Gaining Weight... Put on the Brakes!

I have been chronically underweight for quite some time. On top of my drug addiction and mental issues, I also had Hepatitis C. This caused my weight to plummet at a pretty alarming rate. My wife and I were really worried.

I was a participant in a medication study and actually was able to be healed of this disease and my weight rebounded, I got clean and began eating better.

Now, I am a little alarmed at how much weight I am actually putting back on. It isn't so much what I see on the scale. My wife and doctors are very very happy with it. To be honest, I am too. I fell really healthy.

However, this morning I realized the majority of my pants don't fit. I used to have the outlook of "eating is a chore". This then evolved to "great, I like food again, I am glad to have my appetite back. I'll eat whatever I want". Now I am getting worried that the weight gain will continue.

I gained 40lbs in 6 months of being sober and Hep-C free. It's been a wonderful experience, but now how do I pause the gain. I am pushing 180 and feel like I am at the ideal weight.

Any ideas?

Well... of course I'm an old man. So I suppose that makes a difference. I'm about 5'8" & weigh... oh... around 135 pounds. I've been at or around that weight for many years now. I don't get a lot of exercise... mostly just walking our dog. But, over the years, I sort-of learned what I can & can't eat. I have a bowl of whole-grain cereal for breakfast with a banana or some berries & then I eat dinner (no lunch.) I also pretty-much always have a dessert of some sort during the evening because I have a sweet tooth. But, beyond that, I rarely snack. And when I do, it's just a few unsalted mixed nuts generally. I also seldom eat out at restaurants. I think not snacking & not eating out are the keys to my being able to maintain my weight over the course of many years.

Thank you for this. I could certainly work on not snacking so much. I also thank you for sharing you breakfast routine. The cereal you mentioned sounds good.

I have actually heard the opposite about snacking. I think a lot of nutritionists recommend eating very small meals more frequently rather than 1 or 2 big meals. I eat every 3 or 4 hours during the day. This helps keep my blood sugar stable too, because I can get hypoglycemic. When my blood sugar gets too low, it makes me emotional, unable to think, and at times I even pass out.

Not eating out is a good idea though and so is snacking on nuts. They have protein and can keep us feeling full longer.

Seroquel might be contributing to the rapid adding of pounds. Try a small dose of Topiramate to halt that. Topiramate may as an added benefit help with controlling addictions! Just start with a really low dose - break the smallest tab of 25 mg in half.

Not a bad idea I've heard of this too. I should probably give this a shot along with physical exercise.

Sounds like a great idea. I will certainly bring this up with my doctor. Thank you very much for the insight.