Weight Loss & ADD

alliecg27
alliecg27 Posts: 11 Member
edited December 2024 in Motivation and Support
Hi All :)

I'm an adult with ADD (had it my whole life) and also happen to work with kids with various disabilities (including ADHD) in the schools. I know how much harder the symptoms can make weight loss and making healthy food choices.

So it just made me wonder, is there anyone else here with ADD that goes through similar things? Through my training and own experience I've learned so much that can be helpful to people experiencing the symptoms of it and thought others might be interested in sharing their experiences/ successes.

And of course, this is a struggle whether you have ADHD or not. Best of luck to everyone here at MFP!

Replies

  • luvs2teachincali
    luvs2teachincali Posts: 207 Member
    Good luck!
    I MIGHT be an adult with ADD, undiagnosed. I'm 35 and I don't think it was heard of back when I was a kid. I have the symptoms though. I am a HUGE procratinator and I often start projects and fail to finish them. Sigh. I can't get organized no matter how hard I try, no matter who helps me. It didn't used to bother me... but now that I'm 35 I am getting SICK AND TIRED of not being able to find anything and having my house in constant disarray. I have two kids. My son is 10 and my daughter is 5. Both on medication for ADHD. When DD was diagnosed her doctor was getting annoyed. She could NOT sit still. She kept running all over the office. He goes, "Oh my gosh, I can imagine what your house is like!" I said, "Oh this is nothing. It gets 'better'." LOL. I said, "I think she has it worse than my son!" The doctor gave me a look like OH YEAH. She was just diagnosed in like March and we haven't yet got her on the right medication and/or dose. It's such a pain. DS responded to the first medication right away and was good on it for about six months, then had to have an increase in dose, good for another few months.... When the doctor/teachers wanted an increase again he was like a zombie. NOT COOL!!!!! So we had to fight with the doctor to get him changed to a different brand. Once we did, things got better. He was okay for a few months at the lowest dose but is now on a double dose and has been all year. Doing well. Improved his grades from C's and D's to A's and B's... amazing what the right combination of medication can do!! Anyhow.... if you want a like-minded friend, I'm here, send me a request. :D
  • robinhardysmall
    robinhardysmall Posts: 246 Member
    I have had ADD for 20+ years and it makes it tough- I have to try and remember to pack certain things for breakfast and lunch. Packing a gym bag can get really fun in the mornings if the puppy dog walks in while packing - oh look cute puppy- and get to the gym with no socks...
    also-I think just staying busy doing something all of the time~ I like to eat all day long- I don't like to get bored with one project- and this is really starting to ramble uh?

    but yea- I think there is definitely a correlation :wink:
  • kateanne27
    kateanne27 Posts: 275 Member
    Are you talking about the medications making healthy choices? I have ADHD, ate crappy on the meds, that was one reason I am off them, I have it to degree that is so not the 'cool ADD' that everyone seems to assign themselves that they attribute their fun personalities too, the kind where you have to have special accommodations, classes, even schools even with meds just to get the same shot in school as your peers. It takes hard work to manage, and I get that it makes building habits intentionally a challenge, but really, how does it make weight loss difficult? Keeping my S*** together is a daily challenge, so I guess that includes weight loss? It doesnt affect your metabolism or anything. I deal with it the same as everything, find my own level of organized chaos and compensating strategies, and be on myself constantly to make sure I don't screw up, and give myself a break when I inevitably do.
  • alliecg27
    alliecg27 Posts: 11 Member
    Are you talking about the medications making healthy choices? I have ADHD, ate crappy on the meds, that was one reason I am off them, I have it to degree that is so not the 'cool ADD' that everyone seems to assign themselves that they attribute their fun personalities too, the kind where you have to have special accommodations, classes, even schools even with meds just to get the same shot in school as your peers. It takes hard work to manage, and I get that it makes building habits intentionally a challenge, but really, how does it make weight loss difficult? Keeping my S*** together is a daily challenge, so I guess that includes weight loss? It doesnt affect your metabolism or anything. I deal with it the same as everything, find my own level of organized chaos and compensating strategies, and be on myself constantly to make sure I don't screw up, and give myself a break when I inevitably do.

    Kateann27: I wasn't so much referring to the meds making things difficult, but rather the natural disorganization and impulsivity that we tend to experience. For example, I find that it takes me much longer and causes more frustration to plan a menu or even a meal than most other people. And i'm very prone to impulsively deciding that I no longer care about eating healthy foods with a baked potato sitting in front of me and then regretting it 30 mins later.

    I think you're right that for a while it was over-diagnosed, but when we get into adulthood and the symptoms are still there, it becomes more and more important to seek support and develop effective strategies.

    To you and everyone else that responded, thanks and I'm so glad to see that I'm definitely not alone in this. :)
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