Weight issues....

[Cami]

Seeing that the holidays are nearly upon us I am starting to get even more upset reguarding my weight. I know that this time of year almost everyone is tempted to overeat....

I have been steadily gaining weight since I got married nearly 13 years ago. At one time I went on a diet and lost 20ish pounds but was still above the wedding day weight.

The trouble started when I was put on an anti-depressant medication. The weight was adding up so fast but I was happy and it didn't seem to bother me. I am tall and the weight is evenly distributed so it was easy to hide. I stopped the medicine and lost some of the weight.

I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in early 2003 after years of different doctors and multiple tests for an ailment that there is no specific test for. So, again, put back on an anti-depressant...not for depression but a much lower dose that is "supposed" to block the pain receptors in the brain so that I don't feel so much pain. But there again, the weight gain. I have gained 30 pounds since last Christmas.

One of the symptoms of Fibromyalgia is carb and sugar cravings. Not your normal everyday cravings....Your body thinks it needs these items just as much as it needs water. I get physically ill sometimes when trying to cut out carbs and sugar.

So, I joined a gym. I have been going at least every other day. Cardio, light weights, and classes for nearly 2 months. I am still gaining weight. When I spoke with the instructors at the gym I was told that I can expect to gain in the beginning as it is speeding up the metabolism and I will be eating more until the body realizes that it doesn't need to?? Also I was told the old saying that muscle weighs more than fat. I don't believe that. One pound is one pound. Whether it is fat or muscle. You can weigh more with muscle and look smaller than if you weigh the same amount but have more fat.

Anyhow, so I am consistantly gaining, I am trying to watch what I eat and I am working my butt off but the scales keep going up. Now I am just dreading the holidays and all that it entails food wise.

Anyone else having any weight issues???

 

[Letty]

I can relate somewhat to what you are saying. I don't have an illness just like food. It is not that I have overly heavy but just like you I am constanly gaining.
I just got married in September and since then I have put on 10 pounds. But not that I have gottan myself a puppy I am hoping she will help me take it off.
When I first met my husband I was 25lbs lighter. I was a heavy child and then I lost a lot of weight when I went away to college, bad relationship and other problems that seemed so big at the time. Once I lost the weight I was so happy with myself and loved the way I looked and felt. However, I got Mono and I was laid up for several months (I didn't take good care of myself and I prolonged the illness until I was in hospital) Anyway I got better but my desire to be active and move was lost.
I was still happy with myself so I got married and we bought our first house. The house was out in the country and no one was around so what did I do eat. Oh well I have decided that it is time to do something. I got my boxer Molly.
She at times is a peppy little girl and I love her to death she gets me up and moving. I am a firm believer that a tired puppy is a happy puppy and it save the stuff around my house. Her and I keep quite active and she loves it and so do I.
Since having Molly and keeping myself busy I have lost a few pounds. I am busy so I am not preoccupied with food. I have also decided that during my time off (I get two months off Jan and FEb) Molly and I will be doing some classes to prepare ourselves for Agility when she gets the basics down.
So please don't get yourself down about your weight. Concentrate about getting yourself healthy. The more you concentrate on it the worse you will feel. You are taking the necessary steps to be healthy going to the gym and so forth. You have to motivation to get moving and that is great and go with it.

 

[Austin's Mom]

I had serious weight issues after Katie was born and I was put on Prozac for PPD. I really packed it on, which made me feel more miserable than I already did. After I stoped the meds I slowly lost the weight, but I'm still 20 lbs. heavier than when I got married. That's 10 extra pounds per kid. My friend also gained weight on antidepressants, but we came to the conclusion that as long as you feel good, that's all that matters. You need to feel good and feel good about yourself, even if that means accepting those extra pounds. I hope going to the gym works for you, at least the exercise will release those endorphins, the "feel good" hormones.

 

[lafsalot]

My hubby was a real carbaholic until he developed diabetes. He was having a difficult time maintaining his surgar even while on medication, and it wasn't until a friend of ours (a nurse and also a diabetic) recommended the Atkin's diet. His sugar returned to normal after two short weeks, and not only was he able stop all his meds, but he was finally able to shed those unwanted pounds. For some reason, the diet helps to eliminate those carb cravings, and unlike other diets, you don't feel deprived or starved because their is no limit to the amount of permissable foods you can eat. I periodically have to go on steroid therapy, and have found that the diet helps to prevent the weight gain usually associated with it's use. ~ Cathy

 

[Cami]

I have been trying to add more protien but am not overly fond of meat. I have been doing turkey breast sandwiches (plain) on white and am working my way to whole wheat. I also have been eating a few thin slices of colby (only cheese I like). I have never ate a salad....I don't eat fruits or veggies. I have started eating an apple daily...and will try some clemitines as soon as they are available here locally. It's all baby steps in as far as the foods that I can start eating. I have a big thing in my head about textures and colors. I have lowered considerably the sweets and moved to popcicles in the evenings VS candy bars. I have been cutting back my portions and will hopefully start to see results head in the other direction soon. I have decided that on Thanksgiving I will only eat turkey and a small portion of mashed potatoes (no gravy).

Thanks for all the good advice and positive vibes. I am sure that I will win in the end!

 

[Laurie_Duke]

I also have weight issues due to aniti-depressents....I am on Paxil and have gained at least 50 Lbs. I went off the drug only to have an attack so bad it put me in the hospital for a couple of days...and as Cami...I am tall and carry my weight very well...at this point in my life...I feel good and am healthy and active...so who cares about the weight !!! I have alway been an overly confident person anyways....and I will be dammed if I do not fit the sterotype of the perfect person !!!! This is me...like it or not !!

Laurie