house or I'll go out in the middle of cravings and but lots of junk food. Better to just keep M&Ms around and not fall prey to cravings. And yeah those health food bars...nope.

[gina_re]

Originally Posted by RomanJames2014

When I take my lithium (900MG a day at 300MG x3) I seem to actually not feel as hungry all the time. It all sucks the life out of me so the way I look at it, "Why live without wanting to eat cheesecake?" I am all for meds but they make me not want to eat at all and I truly like to eat. It is more of a social thing for me and that is something that I kind of miss out on. Also there is a stigma on being anorexic because I dont want to eat. To make a long sotry short, food is my comfort and the meds take it away.

I still have issues with loosing weight. Its like the drugs make me not eat but gain weight. I hate them. I wish there was some sort of a diet pill to help me out with this because clearly working out two times a day is not worth it.

When I first started Lamictal, it had that effect on me. I lost about ten pounds, but that was short lived. I'm sorry you're having to deal with this type of side effect with your meds. Gotta love having to choose between the good and the bad.

[gina_re]

Originally Posted by violetgreen

I'm not accepting the weight gain from my ap. I sort of watched it slowly go up for the last few months, but it's just too uncomfortable being heavy. Clothes pinch, rolls spill over, moving is more effort, and I perceive it as tiredness. I'm motivated to lose it now, and I am losing weight. I had a treat this afternoon, a dish of low fat no sugar frozen yogurt with berries and no sugar chocolate sauce. Mmmmm. I really needed a treat today, and I'm still following my weight loss program. But no, I'm not accepting weight gain.

Thank you! I have my days where I do just go along with it. But days when I'm huffing and puffing, it makes me think that I shouldn't be in such bad shape. I go back and forth. It really does come down to my mood: depression versus stabile. Because I guess I'm still in a somewhat depressed phase, I eat more junk than I should. That's is one clue to how I'm feeling, food choices. I just caught onto the fact that I was eating like this, so now I know I need to put in some type of effort. But it's "that time" and the ice cream is calling my name!

[gina_re]

Originally Posted by wildflowerchild25

I was about 110 lbs from middle school into my 20s. Once I moved in with my husband I gave up being a vegetarian and started eating fast food again which I hadn't done for years. Then I started gaining weight. Went up to about 130. Had my son, kept an extra fifteen pounds. Stayed mainly between 145 and 150 until this past fall. I went on Effexor and suddenly I was absolutely ravenous all the time. And when I'm really hungry I do not make good choices. So even though I went off the Effexor within a month, I somehow managed to gain about twenty pounds over the winter. I'm the heaviest I've ever been (besides pregnancy) and wearing the largest size. I had to buy all new clothes and will have to buy all new shorts for the summer.

But...I don't ****ing care. I've hated my body since I was ten years old. Struggled with going between starving myself and bingeing. Now I feel like what's the point? Why do I hate myself so much? Just because society says it's wrong to be overweight? **** that. I don't care. I'm comfortable in my clothes and comfortable with my new weight. I don't starve myself. I do try to eat healthy for health's sake, but I'm not ruled by that number on the scale anymore. I'm not morbidly obese. My weight is not affecting my health. So guess what? I don't care. Sometimes I think I'll never find another man because I'm not attractive enough, but then I think why would I want to be with a man who won't date me if I'm overweight? That's not the kind of man I want anyway.

So yeah, I've gained weight. And I'm fine with it. I'm tired of pouring so much energy into self hatred.

Now I do still keep track of my calories and what I eat because I don't want to gain any more, simply because I don't want to keep having to buy new clothes and I don't want to run into medical problems. So I make sure to eat less than 1600 cals most days. But some days, like today, I have a bad day emotionally and I decide I'm going to have a cheat day. Today I've eaten like crap all day and I don't care. It's one day. I'll eat better tomorrow. And I will. I'm able to have a cheat day and then get back on track the next few days.

So yeah. **** anyone who thinks I'm unattractive because I'm overweight. I like food. Sue me.

You read my mind exactly. I could have easily written the same thing. I can try, but then sometimes it's like who cares, my weight doesn't define me, I still have plenty of other attributes that are awesome. Thank you!!!

ps- you know what's weird, because I was thinner for many years, in my head I'm still that size. And then I look in the mirror

[gina_re]

Originally Posted by Marylin

That includes,bacon and brie paninnis at my favorite cafe, creme cakes, bakewell tarts,chocolate eclairs, sweet flapjack biscuits,( ten in one sitting), ice creme with chocolate etc.I also eat junk on visits to the cinema,crisps,fizzy drinks, hot dogs, muffins, carrot cake with butter icing.So plenty of scope to cut all that out and the result will definitely be lose weight!Not to mention lower blood sugar levels.

This seriously made me salivate

[gina_re]

Originally Posted by Nammu

Mmm bacon. It's funny before I started APs I didn't crave food. Now pizza, fast food, processed food, candy...all the bad for you stuff, I crave it. There used to be a potato chip commercial that said, you can't eat just one. Before APs I could eat just one, I didn't crave foods....now a bag of chips disappears if it comes into the house...so I try not to buy it. But I go nuts if I haven't chocolate I have to keep it in the house or I'll go out in the middle of cravings and but lots of junk food. Better to just keep M&Ms around and not fall prey to cravings. And yeah those health food bars...nope.

That's pretty much what's in my cabinets. C A R B S! CARBS CARBS CARBS!!