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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sid on March 18, 2002, at 18:57:04
Hello it's me again...
I'm in the back to-normal-mode still... trying to get my sh.. together, back to a somewhat normal life. In my way though: my weight! My God, what has depression done to me? My body likes it too; it doesn't want to lose the weight without a fight. I think I'll have to go on a real diet and exercise like there's no tomorrow in order to lose the extra pounds (50 of them!). Arghhh.
I'm glad to feel better, except when I walk in front of a mirror and I perceive reality better than before: Geez I'm fat! Who is that? I'm somewhere in there, I know it, but where? I'm just realizing how serious my weight problem has become over the years, and that if I want to pretend to be healthy, I must lose the 50 pounds. Plus, as you can imagine, I don't look my best; it's a bit embarrassing. I lost 7 pounds on Effexor XR in my first month, but I stayed the same since then. Not enough!
Anyway... just had to voice this. I'm seeing my doc this week and we'll be having the fat talk. Something has got to happen - a ditetician could help perhaps? If I was rich I'd go for a personal trainer, but back to reality! Some exercise class other than my yoga class I guess - like aerobics? Anyone in the same boat? The task is daunting, perhaps we could exchange tips, info, encouragements?
- sid
Posted by ST on March 18, 2002, at 20:01:36
In reply to Geez I'm fat !, posted by sid on March 18, 2002, at 18:57:04
Hi Sid,
We are in the same damn boat. The first month on Effexor, I lost about ten pounds...then about another 3 or 4. I am still 20 pounds overweight and it's driving me crazy. This past week, I went on a strike. No exercising, no dieting. The lovely way the weight kind of slipped off me when I began Effexor is now at a standstill. Does this mean, I have to work harder? F**K no! So this week, I inhaled a few cheeseburgers, McDonalds french fries, lots of chocolate (especially those mini Cadbury eggs with the candy shell and solid chocolate inside...mmmm), goat cheese, cheddar cheese, Brie cheese, pasta with loads of Ramano cheese. What's my problem? Before Celexa and the thirty pound weight gain debacle, I ate quite well and exercised. With Celexa I was always hungry and learned the joys of sitting like a beached whale in front of the tube with a bag of Cheetos and not exercising. So now that I have the help of Effexor, which doesn't make me hungry all day, I'm still stuck with these bad habits. I know HOW to lose weight and get in shape after being an exercise and healthy eating enthusiast for over ten years, but it's so daunting now.
So anyway, I would love to exchange tips and support with each other.
First of all, yes, you need to get some serious cardiovascular exercise in your schedule. Yoga is awesome, but for losing weight, we have to go for raising our heart rates for about 45 minutes at a time at least four times a week - 5 or 6 times if we really want to kick ass...Do you belong to a gym? An exercise class of some sort can be good to get you started because you have someone else pushing you for an hour. Then you'll be compelled on your own to ride the stationary bike or get on the treadmill for 45 minutes. Reading while on a machine or listening to music helps me get through the workout if I feel like not exercising. Your body gets used to a certain type of exercise, so mix it up a bit. If you like the stairmaster, do it three times a week, but do the bike and then the treadmill the other two days. Last month I was only going on the eliptical trainer machine and became addicted to it. A friend then asked me to "walk the steps" (these well known steps that never seem to end) and I did. I only went up an down twice and the next day, I couldn't move. So I realized I needed to add some sort of stair climbing to my routine once or twice a week.
When I was getting back in to exercising I tried to go easy on myself. I tried not to beat myself up for getting off the machines after 20 minutes instead of 45 or if I took a slow walk on the treadmill. I told myself: Just get to the gym and on a machine. Go for at least ten minutes. Then you can decide to stop or keep going. That was my goal. So even if I did poop out after ten minutes and go home, I still accomplished my goal. I showed up. I got on a machine. I stayed on it for ten minutes. Eventually there were more and more days I wanted to stay on longer.
The dietician thing might help...but it costs $$. The first thing to do is to keep a food journal. This is the number one thing I've always heard from dieticians and nutritionists that seems to really help and get things rolling. Eat like you normally do for a few days, but write EVERYTHING down along with the time you ate it. This will show you any patterns and times of day to watch out for. You'll also be surprised when you look at the food on paper what you've actually consumed. Once you start the healthy eating diet, continue to write down the food you eat. You'll notice that you'll be less likely to eat dessert or sneak a handful of Oreos if you know you must write it down. (Once you're on a maintenance diet and at a weight you want, of course you can ditch the food journal. By then, you'll know what your body needs to stay at that weight)
Also, don't starve yourself! Your body will simply start holding on to the fat you want to lose because it thinks you're starving it. Losing more than three or four pounds a week may put the weight back on. Also, I've heard (and noticed that it works!) to kind of "trick" your body every few days. If you are eating 1400 calories a day, after a while your body adjusts and needs only 1400 calories to keep you at that weight. So one day, eat 1800 calories and work out a little harder, the next eat 1200 and take the day off from exercising. Then get back to your routine of 1400 calories a day. And once a week, eat a meal of whatever you want. I had a dietician recommend this to me years ago and it was the best advice! It'll keep you from feeling deprived and it also keeps your body on its toes about how much to burn.
I hope this helps. It's just stuff that has worked for me and that I've seen work for others.
Good luck!!
Sarah
> Hello it's me again...
>
> I'm in the back to-normal-mode still... trying to get my sh.. together, back to a somewhat normal life. In my way though: my weight! My God, what has depression done to me? My body likes it too; it doesn't want to lose the weight without a fight. I think I'll have to go on a real diet and exercise like there's no tomorrow in order to lose the extra pounds (50 of them!). Arghhh.
>
> I'm glad to feel better, except when I walk in front of a mirror and I perceive reality better than before: Geez I'm fat! Who is that? I'm somewhere in there, I know it, but where? I'm just realizing how serious my weight problem has become over the years, and that if I want to pretend to be healthy, I must lose the 50 pounds. Plus, as you can imagine, I don't look my best; it's a bit embarrassing. I lost 7 pounds on Effexor XR in my first month, but I stayed the same since then. Not enough!
>
> Anyway... just had to voice this. I'm seeing my doc this week and we'll be having the fat talk. Something has got to happen - a ditetician could help perhaps? If I was rich I'd go for a personal trainer, but back to reality! Some exercise class other than my yoga class I guess - like aerobics? Anyone in the same boat? The task is daunting, perhaps we could exchange tips, info, encouragements?
>
> - sid
Posted by sid on March 18, 2002, at 22:58:30
In reply to Re: Geez I'm fat !, posted by ST on March 18, 2002, at 20:01:36
Wow, thanks Sarah! That's a lot of info!
My depression made me eat too much and I became a couch potato too. Now I'm not depressed anymore, but that habit is sooo hard to break. It's like if I miss an episode of whatever I'll regret it - when in fact I know TV shows are mostly crap. I'm more intelligent than this, but I'm stuck in a terrible pattern.
Well, I'll start figuring out what I can do for more exercise and better eating. I'm alone all the time, so it's easier to let myself go - less interesting to go swim, etc. I live in Canada now, and I'm not sure if I'd have to pay for a dietician or not... I'll talk to my doc about it anyhow.
Thanks again - let's keep in touch about this.
- sid
Posted by IsoM on March 18, 2002, at 23:46:37
In reply to Wow » ST, posted by sid on March 18, 2002, at 22:58:30
Sid, I've done that before. Slump in front of the TV cause I got started watching some shows & didn't want to miss them. Some are very good too, from the history channel, masterpiece theatre, etc but it all adds up into too much time wasted. I found that I'd tape them instead. It cut down on a lot of what I watched, the next day or week, it didn't seem so important to watch. And those that I do watch, I can fast-forward all the commercials & save more time. You'll soon break the pattern. Nicer weather's bound to come soon, enabling you to get outside more too.
I make a point of not buying certain fatty & unhealthy foods so if I crave them & want to start eating junk, there's none in the house. Then I'll be too lazy to leave the house just to buy it. My only thing I CAN'T do without is several cups of tea a day. Life wouldn't be worth living without tea.
Posted by ST on March 19, 2002, at 4:45:11
In reply to Re: Wow » sid, posted by IsoM on March 18, 2002, at 23:46:37
>>I make a point of not buying certain fatty & unhealthy foods so if I crave them & want to start eating junk, there's none in the house. Then I'll be too lazy to leave the house just to buy it. My only thing I CAN'T do without is several cups of tea a day. Life wouldn't be worth living without tea. >>
She's so right! Have your house/apt. stocked with only good healthy food including lots of healthy snack food. That's an important one! That way if you really want that ice cream, you've got to run to the store and you'll think twice about it.
And, true, weather is getting better, so taking walks outside will be good for you on a lot of levels.Maybe we all have an obsessive nature - some obsessive compulsive, but I can get obsessive about things. So I just get obsessive about eating well and exercising and it becomes like a challenge..see if you can make exercising and eating well your first priority every day.
ST
Posted by sid on March 19, 2002, at 9:10:32
In reply to Re: Wow, posted by ST on March 19, 2002, at 4:45:11
You both have good ideas, thanks.
I need to continue, not give up. I tend to relapse on my good intentions due to stress related to career/financial problems. Not a good thing to jump on food for comfort and be a lump in front of the TV. :-(
I have a Lisa Simpson personality but I behave like Homer too often. :-) TV-related simile, haha.
Well, ya'll have a good day now.- sid
Posted by ST on March 20, 2002, at 4:33:45
In reply to THANKS, posted by sid on March 19, 2002, at 9:10:32
Another tip: don't eat at least three hours before bed and brush your teeth after your last meal (floss, mouthwash, the whole 9 yards) and you'll be less likely to eat after dinner. I'm a late night eater and it is so hard for me since I stay up late.
Sarah
Posted by sid on March 20, 2002, at 7:59:50
In reply to Re: THANKS » sid, posted by ST on March 20, 2002, at 4:33:45
Yeah, I tend to eat in the evenings too. Some days that's where I ruin my diet. I am pretty good all day long, then the evening, usually in front of the TV ruins it all. I realize I need about 9 hours of sleep per night these days, so I think I'll go to bed earlier (9PM), that will help with the diet too.
I will keep you posted on my progress; ideas; difficulties, etc........- sid
Posted by ST on March 21, 2002, at 17:03:41
In reply to evenings » ST, posted by sid on March 20, 2002, at 7:59:50
Fat free Fudgesicles for chocolate cravings...
If I make a yummy cup of tea, sometimes it keeps me from eating at night.I went to a 45 minute "spinning class" the other night AND then hopped on the treadmill for 20 minutes. Then I ate a candy bar. Damn.
ST
Posted by ST on March 24, 2002, at 3:55:28
In reply to Re: evenings, posted by ST on March 21, 2002, at 17:03:41
HI Sid,
I hope you're doing well. I'm waffling back and forth: I'll have a great day of eating well and exercising. Then the next, I'm so tired that I eat whatever is handy and I don't go to the gym.
I was really doing well for awhile...at least I've been maintaining this weight and not gaining.
Take care,
Sarah
Posted by sid on March 31, 2002, at 23:17:33
In reply to How are you doing, Sid?, posted by ST on March 24, 2002, at 3:55:28
Hi Sarah,
I'm doing so-so diet and exercise-wise, but fine overall. I was away for anout 10 days, at my mother's house, so my diet was not great. We don't eat the same at all... I do grocery shopping for myself when I'm there, but she still cooks for me in the evenings especially, so... back to my healthier food tomorrow. She eats balanced meals, but too much prepared food for my taste. She never liked cooking much and at 74, she prefers to buy ready-to-eat food.
Exercise? I walked today, the weather was soooo nice. I want to go swimming starting this week, a few times per week. I was playing badminton once a week with some friends, but that' over now, and swimming should help with my back pain.
My weight is stable (at "way too fat"), but I can't wait to see it drop. I'll be going to the US this summer (I'm in Canada now), where I won't have a car, so that should be great: biking and walking a lot.
Otherwise, I'm doing OK, continuing the Effexor XR at 75mg per day. Still having days of great tiredness and others where I could move mountains. I prefer the latter of course.
Let me know how you're doing...- sid
Posted by anks on November 11, 2003, at 18:39:11
In reply to How are you doing, Sid?, posted by ST on March 24, 2002, at 3:55:28
> HI Sid,
>
> I hope you're doing well. I'm waffling back and forth: I'll have a great day of eating well and exercising. Then the next, I'm so tired that I eat whatever is handy and I don't go to the gym.
>
> I was really doing well for awhile...at least I've been maintaining this weight and not gaining.
>
> Take care,
> Sarah
I cruise along on a similar cycle and want out! How are you going now?
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