Fighting over-eating triggers and adjustments to appetite increasing medications?

kgrchyc24r

Hi,

I have bi-polar, i take a couple different anti psychotics that notoriously alter appetite and has had a negative effect on my eating habits to both extremes.

I am curious how people cope with these symptoms and how you go about minimising the damage?

Another thing I wondered is how people combat bad eating habits generally. I find my eating is often reactionary, as in if i feel bad i eat more and vice versa.

What kind of tools do you use to combat this in a healthy way? I’d say discipline can be helpful to work on but it is inherently a weak tool to solely rely on in my experience, I'm no Goggins.

Interested to hear what methods you use!

- L

sollyn23l2

Track religiously. Make it routine. Every time you eat, it gets tracked. Find low calorie foods you can eat more of (fruits/veggies). Get plenty of protein in. That's my suggestion. It can be hard, for sure.

roseym10

I asked to be switched to the anti-psychotic Geodon which is has the least impact on weight compared to others such as Zyprexa which made me gain weight. I've since weaned off of any anti-psychotics. I would recommend you talk to your doctor.

Adventurista

For the eating approach, i practice 2 different things.

1st, eating food for the body when i need more food (regular meals and snacks, stop at enough to maintain weight or a little less when able, and not eat in-between.)

2nd. Not eating for non-food reasons (not when bad, sad, mad, not for rewards and treats celebrations except some special occasions like holiday feasts.)

Have to say, changing all the gazillion non-food reasons is tough, and I am still practicing. When i goof up, stand up, dust off, try more.

No guilt, no remorse, don't beat myself up.... what is done is done and over. Just try again. Try more.)

lisakatz2

I've lost 15 pounds since March through keeping a food diary on here, maintaining a deficit (mine is 1500 calories a day) and exercise. I agree 100% with adventurista's tips. Not eating for non-food reasons is the hardest. I've asked my husband to keep his treats hidden. I don't buy them myself. I brush my teeth immediately after dinner and engage myself in a fun relaxation activity (I like adult coloring books). After dinner is the hardest time for me to avoid the nibbles and these strategies work for me. I also fill up on foods like crunchy raw vegetables and salad with a carefully measured amount of dressing. Volume eating helps a lot.