Dealing with my depression and dieting. Advice?

Have you seen a therapist or psychiatrist? You don't always just snap out of depression and get "better". If you were abused you probably need some therapy to work through some issues, and you might also benefit from an anti-depressant. Honestly, while you're depressed and harboring hard feelings and pain you're not very likely to be successful at weight loss.

You mention how you used to lose a few pounds a week...that's not realistic or healthy unless you are very overweight. At your height and weight, you can expect to lose about a pound a week (sometimes less, rarely more) if you stick to an appropriate caloric deficit.

A previous commenter mentioned exercise as the best anti-depressant and, while it's not the only part of the equation, for me, being physically active is AS important as taking medication. Of courses when we're depressed, who the heck wants to exercise?! So start with little things. Tell yourself "just 10 minutes. I can deal with almost anything for 10 minutes" and give yourself permission to stop at just that little bit. If you do it, one of two things will happen: you'll be proud of yourself for making the effort, which will lead to the motivation to do it again, OR you will find that you can totally do more than 10 minutes once you get started, which again...positive experience which leads to increased motivation. Maybe, you find 10 minutes to be too much...try 5. I KNOW you can do 5 minutes...now you just have to believe it too.

I'm so sorry for what you are going through, I've been there (abusive relationship, had my daughter at a young age, etc). I took medications for a few years to help with the depression and anxiety, but it wasn't until I spent 6 months with a therapist that I saw dramatic improvement. I worked through my issues with him, and figured enough out that I no longer need medications. It is a long road but well worth it in the end

For me now, exercise is my best anti-depressant (and I used to never believe that would be the case). I still get anxious, and I still battle depressive feelings, but I find if I get in a good workout my mood improves dramatically.

I wish you the best of luck :flowerforyou:

^^ This too! Counseling/Therapy is *way* better than meds. And exercise is the best mood elevator!

You've gone through several major life changes so be gentle with yourself.

You're just getting your life back together, and it will take time.

Take it one day at a time, in baby steps and you'll get there.

Exercise usually helps my depression for a few hours, and keeping busy.

Having a bad time now, and I want to go exercise because I know it will make me feel better, but I can't seem to bring myself to even get up and do something... Just want to cry all the time.

I agree with the others... Talk to a doctor if you can. I would, but have no coverage right now, so I'm kind of on my own for the time being

Exercise (endorphins) momentarily helps symptoms of the depression but does not address the disease. Therapy will. It will take a few months.

There are ways to rev up your metabolism like drinking green tea and getting out and exercising (even if its just going for a walk!). Depression is confusing and so heartbreaking but if you can get through say a month of dieting and distracting yourself I think you'll feel a whole lot better. Life doesn't always go as planned but if you have some determination and drive things WILL start to go your way. Go out and do something you've never done before, even if you have to force yourself to be excited. The feeling afterward will be so worth it love. The best of luck. I've been dealing with depression for my whole life, but there have been very wide gaps in between those phases. When depression comes on again just distract yourself and set achievable goals until you start to forget it's even a distraction. Oh and just one more tip: Yoga

I'm 25. I still comfort eat. I hate admitting that, because talking about relapses with my fellow diet friends is the exact opposite of my wanting to be a source of positivity in their lives. But it's the truth. Sometimes I have an unbelieveable amount of restraint and control and I feel like the world will literally have to **** off if it comes face to face with me. Other times, I am overcome with impulse because of emotional triggers. Usually afterward, I am passive and self-destructive and simply let the behavior continue.

I need to see a therapist. I have for a long time. I put it off because I am afraid of being judged, both by the therapist and by the people in my personal life. It's unbelievably, heavily intimidating. But I know I need it. I'm 25 years-old. That's at least a 3rd of my life over, already, if not more. I've got 2/3 left, if that. Do I want to spend a large portion of that trying to take control, unsure if I can all on my own? No. I don't have time to waste or time to be prideful. **** pridefulness.

If I had done X, if I had done Y, I would be Z by now.

Who cares, at this point? What matters is now. What can I do NOW? What can YOU do NOW?

We can start by taking stock of our situation. If it really is the case, we admit that we need help getting ourselves under control, and that it isn't something to feel ashamed about it. And we stop making excuses and stop letting anxiety or fear of change or being vulnerable to the people who are most likely to treat us carefully versus the people who are negative influences in our life keep us from getting that help.

It sucks not being able to be in control all on our own. But that's the challenge. That's the BIGGEST challenge. Accepting that we need others, and that it's okay to need others, and to be able to reach out when we need to.

I've struggled with depression also, so I know where you're coming from in some ways. One big thing is to try to stop your negative self-talk. Or at least be more aware of what your inner dialogue sounds like. I was so so negative to myself all the time. It's alarming, really. Try to look at yourself and find something you like (for awhile in my life I really thought there wasn't anything.) Recognize when you're saying something bad to yourself in your head--then think about if you would say that to someone else. Talk to yourself like you would to a good friend. Be kind.

Also, 1200 calories a day works for some people, but for most people it just sets you up for failure. You deprive and deprive, and then you wipe out all the progress with a binge. If you try to eat an amount that is sustainable, you will be much more likely to be successful in the long term. Use a TDEE calculator (here's one: http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/#results) and come up with a calorie amount that you can eat within and still live your life while losing weight slowly. Going out to eat shouldn't mess up your day. Eating a candy bar shouldn't mess up your day. It can be sustainable.

Exercise really will help your mood. Set small goals, don't try to change everything over night. Try to work out twice a week, then increase it as you feel up to it. Tell yourself you're doing well by meeting those goals. Don't beat yourself up and don't compare yourself to others. Just set small goals, achieve them, and congratulate yourself.

Feel free to friend me if you'd like!

You've overcome so much and are still accomplishing a lot, and I hope you sometimes stop to remember how amazing that is. You're a young single mother, going to school, who's managed to get out of an abusive relationship. You want to teach and give back to people, even as you work to love yourself and raise a child. That is HUGE.

I definitely second others' suggestions to seek a therapist, and it's also time to just be gentle with yourself. If you want to cut back on bingeing, maybe look into mindful eating as a way of finding comfort in food without overeating. When I'm feeling fragile or stressed, sometimes wrapping myself in a blanket with a big mug of tea and a movie is infinitely more soothing than food. I also have a list of alternatives to bingeing, if I have particularly bad cravings (things like drinking water, chewing gum, brushing teeth, doing jumping jacks, or finding something else to occupy my attention).

Dieting takes a lot of physical and emotional energy, two things that depression (and parenting!) doesn't always allow you to spare. At your weight, you're probably not going to be losing multiple pounds a week, and that's okay! What's important is finding food and activity that makes you feel good and healthy. You can absolutely do this.