[Crazy Hitch]

I am not.

And I blame it on meds. Not as a cop out but I know what goes into my body and it should not be this heavy.

My pdoc is weaning me off Effexor. He believes that’s the culprit. But it takes a few weeks to wean off, slowly.

I’ve replaced it with Brintillex.

Then, he’ll consider my lithium in April. I want to go back on lamotragine but he says it’s “weak”.

I have absolutely no desire to exercise. It’s not even an option. I’d rather watch my calorie intake.

Sorry about the med rant this is a post about ideal weight.

[Soupe du jour]

Hi Crazy Hitch. No, my weight in not in a "normal BMI range". Currently in the "overweight range". But to me, right now a weight in the normal BMI range would not necessarily be an "ideal" for me. What is "ideal" to one may certainly differ for another, for sure, and throughout one's life. In any case, I see "ideal" as a weight where I can be as healthy as possible for my age and feel sufficient energy and confidence. I think I'd be happy and healthy a little heavier than the high end of a normal BMI. There are factors that make me feel so.

I would benefit from losing weight as I am pre-diabetic and take cholesterol and blood pressure medication. I strongly suspect my antipsychotic made me more prone to these issues. That does bug me. I also dislike that past Lithium use affected my kidneys and likely brought on hypothyroidism pre-maturely (common in my family). I've had to weigh benefits to detriments with my psychiatrists in the past. Changes were made, at times. Other times I've stuck to certain meds.

When my current antipsychotic dose is decreased weight loss does seem easier. However, in a world without meds, I may not have a "normal BMI". Depression was also a source of weight gain for me. With the exception of certain medications, an even bigger one. Then, I've a genetic predisposition...and now age. I've weighed less, at times, while on bipolar medications (including antipsychotic) than a time before I took bipolar meds. Or the same, including taking much of my current mix. Lifestyle/circumstances and moods were factors.

A unique challenge of mine is seeing myself as trimmer than reality. Kinda the opposite of the norm. That curbs motivation to lose weight, despite knowing what the scale says.

[Victoria'smom]

I'm not and that leads to the inaccurate thought that I'm eating enough. But I killed my metabolism long ago. Just now when they see my blood work do they take seriously my eating problems. Hopefully I can loose weight healthy but I wouldn't hold my breath.i think this is what I have to deal with now. I think I have to go through a dietitian for any real help.

[TunedOut]

I am not but during my cancer treatment I lost about 18 pounds (maybe it was more than this) and only about 8 pounds came back. It has stayed where it is for such a long time that it seems to be my "new normal". Though it may not be a medically perfect weight my blood pressure went from not good and the doc talking about prescribing medication for it to good readings. I am comfortable with it and just don't worry about it anymore. When I occasionally weigh, I am amazed that the weight stays the same even when I treat myself. Yes, it is a blessing because most of my life it went up and down and when it was up, I felt terrible about it because I did not like how I looked. Feeling bad about the weight may have made me want to eat more (we are what we think to some extent ) I wonder if age is a factor in the stability too. Also, learning not to be as anxious or as worried about my looks (and therefore not "dieting") helped too!

But I do know that some of the drugs we take make us hungry all of the time--when I was on chemo they gave me an antipsychotic for a couple of days each treatment to control my nausea) and for some they must take their mental health medications or the outcomes can be disasterous. I wish they could discover better ones.

[Discombobulated]

Mine's in healthy range but I’m heavier than I was (I used to be able to eat anything and not gain) mixture of meds and middle age. I’d rather be well and a bit heavier than otherwise though.

[Mountaindewed]

I look a lot smaller then what the number says. I look probably about 20 pounds less then what I actually weigh. According to the BMI I'm overweight. But I look fit and muscular if not kind of scrawny for a 30 year old guy. I'm in treatment for an ED and I'm being told not to focus on the numbers and BMI is ********. Ideally I'd just like to lose 10 another pounds or so. I like the way I look. I just can't get the number out of my head which my therapist says is a dangerous way of thinking.

I've been told to stop losing weight, I'm thin, I'm too scrawny to be a guy. But its just that number though.

[*Beth*]

I'm posting a pic of myself that was taken about half a year before I was prescribed Seroquel. In the pic I was at my normal weight of 110lbs (I'm 5'6"). I was too thin and spent my adult life trying to gain weight. In this pic I was 49, so 11 years ago. At the end of a year of taking Seroquel I had gained 100lbs. Now I'm 130lbs. more than I was in this pic. I don't have a current photo of myself to post. IF I manage to lose any weight at all, it will be 7lbs. max - then I'll just gain that back as soon as I begin eating normally.

Meds have completely ruined my metabolism - and much of my health, because of high bp, high cholesterol, higher glucose. I cannot understand why there isn't something that can be done to keep people on psych meds from gaining weight.

[bizi]

I am not at a comfortable weight, had been drinking lots of fattening beers and that is why I gained weight. so I am Alcohol free for lent until easter.
I am already down a couple of pounds. I was obese for BMI. That was when

I weighed 200.8
Now I am 186.9 in the overweight bmi.
happy to be losing weight again.
bizi

[Aviza]

I gained a bunch of weight from meds and was already in the overweight category. They only took me off the med that cause so much weight gain when I complained about still gaining weight while fasting.

Now I'm on meds I have to take with food that don't affect weight. I have to work my *** off to lose any weight. And the most I seem to be able to lose is 40 lbs which is about how much I was overweight before meds.

I need to lose at least 100 lbs now. More like 110. I'm trying suppliments to lose weight, I figured meds made me fat pills can make me thin.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Aviza

I gained a bunch of weight from meds and was already in the overweight category. They only took me off the med that cause so much weight gain when I complained about still gaining weight while fasting.

Now I'm on meds I have to take with food that don't affect weight. I have to work my *** off to lose any weight. And the most I seem to be able to lose is 40 lbs which is about how much I was overweight before meds.

I need to lose at least 100 lbs now. More like 110. I'm trying suppliments to lose weight, I figured meds made me fat pills can make me thin.

Your logic makes sense. Which supplements are you using?

[Nammu]

Before I started psych meds I was the low end of normal and everyone always commented that I looked too skinny. In the year before I was diagnosed and put on meds I was underweight from anxiety and nerves. For the next decade I yo yoed up and down as I was put on meds and then quit meds. I’ve been on meds now for about ten years and my metabolism is messed up but I know it I quit I’ll go down to normal weight without changing anything else. I exercise as best I can with metal in my back. And don’t look that bad though, cause at normal so called bmi I look underweight. So I pay no attention to scales and bmi.

[*Beth*]

You've reminded me of a good point @Nammu. I have no doubt that Seroquel caused me to gain an unhealthy amount of weight. It's also true, though, that before my anxiety (which I believe is somehow connected to hypomania) was properly treated it was hard for me to eat. I didn't have an eating disorder in the sense that I was restricting, but just swallowing more than a few bites of food was hard because my anxiety level was so high. At times, I knew that if I didn't eat at all I would feel unwell, but I was so terribly anxious and wound up that all I could manage was soda crackers or plain rice cakes with some broth and water. I find water comforting. But ugh, the anxiety of those many years was sheer torture.

[Crazy Hitch]

Seroquel was a bad weight gainer for me

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Crazy Hitch

Seroquel was a bad weight gainer for me

I'm so glad I'm no longer on it. The problem is that it seems to have done damage to my metabolism. I've never experienced anything like it.

[raspberrytorte]

I'm not at my ideal weight. I'm in the overweight category according to the BMI. I gained 50lbs on clozaril. I'm working my *** off to lose weight now though. Been dieting and exercising like crazy!!!! Hopefully I see results. So far I've been losing about a pound a week on average. I take seroquel right now and am paranoid that's going to make me gain even more!

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by raspberrytorte

I'm not at my ideal weight. I'm in the overweight category according to the BMI. I gained 50lbs on clozaril. I'm working my *** off to lose weight now though. Been dieting and exercising like crazy!!!! Hopefully I see results. So far I've been losing about a pound a week on average. I take seroquel right now and am paranoid that's going to make me gain even more!

Is it possible to exchange the Seroquel for a different AP? So many people find Geodon helpful, and it doesn't seem to cause weight gain. (Unfortunately, Geodon didn't work for me.)


It's terrific that you're exercising. That's so important, regardless of what our weight is.

[rwwff]

No. I picked up about 50 lbs over the last year, the only thing that changed was my newer pdoc added welbutrin to the mix. Weight was fine for a little while then the appetite slowly started ramping up; not to mention the combination of terrible cravings for sugar and along with losing some teeth to dry-mouth most of the food I can successfully consume ends up being soft, fast, carbs; the exact opposite of what my GP was trying to get me to do.

I am starting over this week; I'm going to try and replicate what I did several years ago when I lost about 70 pounds, got kinda neurotic about food, almost ED land, but I was able to pull out of it and managed to stay year that weight for a few years. That was all before bipolar tried to wreck my life.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by rwwff

....Weight was fine for a little while then the appetite slowly started ramping up; not to mention the combination of terrible cravings for sugar....

Do you attribute the terrible sugar craving to medication?

I feel like AP's cause me to crave sugar, it feels like I'll jump out of my skin, like a "psychological akathesia" if I don't eat sugar. It's a very disturbing and odd feeling.

[rwwff]

Originally Posted by *Beth*

Do you attribute the terrible sugar craving to medication?

That's kinda whats so frustrating. I *think* its the welbutrin, as its the most recent addition, but I can't say for sure one way or another.

Just no good way to test it. For all I know its my statin getting activated in a weird way by some cryptic metabolic magic cast by my AP. iow No idea.

[Brentus]

I’m in a normal weight range but on the higher end of they scale. I’ve definitely had to alter my meals and exercise to help with it. Im also getting older she metabolism is slowing . I can’t eat a family size bag of Doritos and 5 sodas in a day without reaping the repercussions anymore. Not that at 20 I was doing any favors to my body lol.

I’ve also lucked out with my meds. Most are weight neutral , and adderall does have appetite suppressant properties. Weight gain is a serious concern with psych meds and I watched my sister struggle immensely with it. I refuse to go through that pain. I’m blessed currently, I don’t. I have been on meds that put on the pounds in the past and really had a difficult time accepting that it outweighed the benefits. Mental and physical health are intertwined. It’s hard to say one is good if the other makes you feel like crap.

My advice is give it your all to curve the weight gain. But if it becomes too much — seriously consider your options . Mental health in my book is top priority. But whole being health comes a close second .

[Brentus]

Originally Posted by *Beth*

Do you attribute the terrible sugar craving to medication?

I feel like AP's cause me to crave sugar, it feels like I'll jump out of my skin, like a "psychological akathesia" if I don't eat sugar. It's a very disturbing and odd feeling.

Just a random note— If I for whatever reason I stop a taking any of my meds I notice increase of carb craving , and pure sugars too. I wouldn’t attribute it to any particular one per se, but I’ve noticed it with all when I miss doses or have gone without .

[Scooter9]

I'm 35 pounds overweight. I attribute my weight to past meds.

I'm trying to lose weight now by going to the gym and eating better but it's a slow process.

I'm thinking of drastically lowering my calorie intake but I don't think that's healthy.

[ronkuby]

in short:

lol no

[Crazy Hitch]

Originally Posted by Scooter9

I'm 35 pounds overweight. I attribute my weight to past meds.

I'm trying to lose weight now by going to the gym and eating better but it's a slow process.

I'm thinking of drastically lowering my calorie intake but I don't think that's healthy.

I’m going to start lowering my calorie intake, slowly …

[Tucson]

No, I am not at my ideal weight. I am at 20 pounds overweight. I need to lose my weight in order to fit in my wardrobe once again.

PS My fingers are getting numb.