Depression is making me fat

[Anonymous]

I'm with the PP's who suggested trying less intense exercise. I also struggle with depression and anxiety and have been on and off meds almost my entire life. When I feel really down about myself sometimes I get into the mentality of wanting to do something intense like orange theory or bootcamp (I've done both) but it always makes me feel worse. It just confirms for me that I'm inadequate and feels a bit like a punishment. Not sure if it's the same for you OP but I've definitely noticed it's not helpful for me. What does help is doing more manageable things. For example, I started one of those couch to 5K things a few times and I've liked it. Easy and low commitment with high flexibility. I just downloaded a 30 day plank challenge too. My abs are jelly but the first day is only holding it for 10 seconds. I was pleasantly surprised and felt like a champ for doing it. I still sometimes discount it - like oh that was easy and that's the only reason I could do it - but I try to talk back to the thoughts. You sound like a good person doing everything you can to take care of yourself so ignore the idiots and keep on trucking OP. You can do it!

[Anonymous]

OP, I do yoga and Zumba or another dance based class. It's more fun than the treadmill. 4:30 am wake ups would not work for me. I do it after work or right before at 7.

In addition make sure you are eating well, sleeping enough, etc.

[Anonymous]

Lose weight then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. I'm on meds.

2. I did a six week Bootcamp challenge and got up at 4:30 AM most days for the entire time to work out. I feel worse now.

Because you were getting up at 4:30!

Exercise is proven to help with depression. But not if you do something completely counterintuitive, like losing sleep for a workout you hate.

+1
Sleep deprivation is bad for depression. Forget about the boot camps, pick something you like and do it. A walk around the block, yoga, whatever, it doesn't matter. Find a way to move and move. Outdoors is best if you can swing it.

[Anonymous]

Maybe try different meds? Wellbutrine helped clear my mental fog and gave me the energy to workout. (Also reduced my depression induced overeating.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. I'm on meds.

2. I did a six week Bootcamp challenge and got up at 4:30 AM most days for the entire time to work out. I feel worse now.

I felt terrible when I was making myself do Orange Theory. Now I do yoga, walk, stretch and lift weights at home and it makes me feel much better.

What do the oranges make you do there?

[Anonymous]

Stop taking drugs. Start eating well. Stretch and exercise gently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe try different meds? Wellbutrine helped clear my mental fog and gave me the energy to workout. (Also reduced my depression induced overeating.)

I'm going to try to talk to the Dr soon if I can ever get an appointment.

[Anonymous]

Op, try having fish in your diet daily for a week.
Take a multivitamin for women/men, if you are not already!
Get some sun (like this weekend), go outside!
Go to the Rec center in your area and use their Sauna room for $7, well worth even if it is for just 10-15 minutes, start slow! Heat and Sweat, then being cold coming out makes you forget your depression, seriously! It works wonders.
Cut down on sugar, just a bit each day. Replace with some fresh fruits and vegetables (kale). Have some miso soup!

Please report back.

[Anonymous]

yes to therapy and discussing if there are better meds for you. yes to gentle exercise outside--especially if you can get into nature. Being around trees is helpful. So is sunlight. The DC area has great parks and walking trails--your library probably has a book with hikes in the area.

[Anonymous]

I am 46 and have struggled with clinical depression for 25 years. Gained 80 pounds on SSRI's in my 20's. Kept it on for 20 years.

It's a longer story, but I've lost 70 pounds this past year with intermittent fasting and lowering my carbs. During this year I've also done a lot of research on the effects of carbohydrate overconsumption and hyperinsulinemia on mental illnesses. Running the brain on ketones rather than glucose has shown really promising results as treatment for major depression. I resisted trying a keto diet for a long time this year because I am a huge carb addict and I was terrified. But when I was in ketosis for a day or two when fasting and eating lower carb, I felt SO much better. And when I'd reintroduce carbs, the change was dramatic: my energy was gone, headaches returned, I'd be bloated and inflamed, brain fog returned, moodiness and despair returned, aches and pains and sore joints returned. Wow.

So I finally took the plunge and committed to keto. I've been in full ketosis for 27 days now and I've literally never felt this good in 30 years, not even when Prozac was initially working like magic. I wish a doctor had asked me about my diet (so much sugar and carbs) when I first had suicidal depression. I was poisoning my brain every day and had no idea, and then they prescribed me something that initially made me feel better but just masked the problem and ultimately made me way sicker.

It's just a bonus that I've lost another 10 pounds this month eating this way. It's actually medicine for my brain. I hope you will consider researching it. I'd suggest starting with "Why We Get Fat" by Gary Taubes. Good luck. I know too well how hoaibful the downward spiral you are in is. But you can get out!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am 46 and have struggled with clinical depression for 25 years. Gained 80 pounds on SSRI's in my 20's. Kept it on for 20 years.

It's a longer story, but I've lost 70 pounds this past year with intermittent fasting and lowering my carbs. During this year I've also done a lot of research on the effects of carbohydrate overconsumption and hyperinsulinemia on mental illnesses. Running the brain on ketones rather than glucose has shown really promising results as treatment for major depression. I resisted trying a keto diet for a long time this year because I am a huge carb addict and I was terrified. But when I was in ketosis for a day or two when fasting and eating lower carb, I felt SO much better. And when I'd reintroduce carbs, the change was dramatic: my energy was gone, headaches returned, I'd be bloated and inflamed, brain fog returned, moodiness and despair returned, aches and pains and sore joints returned. Wow.

So I finally took the plunge and committed to keto. I've been in full ketosis for 27 days now and I've literally never felt this good in 30 years, not even when Prozac was initially working like magic. I wish a doctor had asked me about my diet (so much sugar and carbs) when I first had suicidal depression. I was poisoning my brain every day and had no idea, and then they prescribed me something that initially made me feel better but just masked the problem and ultimately made me way sicker.

It's just a bonus that I've lost another 10 pounds this month eating this way. It's actually medicine for my brain. I hope you will consider researching it. I'd suggest starting with "Why We Get Fat" by Gary Taubes. Good luck. I know too well how hoaibful the downward spiral you are in is. But you can get out!

Wow! Thanks for this. This is NP, but I relate to OP with the deperession + weight gain.

I'm also very resistant to go keto because 1) I don't eat meat (limited fish,eggs, and dairy) and 2) I survive on carbs because I'm not interested in cooking and eat out of boxes...

the other suggestions posted here have been also helpful.

Very happy for you!

Best of luck OP.

[Anonymous]

I have struggled with depression my whole life as well and can tell you that not eating sugar, and eating mostly veggies and fruits has really made me feel a lot better as well. Excercise really helps with my anxiety and mood as well. It doesn't have to be orange theory or anything too serious. Walking fast will do wonders as well. Just get your heart rate up.

[Anonymous]

OP, I second the people who told you to find an exercise you like. Some people thrive off the 4:30 intense classes and it fuels their day. For others it just wipes them out - everyone is different. Find something that you enjoy doing and it will make all the difference. Yes, you might burn less calories than doing a boot camp, but you'll get all the happy juices from working out so in the long run it's a better approach. I always think diet and exercise should be something that's sustainable. If it's not, you'll just end up reverting back to where you were before, which is so depressing (I know, I've done it). So find an exercise routine that you like and can stick with. I'm not advocating not seeing a doctor, because some chemical imbalances do require medication, but you also need to solve your workout problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am 46 and have struggled with clinical depression for 25 years. Gained 80 pounds on SSRI's in my 20's. Kept it on for 20 years.

It's a longer story, but I've lost 70 pounds this past year with intermittent fasting and lowering my carbs. During this year I've also done a lot of research on the effects of carbohydrate overconsumption and hyperinsulinemia on mental illnesses. Running the brain on ketones rather than glucose has shown really promising results as treatment for major depression. I resisted trying a keto diet for a long time this year because I am a huge carb addict and I was terrified. But when I was in ketosis for a day or two when fasting and eating lower carb, I felt SO much better. And when I'd reintroduce carbs, the change was dramatic: my energy was gone, headaches returned, I'd be bloated and inflamed, brain fog returned, moodiness and despair returned, aches and pains and sore joints returned. Wow.

So I finally took the plunge and committed to keto. I've been in full ketosis for 27 days now and I've literally never felt this good in 30 years, not even when Prozac was initially working like magic. I wish a doctor had asked me about my diet (so much sugar and carbs) when I first had suicidal depression. I was poisoning my brain every day and had no idea, and then they prescribed me something that initially made me feel better but just masked the problem and ultimately made me way sicker.

It's just a bonus that I've lost another 10 pounds this month eating this way. It's actually medicine for my brain. I hope you will consider researching it. I'd suggest starting with "Why We Get Fat" by Gary Taubes. Good luck. I know too well how hoaibful the downward spiral you are in is. But you can get out!

Wow! Thanks for this. This is NP, but I relate to OP with the deperession + weight gain.

I'm also very resistant to go keto because 1) I don't eat meat (limited fish,eggs, and dairy) and 2) I survive on carbs because I'm not interested in cooking and eat out of boxes...

the other suggestions posted here have been also helpful.

Very happy for you!

Best of luck OP.

Another NP with depression + weight gain saying thank you! I'm also not interested in cooking and eat out of boxes. Hmmm.