em_tsuj wrote:
I have gained a lot of weight on psych meds. I gained like 40 pounds when I took Abilify. I was only on it for like 2 months. I told the doctor to take me off it because of the side effects. I haven't been able to lose the weight either. My current psychiatrist said that the anti-depressant I'm on makes people gain weight. That might be the reason. Does anybody have any experience losing weight they gained from taking psych meds?
I do not have experience with weight gained on psych meds, but I do have experience with weight gain and loss. Losing weight is the hardest thing I've ever done, and one of the most rewarding.
Diets and supplements that promise easy weight loss are all scams. To lose weight you have to eat less than you burn, and your body desperately wants to keep that weight. Most diets fail because they are approached as temporary changes in your eating. Go on the diet, lose the weight, end of diet. Then you return to former habits and put the weight back on. You need to make permanent changes in lifestyle. Eat a balanced diet, not too many calories, and exercise. (If you are badly out of shape, consult a doctor before beginning exercise, and work up to it gradually.) You did not gain that weight overnight, you will not lose it overnight. Anything more than 2 pounds per week of weight loss is too much and is not healthy.
I found Weight watchers to be useful. They advocate a healthy balanced diet, and the meetings offer peer support and helpful hints. But you still have to do it yourself.
Michael Pollan's advice is good: Eat food, mostly plants, not too much.
Meds can affect your appetite and your metabolism, but once you are off the meds, I doubt that losing the weight is any more difficult than it is for anyone else. It just is very, very hard. But it's well worth it, to be able to do all the things that excessive weight prevents you from being able to do. My favorite thing in the world is hiking in the mountains. It is SOOOO much more fun when I am at a healthy weight.
Good luck.