Weight Loss and Exercise #7

Mountaindewed · Mar 12, 2025, 09:54 PM

I don't know if I just don't have the willpower. But I really need to get things together for my physical health. I planned my meaIs through Sunday on the myfittnespal app.
I added in enough carbs, protein, and I'm watching my sodium.

But I ache all over I assume from the spring pull out bed. I haven't had these types of body aches in years. I used to be on my feet for hours at work. Now I constanty need to sit down and take breaks.

I would feel a ton better if I could just get the willpower or have my therapist be more encouraging or something.

Tart Cherry Jam · Mar 12, 2025, 11:44 PM

Body aches do not seem to be a manifestation of lack of willpower, though.

Mountaindewed · Mar 13, 2025, 01:41 AM

No those were 2 seperate thoughts

Discombobulated · Mar 13, 2025, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy Hitch

I haven't found a happy mediium. When I was eating 1200 calories a day I put on 15 kg. When I was eating 1900 calories a day I put on an extra 7kg. I swear it's the meds!

It quite possibly is the meds.

it doesn’t sound like you’re overeating at all. Have you asked for meds review?

Adding in more activity might help you feel better though, and framing it as activity rather than exercise might help. I know if I feel like I have to exercise I don’t want to but being active somehow feels better.

just adding in walks stuff like that.

Blueberrybook · Mar 13, 2025, 08:03 AM

What meds are you on @Crazy Hitch? Is there one you particularly expect causing your weight problems? If so, you can definitely ask for a meds review and let your pdoc know you would like to get off X medication and try something else. I did when my pdoc put my on Zyprexa (well, the generic of it anyway), and I gained 15 lb. just like that. I pretty much told him he could prescribe it but he could be pretty sure I wouldn't take it. I told him I'd like to try going back on Seroquel; as much as it is a weight gainer for a lot of people, for me it is not. I also found Remeron awful for weight gain & never feeling full.

Another thing to consider is if you take hormonal birth control especially the pill can cause weight gain and maybe the hormonal IUD. I have the Paragard (copper IUD), it hasn't caused heavy periods for me, but my periods were not that heavy to begin with, it extended my period a day or 2 but nothing awful. There can also be hormonal imbalance if you are not on birth control that causes issues with weight.

One thing else to consider if you have regular periods; it is not uncommon to gain weight the week before or of your period due to water weight. I gain nearly 5 lb. every week before my period, and by mid-period, I've lost it all doing not one thing different.

And I'm assuming you've had your thyroid checked to be sure you don't have issues there? And your A1C levels?

As for me, I did a pilates video this morning marked beginning to moderate, and it was a challenge, but I did it! Practiced pushups and planks and hope to remember to do it again in the afternoon. I'm good at remembering it in the morning, not so much in the afternoon.

Mountaindewed · 10:26 AM

I started up my metformin again. It was going great but then I saw a new GI doctor and she was really intimidating and stuff. Its a long story.

Anyways, the metformin had been going well. So I started up at 500mg once a day again until I work myself up to 2000mg. I feel fine. Just a bit tired.

Breakfast was 3 bakery pancakes and a can of V8.

I just did 150 reps with my ab roller. It was really hard today for some reason.

Crazy Hitch · Mar 13, 2025, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Discombobulated

It quite possibly is the meds.

it doesn’t sound like you’re overeating at all. Have you asked for meds review?

Adding in more activity might help you feel better though, and framing it as activity rather than exercise might help. I know if I feel like I have to exercise I don’t want to but being active somehow feels better.

just adding in walks stuff like that.

I asked for a med review but my psychiatrist doesn’t want to change my meds because he said I might get rebound depression. He’s not going to change anything for at least 6 months he said.

Crazy Hitch · Mar 13, 2025, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueberrybook

What meds are you on @Crazy Hitch? Is there one you particularly expect causing your weight problems? If so, you can definitely ask for a meds review and let your pdoc know you would like to get off X medication and try something else. I did when my pdoc put my on Zyprexa (well, the generic of it anyway), and I gained 15 lb. just like that. I pretty much told him he could prescribe it but he could be pretty sure I wouldn't take it. I told him I'd like to try going back on Seroquel; as much as it is a weight gainer for a lot of people, for me it is not. I also found Remeron awful for weight gain & never feeling full.

Another thing to consider is if you take hormonal birth control especially the pill can cause weight gain and maybe the hormonal IUD. I have the Paragard (copper IUD), it hasn't caused heavy periods for me, but my periods were not that heavy to begin with, it extended my period a day or 2 but nothing awful. There can also be hormonal imbalance if you are not on birth control that causes issues with weight.

One thing else to consider if you have regular periods; it is not uncommon to gain weight the week before or of your period due to water weight. I gain nearly 5 lb. every week before my period, and by mid-period, I've lost it all doing not one thing different.

And I'm assuming you've had your thyroid checked to be sure you don't have issues there? And your A1C levels?

As for me, I did a pilates video this morning marked beginning to moderate, and it was a challenge, but I did it! Practiced pushups and planks and hope to remember to do it again in the afternoon. I'm good at remembering it in the morning, not so much in the afternoon.

I’m on lithium, abilify and Effexor. I believe Effexor is the main one but my pdoc said 20% of people who take lithium will put on weight. I’m finally stable after a year and a half of debilitating depression. He doesn’t want to change anything because he’s concerned it will cause rebound depression. He was the one who suggested I speak to my gp about weight loss injections because he concurred that my psych meds were in fact leading to my weight gain.

My gp gave me tablets for perimenopause but with everything going on I was too scared to take them so I don’t take them. It was for very erratic periods and never knowing when my period would be arriving

My thyroid stuffed up years ago due to lithium. I’m on thyroid meds and I had my thyroid checked 1.5 months ago and it was okay, fortunately.

Crazy Hitch · Mar 13, 2025, 03:12 PM

Possible trigger:

I weighed in this morning and I’ve lost 1.4kg this week. Not necessarily the healthy way I did skip lunch a few times. I’ve lost 6.7kg in 4 weeks which is pretty good going

Blueberrybook · Mar 13, 2025, 03:30 PM

Best to stop skipping meals...you will kill your metabolism, and it deprives your body of the vitamins and minerals it needs. Even if you take a multi-vitamin, vitamins & minerals are best absorbed by the foods they come from. You often mention getting your lunch from the canteen. Do you not have a place you could store your lunch in a shared refrigerator? If you make a lunch at home (prefrably the night before), you will know exactly how many calories is in that meal (at least roughly). There are a lot of good healthy lunch recipes online. Same with dinner recipes. And if you have a picky family, I know about those, I just do my best around them because eating healthy is important and it's important to lose weight in a healthy manner. As for the Effexor, you may be right about it causing weight gain; why won't your pdoc let you try Wellbutrin or even Cymbalta? I am on Cymbalta, and Cymbalta is a game changer for me. I respond to it quitckly and when a low dose of that was not enough, my pdoc added the SAD lamp then said I could use it year-round if needed. It is important your pdoc listens to your wishes; it you have a crash of depression coming off Effexor, well you could always go back on it if nothing else works, am I right? For me, it's been effective to tell my pdoc he can prescribe me something, but he can be sure I won't take it, and that will usually change his mind on a med review. Not ideal, but sometimes you've got to play hardball. And there's lamotrigine too if you need a mood stabilizer, that helps keep my mood fairly stable. Have you tried pushing the issue with your pdoc or just brought it up once and let it go? You could tell him too that the Wegovy is expensive and hard to afford and it would be cheaper if changing meds helped the weight loss along?

Blueberrybook · Mar 13, 2025, 03:34 PM

Speaking of losing weight, I have lately, a little, not much, maybe 2-3 lb. but everything is looser, so I think it's more my body shape changing with exercise. Yesterday, I didn't even have to unbutton my jeans to get them on, so yeah, I have to be careful about that. Crazy how a couple pounds makes a huge difference for me. I will keep an eye on it; any lower, and I will be cutting exercise, trying to eat more even though I already eat a lot every day.

@Crazy Hitch - I know eating the right amount of calories a day is important, and I'm sure you do too. Eat under 800 cal/day consistently and that is very, very bad for your body. Please listen to me when I tell you it is much, much, much easier to stop ED behavior (in the direction of anorexia/bulimia) from the very beginning (right when it starts happening(. Meaning getting back on track with a healthier diet now is going to do you a HUGE favor in the long run. My worst ED recovery happened in my early 20s, but I had a few pitfalls here and there when my weights got back into the 90s. And that was awful to pull out of as well but at least I'd come around in a 1, 2, 3 months and get myself back on track. Like I said, I still struggle with ED thoughs and probably always will

Just as you may always struggle with body image issues...because sometimes you may think losing the weight will make you suddenly happy and into a different person, but then you realize you're pretty much the same person you always were with the very same insecurities and may not even see the extent of the weight loss if you have body dysmorphia going on (if you don't work on those things like body image in therapty).

Crazy Hitch · Mar 13, 2025, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueberrybook

Best to stop skipping meals...you will kill your metabolism, and it deprives your body of the vitamins and minerals it needs. Even if you take a multi-vitamin, vitamins & minerals are best absorbed by the foods they come from. You often mention getting your lunch from the canteen. Do you not have a place you could store your lunch in a shared refrigerator? If you make a lunch at home (prefrably the night before), you will know exactly how many calories is in that meal (at least roughly). There are a lot of good healthy lunch recipes online. Same with dinner recipes. And if you have a picky family, I know about those, I just do my best around them because eating healthy is important and it's important to lose weight in a healthy manner. As for the Effexor, you may be right about it causing weight gain; why won't your pdoc let you try Wellbutrin or even Cymbalta? I am on Cymbalta, and Cymbalta is a game changer for me. I respond to it quitckly and when a low dose of that was not enough, my pdoc added the SAD lamp then said I could use it year-round if needed. It is important your pdoc listens to your wishes; it you have a crash of depression coming off Effexor, well you could always go back on it if nothing else works, am I right? For me, it's been effective to tell my pdoc he can prescribe me something, but he can be sure I won't take it, and that will usually change his mind on a med review. Not ideal, but sometimes you've got to play hardball. And there's lamotrigine too if you need a mood stabilizer, that helps keep my mood fairly stable. Have you tried pushing the issue with your pdoc or just brought it up once and let it go? You could tell him too that the Wegovy is expensive and hard to afford and it would be cheaper if changing meds helped the weight loss along?

I was on cymbalta for years prior to my last depression episode and it was GREAT until it stopped working. That’s why he changed me onto Effexor because he reckons it’s stronger.

You’re so right about lunch. I usually buy an egg and mayonnaise sandwich from the canteen because it’s the only thing that’s not fried. I think I’ll take thin crackers and fat free cottage cheese to work and make my own lunch from now on. It’s easy enough to make and will satisfy my hunger.

I’ve been on lamotragine too but my pdoc reckons it’s not good for my depression.

All I know is right now I’m stable.

Possible trigger:

Last year I was very suicidal that’s why my pdoc played around with my meds

Blueberrybook · Mar 13, 2025, 03:46 PM

Too bad about the Cymbalta...mine worked for me and when it stopped working in November last year (I was very suicidal too), my pdoc added the SAD lamp, and WHOA! The Cymbalta plus the lamp and been the best I have ever felt depression wise (without being manic). Have you ever tried the SAD lamp for depression? I have to admit I was highly skeptical, but once I started using it 30 min./day I thought maybe it might work, pdoc said increase it to 1 hr./day and it does work for me! Annoying to have to use it daily but it is also forced "me" time where no one disturbs me for a thing because they know how important it has become.

Crazy Hitch · Mar 13, 2025, 03:47 PM

My BMI has just changed from “obese” range … my BMI was 33 … to overweight range …. It’s 29.5.

Blueberrybook · Mar 13, 2025, 03:51 PM

My BMI is still hanging in the normal range, 19.1 which is why I'm not overly concerned yet about losing a few lb. I've got a small frame as well. so that plays into it too.

Crazy Hitch · Mar 13, 2025, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueberrybook

Too bad about the Cymbalta...mine worked for me and when it stopped working in November last year (I was very suicidal too), my pdoc added the SAD lamp, and WHOA! The Cymbalta plus the lamp and been the best I have ever felt depression wise (without being manic). Have you ever tried the SAD lamp for depression? I have to admit I was highly skeptical, but once I started using it 30 min./day I thought maybe it might work, pdoc said increase it to 1 hr./day and it does work for me! Annoying to have to use it daily but it is also forced "me" time where no one disturbs me for a thing because they know how important it has become.

So glad you’ve had success with the SAD lamp! It’s on my to buy list when I have money. I’m definitely going to get one for my desk at work before winter! I’ve heard so many positive things about the lamp from people who use it!

Mountaindewed · Mar 13, 2025, 03:58 PM

I am around 1400 calories today. 1600 is what works for me. My dietician said 2000 which made no sense since I'm not a very active person. But 1200 doesn't seem like enough.

I made some boxed sourdough pasta for dinner. Its sourdough alright.

Blueberrybook · Mar 13, 2025, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy Hitch

So glad you’ve had success with the SAD lamp! It’s on my to buy list when I have money. I’m definitely going to get one for my desk at work before winter! I’ve heard so many positive things about the lamp from people who use it!

I bought mine off Amazon. Mine was $35 with a $5 off coupon. Of course, I don't know what's available where you are. The point is, it doesn't have to be expensive to work. This is what I bought:
https://www.amazon.com/Verilux%C2%AE...45&sr=8-6&th=1

Crazy Hitch · Mar 13, 2025, 04:05 PM

I’m definitely going to go Amazon because the ones on Australian websites go for $130+ and I just don’t have those kind of funds. I just need the basics for my desk at work. I’ll wait until payday next week Thursday. Watch this space …. Lol

Blueberrybook · Mar 13, 2025, 04:21 PM

I know some people with bipolar have bad experiences with the SAD lamp, but for me, it's worked great. Though I think my baseline tends more to be depressive or mixed than hypomanic/manic.

It was after I'd been using the lamp that I started drawing again, and that was the first time in 20 years I have drawn! Weirdest thing, one day I felt like picking up a pencil and one my daughter's drawing books and just drawing and now I've been drawing most days since.

Crazy Hitch · Mar 13, 2025, 04:24 PM

That’s awesome blueberrybook! Such an inspiration. My baseline tends to be more depressive too. I really don’t want to fall back into depression this winter like I normally do which is why I think the SAD lamp will be such an important investment for me!

Tart Cherry Jam · Mar 13, 2025, 06:35 PM

I will also get a lamp. I do not have SAD - I will try it for hypersomnia.

Discombobulated · Mar 14, 2025, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy Hitch

My BMI has just changed from “obese” range … my BMI was 33 … to overweight range …. It’s 29.5.

You’re going to get there Hitch, that’s fantastic progress, just keep following the Drs advice re intake and you’ll be fine. You’re just at the start of this. My son lost 3 stone last year, similar bmi to you, he didn’t have the weight loss drug, just better eating, cut down on beer

and a ton of exercise/activity. He’s not in healthy range yet but he’s a muscly guy and think that skews it.

Filling up on stuff like cucumbers and tomatoes with your cottage cheese might help sate your appetite too. Especially in warmer weather, and I’m guessing it’s still nice and warm where you are? In colder weather soup (homemade if possible) is a great option, not sure how cold your winter gets?

Discombobulated · Mar 14, 2025, 05:34 AM

I’m dishing out the advice here but I just ate 4 slices of toast and jam after my oatmeal because I went for an early and cold walk and my body is craving food lol. That toast and jam was so good though!

The walk was pretty good too and I caught up with an old friend who walks that coastal route daily, a habit she began in lockdown. So I’m feeling thankful that we’re both well enough to get out and enjoy the best part of the day. Lots of people swimming in the sea looking very pink!

Tart Cherry Jam · Mar 14, 2025, 08:14 AM

Congrats Crazy Hitch on reaching an important threshold!

For me - stretching last night. Hope to go to yoga this evening.

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