Depression and weight loss

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Depression is how you feel, it is affected straight in the brain. Truly unhappy and you need to realize it. Wake up, and do something about it.

Find what makes you happy. Continue day after day and fight depression. I have a blog that can be read about it. I was depressed for 10 years until this year, I fought back with 10 years of rage.

A lot of people mention exercise, but when you are depressed it can be hard to get out and be motivated to do so. You first have to address the cause of the depression. Maybe it is seasonal, that is if you aren't getting vitamin D from the sun, take some tablets. If it is something in your life affecting you, family, finances, etc, then you'll have to correct that accordingly. Maybe it is making a plan to get out of debt if that is causing it. Once you start into that, then you'll feel better, relieved, the pressure will be gone and you'll come out of the depressed state. If someone in your life is holding you back, then avoid them. Find a new hobby, a new group of people, whatever it is to correct the source. Once you do that, you'll be surprised how quick you come out of depression.

I so can relate. I have dealt with depression most of my adult life. However the last five years it's been a accute.or severe. I am well aware of what brought on this horrible and long depression. Occurred when my husband of 28 years just decides he doesn't want to be married any more (at least to me, he was remarried with in two weeks of the divorce). My entire life has been turned upside down, have had to move about six times trying to find a place to call home, all while having to live with different family members. During this time my weight got really bad, but I just didn't care anymore. I am so much better than even a year ago, thanks to too wonderful drs and ect treatments. My psychologist has been on top of my meds tweeting them. My therapist didn't really have to look far to see where the depression came from it was pretty obvious. She has really gotten me to work real hard and fight for myself. I have horrible confidence actually barely any at all. During this time I put on wieght and let everything else go as well. Until one day not to long ago my daughter and I were having a discussion about my life, and she came right out and said it's embarrassing mom, you don't take care of your body or your hygien anymore. I replied it doesn't matter I have no one to look good for anyway. That's when she reminded me I have her and my son and my grands. She also mentioned how horrible the cig smoke was, how my grands didn't like to come close to me because of the odor. Very next day I made myself stop smoking, and afew days after that I found a program on line which led me to MFP, I have been using both programs to help me. 18 weeks and I've lost 21 lbs. however I am yet to get myself motivated to start training. Like you I have no motivation (although I am improving on that). My life had been pretty sedimentary for along time. I am more active now because with the weight loss I have felt some better, along with being proud of myself for the smoking thing. Everyone has recommended exercise to me, and I have great in tensions but always seem to put it off another day or another week. And it's not as easy as most people think, it's not a nike commercial of "just do it". Although I know people mean well for that kinda advice, but it's not understood if they haven't walked in depression shoes. I know the exercise would be good for me in so many different ways, there's just this road block and it's not laziness.
So I guess what I wanted to tell you is that your not alone. I would say definitely get a psychiatrist and a therapist, and do the best you can. Baby steps seem to work the best, have reasonable goals. And if you can get the exercise in, go for it. I have to admit seeing my weight go down has surely helped.
I wish you all the best, and know if you work towards a recovery you will make it, just do it for yourself and if you can't then do it for your loved ones.
I tell myself that I'm gonna slap depression right in the face. Remember little steps, goals that are attainable . You will make it. I am and I know how difficult it is, but believe me if I can then anyone can. And you will.
Thoughts and prayers for you and all the others that are in this thread fighting the same battle.

Although I know people mean well for that kinda advice, but it's not understood if they haven't walked in depression shoes. I know the exercise would be good for me in so many different ways, there's just this road block and it's not laziness.
So I guess what I wanted to tell you is that your not alone. I would say definitely get a psychiatrist and a therapist, and do the best you can. Baby steps seem to work the best, have reasonable goals. And if you can get the exercise in, go for it. I have to admit seeing my weight go down has surely helped.

I completely understand that feeling.

And I hate people telling me I'm just lazy, but when I'm depressed doing things just seems like an insurmountable obstacle. What worked for me was the baby steps you're talking about. Walking two blocks instead of one. Walking to the store for milk instead of driving. I focused on getting sunshine & being more active than just sitting on the couch. And it worked - I got all the way back up to running again over the course of months. I feel so. much. better.

Stop taking anti-depressants if you are taking any.

My biggest recommendation ... get out there and move it.

You will not need those pills and will feel a zillion times better without them. I know right .. they are supposed to make things better but in many cases make things worse.

I stopped taking them at the beginning of my journey and only take a very small dose now .. to help me sleep. But the depression is gone .. after decades of fighting depression.

Depression can be resolved by changing what you eat.

Maybe it helped you, but for most people with a brain disorder, they need actual medical help, real science backed by research, to stop getting worse or even get better.
That being said, I've read studies saying that exercise (regular, sustained cardio/aerobic exercise) is as effective for some people as medicine.
Start where you are. If all you're up to right now is walking to the end of the driveway & back, do that. Then do it again this afternoon. Then do it again tomorrow morning & afternoon. Eventually, increase the distance. FORCE yourself to do it, just like you take your medicine or brush your teeth. Yes, it's going to feel a bit foolish just walking to the street & turning around, but ya gotta start somewhere.

When I started exercising, I did 5 min on the treadmill. In a few weeks, I was up to 15 min, and I started some light weightlifting. I've been building ever since. I no longer (normally) feel exhausted, overwhelmed by life, or like I'm wrapped in an 8" stack of quilts & have to drag them everywhere with me. Most of the time I'm sort of blah, but that beats being down!

when I'm depressed doing things just seems like an insurmountable obstacle

YES! This!!!

And it's not as easy as most people think, it's not a nike commercial of "just do it".

It's not easy, no, but that's the only way: just do it.
Get up off the couch or out of bed, put on your clothes & shoes, and walk around the block.
Then you can go back to bed.
Yes, it takes an incredible amount of willpower, which is why you set small easily-achieved goals to reinforce your success, which gives you more willpower. Eventually exercise becomes a habit.
Last year, and for several years previous, I was a complete couch potato, severely depressed for years. On the highest dose of 1 psych med, with a medium dose of another to potentiate it. I decided I was going to start exercising, lose the weight, and it was entirely willpower... at least until I started seeing results.

Malnourishment does affect the brain, and obese people are very often deficient in vital micronutrients; hence why one overeats uncontrollably. Nothing else worked for me; not drugs (is anyone born with, or develop, a deficiency of pharmaceuticals?) , not counselling, not exercise, not anything, until I changed the FOOD.[/quote]
Part of why many people with depression overeat carbs is because they increase serotonin...
which is what some psych drugs do, with no calories.
And yes, it's already been answered that some people have a deficiency of certain neurotransmitters, which causes the brain to not function as it should.
If that could be solved by taking a multivitamin, that would be a lot cheaper & easier.
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^a whole bunch of truth!! well put

exercise has definitely been my saving grace. eating lots of fruits and veggies has also played a huge part in helping with my depression. the food + exercise does the trick for your brain, and when you see the physical results it makes everything even better!!

I'm so happy for you! That doing your jog is impressive. From one depressed person to another... Lol. Best wishes

Start with logging. Seriously. Just that. In my experience, depression can make things get overwhelming FAST. So be kind to yourself, and just start by seeing where you're at.

Do not stop taking your meds if they seem to be helping your depression. If you haven't been around the depression block enough times to realize, there are perfectly good GPs and perfectly awful psychiatrists, and of course vice versa. Unless you are taking prednisone (unlikely as it's an anti-inflammatory, NOT an antidepressant), you are not going to blow up like a balloon.

Depression can change your eating habits in the form of conscious and unconscious coping mechanisms - from psychological "comfort or anxiety eating" to *extremely* high carb consumption as an unconscious attempt at self-medication (carbs raise serotonin - not surprising then, to have those cravings!). However, neither depression nor antidepressants dramatically change your metabolism so that calories don't matter.

Do your logging. Find out where your calorie count is now (over say a week or so), and also, how do your macros (carb/fat/protein) look? If you use MFP on a smartphone, how does your piechart look?

That will give you a REASONABLE starting point for making doable changes, based on your patterns. What will give you the biggest improvement? Cutting out a daily soda? Eating 1 fruit or veg? It's a little different for everyone, but pick something easy that you'll be able to do, on say 8 out of your 10 worst depression days.

Go outside. Even if it seems like a silly, slow walk around the block - not challenging at all. Just do it. When you're depressed, getting outside is one of the best things you can do. And even if it's only 18 calories, you've done SOMETHING on the exercise front.

If you can do one small food thing, and go outside (even to breathe), then you will have been successful with two things, no matter how crappy the rest of the day is. And as you begin to see progress and feel better, you'll be able to make bigger changes.

It's easy when you're depressed, to beat yourself up for failing at one more thing. So don't set yourself up that way. Start by logging, use whatever prescription support you need right now, and take it from there.

You've GOT this! :flowerforyou:

Over 25% of people on antidepressants gain weight so you can't exactly tell OP she won't "blow up like a balloon."

Try spending more time outside and see if that helps. The sunshine and fresh air seems to really help. There are some good suggestions in this thread so maybe try a few and see what works for you. Good luck!