Antidepressants/Birth control/185 pds!

Hello! I'm having a lot of problems with my weight gain... I work out every day, I don't really eat and when I do I watch what I eat and make sure to avoid sugars, chips, and soda. I have gained 10+ pounds since December because I was put on antidepressants... Instead of feeling better I felt worse because I gained so much weight that I can't really fit into my cloths and it's making almost obsessed with my weight and body image. Anyways, I stopped taking my pills (all of them instead my birth control) so that maybe I could start losing weight... Instead now every time I eat I feel bloated, fat, uncomfortable.. I work out an hour 4 times a week (lifting, running, and swimming). I still haven't lost anything and I still feel thick!

The parts I bolded both spell trouble. Starving yourself is no way to lose weight. If you're not eating enough, you won't have the fuel to get through those workouts and could potentially do damage to your health. Use a calorie calculator such as the one at Scooby's Workshop to calculate how many calories you need to be eating in order to lose weight at a healthy pace (probably 1 pound per week). http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

I can't tell from what you've written if you mean you've stopped taking antidepressants or birth control (or both). Quitting antidepressants without doing so under a doctor's guidance can be extremely dangerous. You were put on the antidepressant for a reason, and if you stop taking them without the okay from your doctor, you could be putting yourself at risk to have another depressive episode.

Not all antidepressants cause weight gain. The same goes for birth control. Rather than just quitting either of these medications, the better thing to do is talk to your doctor about your concerns. Maybe you can try another medication that your body tolerates better. Once you do, if you eat at a healthy deficit, you'll lose weight.

1. DO NOT STOP TAKING MEDICATION WITHOUT THE ADVICE OF A DOCTOR

2. How long have you been at it? When I started lifting, I put on basically 4 lbs overnight. It obviously wasn't fat- it was water weight because my body was getting used to the new exercise. It went away after a few weeks. Don't worry about that if it's due to lifting.

3. You may want to ask your doctor if you can switch birth control pills. I recently switched over from tri-sprintec to microgestin and it's really helping to avoid that bloaty feeling. I was on tri-sprintec for about 6 years and all of a sudden I started having IBS-type issues. The switch made everything level off and I feel great after the switch.

4. ... speaking of IBS, have you talked to the doctor about that? Or food allergies? That can be a problem for some people trying to lose weight

5. Log what you eat, eat clean, and stick with a certain regime for an extended period of time. I recently started eating a lot of spinach. The first week I felt like a balloon and my stomach hated me. Now, I can tell it's doing me a whole bunch of good. Don't comfort eat either- it's really not worth it.

6. Stressing out is also not helping your problem. Cortisol elevates storage of fat around your middle. Relax and schedule an appointment ASAP!

7. I second what midwest said- get some bloodwork done. I have family members with hypothyroidism and that's led to depression-line symptoms AND weight gain. Wouldn't hurt to check.

8. Barely eating will also cause you to lose weight. I gained about 15 lbs in college due to eating 600-900 calories a day. I'm perfectly happy and losing weight now at 1400 calories. It's just really about WHAT you eat. (take a look at my diary if you'd like- it's open)