[skeeweeaka]

Hello all,

History, I have struggled with my weight since starting psych meds. I gained 100 pounds taking Lithium...and have struggled to take it off ever since... Two years ago I lost 55 pounds and kept it off for 1.5 years...struggling to lose the rest... Last year I was hospitalized and put on Neurotin. Within three months of dry mouth and constant cravings I regained all of it and 10 extra pounds... Since March I have lost 17 pounds...83 more to go...using low carb, counting calories, low fat, etc...but the weight just doesn't want to come off.

After complaining to my docs and others, they suggested that it was due to a lack of exercise, I admit I am sedentary and don't get out much. I used to jog and controlled my weight with jogging so I thought perhaps I could join the C25K Program and I did. I started the program and finished it recently, however, I only lost 2 pounds during that 9 weeks.... I am frustrated! For the past three weeks I have been floundering, eating pretty much what I want on the weekends...a couple of extreme eating days in there, however!

I am floundering and need to vent... I'm so upset that I can't seem to lose this weight. Now people are saying you need to lift weights to build muscle which will in turn help me to burn fat faster! Okay, I get that but I have social anxiety and am struggling with the idea of going to the gym and having people watch me. What if I do all of this and lose another two pounds in 9 weeks!

What the heck, does anyone have any answers...??? I'm in weight loss hell!!!

TJ

[MyBestKids2]

I know exactly how you feel. Four years ago I was taking Zyprexa and Depakote and gained 35 pounds. I haven't lost any of it. I know how some new meds, and I don't know if they're affecting my inability to lose weight. However, being on disability and unable to drive decreases my desire to exercise.


Dee

[DePressMe]

TJ,
I do not have any magic solutions for your dilemma. Heck, I can't even think of just a good idea that will make losing the weight any easier for you. It took me 23 months of tortuous dieting to drop my 40 extra pounds. I have managed to keep the weight off for a couple years, but it has remained a constant battle. Really, the diet has never ended because I still have to be careful about absolutely everything I eat. The Zyprexa I take seems to give super sticking power to every single every calorie. I understand your frustration and can relate to being restricted by the embarrassment of people watching me work out at a gym. Sorry I am not much help to you, but at least know that you are not alone! Try to keep your spirits up because I am certain that there is a way for you to drop the weight. In the mean time, remember that the extra pounds have absolutely nothing to do with who you are as a person. You are a wonderful person no matter what you weigh. Hang in there. Don't give up--you will find a way to make it happen.

[Sabrina]

It took about 2 years after stopping medication for my metabolism to correct itself after a medley of drugs caused my initial weight gain. I have managed to shrug the extra pounds now but only through exercise 5 days a week and a weight loss program. It is a tough journey though and one that I understand completely.

[50guy]

Losing weight fast never works. I have been working on losing weight for over 2 years and have lost 28lbs. I am still on track to lose 25 more lbs. It may take another 2 years but, I will do it. I work hard at not being sedentary. I walk 3 miles a day, everyday and control my eating.
Sometimes I feel like I'm starving but, I still refuse to eat. I never eat after 9PM and only drink water.

I usually have a large breakfast, skip lunch and have a small dinner.
Usually something filling but not packed with calories. Skinless chicken and salad with a small potato and a veggie. I cut back on bread, except for a piece of toast in the morning with breakfast. I try not to snack on anything, except popcorn. I do not drink soda, at all. Usually Iced Tea is fine for me. I also don't do trans fats and stay away from high fructose corn syrup.

Weight loss and proper weight management are a lifestyle for me.

My current weight is 205. I look great but, I still want to lose that 25.

Good luck to you,

[lenjan]

In the last 20 weeks I have lost 37 lbs. That's less than 2 lbs. a week, which is not at all "fast" -- "they" tell you to aim for between 1 and 2 lbs. a week.

It helps not being able to afford to eat -- not that I recommend that -- but I try to include more walking in my day, and I'm now obsessive about label-reading and carb-counting. And I don't deny myself the occasional donut. The difference is that I'm not having them every day -- once or twice a month, maybe. Tonight with dinner I had ONE Lindor truffle.

I also have given up soda for iced tea and flavored water (just can't get tap water down unless it's freezing, freezing cold).

Probably the two biggest changes I've made are paying attention to portion size -- weigh, measure, the whole bit -- and making sure I don't bring into the house anything I can't be trusted around. That's why the kids who come to my door on Halloween are getting temporary tattoos, stickers, etc instead of candy.

It is very hard work, and as DPM said, it never really ends -- we're going to have to be vigilant about it forevermore. Hang in there and vent anytime.

[skeeweeaka]

Thanks everyone for the support! As I said I am foundering, however, I have made so many positive changes since March that it boggles my mind as to why the weight isn't falling off.

First off, I am low carbing so I don't eat that many carbs per day....it varies but I keep it low. I eat three vegetables a day and one fruit, usually. I usually eat 3 ounces of protein for each meal. Sometimes I eat three meals a day, and sometimes I just eat one large meal a day...usually when I am doing what is called intermittant fasting (IF)... I usually drink 3, 32 ounces of water a day... I take Vitamin D3, Fish Oil, B12, Magnesium, and a Multivitamin.

I don't eat sweets, bread, nor do I drink soda. I drink coffee or tea in the morning, and usually have cream in my coffee in the morning.

My calories are usally kept between 1500 and 1800 a day. Based on an online BMR calculator, it said that I can have 1800 calories a day and stil lose two pounds a week, hogwash! I have not lost two pounds at a time yet and for weeks have not lost anything.

As I stated in the above post, I exercised three days a week, jogging, for nine weeks and lost 2 pounds! I checked out the gym this week and asked them when they are not busiest and will be going next week during that time of day as to avoid onlookers! I agree that before the jogging I was pretty sedentary and still have no energy but mustered up enough to get it done for nine weeks...so I will go with that!

Dee...the meds are affecting my ability to lose...the same could be true for you as well!

Depressme...I have been trying to keep my spirits up, but the last three weeks have taken their toll on me and I have probably gained some weight during that time. I haven't the will right now to get on the scales, but my clothes are noticeably tighter... I've got to get back up and get off of the couch again! Thanks for saying I'm a good person...sometimes it is difficult to believe that!

Sabrina, I am with you in believing that the meds have messed up my metabolism and created metabolic resistance. That in conjunction with my hormones being askew has created weight loss hell! Perhaps I need to go back to the five meal a day philosophy but that is so very taxing having to eat every three hours, and honestly quite difficult for me with the depression. It creates the challenge of having to have something on hand so often that is ready to eat, and I'm not sure that I can do that right now....but I will do the best that I can!

Guy...I understand that fast weight loss never works.... I was just looking for one or two pounds a week, and havenot gotten that at all... I also don't do transfats and stay away from corn syrup....which is in practically everything... I did have a difficult time initially locating new brands that did not contain those items...but I try and stick to whole foods most of the time...

Candy...for the past six weeks or so I had been a fanatic about weighing and measuring everything and adding it to Fitday, tracking every calorie that I consumed... I thought that would help me lose the weight, nope...lost 2 pounds though and got down to 217 my lowest number yet....but nothing since that time... I do recognize that this is a continuous process, but I belong to a weight loss forum, lowcarbfriends.com, where it seems that many people lose so quickly and my body just refuses to cooperate! I have taken a break from those boards so that I can regroup, which is the reason for the posting here...heavy sigh!

Yesterday for example for an IF day.... The menu was:

Large Salad with tomatoes and green olives
2 Italian Sausages
Mustard
1/2 Apple
3 squares dark chocolate

P.S. I am trying to follow a more Ketogenic Diet (higher fat) because I have seizures and that diet is supposed to help with the seizures!
TJ

[(JD)]

Stick with the healthy eating, and if you can add even a few minutes a day of more exercise than you are currently doing, then you might get ahead. Writing down each item you consume is a big help. Many who blame meds just don't realize they make a person hungrier and they are eating more, or more fattening things. If you could cut the cream to 2% also, that would give you less fat intake. But it is for the long haul. First, don't aim at losing any of the weight, but at not gaining any for a month or so. Once you've stopped the gain, then little things might begin the loss.
Good wishes.