Physical activity is hard

I have gained 30 pounds this year since going back on Seroquel. So now that is a total of 85 pounds over the last five years. I have been going on and off it because of the weight gain but it is the only thing that help my depression. It has gotten so bad that recently just walking has become hard. I feel my muscles in my legs burning and I get out of breath. Do again I am at a cross roads of mental stability versus physical health. My T never wants me off Seroquel again. I take Metformin but it doesn’t seem to help. I have back pain all the time too. I am so depressed over this weight gain and now I have body image issues. I won’t let anybody take my picture.

Why do I have to choose between mental health and physical health? I was an athlete my whole life so being obese is very hard for me.

Hi Crook. Please don't give up on physical activity altogether. Even just a short block (or whatever you can do) but done deliberately, is a huge accomplishment sometimes. Even just parking further from a store entrance can be a good step.

Seroquel has been very helpful for me, as well. For both depression and mania. My dose does go up and down a lot, though. I wish I could get down to 450 mg or lower again. At that lower dose, I can diet more easily. Diet is the main way to lose weight. It's far more helpful than exercise alone. I know, though, that if you're ravenously hungry, diet can seem impossible. I am almost incapable of cutting sweets from my diet, but when I can, I try to pick the lesser of the evils and to just eat smaller amounts, or just once in a day, if possible.

Are you on regular Seroquel or Seroquel XR? Though we're obviously all different, I have found Seroquel XR to be far more weight friendly for me than regular Seroquel was. I think it has to do with the action of the XR. Or something.

Its springtime. I am starting walking short distances. Its ridiculous, but i have become one of those people you read about in magazines who say, "i could barely walk down the driveway to the mailbox." The story always ends, "...but i just finished my first marathon, yay me!" I wish us both the best.

I struggle with the fact that my physical health has taken a back seat to my overall health. Mainly because I make my mental health a priority because that is more painful for me. I have no energy to do anything. I'm so out of shape that I've been tired after taking a shower sometimes. Now that's sad. I hate this time of year because I now have to mow my lawn. I wish I could afford to pay someone to do it like I did a few years ago, but that's not an option right now. It takes me so long to finish because I am so winded and dizzy while I'm out there.
It's hard for me to accept being obese as well. I was thin in high school and in my 20s. But once I started on Paxil, my weight ballooned rapidly. And I've just gained more due to emotional eating after a death the family and now being on risperdal. I don't realize it until I look in the mirror and then I'm disgusted.
So I guess the point of my post is that I understand where you're coming from. It's not fair that we have to choose between our physical and mental health.

I completely understand. Invega caused me to gain 75lb in the course of a year. I didn’t even realize it was happening. I knew I kept buying new clothes but I didn’t realize how big I had gotten. I finally stabilized weight wise but I couldn’t stop eating. I finally went off the invega and then it took me a year to find the right combo of meds again. It was so frustrating. And I still can’t lose any damn weight. I’ve lost and gained the same 20lbs for the last three years. I start to do well with eating and then I get depressed and say **** it and eat my feelings. Now I’m at my heaviest weight ever and I’m very upset about it. I’m getting out walking because it’s good for my back so that’s good. I agree with the others, you have to start small.

But my point is I get the frustration of choosing between mental and physical health.

Why can't you stop taking Seroquil?

I hear you, all the anxious girls on earth. I was thin and fit until i went on serious meds at 30 and almost instantly gained 100 pounds. I have a hard time with exercise too. I've started a program but it is so gentle it's really more physiotherapy than exercise. But i'm happy with it as all other times i've tended to overdo it and give up. I'm glad i'm disciplining myself to start small at last, at last.


I'm in Day Three of a diet. It's early days yet but i am really happy with myself. I was overeating to the point of discomfort every day and having to stay inert for hours to digest. I'd feel so desperate and yarn-haired after i ate i'd start looking up Overeater's Anonymous meetings.

Now i feel calm. The food can sometimes be a disappointment but i know it will be worth it in the end. I look forward to being thin and pretty and feminine and attractive and sexy and youthful and active and healthy. I'm doing it for ME, not for any doctor or therapist.

I have tried about 6 or 7 times now to stop. I can’t take antidepressants anymore so Seroquel is the only thing that has worked.

Try taking your Seroquel at a different time of day. Itwillhave lessimpacton your weight.

Have to take it at night for insomnia too.