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Member Since Mar 2015
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#1
Everyone knows bipolar meds can cause some serious weight gain. I wanted to start a new diet, motivational thread!
Please share: What have you eaten today? Have you exercised? What med are you ou on or were on that made you gain? I was on clozaril last year and it made me blow up like a balloon! I went from 130lbs to 185lbs. I was so uncomfortable. Needless to say I am no longer on that med. The med I'm on right now that I think is making it hard to lose weight is loxapine. I'm down to 149lbs right now. I'm trying to get down to 130lbs again, but am really struggling So far I've eaten a cup of bran cereal with two cups of almond milk, an apple, a bowl of oatmeal with flaxseed in it, a cup of beans and two tablespoons of salsa. I didn't sleep again last night and haven't exercised yet because I'm physically exhausted, but I will. I do 1000 sit-ups and 300 jumping jacks a day. I try to keep it under 1400 calories, but am thinking I'm going to have to restrict more. Anyway. That's me! You? __________________ The darkest of nights is followed by the brightest of days. |
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Elder
Member Since Jun 2015
Location: Czechia
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#2
That's great you have lost some of the weight you gained, and are still working to lose more. Yes, weight gainer meds suck! I was on worse ones than I am now, and also was able to lose good weight, with dieting, after a med switch. I've been on my current mix (see my signature) for about 10 years now at varying dosages. I never fully gained back the weight I lost, 12 years ago, but I'm coming close.
It's not all about my meds, though. Stress, mood, and life factors also contribute to my weight gain. Everyone in my family was overweight or even obese, even without meds. I'm overweight now again, but have usually been less so than my family members. I think partly because my diet has always been healthier than theirs. I eat a lot more veggies and generally far less junk food. Also, I'm more active, hardcore, fast-paced. The latter is why I'm thinner than my husband, too. This is despite my Seroquel. Perhaps personality plays a part. When manic I get even more so. Yesterday was not a stellar day for me, in terms of eating. I'm alone in an Airbnb far far from my husband. I ate two pastries and a yogurt for breakfast. [Great bakery nearby.] A small tuna salad hoagie for lunch. A thick slice of fried pork roll, some coleslaw, and crudités with dip for dinner. As a snack, a small granola bar. Notable is that I haven't had a single alcoholic drink since departing Czech Republic (six day ago). __________________ Dx: Bipolar type 1 Psych Medications: * Tegretol XR (carbamazepine ER) 800 mg * Lamictal (lamotrigine) 150 mg * Seroquel XR (quetiapine ER) 600 mg I also take meds for blood pressure, cholesterol, and tachycardia. Last edited by Soupe du jour; Apr 30, 2023 at 07:05 AM.. |
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Insert Smiley Face
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#3
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I had to force myself to even do a measly 400 sit-ups and 50 jumping jacks yesterday. So far today I've had half a cup of plain oatmeal and one cup of bran cereal with a cup of milk. Oh, and a gala apple. Went to bed at 9 and woke up at 12:30 and couldn't fall back to sleep. Sigh. I'm going to ask for more seroquel I think. Hopefully today I'll work up enough physical energy to exercise more. __________________ The darkest of nights is followed by the brightest of days. |
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Soupe du jour
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Legendary Wise Elder
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#4
Oh goodness the joys of weight gain on many psych meds is truly depressing.
I’m not gaining but I’m not losing any which is double edged sword. I’d hate to think of my not being diabetic as I know I’d eat a lot more. The only reason I’m not dropping meds is because even tho I’m struggling a bit now the meds are working well with no real side effects so I’m going to stick with them. I will say I am proud of myself for NOT sliding into another anorexic episode …it causes so much Shame and it’s so embarrassing to talk about it. Its nothing to be proud of that’s for sure. It’s been almost 5 years since my last episode. I’m happy about it. I truly need to get back to daily walking but with my PsA so flared and Fibromyalgia I haven’t been able to do much . I need to but the pain is high. I’m still hoping this new medication will do something. Today I’ve had nothing but sugar free iced coffee. I have been doing one meal a day. Not the greatest for a diabetic but fasting can help give the body a break from processing food all day. It’s a fine line I guess. Most meals I do just a protein and veggies. Last night I had chicken breast and a salad. Was tasty so I’m going to do it again I bought lots of salad stuff. Thanks for starting this thread Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Helping others gets me out of my own head ~ |
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HALLIEBETH87, Nammu, Soupe du jour
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#5
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__________________ The darkest of nights is followed by the brightest of days. |
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~Christina
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Legendary Wise Elder
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#6
Thanks !!
Yes increase your protein intake and you’ll be less hungry and the shake/dizzy stuff eases. I keep baked chicken breast and boiled eggs so I can just grab something in the moment. If you want to do a fast eat protein however you find it. Say at night eat protein before bed and fast 8 hours. If you body adjusts okay you can increase a few hours each day. Ideally I’d like to do 12-14 but my blood sugar drops. Meh! Things should be easier right? lol Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Helping others gets me out of my own head ~ |
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unaluna
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#7
At this point in my life I’m more about doing healthy things and eating moderately than losing the weight I’ve gained on meds. I try to make sure the calories I eat aren’t empty calories but have good nutrition. I lose weight at either end of the spectrum so I’ve come to associate weight loss with hospitalizations and unstable life.
But that said I’ve had a good day. Yogurt, soup and sandwich, for supper I’ll have a salad. I had a few peanut M&Ms too for a snack. But in the main healthy food. __________________ Nammu …Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. …... Desiderata Max Ehrmann |
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Insert Smiley Face
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#8
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__________________ The darkest of nights is followed by the brightest of days. |
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~Christina
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Magnate
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#9
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Also, fixing sleep. This is probably the most important thing now. But overall you are doing great and you are already not that far from your ideal weight. My meds are currently Latuda 100 mg (weight neutral) Seroquel 50 mg (weight neutral due to low dosage; gained weight in the past when taking large doses of Seroquel) Gabapentin 900 mg (I think it is weight neutral for me). In the past I gained huge amounts on Depakote, Elavil, Zyprexa. Somewhat less on large doses of Seroquel. These three were worst offenders for me. I have lost some of that weight and plateaued at 20% off my highest weight. I am still obese but I look proportional and thanks to resistance training am strong and have muscles. |
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raspberrytorte
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#10
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It's good you're strong and muscular. I've had less than a stellar day so far. Just got done eating pancakes. Sigh. I'll do better the rest of the day! __________________ The darkest of nights is followed by the brightest of days. |
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Tart Cherry Jam
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Tart Cherry Jam
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Magnate
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#11
oh, that is why two cups of almond milk. I get it.
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Insert Smiley Face
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#12
__________________ The darkest of nights is followed by the brightest of days. |
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Tart Cherry Jam
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#13
So far today I've done well. I got my morning exercise in. Had a cup of bran cereal (160 calories), a cup of almond milk (30 calories), an apple (60 calories) and a low sodium V8 (60 calories). To drink I've had water, black coffee, and some unsweetened ginger lemon tea.
Plan on having half a cup of beans (100 calories) and two tablespoons of salsa (10 calories) for lunch. And maybe a peanut butter granola bar (200 calories) and another V8. For dinner I'm having half a block of plain baked tofu (roughly 200 calories) and maybe some rice (half a cup is about 150 cals I believe?). Not sure how many calories that puts me at, but I'll figure it out. Also have to get the rest of my exercising in! My goal right now is just to get below 150lbs with my boots on! __________________ The darkest of nights is followed by the brightest of days. |
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Insert Smiley Face
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#14
Was thinking about abandoning my vegan ways again and switching to a low carb diet for weight loss purposes, but I really can't. The thought makes me tear up!
__________________ The darkest of nights is followed by the brightest of days. |
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Insert Smiley Face
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#15
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__________________ The darkest of nights is followed by the brightest of days. |
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Nammu
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#16
I'm going to make falafel balls tomorrow. Pretty excited about this They're frickin delicious !
__________________ The darkest of nights is followed by the brightest of days. |
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Nammu
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Crone
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#17
I’m really scared to lose weight cause it’s now so strongly associated with being unstable. I know that’s illogical but it’s a reality. I’m glad someone else gets it.
__________________ Nammu …Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. …... Desiderata Max Ehrmann |
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raspberrytorte
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#18
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When I'm depressed I just don't eat, and when I'm manic I'm running all over the place and just eat candy and when I'm super anxious I don't eat either. Sigh. It's hard losing weight when you're relatively stable! __________________ The darkest of nights is followed by the brightest of days. |
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Nammu
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Nammu
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Crone
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#19
Yes it is. I think I ruined my metabolism when I stop eating when depressed. It’s like I go into hibernation and when I came out of my last depression my body continued to store all calories in case it didn’t get fed again! 😂 and of course the AP helps contribute too. But after gaining after coming out of my last depression I’ve been at the same weight for 7 yrs, too much, but stable no matter what I do.
__________________ Nammu …Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. …... Desiderata Max Ehrmann |
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#20
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__________________ The darkest of nights is followed by the brightest of days. |
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Nammu
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