Exercising is not an easy choice for most people. I find it easier to engage in group activities or sports related activities like racquetball. One thing that has helped me is that i use my bipolar disorder to my advantage. For example, I can walk 100 laps around a specially designed indoor track listening on my iPod on which i recorded motivational messages about how well I am doing. That's 10 miles for the 100 laps. I'm in a spinning class also. Let someone else motivate you. When you look better, you feel better. Step one is to go join a health club if possible. Even a club like the YMCA is good because they are usually less expensive. it beats sitting around and telling yourself it won't get better. As others have said, the side effects of antipsychotic, antidepressants and the like will probably result with more difficulty regarding weight control. You have an illness, but you also have a will. use it.

Is the illness keeping you in the pit or are you keeping yourself in the pit. Is the illness you? Did you stare to long into the abyss and the abyss stared backat you. Did you become the abyss? Who controls whom? I am diabetic but I am not diabetes. Capiche?

Hi there. I understand how you all feel. I'm 16 years old. Been off and on few medicines for 2 years. I am 70 kg, standing at 1.80m. I am currently med free for 6 months. To be honest, it is more challenging living and sleeping without seroquel. However I feel that I am at least in control of my life and moods and can attribute my successes to my own diligence. To face the sleeping issue, I recommend you guys try natural means such as meditation , reading a boring book or listening to soothing nature sounds from your iPod. Let's face it . The main reason we have our moods can be linked to our sleep, or lack of it. Btw, before going on my first dose of lithium at the hospital, I weighed around 62 kg and sported a 4 pack. After 1 and 1/2 years, my weight ballooned to 75kg with seroquel( I stopped lithium after 3 months). 6 months ago, after my granddad passed away, I decided to stop my 400mg seroquel intake totally. Gradually, after exercise, living a balanced lifestyles and trying to maintain my moods, I maintained my weight around 70 to 75 kg range and am still physically fit. To challenge the weight issue, I recommend you guys try adopting a multiple prong approach. Firstly, you must love yourself enough to change for the better. 1. Eat 6 small meals a day instead of 3 big ones. This will jumpstart your metabolism. 2. Sip cold water and unsweetened tea throughout the day 3. Hit the gym and run if you can 4. Lifting weights boost lean muscle mass which helps you burn fat throughout the day. 5. Share your ambitions with your closest kin. They can motivate you continually when u begin to feel down and out 6. Live your life as you would want to live it! Be free and proud of your achievements. 7. Stay motivated and do not expect immediate results Hope this helped. Life is short. But you still gotta plan it. God bless all you. Mace