Gained weight

[Alaskamomma]

I am on lithium and it has caused me to gain unwanted weight. I use to be right at 125 and am 5'7 and now I am at 160.

I can't really go off the lithium cause it helps stablize my moods really well, but I can't handle being this heavy. I have recently became active in exercise again and I hope it helps as well as watching what I eat.

My question is has anyone successfully lost weight while on lithium or any other med? And been able to keep it off?

Thanks.

 

[Alive again]

Hi, I have successfully lost a significaNT AMOUNT OF WEIGHT OVER ABOUT A YEAR WITH DIETING AND EVENTUALLY ADDED SOME EXERCISE (ugh-different keyboard and that cap lock key is in a different place) I then regained some and am back on the diet traIL AGAIN, but I get tired of it quicker this time. . .so will let you know!!! I hade about 60 pounds to go.

 

[Calgar]

Im no doctor, but I would suggest trying Topamax. In the off chance that it treats your bipolar, it should help with the weight.
Just my thoughts.

 

[Jeshu]

Yeah weight and medicine. I gained 48 kilos in two years from more than just Lithium. Luckily for me I started 15 kilos to light so my final weight was not as bad as it could have been. I lost 4 kilos over 8 weeks of strict dieting it appears very difficult to lose weight while on meds as they seem to slow our metabolism down.

 

[Alaskamomma]

Im no doctor, but I would suggest trying Topamax. In the off chance that it treats your bipolar, it should help with the weight.
Just my thoughts.

Thanks for your thoughts about topomax. I did a quick look about it and it says it is an anti-convulsant with quite a few serious side effects. However, I will talk to my doctor about it. I will also keep up my exercise program and curb my intake of high caloric foods.

Thanks all for your inputs.

 

[Soulwings]

I wonder if it would cause weight gain for a vegetarian who is on a 1200 calorie diet......
:-S

 

[Alaskamomma]

Yes.

 

[Soulwings]

Then crap. Because I'm most likely going to start it this summer.

 

[Alaskamomma]

Well, Soulwings, I was on a vegaterian diet for 9 weeks with not going over 1000 cal a day and I still gained weight. My thrid week into it I dropped 4 pounds, but then gained them back.

I have found nothing that works with my body yet, but I haven't tried everything. Here is hoping.

 

[Alive again]

Then crap. Because I'm most likely going to start it this summer.

Not everybody gains weight with lithium and there is new and exciting research showing that not only does lithium have a neuroprotective effect, but some recent stuff shows regrowth in certain areas of the braIN OF NEURONS. hOPEFULLY THEY WILL RESEARCH OTHER MOOD STABILIZERS!!! Sorry once again for that darn cap lock button and my laziness in fixing my posts!!!

 

[Alaskamomma]

Well, I saw the Dr yesterday and she suggest I take Lamictal and go off of lithium. I am still working on my diet and exercise program. I want to wait and see how it does before I switch.

ANyone take lamictal and have good or bad thoughts about it?

 

[Alive again]

Lamictal works for some and not for others. Didn't work for me, but a very similar meds is the only med that helps me and has truly given me my life back! And Lamictal has greatly helped my son. This is one you need to build slowly because of a possibly skin rash side effect. don't freak out over it as it is rare, but you would need to get in to your doc. I had a skin rash when I tried it, but it turned out to be a psuedamonas infection from our SPA!!!! LOL!!!

 

[Soulwings]

I'm on Lamictal, 400mg (highest dose), and it's not working particularly well for me. It's made things better since before I was on it (then I was suicidal every night, and now I'm low enough to want to SI, but not do anything more drastic), but it's still not functioning very well. Haven't had any bad side effects from it though, so give it a shot. Funny, we're trading meds.

 

[Alaskamomma]

I have gained 4 more pounds. This is really discouraging. I am gonna step up my exercise program. Maybe that will do some good.

 

[Alive again]

Some meds no matter what you do cause weight gain. SO you are doing what you need to do and yes, step it up, but do not be afraid to talk with your doc about this!

I am actually blessed to have felt better with my med and begin a weight loss journey. I have been derailed for about one and a half years, but it is now feeling like I have conquered a lot of bad habits and thinking and feel strong again about being back on track. But regained 35 pound sin the process. My goal is 120-140.

Praying for you to be given wisdom in how to proceed with meds and weight issues!

 

[Alaskamomma]

Thanks Alive. I appreicate the words and support.

 

[bipolarbear]

I am still not sure last summer if it was the horrible deep depression, and / or the volume of sugar I was in taking to “make myself feel better” which B.T.W, did not, it just made me crash when the sugar high wore off. (Not so much fun.)

I went to seen my family doc for help last October and at the beginning of October, I weighed an even 200 pounds. I was shocked. My doc put me on a 1200-calorie diet, and taught me portion control. I was supposed to exercise, but that really didn’t work out for me. That’s probably why the weight loss has dragged out to this point. I am down at least 35 pounds, and am successfully keeping it off.

I agree that, each med works differently with each person.

Some rules I made for myself that really helped me was No eating after 7:00 PM. and if I wanted something, it was only good old water. That gave my body a chance to process my day’s food, and clean out my system. I weigh myself every morning, so that is my encouragement for me.

Now that summer has hit, I am really struggling to stop eating by 7 pm, and I am finding I am drinking less water. My weight keeps fluctuating up and down over the same three pounds, so I have gotten myself into a rut. However, on the positive side, I for the moment have kicked the sugar.

I hope you can find some helpful information amidst my ramblings. I hope for the best for you! Just remember each day you don’t gain weight is also a success! Take care, and God Bless...