Depression, Medication, and Weight Loss

KettaNottdottir
KettaNottdottir Posts: 3
edited October 5 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi All!

I'm new here. I'm getting married in June, and am trying to slim down a little for the wedding. I was on the Nuvaring for 3 years and it made me gain a TON of weight! About 50 pounds. It also caused depression that I'm still recovering from.
I find it so difficult to find motivation in ANYTHING! Right now, I should be cleaning the house, but I find myself sitting on the computer (and I have to leave for work in just 2 short hours!). I look in the mirror, and instead of seeing a fat person, and I want to change it so it makes me motivated, seeing a fat person just makes me depressed with a sense of hopelessness.
Does anyone else have a problem finding motivation? How do you motivate yourself?

Replies

  • MusicKeepsMeSane
    MusicKeepsMeSane Posts: 309
    Well first congratulations on getting married next year! Recovering from depression isn't an easy thing. I'm currently on zoloft to help with my depression. I sometimes find it hard to motivate myself to get up and exercise. But I've found out that once I've started working out, my depression has gone away more. When you look in the mirror, find something that you like about what you see instead of looking and what you don't like. When I have trouble finding motivation I turn to my friends and those on MFP and they help me remember what my goal is! Good luck!
  • sarah307
    sarah307 Posts: 1,363 Member
    congrats on the engagement!

    I also struggle w/ depression stuff and I know what you mean! it's really hard to workout when you don't even want to get out of bed! what i have been doing is thinking of exercise as my natural mood booster :) which it is - hello, natural endorphins!! but i just tell myself that i'll just do a 10 minute walk... and if i stop after that, then that's okay.. i did 10 minutes.. but usually i find myself feeling better and wanting to do more :)
  • ericalaneharris
    ericalaneharris Posts: 3 Member
    I am also depressed, and on zoloft, and I find it very hard to be motivated sometimes. But it is true that once you start exercising your depression decreases because of the release of extra seratonin. You will feel so much better if you just make yourself do it. Sometimes, when I can't find the motivation, I just tell myself to just put the clothes on and then see how I feel. Once I have my workout clothes on, then it is just silly if I don't work out. Hope this little trick helps. MFP helps a lot too.
  • mwilke
    mwilke Posts: 378 Member
    Congrats on the upcoming marriage! Like wannabeskinny said, it is difficult to motivate yourself to get up and move when you are depressed. However, once you do (even if it is just for a short walk) you will feel better, and maybe even motivated to do more. I also like how wannabeskinnny said "find something you like about what you see instead of looking for what you don't like". That is great advice. Also, as hokey as it sounds, look yourself in the mirror, compliment yourself, and tell yourself that you are worth it.
  • JediMaster_intraining
    JediMaster_intraining Posts: 903 Member
    I was on zoloft and xanax for depression/ anxiety last year. Worst times of my life...I remember just wanting to cry all day and roll up in my bed and die. I gained about 10 pounds just from eating and feeling hopeless. I also had to go to counseling for help. One day I just looked in the mirror and decided that I no longer wanted to waste my life away. I started exercising, went on a detox, and lost 6 pounds in a week. I told my doctor I was getting off the medication (he didn't approve but screw him!) and though the withdrawals sucked more than I could imagine I did it! I've almost lost 15 pounds now and feel great! I have my days but I get through them by talking to my best friend.

    You can get through anything and though you may not be able to get off your medication, you can do this! Say one positive thing everyday to yourself in the morning. My counselor gave me some advice. He said "if you think you can do it, you are right. But if you think you can't...you are also right" meaning that you HAVE to believe and change your thinking! I wish you all the luck with your weight loss! I hope this helps a little. I don't know you or your situation but I REALLY think you can do whatever you want! Don't give up!
  • CathiAnne
    CathiAnne Posts: 193 Member
    First of all, you did the right thing by coming to MFP. This is a great place to receive encouragement and to give encouragement. I find that when I give encouragement that motivates me. We have a hard time practicing what we preach. I experience what you do, putzing around on the computer when there is so much around me to do. There are all sorts of organizational tools - that don't work for me. I just have to tell myself to STOP and get up and do something productive. I am trying to de-junk my house and when I can take at least one trash bag of junk to the trash each week, I feel motivated to go back and do more. When I see a successful day of eating and exercise, I am motivated to go back and do more. You just go do it. You can. You have a lot of motivation in that you are getting married next year. Keep that as your focus and keep moving towards that. We have to take the necessary steps to be successful and you and I need to shut down the computer and go take those steps! It can be done and I know you can do it.
  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    congrats on the engagement!

    I also struggle w/ depression stuff and I know what you mean! it's really hard to workout when you don't even want to get out of bed! what i have been doing is thinking of exercise as my natural mood booster :) which it is - hello, natural endorphins!! but i just tell myself that i'll just do a 10 minute walk... and if i stop after that, then that's okay.. i did 10 minutes.. but usually i find myself feeling better and wanting to do more :)

    This, oh so this!
    Baby steps all the way.
    Starting was my biggest hurdle.
    My co-worker mocked my 10 min. lunch-time work outs. (she didn't do any at all)
    Hardly even seems worth getting undressed and redressed.

    I found once I got going I always exceeded my goal, then gently nudged my goals higher and higher.
    Before long I was getting complaints that I was going over my lunch hour.
  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    You always hear of all the things that you shouldn't eat.

    When I started I tried to FOCUS OF FOODS THAT WERE GOOD for me instead on what I shouldn't have.
    I made a list of food i loved everything that fell on the Healthy side are my go to foods. Turns out I really like a lot of food that are really healthy.

    Everything that fell on the more indulgent side are NOT forbidden, but saved for special treats.
    Since I don't eat as much crap as much of the time I really enjoy those treats much more.
  • KettaNottdottir
    KettaNottdottir Posts: 3
    Thank you for the encouragement, guys! I hope this road gets easier as time goes by!
    I did forget to mention that I am also involved in something called, Rapier. It's medieval fencing. I've been doing it for about a year now. My arms have gotten stronger, but the belly fat hasn't gone away, nor the asthma problems. But, I do REALLY look forward to my lessons once a week.
    Is it normal to have a major 'down' after coming off of the exercise endorphins? The next day after practice, I just feel so heavy and tired. And it's not the kind of tired from working too hard and pushing your muscles (I remember that feeling all too well when I first started fencing!). It's a depressing, heavy, blah feeling. Is that normal?
    All the best to everyone in reaching your goals!
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