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I think I'm permanently fat... antidepressants!!!

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Posted 8/30/2006 9:26 PM (GMT 0)
OK,
I was on Prozac for 8 months, wasn't supposed to gain weight (or so I was told) but guess what - I gained 10 pounds. I went off Prozac 2 weeks ago and so far I've lost 2 pounds but I still feel like a humongous whale. Nothing fits. I'm really hating myself. I work out 2 times per day. Am I doomed to be fat forever? What really makes this worse is that I also have disordered eating patterns. Why oh why do those doctors prescribe a drug for an eating-disordered person that makes you fat? Don't they understand it makes things even worse for me???

Is there anyone out there who can help? I feel like I'm the only one in this situation.

Post Edited By Moderator (Victoria) : 8/31/2006 9:48:52 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/30/2006 10:50 PM (GMT 0)

hi- how much do you weigh? 10 pd is not that bad really and if you lost 2 of it already well that is ok...

i agree...docs who give out meds for body dsymorphia can make the feelings worse but they are trying tohelp you.... ask to be switchd to another med but beforewarned they all usually have some  kind of side effect....take it in stride if you can....look at in perspective

Posted 8/31/2006 1:24 PM (GMT 0)
Right now I'm 122. I was in the 115 range, plus or minus a pound. My eating habits and exercise habits were the same as they are now, yet my weight didn't change. Now, within the last couple of months it jumped. I'm serious, nothing fits and I feel like a whale. I know everyone can tell I've gained weight and it bugs me. I am seeing a therapist but obviously I need more work in that department.
Posted 8/31/2006 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
122 lbs?! Well goodness, that's not fat at all! How old and how tall are you? I'm 15 and about 5'5 (65") and I weigh about 130 lbs. Actually, the perfect weight for my age and height would be exactly 122 lbs. What a coincidence! :) Well, to get to the point, 122 lbs really isn't much, just because you gained a bit of weight doesn't mean you're fat. I bet you're the perfect size. My younger brother's been struggling with weight and he's only 9. He's about 4'8 or 9, and he weighs 132.5 lbs. That's really not that great! And I don't think it's muscle, might I add. Remember, it could be much worse, 122 lbs is nothing to worry about unless you're maybe an infant or something. :) Lol But if it really bugs you, just eat healthy and get a bit of exercise, don't let it bring you down!
Posted 8/31/2006 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I'm way older than you. I'm 36 although I'm told I look a good 10 years younger. I'm around 5' 6-1/2" or somewhere in there. I've been dealing with body image issues ever since I was 12 years old, in seventh grade. That's a long time to deal with it. I sure hope that you are happy with yourself at your young age because if you are, that's a great thing. It sucks to carry a burden like body image for so long!
Posted 8/31/2006 6:58 PM (GMT 0)
I was on prozac for two years and actually just came off of it. Turns out I should never have been on it in the first place. It's known to make people really anxious and that was my biggest problem-plus I tend to eat alot when I'm anxious/stressed. I know I put on about 10 pounds and then I went on birth control with added another 15. I'm 5'9 and I shot up to 225 which means I was already over weight to begin with. I can tell you that I started working out in February between 3-5 times a week (just doing the eliptical or treadmill for atleast 30 minutes) and started "controlling" the portions that I ate (I still ate the good stuff cuz I just can't live life with out the bread, meat, and cheese). I lost 25 pounds by May (there was more of a difference in the inches). Now that I've been off of Prozac, I find that I don't want to eat as much as I used to so that is helping too. Have you thought that maybe prozac isn't the best for you? I'm not a doctor, just wanted you to hear my story and maybe that would offer something for you. I honestly wish I could be in your shoes but I know that you're perspective is different because you know where you started at so me saying that doesn't really make a difference to you. Maybe atleast it might make you feel better knowing there's a 27 year old out there that weighed 100 pounds more than you! :)
Posted 8/31/2006 7:46 PM (GMT 0)
I sure do appreciate your insight. What burns me is that I was told that Prozac doesn't cause weight gain in most people. Honestly, what antidepressant doesn't? I was on Paxil before this and what a colossal mistake that was. That stuff was worse because I felt like I had a buzzing sensation in my head too and weird, really weird dreams.
I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder and to top if off, IBS (with anxiety and stress being the main cause for my constipation issues). The Prozac helped somewhat with that but not completely. I've found that my therapist is more help than any drug. That plus I got a dog a couple of months ago and he really helps to reduce my anxiety.
Posted 8/31/2006 8:10 PM (GMT 0)
What burns me is I never knew the "bad" things about Prozac (I should have taken it upon myself to find out). I asked my regular doctor to put me on something and that is what we ended up with because if was the cheapest. I finally did what I should have done two years ago and went to a pscychologist and a psychiatrist and that is where we found I was on the wrong medication. If it works for you though, more power to you! :) I don't want you to feel I'm trying to sway you away from it. I was on Paxil a couple of years ago and basically I felt like I was high on drugs 24 hours a day and someone who was recovering from an addiction just does not need to be on that!! My biggest problem was constantly feeling like my life was out of control and I couldn't sleep/couldn't get to work on time/snapped at everyone for everything/cried all the time. i was a complete MESS! My psychologist took me through a months worth of exercises/homework... She showed me that there are 8 categories of your life and they are basically like balloons filled with helium. If you put all your helium into one balloon then the others will not float. She showed me I was putting too much on one area and not focusing equally on all of them. I know it sounds weird but once I started putting my focus on two of them per week through the exercise my life started becoming my own again. Everything seemed to balance out. I still practice that even though I do not see her but I just thought that would be interesting for you to see. Dogs can definately help too and I'm glad you are doing things within your power to get you where you feel you need to be.
Posted 9/1/2006 4:08 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there Axelsmom 1,
I appreciate and understand your situation.Why not give a shot at Xenical(orlistat)?It helps to prevent absorption of upto 1/3 of the fat in the diet and YOU CAN REALLY LOSE WEIGHT.I can bear testimony ,because i used it for 2 months and i lost 30 pounds.Xenical comes in a strength of 120 mgs and has to be taken with the principal meals,twice a day.I suffer from type 2 diabetes and depression.Iam on Dothiepin,75 mgs once at night.Iam 46 today(wish me) and i weigh 180 pounds and iam 5' 9 inches.Am i not obese?; and suffer from an image problem like you!
Posted 9/1/2006 6:21 AM (GMT 0)

Spooky,  Big Happy B'Day to you.  Ahhhh, to be 46 again... and to know what I know now, lol.  Hope you have a great year.

Good news re: Xenical, congrats on weight loss! Are you aware of any contraindications with Glucophage or blood pressure meds?

:-)
Posted 9/1/2006 6:47 AM (GMT 0)
 Hey there

I totaoly know that putting on weight can make you feel miserable...I put on 10 kg in 2 months after going onto Cymbalta...and they say its supposed to cause weighjt loss! I was just hungry 24-7, I couldnt stop eating, and i felt so down that i didnt have the motivation to stop myself. Ive also had issues with bulimia so that didnt help the situation.

Putting on weight sucks, but the fact is medication makes you feel better (maybe one day theyll invent one that makes us look better too yeah )  Now that Im feeling better I have the motivation to control what I eat and exercize. Ive just started balroom dancing with a friend of mine...between us we have four left feet but its great fun and good exercize. Im slowly starting to lose the weight I put on tongue  couldnt be happier!

I find that when I try loose weight I realy cant because I obsess about food, but when I look after my emotions firs and just make sure Im okay, they weight comes off by itself.

I HOPE U FEEL BETTER SOON, THE WEIGHT LOSS WILL FOLLOW I POROMISE

 

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