Weight gain and excessive sleepiness

Hi PaigeDP,

I can relate to the sleepiness/oversleeping. I can go weeks feeling really tired and sleep most of the day if allowed. Other times, I can go weeks barely able to get any sleep. I think this depends what is winning out, my anxiety or my depression.

As for the weight gain, I'm just wondering if you were prescribed any medication when you were diagnosed as some meds are known to have weight gain as a side effect. I gained 60lbs. while on Paxil and have managed to get back to a healthy weight since switching.

If medication isn't the issue, you may need to deal with what is making you anxious in order to control your eating. Keep a food diary to keep track of what and how much your eating. Also, note why you felt the need to eat (hunger, anxiety - if so, about what?); after a while you may notice a pattern or start to automatically think before eating and find something else to ease your anxiety (call a friend, yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, etc.)

I'm still working on my sleeping issues, but the food issue can definitely be overcome (I'm sure the sleep thing can too, I just don't know how yet:))

Best of luck!

Skatterprank

Hi PDP, yes exercise is an excellent idea for so many reasons! It is great for weight loss and increasing your metabolic rate...you will then get the double benefit of burning calories while exercising and at rest. It is also great treatment for anxiety and depression, and should help with your sleeping patterns as well.

If you can , try to do a combination of aerobic and strength training exercises. The aerobic is for cardio health and beating stress (among other benefits) and the strength training will add lean muscle mass, that will help you burn fat due to increased energy needs. You can actually eat a healthy/reasonable amount of food, while bulking up with lean muscle, and may avoid the need for strict dieting!

Don't worry too much if the numbers on the scale don't budge. As you replace muscle with fat, your BMI changes, but sometimes not your weiight at first. A better indication of success is your body fat percentage, which can be measured with a special scale (I found mine at CVS)

Now that the weather is improving, it should be easy to get out and walk at a brisk pace, 30 minutes at least, 3 or more times a week. As for the weights, if you don't belong to a gym don't worry-weight bearing exercises like push-ups and squats are great. You can also fill medium sized empty bottles with sand and make your own weights:)

Good luck, and set those fitness goals-you can do it!
Scaredy Cat