Weight Gain and Depression

I know...it is very hard.  It is hard to get motivated for sure. Someone told me a trick of exercising for five minutes...if you made it through the five minutes add on five more.  This way you gradually build upon what you can do.  Five minutes doesn't sound too bad...so you keep adding increments of time.

Yoga...yes I was taking a yoga class there for awhile.  It is refreshing because it focuses not only your body but your mind.  But I will tell you the relaxation component was the hardest for me. 

Anyways...I hear you weight gain is hard to deal with.  Maybe we can all work together to lose our weight.  What do you think?

Hey Jon

Well I am sure a lot of people feel the same way about exercise.  The thing is you have to find an activity you do enjoy.  I love bike riding myself so this works for me.  And I actually do like going to the gym because it is time just for me.

Naps?  I love naps! 

So what is it about exercise you hate?

hi

I think its the idea about facing my problems

Not knowing how to deal with anger

It will take me another 5 years to find another friend

At least one I can do things with

Jon

Oh my...you have been through so much Judy.

One of my best friends in the world was scheduled for gastric bypass surgery but he died before he could get it.  I was so upset.  I knew it would have probably saved his life. 

Can you tell us more about the surgery..were there huge risks?  Any pain?  Did your hunger diminish?  I am just very curious as to how it works.

Thank you as always for sharing your personal experience here with us.

MM, the gastric bypass surgery was like a miracle to me and I would do it again in a heartbeat.  I didn't feel the risks were more than the benefits, I had no complications.  The worst part is getting used to knowing how much you can eat, to stop the minute you feel full.  I did a lot of vomiting the first six months.  There are a few things, like white rice, that I still can't eat - it seems to wad up and stick where my esophagus is narrowed.  Kentucky Fried Chicken? - don't even mention it.  It's deadly!!  But once you get sick on something, you aren't that nuts about it any more.  They make you go through a psychological assessment (which was stupid because I already had a therapist) and I happened to be depressed when I went there.  The guy was a jerk, told me if bad things happen to kids, they don't forget them - which was not my experience.  Finally, I got smart - when he gave me the depression quiz for the last time, I lied about how I felt and he was so damn happy, I'm sure he thought he cured me!!!  I don't like to lie, but I had enough support to not worry about the psychological effects of the surgery.  Anyway, I'm thankful I had that option.  I do have to take a lot of vitamins, calcium and a Vitamin B-12 shot every month because the part of the stomach that metabolizes that stuff is really not working, but it's a small price to pay, I think.

Well hey...I can't eat Kentucky Fried Chicken much either.  That stuff is not good for you!

This is very fascinating stuff...I am wondering if you have time some time...maybe you could write a share post on this topic.  I think a lot of people would be very interested in this and how it works.  If not here...maybe on the other diet sites we have on HC.

I am glad this worked for you Judy. 

Thank you for being very candid and open about your experience.

Dear Merely Me,   Your Story about Weight gain is so typical.. you have kids, then  you have stress. Most of us people with Depression Comfort Eat, it has nowt to do with Hunger and is all about Filling an emotional Void, has anyone ever reached for Broccoli when theyre low or worried ? Nope, its always a quick hit, a comfort food like Chocololate, Cookie etc. OF course I do know those who dont eat at all when stressed or Depressed, I think the  majority comfort eat.

Merely Me, Ive come to view Sugar like alcohol or Ciggies.Im just not in control of it. One is too many, a hundred arent enough. If I start a bar of chocolate, I'll have to finish it, ditto a pkt of Cookies. The winter months for me make me crave Carbs. SSSRIs [although effective anti depressants] psyiologically  make us crave carbs. How do I cope?  I treat Sugar like a Drug.  

I stay away all together. Xmas, fresh fruit and cream. Mince Pies? non merci.

Im just an all or nothing Babe, well Babe-ette. I cant have 1 piece of Pavlova or Xmas Cake, it has 2b more and more. So, by staying away completely I eventually lose the urge.  Thats how I cope.  I try to live like a Diabetic. the Antidepressants/Depression itself, slows metabolism and I feel bad about my self when I'm a bag of Flab.   So much of Festivity is around food. We already eat far too much Sugar, its in everything, even a tin of beans. So thats my plan anyway. I often go off the rails and buy pkts of cookies and chocolate but I keep a picture of George Clooney on the Fridge Door, What we he think if he saw me in the Nip? that stops me. Sad? yes.

Hey Rose

Like you, I have a sweet tooth, so I've been making mince pies with filo pastry and having them with Greek Yoghurt sweetend with splenda sugar. They are so filling and taste really naughty but are low in calories.

FifI  Those Mince pies with filo pastry make my mouth water, can you send some over frm Wales lol.  problem with me is,  you can stop at 2 or 3 right? bet youre slim ?

Me, well Id eat and eat till I felt full. Glad youre a good cook and like baking. All my stuff is outa packets as my kitchens so old fashioned and small.... thats my excuse.

Nope, its fresh fruit and Yoghurt with 'Sweet n Low' or Apple crumbe with OAts on top instead of pastry. Im gonna be Good for Santa !!!

The healthy ones are for now Rose. I'm saving myself for the real things at christmas.

They are so easy to make Rose. I try and find healthy quick meals to cook. It's just a jar of mincemeat scoop some in a sheet of filo and gather it at the top and spray with one cal sunflower spray pop in the oven and  bake for about ten minutes. Done. I felt so naughty eating them but their less than half the calories of mince pies.

I love this Rose!  George Clooney huh?  Not sure if I want to see him in or on my fridge.  lol 

I think you nailed it...quite often the eating is filling a void is right...to curb stress...to self medicate in a way.  I do love food.  I love watching people cook.  I love to read cookbooks.  I love cooking shows.  So much of our live revolves around food.  So there must be a way to enjoy it without...packing on the pounds.

Thanks Rose for sharing your story...I am so happy to see you back with us!  How are you feeling?

Hi Merely Me, Tks for your welcome back. Am off Efexor today, completely, that doesnt mean withdrawals are gone of course but the months of titrating are over and I'm on a substitute, just did half hour on exercise Bike whilst watching a programme on Italian Cookery ! Its so sensual, how they enjoy their food ! I recently read that olive oil coats the nerve endings [scientific] anyway serotonin endings or whathavya and its v good for Depression ! Good for skin and hair, did ya ever see an Italian with thin hair ?  Anyway Id prefer Johnny Depp to George but ITs to remind me. I also have 'Porker box' with some bits n bobs of biscuits for when people come by. I have that written on the box and its on a high shelf !!  Alot of the dreadful withdrawls  have passed but Im on the Lexapro [not a great dose] just to help me. Im eating all the right foods and trying to avoid stress and Toxic people. Ive also started turning off my Mobile and its just so peaceful. Have been watching 'Feel Good' movies too. Funny ones and joyful ones and trying to avoid sadness.... just while I get back to normal.

Rose

I love that 'porker box'  I've gotta write it on my biscuit tin.

Yes FiFi,   Writing that and stickig it ont the Tin makes  you think twice !! I also have this scene in my mind, Im in a changing room, trying to get jeans on, my thighs are like Orange Peel and my stomach is like a Muffin over my pants, ...visualization at its worst but it makes me think...Hope you manage to say 'No thanks Im full' over Xmas lol

Hi Rose, welcome back from me, too!

I had to chuckle when you mentioned that few Italians are bald.

I'm 100% Sicilian & my hairline has been heading North for years now; not a problem to me though, as there have been many bald(ing) men considered by most to be very sexy & attractive.

My late Uncle John was very bald; I couldn't believe my eyes when I once saw an old photo of him WITH hair...he just didn't look 'right'. And yes, he was a very attractive man; nice, too!

Anyway, I just had to throw that in. BTW, congrats on getting away from Effexor. Stay in touch with your progress because that's my goal, too!

Hi CJ n LV  well  got the hair wrong didnt I ? Obviously watching too many Mafiosi films - as in Sopranos all have hair, Godfather and my heroes, Robert de Niro, etc so got that one wrong... like u say, bald is sexy... in a man !!

Re the Efexor, I tried twice unsuccessfully and then did it with help of my shrink.

I was on a super strong dose way up in the 200s. I believe its ineffective after a number of years and u just need to keep taking higher doses.   I came down v slowly, taking sedation too. then when on a low dose, started titrating up on Lexapro, presently on Lexapro. Sex drive is back and feel ok - still tough but i will get there.  You can do it. Efexor is not a nice drug

"Not a nice drug"? Rose, that is true understatement. I too, have weaned away from it twice (150mg caps) with awful results; both times 'going down in flames' and going back on it, which I am now. Personally I think it's a terible excuse of a drug, yet my Dr/PA insist I stay on it. I WIll be off of it in 2010!

Hi CJnLV,  I was like you, told by my Professor that I HAD to stay on the Efexor, was on same dose as you. I did though persist, my GP said he wasnt happy about me being on it for 6yrs with resulting high BP, Cholestrol of 9, weight gain and addiction. Id weanted myself off the Seroxat , but never experienced anything like Efexor.  What I did find though is, that youve got to be pro active with these Docs. You have to say I dont want to be on this. Its my HEad, my body etc., its a notoriously bad druge to come off. I dont have a Degree in bravery. I was however, absolutely determined to come off. The withdrawals come in short waves, then go, then you go down again and it goes in another bad wave for a short time, because it has a short life. The drug.

If youre brought down slowly and put on another suitable SSRI in my case Lexapro, and sedation during bad withdrawals plus sleeping Meds. Ican assure you, you wont crash. I was on highest dose, again like i said for 6years ! I live alone and had no support, My shrink didnt really want to face the whole thing and tried to get me to stay  on it. Now Ive gotten used to the Lexapro and I feel a whole lot better. Of course its still wonky at times with withdrawals, But its worth it, it really is, that haze has gone away, I feel abit more real. Efexor doesnt really work after a few years and youre just keeping withdrawal at bay... my humble opinion and experience.

Make up your mind to do  it and you can, with the help of the Website here and also sheer determination.  Reading too much about withdrawals doesnt help either. That only makes you worse. I wish you the best.

Thanks Rose, will do!

BTW, as far as I'm concerned you DO have a "degree in Bravery"; it just hasn't been framed yet.

Dear JVnLV,  Hopefully if I'm still around for 2010, I will give you a scale as to how my doc [psychiatrist] titrated me down, the sedatives that were used to aid withdrawal, the time frames and then introducing the other SSRI to get it into the sytstem in order to prevent a 'Crash landing'. I do feel alot better, the brain Zaps are easing and the Lexapro is kicking in and Im feeling better, This is normally myworst time of year as I dont have family so its lonely etc., but Im doing OK.   Lifes too short to be on Efexor XL.  My shrink dont forget DIDNT want  me to change, too much hassle for him ! I see him in the Public domain so I get 10mins [if Im lucky]. It can be done though and you will find if you have a weight problem, you wont be craving so much carbs [as Efexors hidden side effect is craving carbs] I found this in a scholarly article but of course its not on the list that you get with the box.  Take care. Maybe I'm a Survivor more than Brave.

Hi there

This is the other side of depression that somepeople totally lose their appetites and lose a lot of weight.  This is something that I think you should discuss with your doctor to see how to stimulate your appetite.  Some antidepressants are better than others for helping with your desire to eat.

Thank you so much for sharing your side to this discussion. 

Unfortunately, MM I'm not one of the lucky ones.  Rose, you couldn't have put it better...emotional eating...that's exactly what it is.

My sister (not diagnosed with MDD) went on a no sugar/low carbs diet and it's working great for her.  Her doc. basically told her she HAD to lose weight and put her on the diet.  She keeps telling me how good it is but there is no way on earth I could cut those out of my diet.  I am trying to cut back by eating whole grain breads, eating "light" versions of juices/yougurts (unbelievable how much sugar is in them!) and more fruits and veggies but not having much luck with that.  Of course, it doesn't help that my teenage daugher LOVES to bake and no...it's not the low sugar/low calorie kind.  It wouldn't be bad IF she actually ate a lot of what she made. Since she is such an avid watcher of the Food Channel, olive oil (EVOO) has become a staple in our kitchen.  Supposed to be MUCH better for you than the other stuff...especially for cholestoral.

Just had my choletoral tested for the first time.  It's TERRIBLE.  Doc. also found out that I had hypothyroidism.  Had been tested a few times before and it was always normal.  Anyway, am on a med for that along with my depression/anxiety meds.  Don't seem to be as hungry as I was (interesting, right? since now my metabolism is supposed to be kicked back into gear).  The cravings for suger/carbs are still there but not NEARLY as bad as they were.  Also, because I'm feeling more "full" these days, I am able to talk myself out of bowing to the cravings.  Of course, reminding myself how much I weigh goes a long way too!

I was on Depakote for a bit and seemed to gain most of my weight while on that.  The doc. has since switched me to Lamictal and at least the weight gain has stopped.  Now for the hard part losing it.

Unfortunately, as others have mentioned, the weight gain has made the depression a bit worse.  Not having clothes that fit and having to break down and buy a 16/XL for the first time in my life really hurts! Since most days it's a struggle just to get up and get out of the house, there certainly isn't a whole lot of energy left for exercising.  Since I have been on the thyroid med it has been a bit easier and I have been walking more.  The nice fall weather helps too, when the sun is out.

Thanks for the article MM and all the posts. Glad to see there are others like me.  Let's keep fighting this battle!

Sounds like you are doing really well Fifi with your diet and eating healthy.  I think we all can learn a lot from one another about how to stay healthy.

Yes...I am thinking we can do a little diet support thing.  Stay tuned this week and I will see how we can set this up easily.

Thank you so much for your comment!