Anxiety and weightloss

Closetbunnies

gained a lot of weight, half of it from bad food choices/not enough exercises and the other half from my Anxiety and meds. My anxiety makes it hard for me to go to the gym and be around people, my meds completely Zap my energy and make me constantly hungry. I know this wasn't the best option but I did stop taking them for a bit, lost 6lbs in 8 days but my mental state was another story so I started taking them again (BAM the weights back on.)

I'm back at step one … I'm doing the healthy eating thing, 1 cup rice, veggies, fruits etc but I feel like I'm going nowhere as I keep yo-yo ing back to same weight. I bought resistance bands/exercise ball awhile back and have been doing Zumba at home but I'm bloody hungry to the point I get light headed/dizzy. Really could use some advice.

myheartsabattleground

open your diary.

JosieRawr

It's all about balance, don't starve yourself. set a reasonable goal based on how much weight you need/want to lose and move towards that goal.

What's worked for me- set your goal to maintain first! Eat at maintenance for a week or two or three, how ever long it takes to be comfortable. Then drop below that by a hundred or two calories a day per till you get to your goal deficit. Good luck. Remember- food is fuel, especially when you're stressing your body with new exercise!

KaroshiQueen

Being on a low carb diet has enabled me to slowly come off my meds. Talk to your doctor before jumping off of them completely though. The side effects can be awful.

JosieRawr

Also- take some measurements other than weight.

MyChocolateDiet

Is there a window of opportunity between taking your meds and getting tired in which a workout could be fit in?

I ask this because I have to take caffeine twice a day to stay steady and avoid migraines. I try to put my workouts right after the coffee especially on the weeks I've just lowered my intake because I know I'll only have energy to workout right after the coffee and later I'll be in the doldrums.

I don't know enough about anxiety problems to be of much further help. I'm sorry.

Closetbunnies

Thanks Ladies

@Karoshiqueen - The withdrawal was pretty bad, hence why I started again.

@Mychocolatediet - I have a little more energy in the afternoon but I'm usually working when I get home, I try to squeeze it in there, otherwise after that as you say in the doldrums.

@Josierawr - I lost half an inch in a month, I don't know if that is a good thing or not

myheartsabattleground

Like I said, open your diary. We can help you

MyChocolateDiet

Closetbunnies wrote: »

Thanks Ladies

@Karoshiqueen - The withdrawal was pretty bad, hence why I started again.

@Mychocolatediet - I have a little more energy in the afternoon but I'm usually working when I get home, I try to squeeze it in there, otherwise after that as you say in the doldrums.

@Josierawr - I lost half an inch in a month, I don't know if that is a good thing or not

Well with just half hour per day you'd be able to lose weight. You don't have to workout everyday or for even a whole hour.

Try to find the time you have the most energy even with your meds and make a workout that fits that time of day. You can even alternate days. Then just make sure your cal goal is in line with how much you are burning through workouts and weight loss can be possible. Truth be told you don't actually HAVE to workout at all, but if you can, this way should work. There are at home workouts like YAYOG and etc. if location is another challenge due to the time of day the meds make you choose.

JosieRawr

I totally did not know about that notification till you just mentioned me
@Closetbunnies
Measurements going down are generally a good thing. It means that something's happening, even if water retention is causing the scale to stay the same!

Closetbunnies

myheartsabattleground wrote: »

Like I said, open your diary. We can help you

Diary?? I have a paper journal if thats what you mean... I haven't been on here in awhile

Chaotic_Weevil

Can I ask what you're taking? It sounds like benzos, if that's the case have you considered your other med options?

Hearts_2015

Closetbunnies wrote: »

gained a lot of weight, half of it from bad food choices/not enough exercises and the other half from my Anxiety and meds. My anxiety makes it hard for me to go to the gym and be around people, my meds completely Zap my energy and make me constantly hungry. I know this wasn't the best option but I did stop taking them for a bit, lost 6lbs in 8 days but my mental state was another story so I started taking them again (BAM the weights back on.)

I'm back at step one … I'm doing the healthy eating thing, 1 cup rice, veggies, fruits etc but I feel like I'm going nowhere as I keep yo-yo ing back to same weight. I bought resistance bands/exercise ball awhile back and have been doing Zumba at home but I'm bloody hungry to the point I get light headed/dizzy. Really could use some advice.

A couple thoughts... do you like going to the gym to workout? If so see if you can figure out a really slow time. I like to go at 5am and the machines are empty, same the weights and the pool.

But If you'd rather workout at home on your own Youtube has some awesome workouts, a huge variety...look up about anything that comes to mind and it'll be there!

Would this work for you? See if you can make it about keeping a pattern of healthy regular small meals through out the day (helps keep hunger at bay) and find a workout time of say 30 minutes or 15 minutes 2 times a day that is a good window of time for your mind and body. Maybe even keep the meal times and workout schedule time as close to the same time each day as you can to create consistency for your body.

Then instead of using the scale at first for measuring your success is there anyone you have close by that can do body measurements for you? You can do this yourself it's much easier if you have someone be able to help you out.

Sometimes I've found starting out I jump into absolutely everything all at once and get overwhelmed and feel like a failure. I thought if you continued the healthier choices of food you shared and then add in the mini-workouts that might get a schedule going for you and not make it feel so chaotic. Maybe for now not worry so much about the scale but baby step your way to that after you've got your workout and meals planned out.

Hope something helps that I've shared.

Hearts_2015

Oh and as far as anxiety... dancing is great...so your Zumba DVD's probably really help... also putting on your favorite music for cleaning is not only productive but calming because you're not focusing so much on your anxiety!

Lleldiranne

Chaotic_Weevil wrote: »

Can I ask what you're taking? It sounds like benzos, if that's the case have you considered your other med options?

I was thinking the same thing. I take Paxil for anxiety/depression, and it hasn't had much effect on energy (although I do take it at bedtime, so maybe that part has worn off). Whether you're taking benzos or SSRI, different ones can have a different effect on your energy and appetite, so you may want to ask the doctor about trying something else -- unless what you're taking is working perfectly

As far as withdrawals, definitely don't quit cold-turkey. I had to wean off my meds during my pregnancy and even with the slow reduction, I had some withdrawal symptoms, though nothing as bad as when I've missed a couple of doses and had full-blown withdrawals. Switching between SSRIs tends to have less issues (I switched from Paxil to Lexapro early in pregnancy with few issues) than between different classes of medication. Work with your doctor through the whole process, and you should be ok.

Lleldiranne

Closetbunnies wrote: »

myheartsabattleground wrote: »

Like I said, open your diary. We can help you

Diary?? I have a paper journal if thats what you mean... I haven't been on here in awhile

It would probably be good to start logging here, and measure carefully. Quite often, it's the increased appetite that causes gain, not a metabolic change, so carefully logging food can really help with that.

Closetbunnies

Chaotic_Weevil wrote: »

Can I ask what you're taking? It sounds like benzos, if that's the case have you considered your other med options?

I'm taking a Benzo and an SSRI, I talked to my Dr about it and she basically said what's more important your mental health or your weight, I have tried a few other things but they didn't work or I had bad reactions.

Closetbunnies

Hearts_2015 wrote: »

A couple thoughts... do you like going to the gym to workout? If so see if you can figure out a really slow time. I like to go at 5am and the machines are empty, same the weights and the pool.

But If you'd rather workout at home on your own Youtube has some awesome workouts, a huge variety...look up about anything that comes to mind and it'll be there!

Would this work for you? See if you can make it about keeping a pattern of healthy regular small meals through out the day (helps keep hunger at bay) and find a workout time of say 30 minutes or 15 minutes 2 times a day that is a good window of time for your mind and body. Maybe even keep the meal times and workout schedule time as close to the same time each day as you can to create consistency for your body.

Sometimes I've found starting out I jump into absolutely everything all at once and get overwhelmed and feel like a failure. I thought if you continued the healthier choices of food you shared and then add in the mini-workouts that might get a schedule going for you and not make it feel so chaotic. Maybe for now not worry so much about the scale but baby step your way to that after you've got your workout and meals planned out.

Hope something helps that I've shared.

I would love going to the gym, I did it for awhile, they had a gym for women only but removed it and I'm trying to find something not as busy, just hard to find. I'll have to go check out youtube though, never even thought of it

I think I will have to create a schedule, someone suggested a routine was best!!

Thank you

AestheticStar

What kind of medication are you taking for your anxiety? 'Cause I also have anxiety, but the medication doesn't effect my weight & I've been on it for three years I believe now. I don't like exercising in front of people, so I workout at home. If you can use YouTube, there's plenty of channels you can watch & use for free in order to exercise in the privacy of your own house. Fitness Blender is a great channel & it's free with hundreds upon hundreds of workout videos & they add new ones every so often. JessicaSmithTV is another great one I use often, as well as BeFit. Check those channels out, you'll more than likely love them.

I know there are medications that can cause weight gain (as I had that with anti-depressants over ten years ago).