Meds and unable to lose weight?

Doingitforme20

Hey I apologise in advance for such a long winded post but i was wondering if anyone can help, I was following slimming world and lost 50lb in around 6 months I then left to go back to college and unfortunately gained back 21lb up until March this year when started actively trying to lose it again however, I was put on amitryptiline at the same time and I have lost and gained the same 6lb over and over. It is really starting to get me down as its been months now and my doctor doesn't seem interested at all I would appreciate any help at all is there foods i should be totally avoiding? Should I have my macros set to anything in particular? I'm new to mfp and willing to try anything as slimming world isn't working this time around
I also had a thyroidectomy and I take levothyroxine but I lost the 50lb when I had already had the op so I don't think it is the issue.

Elphaba1313

Being on medication sucks. I'm on a mix myself. It can make you hungry, kill your appetite, make you tired and unable to exercise, do a whole range of things. I gained weight when I started on some of mine, but it was because I was sorry for myself, in pain and comfort eating and not leaving the couch. Ultimately, it's still about eating less calories than you use. And if your exercise drops off sometimes your calories need to be adjusted too.

Avoiding foods is unnecessary (for weight loss - I don't know what your medical condition is, however) but I'd just recommend you tighten up your logging. Even just for a week - be totally honest and have a look at what's changed. And good luck.

One more thing, you lose 6 pounds, when the scale goes up, do you just give up? Or do you push through. I used to give up and stop logging/counting. But as they like to say on here - weight loss isn't linear. Just keep going and eventually it will go down again. (I'm up 1.5 kilos in 3 days at the moment but that's because a gastric *ahem* issue saw me drop a kilo overnight and I haven't "pooped" since. Believe me, psychologically the number on the scale was not nice to see, but my body doesn't know about it and is still nicely doing it's thing and the excess will pass. So to speak.)

L1zardQueen

I have been medications that have made me hungry, or tired, or stunted my hunger appetite. I have RA. Meds don’t have calories but it does mess with hunger cues. Count your calories and stay aware of how you feel.

jo_nz

I am on amitriptyline too, and for me, I have been losing quite well since I started on it.

Not specifically because of it having a direct effect on weight or even appetite, but because it has helped the issues it was prescribed for, and as a happy side effect I sleep really well. I didn't realise how tired and lethargic I was until it got better, and I now have energy to think about planning meals and getting in some exercise.

I don't eat specific foods or anything - just a bit less than I was eating before. I stick to my mfp calorie goal...mostly and the excess weight I was carrying is slowly coming off.

youngmomtaz

I got to be on amitriptyline for only two weeks before they took me off. It would not let me sleep even at a 10mg dose. But lost 5 lbs in that timeframe because it completely solved my 3times a week migraines and my daily head pain. I could actually move and participate in life. I was eating like a horse too because I was happy and doing things.

A far different experience than what you are struggling with. The first step to potentially changing it up though: grab a food scale and weigh and log every gram you eat. Every one.

NorthCascades

Technically you can lose weight eating any foods you like and on any medicine. It's all about calories. But in the real world the distinction isn't always so clear cut. I've been on medicine that have me a ravenous appetite. Imagined a grown man with chocolate stains all over his hands and face after 10 pm.

Wellbutrin is a medication that seems to reduce appetite in a lot of people. I have no idea why you're talking yours and whether W is appropriate, but there are medicines that have that side effect and your doctor should be able to talk to you about this. Maybe find another doctor.

My last bit of advice is to record everything you eat here. Exercise too, if applicable. Then go through your data and see if there are any patterns that lead to those 6 pulls coming back, and if you can short circuit them. (I can't become a later night chocolate monster if I don't have any in the house and at m by that point I'm usually not willing to go out for it. That kind of thing. Record your food because knowledge is power.)

Good luck to you!

RealWorldStrengthLLC

I find that saving calories and timing meals is key with meds. I take medication that gives me a ravenous appetite about an hour after I take it and only something high fat satiates...to fit this into my weight loss goals, i take my meds around 930pm and around 1030-1100pm I eat 5 tablespoons of peanut butter, a serving of jerky, and a protien shake. I budget for this by reducing the calories out of other meals throughout the day and eating a lot of lean meats to save the fat budget for the peanut butter.

Bonus-I get to eat 5-6 tablespoons of peanut butter every single night while still cutting 2lbs a week...it keeps me sane in a way.

kshama2001

My brother takes mood stabilizers and antipsychotics known to cause an increase in appetite. When he was in a hospital setting, he gained weight while eating hospital food and not getting much exercise. Now that he is home, eating Mom's cooking, helping her with extensive yard work, and walking several miles per day, he lost all the weight he gained in the hospital and has maintained a healthy weight for over three years.

He doesn't count calories. He does eat lots of whole foods - fruits, veggies, legumes, whole grains, etc. There's very little, if any, junk food in the house.

kshama2001

NorthCascades wrote: »

Technically you can lose weight eating any foods you like and on any medicine. It's all about calories. But in the real world the distinction isn't always so clear cut. I've been on medicine that have me a ravenous appetite. Imagined a grown man with chocolate stains all over his hands and face after 10 pm.

Wellbutrin is a medication that seems to reduce appetite in a lot of people. I have no idea why you're talking yours and whether W is appropriate, but there are medicines that have that side effect and your doctor should be able to talk to you about this. Maybe find another doctor.

My last bit of advice is to record everything you eat here. Exercise too, if applicable. Then go through your data and see if there are any patterns that lead to those 6 pulls coming back, and if you can short circuit them. (I can't become a later night chocolate monster if I don't have any in the house and at m by that point I'm usually not willing to go out for it. That kind of thing. Record your food because knowledge is power.)

Good luck to you!

@doingitforme18 yes, if you are just taking amitryptiline for depression, consider Wellbutrin as an alternative. If it's for other conditions, see my previous post.