Exercise is not helping my depression

What kind of exercises are you doing? Maybe you need to find something you enjoy more so you look forward to it more. Also set goals and a progression so you can be meeting goals and feeling yourself improve and give you something to accomplish and then to feel proud about. Hope that helps

Go back to the doctors and either up the anti-ds or try a new one, its not one size fits all. Thats assuming you've been on them long enough to give them a chance

Maybe you will need a new med or a 2nd one? Also, it might be good to have some blood work done. There are other things that can affect your mood like Thyroid problems and other things I know of too but aren't coming to mind at the moment.

Nothing is a quick fix, if you are loving spin class then great, I can't imagine ever having the energy or motivation to do that so well done you!

Be persistent about it, try cutting out caffeine and that includes chocolate, I found it effects my mood quite a lot. There are lots of videos to follow on youtube for example that have yoga or pilates which help you to relax, this past week I have been very stressed and anxious about things and they have really helped me to relax and be more positive.

Relish in the fact you are doing well, you have acknowledged you are depressed so you can and are doing something about it which is more than a lot of people are, you can survive a spin class and it might be worth chatting with the doctors to find another med to help make it easier to recognise the good days etc.

I am no Doctor but can easily fall into being depressed so I can empathise with you. xxxxxx

STICK AT IT!!!

How long have you been exercises and what have you been doing?

How much are you eating?

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For about 3 weeks. I've been going to a crossfit style class before work, and then after work I either go to spin, which I love, or I hit the treadmill and do some kind of circuit after. I'm not able to do two-a-days all the time, but 2 or 3 times a week I do. I felt awesome the first week, but the last two weeks have been sucky and just keep getting progressively worse.

I'm confused about the food thing. Some days I'm getting around 8 or 900 calories, but then again I'm also sleeping a lot on thsoe days. Other days I'll hit 1500 or more. But everyone in the forums is always going on and on about how everyone's probably eating way more than think they are, so I don't even know. I'm not super diligent about weighing things.

Eat at least half of what you burn off in exercise if you can is probably what everyone is now going to say!

Change your negative thoughts. It sounds cliche but it works. The outside is a reflection of the inside.If your overweight that means your body/mind is out of balance. Meditate on the positive and you'll see the difference. CBT therapy helped me get off the meds and down to a size 8 along with meditation.

Have you been formally diagnosed as having clinical depression, and prescribed medication?

Don't forget, even if the meds have you stable in general, sometimes you will have down periods, just they shouldn't be all the time like before, and hopefully not as bad, you just have to use your strategies to get through them.
Hell even people without depression can have their ups and downs.
Hope things are going better for you soon

As someone who has always dealt with depression, I completely understand where you are coming from. I recently had the same problem. I tried exercising as a natural depressant. It would help for a while, but didn't quite make things better.
You may want to seek counselling. Depressants can help, yes, but talking it out with a professional is the best help you can get. Sometime's it's scary to seek help like that, and with depression I know I always tended to think that others wouldn't have the time for me, wouldn't care, or couldn't help me. However, that is most certainly not the case.
As for finding an exercise that helps to tamper your depression a bit, in my case I've found that dancing really elevates my mood. Turbo Jam (a Beachbody workout) is a lot of fun. My friend has it and I borrow it occasionally when I'm feeling down. It's a wonderful workout and a lot of fun.
Work out with friends. If I work out alone, I find that my thoughts return easily to dark places. If I have friends around me, I focus more on the workout and on having fun. If you work out in the morning with friends, your mood should elevate throughout the day.
Also drink plenty of water and eat plenty of food. I've found that being a little bit dehydrated or not eating enough can seriously devastate my mood. Also, eating and drinking the wrong sorts of things can do the same thing.
On that same note, consuming the right amount of nutrients will help SOOOOO much. Now, I am no Beachbody coach or anything, but I'm a total advocate of the programs and of Shakeology. I take a Shakeology every morning because it just makes me feel amazing all throughout the day. It just fulfills some of my body's needs.

The biggest piece of advice I can give you, though, is to take care of yourself. Go to sleep at a regular time if you can. Eat right, drink plenty of water. Exercise, but do the things that make you happy. There are a lot of different exercises you can do. If it depresses you, don't do it. But do make sure to get your exercise. Maybe take a dog for a walk. Animals are great therapists
And reach out. You are worth it. That nasty little monster depression tells you that you aren't, but trust me; you are. Make the conscious effort to take care of yourself. Reward yourself for the numerous wonderful little things you accomplish. And don't punish yourself if something goes wrong.

If ever you need to talk, feel free to send me a message. I log on every day to track my calories and I love getting messages

From here, it actually sounds like you might be bi-polar. That could be the missing peice of the puzzle. At least it was for me.

There is so much more that goes into emotional health then eating and exercise. Remember that this forum is for eating and exercise, so, metaphorically, we may be looking at every problem as a nail because we only have a hammer.

Message me if you would like to know more about how I dealt with my own depression and other emotional issues.

Hugs!

Umm, people? I think only one person's mentioned eating enough...800-900 calories (unless OP is tiny and/or has a metabolic disorder) is crazily low.

OP, please please please do (or re-do) your calorie calculations - this is a fairly well-respected one:
http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

I'm not trying to minimize the depression issue (been there!), but I think others have covered that ground just fine. So I'm gonna focus on just how crappy UNDEReating can make you feel. Please fuel yourself. It's important for all of you - including that brain of yours!

Best wishes for your success on all fronts.

P.S. One last link, which is an MFP classic as well as being super-encouraging (imho even if you're just wanting to maintain). Because hey, happy reading is good!:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

when was the last time you got a full physical You could be lacking in Vit D, or have some other issue causing the depression

Umm, people? I think only one person's mentioned eating enough...800-900 calories (unless OP is tiny and/or has a metabolic disorder) is crazily low.

OP, please please please do (or re-do) your calorie calculations - this is a fairly well-respected one:
http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

I'm not trying to minimize the depression issue (been there!), but I think others have covered that ground just fine. So I'm gonna focus on just how crappy UNDEReating can make you feel. Please fuel yourself. It's important for all of you - including that brain of yours!

Best wishes for your success on all fronts.

P.S. One last link, which is an MFP classic as well as being super-encouraging (imho even if you're just wanting to maintain). Because hey, happy reading is good!:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

Yes. I have read that eating a healthy diet can also help with the battle against depression. It may not be THE answer, but it is something that is good for you anyway, so it wouldn't hurt to be sure to eat right.

Copied and pasted from some site:

Don’t skip meals. Going too long between meals can make you feel irritable and tired, so aim to eat something at least every three to four hours.

Minimize sugar and refined carbs. You may crave sugary snacks, baked goods, or comfort foods such as pasta or French fries, but these “feel-good” foods quickly lead to a crash in mood and energy.

Focus on complex carbohydrates. Foods such as baked potatoes, whole-wheat pasta, oatmeal, and whole grain breads can boost serotonin levels without a crash.

Boost your B vitamins. Deficiencies in B vitamins such as folic acid and B-12 can trigger depression. To get more, take a B-complex vitamin supplement or eat more citrus fruit, leafy greens, beans, chicken, and eggs.

Try super-foods rich in nutrients that can boost mood, such as bananas (magnesium to decrease anxiety, vitamin B6 to promote alertness, tryptophan to boost feel-good serotonin levels), brown rice (serotonin, thiamine to support sociability), and spinach (magnesium, folate to reduce agitation and improve sleep).

Are you sure it's just depression and not something more? Vitamin/mineral deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, and medical issues can cause lethargy, fatigue, and a "down" state. Did your doctor do any blood work before prescribing the meds?

I started exercise in a big way in Sept 2013 and I stopped my anti-depressant (mainly cause it was causing weight gain) and I find I do not need it at all anymore. I was on it for probably over 20 years .. so not some short term thing.

But .. have insomnia issues since stopping the anti-depressant .. so dealing with that right now. But the exercise has really really helped.

I would see your doctor .. and eat more. Lots of fruits and veggies will do you good.