Losing weight while miserable??

hannahlbur

Does anyone on here have any experience of losing weight while suffering with depression or anxiety or just generally unahppy with life?

I am so miserable about lots of things in my life that are very difficult to change. My weight is one of the big things that gets me down and IS within my control. But because I feel so down and stressed about things I struggle to diet well and comfort eat (esp at weekends). I go to the gym loads so that is not the problem it is purely diet and having a big appetite and comfort eating. Has anyone dealt with this?

I am having counselling.
I have been on anti depressants and don't want to go back on them.

If I could get some weight off it would give me a boost and show that I can get control of one aspect of my life...so why can't I do it?!!

:mad:

mynameiscarrie

i've been diagnosed with depression and have taken anti depressants for 7 years. i stopped taking them about 5 months ago and haven't needed or wanted to use them since. Why? I think a lot of it it because i've been exercising. Honestly, exercise is a HUGE stress reliever for me and makes me feel so so so much better and happier. It is possible to lose weight while depressed and I think that it almost can be motivation. Natural endorphins are great

Summerleahd

I know exactly how you feel. I was extremely depressed after I had my second child. Everyday was a struggle to get out of bed to workout or eat right. Most times I didn't even try. But once you get started it helps with the depression. Exercise helps me the most. Even if I don't eat the best, I always try to workout because it gives me the mood boost I need. And the thing that also helped was taking wellbutrin. I've always been anti-med but I was suicidial and had to do something. And it's turned my life around. Not saying you have to take medicine, just what's worked for me. I've lost 20 pounds dealing with the depression. It did come off slowly because as I said it was a struggle. But now that's it's off, I feel so much better. Feel free to add me as a friend

Eleisabelle

First of all, stress and depression make it harder to lose weight. It's a simple fact of biology that your stress hormones mess up your body's ability to properly manage food. You eat a lot when you're stressed for a couple of reasons:

1) Your body is craving certain nutrients that are required to make stress hormones. Those same nutrients are also required for your other body functions, but when you're dealing with stress, an inordinate amount of those nutrients go to making stress hormones. So you crave more food in an attempt to get more nutrients.

2) You are psychologically dependent on food to make you feel better. You need to remind yourself of that every single time you feel a craving, and ask yourself two questions. First, am I getting this food because I'm depressed and want comfort, or am I genuinely hungry? And second, will eating this food fix the problem that's making me feel so bad?

I eat when I'm stressed, depressed, or bored. It takes me actively reminding myself that I cannot fix these problems with food to get me to stop. And some days, I still give in. But the more you work, the better you can get at freeing yourself from food.

Don't let food control you. It is tasty, it is a wonderful aspect of being human, but ultimately its only purpose for us is as fuel. Get pleasure from your fuel, but remind yourself that YOU are the one in control of your food, not the other way around.

I have taken up hobbies that, when I feel like eating, occupy my hands and mind. It doesn't do very well when I'm at work (when I have the worst problems), but it helps a lot at home. Find things to distract you, to make you feel strong, to make you feel in control.

You can do it! Make the effort! Push yourself! You'll be amazed at how resilient you can be!

heybrit

I have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety and have been on anti-depressants/anxiety meds in the past but never liked being on them so I typically quit haha. I just started exercising and eating better last week and can already tell the difference in my mood and thought process. Especially directly after exercising. I was on a natural high and couldn't help but smile about everything. My therapists and doctors have always recommended exercise as the best combatant to anxiety and depression.

Comfort eating is a choice you have to consciously make to stop. I know it's hard, I do the same thing (or did!) and it is about having the will power to tell yourself no. There's no easy answer there unfortunately. You want to feel better enough to say no a couple of times and soon you're not in the position where you want the comfort foods. Until you hit that point, it will be a challenge. I've tried to change my lifestyle and improve many times now and this is the first time I know for a fact that I truly mean it and see the changes in myself even within a week. I finally got to a turning point and I feel so much better and empowered now.

hannahlbur

i've been diagnosed with depression and have taken anti depressants for 7 years. i stopped taking them about 5 months ago and haven't needed or wanted to use them since. Why? I think a lot of it it because i've been exercising. Honestly, exercise is a HUGE stress reliever for me and makes me feel so so so much better and happier. It is possible to lose weight while depressed and I think that it almost can be motivation. Natural endorphins are great

Wow 7 years really - I was on them for a year and I felt pretty horrific coming off them.

I do enjoy exercise and it gives me a mood boost except for the odd time when I have felt really awful - I have cried in the gym before now!! Your before and after pics are fab btw great loss!

hannahlbur

I know exactly how you feel. I was extremely depressed after I had my second child. Everyday was a struggle to get out of bed to workout or eat right. Most times I didn't even try. But once you get started it helps with the depression. Exercise helps me the most. Even if I don't eat the best, I always try to workout because it gives me the mood boost I need. And the thing that also helped was taking wellbutrin. I've always been anti-med but I was suicidial and had to do something. And it's turned my life around. Not saying you have to take medicine, just what's worked for me. I've lost 20 pounds dealing with the depression. It did come off slowly because as I said it was a struggle. But now that's it's off, I feel so much better. Feel free to add me as a friend

Yeah that is how I feel a lot of the time. Just getting out of bed is a huge effort and then after work I just wanted to go home and lounge around. I do enjoy exercise though and I am motivated recently so I have been doing better. It is a cycle of tiredness, stress, depression so I eat more and don't want to exercise.
I was glad to get off the meds as I had side effects but will see how I go.

Thanks for your message

hannahlbur

First of all, stress and depression make it harder to lose weight. It's a simple fact of biology that your stress hormones mess up your body's ability to properly manage food. You eat a lot when you're stressed for a couple of reasons:

1) Your body is craving certain nutrients that are required to make stress hormones. Those same nutrients are also required for your other body functions, but when you're dealing with stress, an inordinate amount of those nutrients go to making stress hormones. So you crave more food in an attempt to get more nutrients.

2) You are psychologically dependent on food to make you feel better. You need to remind yourself of that every single time you feel a craving, and ask yourself two questions. First, am I getting this food because I'm depressed and want comfort, or am I genuinely hungry? And second, will eating this food fix the problem that's making me feel so bad?

I eat when I'm stressed, depressed, or bored. It takes me actively reminding myself that I cannot fix these problems with food to get me to stop. And some days, I still give in. But the more you work, the better you can get at freeing yourself from food.

Don't let food control you. It is tasty, it is a wonderful aspect of being human, but ultimately its only purpose for us is as fuel. Get pleasure from your fuel, but remind yourself that YOU are the one in control of your food, not the other way around.

I have taken up hobbies that, when I feel like eating, occupy my hands and mind. It doesn't do very well when I'm at work (when I have the worst problems), but it helps a lot at home. Find things to distract you, to make you feel strong, to make you feel in control.

You can do it! Make the effort! Push yourself! You'll be amazed at how resilient you can be!

Thanks for your message - v wise words!

Some good advice on the comfort eating I will try some of these things.

I hope I can do it! I will definitely try

hannahlbur

I have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety and have been on anti-depressants/anxiety meds in the past but never liked being on them so I typically quit haha. I just started exercising and eating better last week and can already tell the difference in my mood and thought process. Especially directly after exercising. I was on a natural high and couldn't help but smile about everything. My therapists and doctors have always recommended exercise as the best combatant to anxiety and depression.

Comfort eating is a choice you have to consciously make to stop. I know it's hard, I do the same thing (or did!) and it is about having the will power to tell yourself no. There's no easy answer there unfortunately. You want to feel better enough to say no a couple of times and soon you're not in the position where you want the comfort foods. Until you hit that point, it will be a challenge. I've tried to change my lifestyle and improve many times now and this is the first time I know for a fact that I truly mean it and see the changes in myself even within a week. I finally got to a turning point and I feel so much better and empowered now.

Wow you just started last week? That's good!

Thanks wse words - I am really trying on the comfort eating front see how I go! :ohwell:

geekymom57

Do you enjoy going to the gym or do you do it because you have to? I ask this because IMHO, going to the gym often doesn't make me feel better about my life/myself, unless I'm doing it because I get some enjoyment out of it. We have a gym quality elliptical and a home theater so I don't really need to go to the gym to get some sort of exercise in a diversionary setting. Howeer, at the gym I use the sauna and the whirlpool, so those are two stress-reducers that I enjoy. If the gym is full of bouncy young size 0's and ripped young men, it doesn't always feel like a welcoming place. And a gym can also be a good place to avoid dealing with people, emotions, etc.--clamp on the headphones, plug into a machine and TV, and avoid any social interaction for however long you choose.

If you are in counseling, maybe you could discuss some things that you could do instead of the gym that might make you feel you are making positive changes in your life. Could you volunteer? Do a hobby that isn't amenable to snacking (I like knitting or embroidery for that purpose--can't do either with sticky fingers)?

It seems you recognize you're in a rut and maybe need some more ways to get out of it. Taking control over your eating and filling your time with meaningful activities may be things that need to happen together in order to be successful, if that makes any sense.

hannahlbur

Do you enjoy going to the gym or do you do it because you have to? I ask this because IMHO, going to the gym often doesn't make me feel better about my life/myself, unless I'm doing it because I get some enjoyment out of it. We have a gym quality elliptical and a home theater so I don't really need to go to the gym to get some sort of exercise in a diversionary setting. Howeer, at the gym I use the sauna and the whirlpool, so those are two stress-reducers that I enjoy. If the gym is full of bouncy young size 0's and ripped young men, it doesn't always feel like a welcoming place. And a gym can also be a good place to avoid dealing with people, emotions, etc.--clamp on the headphones, plug into a machine and TV, and avoid any social interaction for however long you choose.

If you are in counseling, maybe you could discuss some things that you could do instead of the gym that might make you feel you are making positive changes in your life. Could you volunteer? Do a hobby that isn't amenable to snacking (I like knitting or embroidery for that purpose--can't do either with sticky fingers)?

It seems you recognize you're in a rut and maybe need some more ways to get out of it. Taking control over your eating and filling your time with meaningful activities may be things that need to happen together in order to be successful, if that makes any sense.

thanks for your reply.

I do enjoy the gym most of the time - I quite like going with my ipod on and just going into my own little world for a while!

I definitely am stuck in a rut and I am trying to find something new to do like a sport or something. It's just tricky deciding!
I already do some volunteer work but I am looking at others to see what else I could do.