Physical Check-In

So many of us are struggling with weight gain or body issues due to the medicines we are on or the depression we experience. My pants are tight and I need a place to be accountable for my exercise and the food I'm eating. I'm up 6 lbs since starting my meds in November and I do not want this trend to continue. My plan is to get moving and cut back on the sugar(starting tomorrow ha!)

Here's my check-in for today.
Exercise: 30 minute walk with the kids and the dog
Sugar: I had a small bowl of ice cream after lunch
Other: I need to drink more water!

I invite anyone who wants a place to post their physical struggles and successes to join me.

I use the MyFitnessPal app to keep track of my calories, but it says I can only have 1200 a day (which is barely any). So I usually eat more than I'm supposed to. As a result I'm about 20 lb. overweight.

1200 calories is insane. It seems like your metabolism would slow to a crawl if you ate that way. I've tried apps too and I liked several of them. I also did weight watchers which helped a lot after having kids. All of those options are missing the personal accountability I feel like I need. Maybe if I force myself to be honest here I can stay on track

I put on my jeans today and they are definitely tighter. I feel like my belt is holding on for dear life. My sister is also struggling to lose the last of her baby weight, so I'm secretly happy because I have someone that is struggling along with me. We've both said we're going to cut back on sugar, but I just can't get myself to stay off. I bought some fruit to help with my cravings, but the next day I'll get cookies or something. I feel like if I stop with the meds I'll drop the weight, but my physical health is going to have to suffer because my mental health is more important to me. But there is hope. Now that spring has sprung, I'm forced to do yard work. So I'll be getting exercise in. Because right now I'm extremely sedentary. So mowing the lawn every week or so will be good for me.

Sugar is so addictive. I do great for a few weeks and then I'll start back on it and find myself spiraling out of control.

Yard work is awesome exercise, especially in July when you are literally sweating your ***** off!

I have three major problems with my physical health.
1) Fibromyalgia. It is much better than it used to be ( I was basically bedridden), but it still restricts how much I can do each day. If I overdo it I pay with bad flare-ups of fatigue and pain. Still, much improved and doing all I can to keep improving.
2)Injured upper left leg. It has been in pain for over a month and I have re-injured it twice due to my foolishness. Physio is helping me but it will be at least another month before I am close to recovered.
3) Weight gain from small doses of Seroquel at night which I have taken for the last 7 months. Without it I cannot sleep. I had major sleep issues before it. I am slowly weaning myself off it (down to 12.5 mg most nights) but know it will be a struggle. I have gained just over 2 kg. I guess thats around 6 pounds. Not much but I am not happy with the trajectory. I eat well, exercise when able so not much else I can do until my hip heals.

6lbs doesnt seem like a lot until you feel miserable in your clothes. It is the same for me. I'm more concerned with the trajectory. You swim a lot, right? That's such great exercise. I wish I swam more. Looking forward to the pool opening back up for the summer.

I used to swim 3x a week but only for 10-15 minutes due to Fibromyalgia. Now my leg stops me from any exercise and it will remain so for at least a month. Going into winter here so it’s the heated pool down the road or a wetsuit in the ocean. I used to do yoga too. Yet despite all this exercise I still continued to gain weight. Frustrating.
Good luck with swimming once the pool opens.

My physical complaints right now are fatigue/lethargy, being overweight, and high cholesterol, triglycerides, and slightly elevated glucose levels. I think lowering my Seroquel XR would help with all three. The problem is that my mood rebels against lowering my Seroquel XR. Spring, in particular, makes lowering my antipsychotic difficult.

I have used MyFitnessPal, too. I like it. When I am in the right place, mentally and with my medications, I am a pretty good dieter. But when not, it seems next to impossible. At high Seroquel XR doses and with fatigue/mood issues I can occasionally have issues with binging, but I don't have a binge eating disorder. It's just intermittent. But, I often struggle with eating a bit too much and eating foods a lot that I should really limit.

My psychiatrist mentioned trying me on metformin or switching antipsychotics. The latter is especially scary since though I do complain about Seroquel XR, it has helped keep me out of the hospital for eight years. It is also otherwise not that bad side-effect wise. It is possible I might have been my current weight even without medications. Being overweight (or even obese) is pretty common in my family. Much of time, I've actually been one of the trimmer members of my family. Or appeared so. An issue I deal with with weight is an unusual one. I tend to see myself as much trimmer than my weight indicates. Some of that is perception.

An initial goal for me would be to lose 10 lbs. That would get me back to a weight I can often maintain for a while. Then, 12 additional lbs lost would get me to the highest weight in my normal BMI range. At that weight, I look pretty trim. I am not petite. I am big boned and have some muscle tone leftover from my dancing days. I tend to "wear" my weight evenly throughout my body. Getting back to the next clothes size lower would give me many more options in my wardrobe.

I would love accountability here and to give support to others regarding weight loss or other physical issues.

The thought of switching antipsychotics scared me too. I was on Risperdal and my doc is weaning me off and onto Geodon. It is going well so far, but I am nervous for the final transition this Friday where I'll only be on the Geodon.

The accountability is key. It is so easy to self talk yourself into one more cookie!

I'll jus say... back pain from chronic pain is the worst

specially if you are forced to bend down to get something accomplished

feeling mostly okay.

in pain a bit from my shower earlier though

takes a lot out of me

in a lot of physical pain from my shower earlier

I guess it's good I'm doing nothing demanding for the rest of the day

I'm sorry you are hurting. I find so much comfort in taking a shower. I can't imagine it being painful. I hope the pain subsides soon and you are able to enjoy the rest of your day.

I’ve had to really ease off on the water pressure at times, it’s Amazing to me just how painful water can be those of use that have Fibromyalgia.

I hope your pain eases quickly. Are you still dealing with the terrible heat?

Gentle hugs

yesterday was the worst it's been in quite sometime

I litirally sat their, stiff as a board, almost in tears (my leg went dead too which wasn't fun)

not in as much pain today but it is still a lot more than usual

which I have to say is odd... I have done nothing too physical to warrant it (though I did shower friday, takes me ages to recover from that)

lots of fibro pain

still not recovered from my shower on friday

I have been on & off meds since i was 12/13, now at that age of course i had no problems other than them never working. 1.5yrs ago i decided to give yet another combo of meds a try.. I barely eat, walk a mile a day and do pilates 3-5 times a week.. Still i have gained 60 lbs😔 Im 5ft tall so 60lbs looks like 80+
So Niw my self esteem is at a dramatic record low due to the weight and the consequences tgat arose from it! My psychiatrist sees me every 3 months and keeps saying lets keep trying the meds. I say as politely as i can that they absolutely dont do a damn thing! Well other than make me gain weight of corse. I have finally decided to just give up on the damn pills for good and would rather deal without themnanyway i can ,thats healthy that is, Or if god willing im able i want ect. The risks dont bother me and cant hurt me anymore than trying med after med only to have them do nothing at all.
Im sorry i needed to vent i guess😶 Hope others out there have better luck than this...

still have a bit of a head ache from yesterday.

urg

rest of my body is feeling okay, back's a bit clicky though. wish I had a good chair that offers good back support (I've said that many times)

Is there a way to get the chair you need?

Are you able to get out for some fresh air and some socialization?

I have never known your situation very well. I have wanted to know, yet only as much as you have wanted to share here. I never know exactly what to suggest. I do care and I do miss you when you have not signed in for awhile.
I hope you feel better soon!