Antidepressant weight gain

[Meowface]

Hello - does anyone have any tips or experiences losing weight after being on antidepressants?

Ive gained over 10 kilos in 12 months. I’ve been off the meds for about 4 months but haven’t lost any of the weight yet. I really thought it would shift easier!

I’m trying to be more active with walking and have joined a gym. It’s the diet that I find hard - so many ideas and mixed messages out there about what’s best!!

Thank you for reading.

[PamelaR]

Hello Meowface and welcome back to BB forums

Losing weight is hard! I know only to well because I've struggled with weight for the past 20 years. Think mine is from medication too. Not anti-depressants though.

Dieting is the pits and I stopped trying the different sorts of diets after I found that I usually put on more weight after I went off the diet. My learning -

no more diets for me

learnt more about food and drink - what is good for you, what isn't good for you. Balanced my food intake.

no junk food or soft drinks

limited alcohol

limited to no fatty food

Since starting on this regime, my weight has stablised, i.e. I've not gained any more weight. Though I've not taken it off either. Diet is no longer an option for me because I know I'

[PamelaR]

Sorry about that Meowface, my finger slipped onto the post button.

What I was say is - Diet is no longer an option for me because I know I'll only put on more weight. So I try to live a healthy eating style and get as much exercise as I can. This is mostly walking as my joints don't allow me to do the swimming and cycling I used to do.

What are your favourite foods?

Keep reaching out when you want to. You're not alone.

Kind regards

PamelaR

[Meowface]

Thanks Pam. Argh I know what your saying about diets. This week was “low carb” which lasted about 4 days then I crumbled towards the end of the week.

I agree that dieting seems to be a vicious cycle. And by the time I follow all the diet trends in a span of weeks I think that I’ve gained more weight then when I started. It’s not hard with all the extremes that are out there.

Your approach sounds more sensible. I do love cooking so feel lucky that I enjoy food and can make nice home cooked meals. My portions can be a bit crazy.

I do find food comforting. I’ve weaned myself those “emergency” relaxation tabs and am trying to cut down drinking so food can help me feel full and satisfied.

I am very lonely and find that is a trigger. The more you eat and bigger you get the less you feel like going out. I’ve lost a lot friends with my mental health. I’m trying to reach out again but getting over the social nerves is tricky.

My favourite foods...I love chocolate - not going to lie but not all day every day. And then I do love lots of veg and salad with my meals. I have a hearty appetite which increased when I started the anti depressants.

Have you found any healthy snacks that beat the sweet cravings? Xx

[PamelaR]

Hello Meowface

Thank you for replying. It's always nice to know people take the time to read responses.

Health and snacks don't go together for me. I know a lot of people cut up carrots and celery into strips and have them there ready to snack on. Can't quite do that. Generally I'll eat a mandarin or blueberries with natural dairy free yoghurt. If I have a carb craving I'll sometimes eat a dry biscuit with some marinated mussles (not sure how good they are for the waist line, though they are good for Omega 3 which I miss out on because I can't eat cheese). Other snacks I eat:

• chocolate (dairy free) - maybe once a month. I usually eat it when I'm depressed. I generally don't have a sweet craving (thank goodness). So really can't help you with what beats those cravings.
• crunches (assortment of seeds, nuts, dried fruit formed into little squares - from the natural section of supermarket. Bit costly though). You can make your own using - nuts, seeds, dried fruit, puffed rice, honey. Very simple. I find I don't do it because I eat the whole lot in a day or two!
• crisps made from chick pea or lentil flour.

I binge eat on carbs when I'm anxious or stressed. Though now that I've recognised it I try to replace it with a glass of water.

Being lonely is not a good place to be. I've been there in my life. These days though I think I chose to have my own company for most of the time and just seek out others occasionally. I've done this by joining clubs. At the moment I'm a member of a photography club and an Australian nature/photography club. There are usual meetings or catch ups with these groups. I'm able to go along when I want. It's really good. What are you interested in Meowface?

Kind regards

PamelaR

[Meowface]

Im milk and yoghurt free gives me horrible fash rash. What dairy free yoghurt do you recommend?

Thanks for the tips on snacks I need to get a fruit bowl going again and then they are my “snacks”. I bought some lovely big mugs from Kmart today to drink more tea/herbal tea for that comforting feeling. It’s working really well.

That is great you are a member of a club. I love reading and would love to join but am so damn nervous to actually find one and go. But reading is a love and if I focus on that it keeps me busy xx thanks for replying