Depression and weight loss

I suffer from Depression/Anxiety and was kind of sucessful last year with a good amount of weight loss. When I was in that zone of sucessful weight loss I used exercise as a comfort and the knowledge that I was treating my body better and getting healthier and it actually helped so much with anxiety. I am 7 months or so off the wagon. And have gained a great deal back from old habits but once you can find that groove try not to lose it because unfortunately it is so easy to slip.

I am bi-polar and I have good news - exercise and proper nutrition definitely help with the depression symptoms but, when push comes to shove, you are going to have to learn to make positive choices regardless of how you feel.
I blog regularly and a lot of my blogs relate to stress/depression and fitness. You may want to read through a few of them for ideas if nothing else. www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/coryida

I'm there with you...I went to a therapist for the depression and am on an anti-depressant it is helping a lot!!! you might try seeing a therapist...if you do hopefully you will get someone who is really good and help with the depression. Good Luck

I also have similar issues and have been trying to moderate myself by becoming more aware of the calories in things so when I want to binge I can think of how much jogging/swimming etc would be required not to sabotage myself. Its inspired by CBT techniques. It might be handy to look at a book on this. It is however really really difficult. Getting a handle on comfort eating seems to actually make my depressive spells worse - a LOT worse. If you feel that the two are heavily linked, it might be a good idea to talk to a consellor or GP to decide which to tackle first and how.

There was a really very good BED support group thread about a couple of months ago...

I have a similar problem and when I am feeling really down and anxious I will binge. It's hard to remember that exercise MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER, way better than eating another candy bar. I don't know about you but I get super guilty and down on myself when I mess up my diet so it's just better for my mental health to eat well and exercise. Sure I will have cheat days, I just can't let it get to be a week you know? Good luck, i feel your pain.

I also live with depression and anxiety, and like others have said, exercise and good nutrition help, a lot. It's not good enough to just eat fewer calories, you have to fuel your body properly and choose foods that your body needs. Fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, healthy carbs. Remember that eating sugar leads to craving MORE sugar. Drink water.

You have to make the decision to stop comfort eating. Redirect your attention when you get the blues - instead of heading for the kitchen, step outside and take a walk. Do jumping jacks, push-ups - anything to get your mind off food. You have to change your habits and get your body used to doing something else. You have to believe that you can do this, and you will!

Everyone seems to go through some type of depression, self-pity, unstable, or low self confidence/esteem state. I started this journey 1 year 4 months ago and since that time I have lost 92 pounds and I still have those moments. In fact, today I got sent to the principle's office (i.e. my trainer's office) because over the last 2 months I was letting my mind control me and not me control my mind. I don't think that you can ever get rid of it but you learn to control it. The trick is to know two things: what your triggers are & what those little magical things are that will help pull you up by your boot straps and get you out of that funk. It is a constant battle of the mind and I have to continuously get out of my own thoughts and tell myself that I have proven to be stronger that any temporary thought that decides to pop into my mind. My mind has attempted to sabotage this journey time and time again but every time it does my spirit will beat it down. You really have to take control of your "stinkin thinkin" just like you do your food, your fitness, and your life in general. When you do, that is when the magic starts to happen. When I feel myself slipping into that state, I get all dolled up, get out of the house, and go strutting my stuff where ever I feel the urge to just do me. Good luck and take it one day, one moment, and one happy thought at a time. :-)

I have been depressed for years. Two years ago I had to close my business because of my health, My Mom lived with me the last seven years of her life and she had dementia ,I had become very over weight. I felt like every thing in my life was out of control. The more weight I gained the weaker and sicker I became. I was too weak to exercise and my joints and muscles were not working properly. I started seeing a Doctor. He told me to walk as much as I could to start building up some strength and told me to cut out sugars and starches. To eat lots of vegetables and lean meat and most important eat lots of protein. I am suppose to eat half my body weight in grams of protein each day. You have to eat lots of protein to have healthy muscles. I eat hemp hearts (has 10 grams of protein in a tablespoon ) every morning in oatmeal sweetened with stevia and that gives me 61 grams of protein to start my day. I started walking, getting stronger, and losing weight. Then the depression started getting better. Its been six months and I do have depressed days once in a while and want to comfort myself with food BUT not often. The more weight I lose the better I feel about myself , I have a feeling of self worth for the first time in years. You can do this. Each pound you lose makes you feel better and look better. Each pound you lose gives you back a little more control of your life and circumstances. I hope this has helped you some. Oh yes and MOVE. It don't have to be a exercise but move your body. Do not sit at TV or computer all day , dust furniture , walk around, my favorite is window shopping ( I usually don't have money to spend ) but move your body.

I have to chime in- me, too. I totally get it. I have had depression/anxiety for years! My husband died 3 years ago, I work 2 jobs, have 2 kids in college and stress, stress, stress. I am now having knee problems that is making exercising (and just about everything else) really hard. I just cam back from the dr. and cried when I saw the word obese on my diagnosis. Talk about adding to the depression! Anyway, what to do to help you? I agree with the suggestion of not having in the house. Then you really have to think about the binge before you partake. Walk outside as much as possible. Write in a journal. Reach out to a friend (just like you did today )- Great job! Look at all the great help people are offering you.

I suffer from depression/take anti-depresssants. That's how I gained weight in the first place. Then I decided that I'm not going to give in to the comfort food, no matter how bad I feel. Exercising and eating healthy really helps elevate my mood.

Yes, I do. I use CBT to help change my negative thoughts. I can't say that exercise has helped me.