Depression and weight gain are best friends...

indiecupcake89
indiecupcake89 Posts: 26 Member
in Motivation and Support
For me anyway. Overweight in high school and obese by the time undergrad years came. I had undiagnosed depression all those years. I went from 320 all the way down to 138lbs almost 2 years ago @ 5'9. Grad school was a blast and a half with all my symptoms gone a way. Then after I graduated in May '15 I started packing on lbs rapidly. My emotions and body freaked out and I haven't had the motivation to completely commit to stopping the binge monster. Every couple days I feel the need to binge because I need that overstuffed feeling to make me feel better. I have social anxiety which adds to my depression as I tend to want to isolate myself often. I am now 165lbs and I want to get down to 148lbs. I never stopped counting calories, and some of my binges are even on just healthy foods. I also get my exercise in by walking a lot everyday. I want to break this binge cycle and feel my best again. Any maintainers or past maintainers can relate?

Replies

  • AnnieFannie2016
    AnnieFannie2016 Posts: 18 Member
    I can most definitely relate. Grad school had me questioning myself and I would binge as well. Now, that I'm done I'm devoting this year to spending more time with my kids and trying to exercise. Yesterday, I turned 33 and didn't want to get out of bed. Reflecting on my life tends to help me. Count your blessings. Tiny victories are better than no victories.
  • drivennightrunner87
    drivennightrunner87 Posts: 302 Member
    I honestly feel that very, very few people at an obese bmi don't feel depressed.
  • leejoyce31
    leejoyce31 Posts: 794 Member
    indiecupcake89 wrote: »
    For me anyway. Overweight in high school and obese by the time undergrad years came. I had undiagnosed depression all those years. I went from 320 all the way down to 138lbs almost 2 years ago @ 5'9. Grad school was a blast and a half with all my symptoms gone a way. Then after I graduated in May '15 I started packing on lbs rapidly. My emotions and body freaked out and I haven't had the motivation to completely commit to stopping the binge monster. Every couple days I feel the need to binge because I need that overstuffed feeling to make me feel better. I have social anxiety which adds to my depression as I tend to want to isolate myself often. I am now 165lbs and I want to get down to 148lbs. I never stopped counting calories, and some of my binges are even on just healthy foods. I also get my exercise in by walking a lot everyday. I want to break this binge cycle and feel my best again. Any maintainers or past maintainers can relate?
    Have you considered counseling? You may want to get a handle on this before you are back at 320, which I am sure would be very depressing.

    Good luck on your journey.
  • Oh_Simple_Man
    Oh_Simple_Man Posts: 10 Member
    I know my depression and anxiety are worse the heavier I am.
  • AllOutof_Bubblegum
    AllOutof_Bubblegum Posts: 3,646 Member
    Have you been to your doctor and asked about antidepressants? Yes, some cause negative side effects in some people, but there are plenty out there for you and your dr to choose from. Prozac helped me immensely. I can say it completely turned my life around. Now I work out every day and the natural endorphins are enough to help me manage it on my own unmedicated, but I shudder to think where my life would be right now had I not chosen to seek intervention when I did.
  • edena001
    edena001 Posts: 137 Member
    I found that taking supplements helped me be motivated to do anything about my weight with my depression holding me down. They don't fix a thing but they just give you that push to take the first step again
  • mcarlton1987
    mcarlton1987 Posts: 1 Member
    A few years ago I went from weighing 225 to 149. At 149 lbs I looked almost too small. I guess it is just the way I carry my weight. Well over the last few months I have jumped back up to 185. I am beyond depressed. To be honest I'm crying now. My husband lost weight with me and went from over 300 lbs to 190. Now he right back to his starting weight. Guys I need motivation. I struggle bad with depression and this is just making it worse.
  • mdavis440
    mdavis440 Posts: 35 Member
    I struggle from depression and am on antidepressant. I gained over 60 lbs over 2 years due to binge eating and no motivation to work out - basically became s couch potatoes. I finally just decided that I'm done being this way and starting my new healthy life style November 1. I've been finding that eating 6 small meals every 2 1/2 hours , drinking lots of water especially before I eat and exercising every day for 30 minutes ( nothing crazy, been walking or aerobics videos) has increased my mood to happy and energetic. Plus that bloating feeling has gone away. I've also planned my meals ahead so I don't binge eat. I don't deprive myself, just make healthier options. I've just begun but feeling as great as I do now, I'm excited to see where this new lifestyle will take me.
  • dldrucker
    dldrucker Posts: 90 Member
    Been very depressed lately and having trouble sticking to diet, let alone exercising. I'm very unhappy with pretty much everything in my life, and it just seems impossible to get out of this hole. I'm 53, and I keep thinking, this is it, this is as good as it gets, so who cares what I look like. Middle age truly sucks.
  • manny1991
    manny1991 Posts: 204 Member
    After going from 225 at my highest to 141, I was doing great. I moved back home due to several family losses and quickly became depressed. I have always had a binge eating disorder and severe depression but avoided medication. After climbing back up to 200lbs, uncontrolled eating and suicidal thoughts drove me to get help. I have been on Prozac for just over a month now. I also take omega 3-6-9, vitamin D and vitamin B complex. I have found my depression is lifted, my energy and mood have improved tremendously, and I have had almost no compulsive eating. I am also down to 188 and I am still going strong. Honestly, if I didn't get help I would probably be well over 200 now.
  • Arizona_C
    Arizona_C Posts: 1,476 Member
    edited November 2016
    When I was depressed my weight was too high. I finally consulted, had it diagnosed and an adjusted medical treatment. It has done me much good and today I am well and back on my feet.

    If I can give you an advice it will be to go see a specialist and get a help. It doesn't only help you get to a weight that suits you, it helps getting out of the dark and sad world is when depressed.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,372 Member
    edited November 2016
    You're not alone and I don't really know what to tell you unfortunately! It's been tough for me lately too. I try to eat a bunch of veggies and fruit as I'm still less likely to binge when I feel stuffed from all the fiber.
  • krissy5686
    krissy5686 Posts: 51 Member
    Definitely not alone. I have struggled with depression for a long time. Had a really bad time of it after my daughter was born. I was on meds ( still am) but still couldn't even crack the surface. But as much as I didn't want to get up (even out of bed - let alone exercise), I started to. A little. And it's helped so much. Seeing even a little change helped everything start to feel a bit lighter. Now I notice a big difference if I skip my workout, or when I have a run on unhealthy eating.

    I do give myself off days and "cheat" days. Maybe what's helped me was realizing that if I eat something unhealthy, it doesn't mean the whole day/week/month is completely shot. I can get back up and stick with it. Trying to be a bit kinder and gentler with myself.

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