My visit w/a dietician
I posted a while ago with frustration of gaining 30 lbs over the past year while being on Effexor XR 37.5mg. And even though this is a small dose, it helps me alot. However the pounds have piled on. So I went to see a dietician and she was very helpful. The one discouraging
thing is that she has tried to get information from the manufacturers of Paxil and Prozac to find out if these meds actually cause the body
to burn fat less efficiently or retain fat easier. No one will respond to her requests. She actually worked with a Professor who was on Paxil and supposedly followed her diet and exercise routine to a tee, and did not lose any weight (she did not gain any though either). So here I am thinking great, I am screwed. Her advice was 45-60 minutes of cardio every single day. Weight train 2-3 days a week. Cut out all excess fat. She said the trends of no carb/Atkins diet are scary and cause a lot of problems. People with depression and anxiety need carbs, more than the average joe. So anyway, she also said that fat=fat. There is no good fat vs. bad fat when it comes to weight gain. Sure the good fat does not clog arteries but it still adds up to pounds in excess. Here I was muching on almonds and string cheese thinking I was doing a good thing….fat,fat,fat… So I am trying to modify my diet, and work out every day. I had been doing 30 minutes of cardio 2-3 days a week and weight training 2 days a week. Obviously not doing a darn thing. I actually gained 2 pounds!!!!!!!!!! So yesterday I was on the elliptical for 50 minutes with my heartrate at about 170. I plan on doing this every single freakin day….I hate it. But I also hate my body right now. I went from size 4/6 to size 12. I just cant believe it. Going off my med is not an option for me, as it really keeps my anxiety in check. Oh well just thought I would share. I really hope I can lose weight and that my body is not stuck because I am on the medicine.
4 Responses to 'My visit w/a dietician'
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on July 25th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
One of the reasons your dietician did not hear back from the drug companies, is
that they have not done any testing in regards to weight gain on the meds.
Remember that these meds are only tested for about 6 weeks to pass the FDA rules
and regulations. Most testing that is done after the fact is to see how these
meds work for other illnesses. I have a couple suggestions that may help your
program. Fat, sodium, and sugar a big problems in diet. Most people who are
successful on fat loss are taking in less than 15 percent fat a day. Also zig
zagging your calories with three low calorie days then add one higher calorie
day (adding 600) cals keep the metabolism from stalling. I do Mon, Tues, Wed
low Thurs high, Fri, Sat low and Sunday high. My calories are currently at 1300
on the low days and 1900 on the high days and my protein/carb/fat ratios
fluctuate from 45/45/10 to 35/45/10 and sometimes 45/30/25 just to shake it up.
As for cardio, you will need to keep this changing as well. If your heart rate
is at 170 bpm that is super high (depending on your age) for a 50 minute
session. To burn fat you want to aim for about 70% of your maximum (approx
220-age) and go for 45 min to 60 min max. Then a couple times a week you want
to do high intensity interval training or HIIT which is basically wind sprints
for one minute intervals. Your heart rate should get up to 90% of your maximum
for no more than one minute then slow to 75% of maximum for a couple minutes.
The third source of cardio is working at a minimum of 30-40 minutes in your THRZ
which is 75-80% of maximum. I did not start seeing any losses until I hit 5
cardios a week. Also, you can take the one hour session and divide it into two
sessions and will get incredible results. If you continue weight training it
will help prevent your body from burning muscle during cardio. When we are over
fat our body naturally will burn primarily glucose and muscle and very little
fat for fuel. The only way to prevent this is by weight lifting to failure and
taking glutamine. If you compare women who get their body fat low who don’t
lift weights they look emaciated compared to women who lift weights regularly.
Now remember it takes many weeks for your metabolism to change before you start
seeing results. When you begin to burn fat out of the fat cell it immediately
is replaced with fluid. This does not show on the scale, and with lots of water
and clean diet, eventually that water is sloughed off. This takes a few weeks
and many people just give up before these changes happen. I have faith that you
will lose the fat, it will take perseverance, a strict diet, commitment to
regular exercise, and most important your attitude of belief in yourself.
Despite what the odds are anything is possible! Feel free to ask questions as
you move through the changes
on July 25th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
I am in one of my Migraine phases. I just can’t seem to shake it
again. I have been eatting regular meals and the right foods for the
migraines but I just can’t get rid of them. Some of the diets and
foods set them off but I have been watching that, maybe stress.
on July 25th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
My doctor gave me the prescription for losing weight - working out and eating
right. I hate working out - doing step classes, weight training - but you have
to find something you love to do. I take a kickboxing class with martial art
instructors. We actually punch and kick bags and I love it. I’m thinking of
taking up Karate because I love it so much. As for the eating, it is a
struggle, but you can do it.
I encourage you to go to web site www.hussman.org/fitness. He talks about
fitness “from the inside out”. Here’s why - I’ve been doing my kickboxing for a
couple of months, a little bit of weight training, and I’m eating pretty
decently. (An occasional m&m makes it to my mouth - but not a whole bag…) I
had my yearly physical Monday - and - drum roll - my blood pressure is 100 over
70 ! Wow. My pulse was 80 - but I think I was a little bit excited about the
morning. So, even though I haven’t lost any weight, I have significantly
improved my cardio vascular system. When I get my results for my other tests
(sugar, thyroid, chlolesterol) I’ll let you know. I’ve also lost a couple of
inches and I can see the muscle tone in my arms and legs.
So, I guess I’m trying to say, don’t give up. Don’t simply judge your results
by the scale. YOu are doing some wonderful things to your body even though you
may not see the outward results - it’s happening on the inside.
A tip - get a tape measure and take measurements of your body, write them down,
and then compare them a month later. I’m sure you’ll see changes.
Good luck with everything and keep in touch.
Sue
on July 25th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
I normally don’t post much because I am always doing homework or busy
working or doing things with my family and my boyfriend. But with this one
I feel life I should reply. I am in the same boat you are on. But I am
taking Lexapro. Now I lost weight in the start with this medicane. But now
I have gain the same weight you did. And I before I was on Lexapro I lost
the weight and I went down to 115 pounds and now that I am on it I went back
to were I was short 5 pounds. On top of that I am hyperglycemic. So I need
the crabs (healthy ones) and I take the Lexapro for the anxiety. I have
seen that the exercise hasn’t really changed my weight at all. So I am
taking some herbs to help speed my metabolism and to curb my hunger which
has helped. I wish I could just not have to take the med.