Did anyone ever manage to lose weight while on their med?

[aberdeen]

I'm doing weight watchers again. I was on it a year ago but when I stopped being able to eat (during poop out and w/d)and the weight was falling off anyway, I quit going. Now the weight has piled back on, and then some. I'm back on program but keep hearing people say they couldn't lose weight until they were off their meds. I too have so much trouble losing weight these past few years. It really sucks. Maybe as I taper it will get easier?

[LCrawford67]

I did WW while on Paxil and lost a whopping 5 pounds I didn't lose weight until w/d and then when I started tapering.

[maui]

When I was on Paxil it was difficult for me to lose weight, even with exercise. I would only lose .2 .3. I am on Celexa now I am losing 1lb average with ww. But I have gained 25lbs on Celexa. I am in poop out now, so hopefully some more weight will come off...

[aberdeen]

Yeah...I hear you guys. I sure hope it starts to move once I get lower into my taper. I want to get out and do things more now. My brain was in the way of wanting to get out and do stuff, like garden work...and now that I feel a bit better my a$$ is in the way!

[babs]

I lost 18 pounds on Weight Watchers while on Paxil, but it took me 8 months to do it. I still had weight to lose but I was so sick of dieting that I stopped. I thought that was something of an accomplishment since I never drank the water and barely exercised (short walks 3 times a week or so. I am fat again and have been thinking about going back on the program but man, food means so much to me these days I honestly don't know if I could do it. I just hate that feeling of deprivation.

Unfortunately, for me the most effective diet is depression! I lost my remaining Paxil weight in withdrawal, gained a bit back and lost that when I lost my job in 2009. But I think I might be so resilient now that even that diet wouldn't work.

[lepetitpapier]

I was able to lose about 10 lbs on Paxil. But it involved going low carb and aerobic spinning on a recumbant bike daily. As soon as that stopped, the weight came right back. I am not about 15 lbs heavier than the day I started the drug.

[nicole55]

I managed to lose about 10 with regular working out, pretty hard. But that was it. Couldn't lose anymore.

[aberdeen]

Oh thank God I asked.



Well all I can tell myself is weight watchers will help me stay under control and I am tapering so sooner or later something will change!

Is it our eating habits that change or our metabolism with these meds? Anyone know?

[aberdeen]

Originally Posted by babs

I lost 18 pounds on Weight Watchers while on Paxil, but it took me 8 months to do it. I still had weight to lose but I was so sick of dieting that I stopped. I thought that was something of an accomplishment since I never drank the water and barely exercised (short walks 3 times a week or so. I am fat again and have been thinking about going back on the program but man, food means so much to me these days I honestly don't know if I could do it. I just hate that feeling of deprivation.

Unfortunately, for me the most effective diet is depression! I lost my remaining Paxil weight in withdrawal, gained a bit back and lost that when I lost my job in 2009. But I think I might be so resilient now that even that diet wouldn't work.

I have a similar weight plan, it's the Anxiety Diet,lol

[nicole55]

Originally Posted by aberdeen

Is it our eating habits that change or our metabolism with these meds? Anyone know?

Well serotonin (which most of these ssri's affect)is supposed to be involved with mood, emotion, sleep and appetite. But they can't tell you how exactly
and there is also a whole lot of other brain chemicals involved too, which makes it even more confusing.

All I know is I def. ate more while on it. So I would eat and snack, even if I just ate a little while ago. Seemed like it turned some appetite thing on. It also made me super tired, and I would sleep and sleep and still feel sleepy. Could not get enough sleep ever. Eating more and sleeping all the time/no activity=weight gain for me.

Don't worry, it gets better when you get off.

[Aurelius]

I was able to maintain my weight, while on 10mg between 1999 and 2005. All I had to do was workout and tweek my diet.

But after my dosage increase to 20 and 30mg, I gained 30+ pounds between 2006 and 2011. For the very first time in my life, I was suddenly unable to lose weight. If I worked out really hard, watched my diet (which was excruciating while on Paxil, because of my cravings for sugar and junk food), and drank plenty of water, I could lose 5-7 pounds at the most, over the course of 4-6 weeks. But if I enjoyed myself over a single weekend, I would gain most of it back. Any weight loss beyond 10 lbs. was impossible, and became a huge mental barrier, unless I wanted to eat like a diabetic. Got to the point where I didn't want to work out or watch my eating habits anymore, because it seemed pointless.

Since getting off Paxil, the weight is now coming off. First time in years, I've seen this level of weight loss.

[aberdeen]

Originally Posted by Aurelius

I was able to maintain my weight, while on 10mg between 1999 and 2005. All I had to do was workout and tweek my diet.

But after my dosage increase to 20 and 30mg, I gained 30+ pounds between 2006 and 2011. For the very first time in my life, I was suddenly unable to lose weight. If I worked out really hard, watched my diet (which was excruciating while on Paxil, because of my cravings for sugar and junk food), and drank plenty of water, I could lose 5-7 pounds at the most, over the course of 4-6 weeks. But if I enjoyed myself over a single weekend, I would gain most of it back. Any weight loss beyond 10 lbs. was impossible, and became a huge mental barrier, unless I wanted to eat like a diabetic. Got to the point where I didn't want to work out or watch my eating habits anymore, because it seemed pointless.

Since getting off Paxil, the weight is now coming off. First time in years, I've seen this level of weight loss.

Thnaks Aurelius, there's hope! I'm going down to 15 mg soon, so hopefully that will at least alleviate some of the damage. Also I've only been on it since last June, so hopefully my metabolism remembers normal soon enough. My Dr was right about one thing, Effexor doesn't have NEARLY the weight side effects that paxil does. I never had it this bad on Effexor. I gained weight yes, but I also had aged and had two children. But what I'm seeing with my body right now, is NOTHING compared to that, this is crazy! I weigh more than I ever did at 9 months pregnant! I'm not massive or anything but I can surely see how easy it would be to let that happen, wow.

[Bilo76]

While on paxil i sported 20 hrs per week...i lost nothing. I cycled, bodybuilding (fitness) and played tennis every day. 3 hours per day i invested in sports since i love it (havent sported now in 9 months,..miss it a lot).

When i kept sporting and followed a good diet i lost 10 pounds. But got back when stopping the diet

[julieannboo]

Originally Posted by nicole55

All I know is I def. ate more while on it. So I would eat and snack, even if I just ate a little while ago. Seemed like it turned some appetite thing on. It also made me super tired, and I would sleep and sleep and still feel sleepy. Could not get enough sleep ever. Eating more and sleeping all the time/no activity=weight gain for me.

i am exactly the same!

my sleeping all the time has calmed down alot i just need to get the over eating under control.

[babs]

Aberdeen, I attribute a lot of my post-withdrawal weight gain to age and menopause. I think our metabolisms keep slowing down over time without LOTS of exercise. A younger person would likely be able to maintain their post-Paxil weight loss a lot longer.

[nickels]

Originally Posted by LCrawford67

I did WW while on Paxil and lost a whopping 5 pounds I didn't lose weight until w/d and then when I started tapering.

LOL me too! I did WW before my wedding and lost 5lbs. I was exercising and actually started with the south beach diet then moved onto WW and basically just maintained. It was so depressing.

Babs, for what its worth, I heard WW has a few plans now and its less of a diet feel. I'm not sure, even counting points feels like a diet to me.

Luckily I lost all the paxil weight at about 6 months off and kept it off, even post pregnancy. I have to admit, my IBS has been keeping what I eat in check so its a no brainer to avoid "bad" foods at this point.

The last two SSRIs I was on, I quickly, in a few weeks, lost about 15 pounds (7% of my body weight) around the time when I started taking them.

Probably because I started on doses too high--20mg/Prozac and 50mg/Zoloft--and I cold-turkeyed the SSRIs I was on previously.

[SoCalStarter]

here's my experience, fwiw.

I've had roller coaster weight gain and loss for years.

Since I've been tapering, I've lost weight. It seem like, for me, I never get that feeling of being full. Like I think maybe the drugs suppress it, or maybe its just all in my head, I dunno.

I've lost around 30 pounds since march. I don't exercise, I just watch what I eat and try to keep it around 1150 calories per day. Lately I've been doing a lot of outside physical labor and been more towards 1500/day, give or take.

I accept that it's a struggle for me and that all I have to do is look at a pizza and I'll gain the weight back.

I'd love to be one of those guys that stays at the same weight forever, but I ain't.

My hippy dippy suspicion is that processed gmo food is horrible for you, so I've been trying to eat really simply, somedays better than others.

Just my experience today, I'm sure it'll change tomorrow!

Good luck all.