Taking Phentermine, eating 1200 calories, not losing weight

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  • PhoenixStrikes
    PhoenixStrikes Posts: 587 Member
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    I don't excercise at all. I can't. I have had a problem with lack of energy for a couple of years now.

    Exercising gives you energy! I wanted to take naps every day until I started walking/jogging 30 mins a day. Now I am full of energy! Don't allow yourself to fall into lazy patterns like that. Also, try to find a doctor that doesn't just want to give you pills to fix everything, don't they get kick backs from companies when they subscribe stuff out? Be wary of a doctor that looks for the quick fix and doesn't help you become healthy through diet and exercise. Up your calories to at least 1450-1500(how can your body have energy if you don't fuel it?) put on your big girl panties and take a walk every night, you'll feel loads better.
  • coral_b
    coral_b Posts: 264 Member
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    I'm not even sure phentermine is available in the Uk through doctors- I had a colleague who used to purchase it from a lady who had a"beauty" clinic. They were purchased abroad for sure- the colleague said they came in huge vat-like tubs. she paid £17 a week for the tablets!!
    This colleague ended up with head aches, was sick and dizzy and too scared to drive due to them. She even had nose bleeds at work.
    Also- if you really don't care at all about health and just want to be thin... she ended up gaining all the weight back as after a few months they just stopped working. Now she's incredibly fit- after giving in with fads and working out and eating right.

    Also, in regards to the exercise, everyone can do something. You can even get those pedals that you can sit and use (like bike pedals) Whilst sitting on your *kitten* on the sofa!
    I have a long term condition that is considered chronic.. And I try to exercise even on days that my moods and health are all over the place. It's a struggle, but it beats the daily struggle's you face being unhealthy and unhappy in yourself.
    I really hope for your health and long term weight loss goals you find an alternative to what is effectively poisoning your body and messing it up for sustained weight loss.
    Please use the tips available on here to get yourself off these pills for good x
  • Sashoi
    Sashoi Posts: 295 Member
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    You need a new dr, I don't know what dr would give u diet pills for being a few lbs overweight. I get your tired but that's no excuse. I have leukemia and just finish doing chemo in May and have no energy, but I still workout. I can literally sometimes fall asleep while working out but I never stop. Just don't set your expectations to high and continue to eat healthy drink your water and get your body moving.
  • Toekneelynn
    Toekneelynn Posts: 10
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    You're 5"7 and 167 lbs? It's going to come off slowly because you're much closer to a goal than most, probably.

    Are you drinking a lot of water? If you aren't, I suggest you start because I SWEAR that is the key to weight loss.

    Is your sodium intake high? Make sure you aren't overdoing it with sodium, it makes you retain water.

    Keep it up! You can do it!





    I have heard about this retaining water thing with sodium...how long is water retained? its just all a lil confusing to me. and i love salty things. i was just really counting calories and fat grams, not really paying attention to the other stuff. what would be the amount of sodium you would say is ok to consume daily?
  • rowrunyoga
    rowrunyoga Posts: 65 Member
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    is-this-real-life.gif

    AHAHAAHA!

    Sadly, yes.
  • ladymiseryali
    ladymiseryali Posts: 2,555 Member
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    I am confused. My primary care physician suggested I take phentermine because I am overweight, I didn't ask him at all about losing weight, he pointed it out to me. If it's so unhealthy, why did he think it was a good idea?

    Your doctor sounds like a quack. Get a new one.
  • HeidiCooksSupper
    HeidiCooksSupper Posts: 3,831 Member
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    Did this same doctor diagnose you as bi-polar and prescribe both drugs? Is he a general practitioner or a psychiatrist? If you are walking an hour at a time you are definitely exercising. You should be seeing a specialist for bi-polar issues and should really check out the safety of phentermine with any psychotropic drugs you are currently taking.

    I am diagnosed clinically depressed (runs in the family, too) and have taken two anti-depressants for years. I check very carefully to see what interactions they might have with other drugs I am taking and even though they are prescribed on a regular basis by my GP, he has referred me to both psychiatrists and psychological counselors to make sure the treatment is appropriate. You have to be aggressive about your own health care and learn to manage your caretakers and your condition.

    Not all physicians, psychiatrists, psychological counselors, etc., are equally good at what they do. Many are overworked and under compensated. Many are unduly influenced by the pharmaceutical reps whose sole purpose is to push drugs and underplay side effects. Hubby recently changed doctors for this very reason. He had a well-documented set of side effects and his doctor refused to recognize his concerns. The drug has since been taken off the market.
  • shannoni86
    shannoni86 Posts: 9
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    My doctor suggested the phentermine and said I was overweight for my height. I weighed 167 and am 5 foot 7.

    Dude, ditch the phentermine. I don't take anything other than a daily multivitamin. Also, how are you eating? I do small meals three to five (sometimes six) times a day, and it usually comes out to 1500-1800 calories a day depending on how hard I work out. I work out four times a week, which is my choice, because I could likely get away with twice a week. Working out will give you energy and help lower your stress level. I've found that when I stress out, I get pretty lethargic. Even if you do a half hour of yoga every day or two, it'll help!

    Also, what sort of frame are you on? Do you have smaller/bigger bones? Does your build suggest you're athletic? I'm the same height as you and about 40 lbs. more. I've got some serious calves going on, and I'm on a bigger boned/athletic frame. We all vary in shape and size, so I thought I'd ask.

    I agree with everyone else about seeking a second opinion, especially after hearing horror stories about phentermine. My doctor has only asked if I exercise; she's not told me that I need to lose weight or has suggested I take any form of drug to do so. Also, if you know of a gym that will give you a free consultation/measurement session, do it and watch how they measure you so you can do it yourself later on. It doesn't hurt to know.

    I used to do the 1200 calories a day and got NOWHERE. I somewhat follow the Insanity meal plan but with lower carbs and do Zumba twice a week coupled with running/walking, and, when I changed my caloric intake, I started to see the gunk falling off of me and things toning up, mainly in my tummy. Do your body a favor and nourish it. It will help you so much more in the long run.
  • TX_Rhon
    TX_Rhon Posts: 1,549 Member
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    I'm also 167 lbs but eating 1400 calories on average - more when I work out. I'm losing approx. 1lb a week. Not setting the world on fire but losing the weight with out added drugs! Just sayn' :smile:
  • Luuvy
    Luuvy Posts: 602 Member
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    I don't excercise at all. I can't. I have had a problem with lack of energy for a couple of years now.

    Yes you can exercise. I have fibromyalgia and I am in pain a lot and my energy level is low partly bc fatigue is a side effect of fibromyalgia. I exercise and so can you. If nothing else you can walk, having a lack of energy is not a reason not to exercise it is an excuse. I don't mean to be harsh but that is the truth. I have found that exercise makes me feel better and gives me energy. Try it, you just might like it:-) Good luck to you.
  • MelissaPhippsFeagins
    MelissaPhippsFeagins Posts: 8,063 Member
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    My doctor suggested the phentermine and said I was overweight for my height. I weighed 167 and am 5 foot 7. I got to a point where I was eating all the time, even just because I was bored, then eventually I got used to it and was hungry all the time, even after eating a meal. The phentermine has curbed my appetite. I guess I will force myself to eat more. I am eating very healthy. I am not excercising because I have an issue with energy. I had this problem for a couple of years. My doctors don't know what is wrong, I am low on iron, so I take a supplement, and I've tried vitamins. I barely have enough energy to do normal everyday things without getting exhausted.

    I seriously, seriously, seriously was JUST like you when I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease almost seven years ago. Same height, same weight. From "I know you have an autoimmune disease." My doc and I went through a five year process of elimination and found it. To say I had an issue with energy would be understated, some days my husband had to put my feet on the floor for me and help me lift myself out of bed. To say I had low iron - well, I guess when you need transfusions that's one way to describe it. I am BEYOND glad that my doctor would not worry about my weight until we had an answer. Then she wouldn't worry about it until my symptoms began to resolve (and they aren't all gone, but they are all improving). My last visit to her was in late June weighing 193; she gave me the go ahead for weight loss then, if I didn't want to wait for the next iron labs. In August, at 192, my favorite dress didn't fit anymore. I came here and I've lost 13ish pounds in 6 weeks.
    All of that was to let you know that I understand where you are coming from and I think you need to fire your doctor and find one who find out what the underlying issues are that are causing your weight problem. That's just my opinion. I own it and you can toss it, but a doc who worries more about 30 extra pounds than he worries about chronic anemia is scary...
  • ostrichagain
    ostrichagain Posts: 271 Member
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    This is starting to make a little more sense. Roundgal is absolutely right, not all practitioners are good at what they do. Your doctors are there to diagnose, advise and assist, it isn't their job to make decisions for you. You need to understand EVERY medication you take and why. You need to understand the possible side-effects.

    I think this is the kind of conversation you should have with your doctor. Let s/he know you what you've been telling everyone here. If you don't trust their judgement, find someone else who is better qualified.

    I understand the feeling of not having any energy. If you can get on top of this and find medications that work well for you, things will improve. It's hard to be patient.
  • Bakkasan
    Bakkasan Posts: 1,027 Member
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    Phentermine...... just NO.

    If you are being medically supervised, you are OK. Just because DR billybob jimbo shabadoo Interweb MD hates them dern prescriptions, you are entitled to see if they help you.

    I DO agree that you and your doc need to dig deeper into your energy issues. If you can, seek second opinions, then thirds.
  • michellechawner
    michellechawner Posts: 892
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    Stop taking phentermine. Exercise. Eat clean. Focus on how your clothes feel. You shouldn't be losing anymore than 1-2 pounds a week if you want to be consistent and not gain back more than you lost.

    ^^QFT (quote for truth)
  • 1szeb
    1szeb Posts: 7 Member
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    PLEASE DO NOT STOP TAKING YOUR PHENTERMINE until you talk it over with your doctor!!! Seriously. Bipolar disorder is a very serious disorder which needs to be carefully medicated, with very specific doses of drug combinations working in a given patient. Your weight gain may have been due to previous (or current) medication that you have been/are on. Your medication can also be causing your fatigue. Unfortunately, if that particular medication has been the only one successful in helping with stabilizing your moods, you would unfortunately have to work with the side effect. That being said, I am assuming that your doctor is very familiar with your disorder and likely prescribed the phentermine with full knowledge of all other drugs you may be taking. I am also assuming that your doctor has experience in treating bipolar patients and is working together with the psychiatrist treating you, if it wasn't the psychiatrist who prescribed it. If that is not the case, speak to the doctor who diagnosed you and is treating you for the bipolar disorder very soon (like today or tomorrow). Do not abruptly stop taking any medication without first consulting your doctor as it can trigger a manic or depressive episode. This is very important.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
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    You need a new dr, I don't know what dr would give u diet pills for being a few lbs overweight. I get your tired but that's no excuse. I have leukemia and just finish doing chemo in May and have no energy, but I still workout. I can literally sometimes fall asleep while working out but I never stop. Just don't set your expectations to high and continue to eat healthy drink your water and get your body moving.

    Wow. This needs a good "So What's Your Excuse" gif. Hi5 on pushing through!!!
  • Achrya
    Achrya Posts: 16,913 Member
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    You need a new dr, I don't know what dr would give u diet pills for being a few lbs overweight. I get your tired but that's no excuse. I have leukemia and just finish doing chemo in May and have no energy, but I still workout. I can literally sometimes fall asleep while working out but I never stop. Just don't set your expectations to high and continue to eat healthy drink your water and get your body moving.

    I'm seriously going to keep you/this in the back of my mind next time I'm 'too tired' to workout. You're amazing and strong. :flowerforyou:
  • EdwardNortonFan43
    EdwardNortonFan43 Posts: 150 Member
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    I do have an iron deficiency, but I admit I haven't taken the iron supplements every day. There have been times I thought I had chronic fatigue syndrome, but never mentioned it to my doctor.
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
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    I do have an iron deficiency, but I admit I haven't taken the iron supplements every day. There have been times I thought I had chronic fatigue syndrome, but never mentioned it to my doctor.

    Then take your iron! How would you know if you had CFS if you're not properly treating a condition where the #1 symptom is fatigue?
  • EdwardNortonFan43
    EdwardNortonFan43 Posts: 150 Member
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    My "normal weight" for the majority of my adult life has been between 115-135. When I started a new bipolar medication three years ago, I started gaining weight. I was skinny my whole life, even after giving birth to my kids. I just want to get to the weight I was before this medication. I want to fit back into my old clothes.

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