6 Stones To Lose & It Won't Come Off

[Lisalisaandcultjam]

I am desperately unhappy and need some advice please.
I have around 6 stones to lose and despite my best efforts I'm not losing anything and this week I've put weight on.
I exercise 5 hours a week and have done for just over 2 months.
I haven't even lost inches so it's not that either.
Prior to this and ongoing I've been careful with food and resisted anything I shouldn't eat.
I am knowledgeable about what to eat and have perhaps porridge for breakfast, poached egg with half an avocado on seeded toast for lunch and grilled salmon with steamed veg for dinner.
I even completely cut alcohol a few weeks ago and still nothing.
I've had some cruel jibes from neighbours about how I look and when I tried to explain myself to one and that I was trying she basically laughed in my face. To outsiders it really must look like I don't care or try and I really do. I'm close to tears sitting here this morning.
I'm also on the antidepressant Mirtazapine and have been for a long time. I know one of it's side effects is weight gain hence how much weight I've put on in the past few years.
I'm also 45 (46 next week) and my cycles have started to change a bit so I know I'm in perimenopause too.
I am desperate and would love to hear what others have done.
I've tried various diets too. SW I put on 3.5 pounds in my first week then lost it again and nothing more for weeks after that. WW doesn't work either and Keto diets give me panic attacks.
Even to lose a couple of stones would be a start and then I could fit into something nice.
Thanks in advance 😊

[coffeeisforlife]

I really feel for you, I was on mirtazipine a few years ago and put on so much weight due to the intense carb cravings it gave me, I couldn't lose any weight until I was switched to a different medicine.
Also, it may seem tedious but weighing out my food to really keep track of calories/portion size has made a big difference to me and been quite eye opening as to how easy it is to go over calories even when eating healthy foods!

[Phthalo]

Same, I could have written that. I am in my second week of keto (pescatarian), and while I don’t hold out much hope for weight loss I do feel better and I’m not thinking about food as much so I think my body must be more satisfied.
I’ve never been under 13 stone, ever since I was 13 years old and first weighed myself. I lost weight for my wedding by doing zero carb, half a chicken breast and veg for lunch, a lunchtime and evening workout every single day. Didn’t weigh myself but I was smallest I’ve ever been at a size 14. That approach feels completely impossible these days for some reason.
Anyway. I have to work twice as hard as most other people it seems so I really sympathise with you.

[withgraceinmyheart]

So sad to read your post :(

I put a lot of weight on when I took Mirtazapine too, when I came off it I lost a lot without having to try very hard.

Maybe chat to your GP to see if there's an alternative you can try? Or I think they're allowed to prescribe metaformin alongside it to help with weight gain. I'm not sure if that's right but worth asking!

Mainly just wanted to let you know that you're not alone

[withgraceinmyheart]

If not then maybe low carb/no sugar is the way to go. Mirt causes weight gain by messing with your blood sugars and making it harder for your organs to use glucose. If you need to stay on it you probably need to keep your blood sugars balanced.

[Lisalisaandcultjam]

Coffeeisforlife, Phthalo and withgraceinmyheart, thanks so much for replying to me.
It means a lot that I'm not alone in this. I have reached the stage where I dread meal times and am a bit scared to eat. It's just no fun at all is it.
I've cut portion sizes and don't eat much in the way of bread or potatoes or rice.
I know it's not meant to be easy to lose weight but I see others having an easier time than this. I keep thinking surely I should be losing weight when I've got so much to lose. I was always the one at slimming clubs who did things by the letter and would see people necking wine and takeaways and still losing whereas I wasn't. It's become more urgent now as I'm terrified being overweight would put me at more risk if I got Covid-19.
It's interesting what you said about Metformin and that is something I think I'll ask the GP about. It may be worth a try.
In the past they've given me Alli and they made no difference at all and the side effects were choice!
In terms of other antidepressants, over the years I've tried many different ones and most of them didn't agree with me and actually made me worse. It was a psychiatrist who prescribed them for me and I remember the relief I felt when they kicked in. They did offer Pregabalin about 3 years ago but I was terrified to try them given their side effects and warnings.
I'll keep persevering and will speak to the Dr about the Metformin.
Thanks to you all again, it's really helped,x

[withgraceinmyheart]

Can totally understand not wanting to come off mirtazapine, they really helped me too apart from the weight gain. In some ways I wished I'd stayed on them!

Having your carb allowance earlier in the day might help, especially if you take it at night. I think it keeps your blood sugar high overnight, so a small jacket potato at lunch would be better than at dinner because you've got more time to burn it off.

That's just based on my experience of having GD while I was coming off mirtazapine, so I was able to see the effect it had on my blood sugars pretty easily. Might not be true for everyone.

Hope you find something that works for you.

[Lisalisaandcultjam]

Withgraceinmyheart, that's a good idea to have carbs earlier in the day.
I don't feel quite as bad today. I just got up and got on with my day and I'm not going to stand on the scales for a bit.
I have noticed many other positives from my efforts in that I feel much fitter than I did and that's not such a bad thing for my physical and mental health.

[SchrodingersImmigrant]

Firstly, you absolutely do NOT have to explain you are trying to lose weight to your neighbour! Just let her get on and ignore.

Are you properly counting calories or something? It really worked for me. AND food is fun! Make it fun. Look forward to your meal. Since I started changing lifestyle I LOVE food. I still have cheeses, curries, chocolate, fruits... Everything.

Get yourself some spices (save calories compared to sauces for things like stir-fries plus less sugar and are FUN) and have fun with it otherwise it will never last. I genuinely enjoy food so much more since I restricted calories (about 8 more stones to lose). Concentrate on quality rather than quantity. I am much more creative with it now. Pre cook and have some homemade microwave meals in a freezer for busy days or where you can't be bothered to cook.

Don't just think weightloss, think sustainable lifestyle.

I have noticed many other positives from my efforts in that I feel much fitter than I did and that's not such a bad thing for my physical and mental health.
This is the most important thing. You can feel the difference!

Remember:
In 2 months you will feel it, in 4 months you will see it, in 6 months you will hear it.

[Lisalisaandcultjam]

SchrodingersImmigrant, thankyou for your lovely reply. You're right, I shouldn't feel the need to explain myself to anyone or make excuses for who I am and I think I get frustrated when I decide next time I won't and when it happens I crumble.
What you said about 2, 4, 6 months making a difference, I genuinely think it will make a difference to my self esteem and how equiped I feel to deal with things like that.
I lost over 6 stones after my son was born but it was so much easier before I was 40 and not on these tablets. I remember how great I felt and how brave I felt day to day. I look forward to feeling that again.
Funnily enough you mentioning it, I've actually just bought some new cookbooks and plan to batch cook this weekend.
I tend to make beautiful meals for my family and just chuck something together for myself and I realised that I haven't been valuing myself in that way for a while.
I plan to make things we can all enjoy so that will be nice.
Today I also bought a dress in my current size to just wear which might cheer me up too. I basically live in gym gear, especially since I started exercising regularly.
So I think I'll get some makeup on and the new frock, just because.

[lesleyw1953]

Poor you - I really feel for you. Try getting some good scales and measure everything and make sure you are not going over your calories. Salmon is very high in calories and so is avocado. Invest in a band that tracks your steps and make sure you do your 10,000 steps a day. I am using recipes from "A Pinch of Nom" which gives calorie counts for each meal (though you do need to check them as some are not very accurate). And do speak with your GP about your meds. I have 4 stone to lose and it is hard going - and is obviously going to take a long time (So long in fact that I am trying to take each day one at a time and not think too much about how long this process is going to take) If it helps we could pm each other daily about our food/exercise diaries . wishing you all the best and good luck.

[SchrodingersImmigrant]

@Lisalisaandcultjam glad the 2/4/6 makes sense. Take care of yourself in general. Have good food, have fun and pamper yourself sometimes like with a nice body oil or similar. It all ties together.

gives calorie counts for each meal (though you do need to check them as some are not very accurate
Oh, god yes😂 It happened to me that veg code loged as bacon meat or smth. Instead of 50 cal it was 500.

@lesleyw1953 don't worry if it takes long. You didn't put it on in few months, it can't be permanently lost in few months. Good luck!

[Lisalisaandcultjam]

Thanks @SchrodingersImmigrant I will do, much appreciated.
@lesleyw1953 thanks to you too, I messaged you.

I've decided that if I still see nothing in the next few weeks I'm going to see about having blood tests to make sure my thyroid/hormones, etc are ok. I did have them checked about 6 years ago and they were all ok. The only issue I had at the time was low ferritin because I hadn't been eating red meat for a long time. I've since added it back into my diet in moderation so I'm assuming it's ok now but who knows.

[Musomama]

Yes I know now just how you feel I'm on mirtazepine too & as has been said it takes twice as much effort to lose weight. I think even 2 months is early days & sure if you stick with it you'll start seeing a result, seemed to take forever to start shifting any weight for me. What's worked is walking everywhere & being outside a lot & kind of dancing around the house with my child & being more energetic. Plus going low carb in the evening & special k for breakfast & ryvita for lunch. Maybe not the healthiest but it's helped. Yes i feel weird trying to go Keto too, shame as people seem to swear by it, is this a Mirtazepine thing?
Anyway I've lost weight twice now whilst being on it but it's so hard won really & you do think, why am I on this? Hope you are seeing some results & having some treats.

[Lisalisaandcultjam]

Thanks @Musomama it definitely sounds like a Mirtazapine thing. The thin is I too have successfully lost weight in the past even being on it. Although it was slow and I had to work for it like you say, this time it seems I'm putting all the effort in and getting nothing back. It's soul destroying but also worrying too.
I was on a forum last week and some rude person tried to say that I and the others who said they were the same as me were probably kidding ourselves and if we just just dieted and exercised then we'd definitely lose weight. It's really hurtful and clearly not something they've ever had to deal with.
I always remember going to slimming clubs and hearing people having necked wine and takeaways all weekend and losing and then I'd say I'd walked so many miles, tracked to the letter and lost nothing or half a pound and you can tell the leader doesn't really believe you.
Like you I don't have a lot of carbs anyway and I tend not to have many of an evening anyway. I also smiled when you said about dancing around, that's what I do all day. The kids now get a bit embarrassed though!x🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Michelleoftheresistance]

I hear you

I went onto keto for medical reasons, very quickly lost over a stone, and then stopped and nothing shifted a pound until I tried the Fast 800. Two weeks of that did get the scales moving again, and while it's very painfully slow I am now seeing the scales ticking down. I've extended to four weeks, and am going to go on taking it two weeks at a time while being very careful about balance and vitamins alongside, with the plan that when it gets too restrictive I will go back to keto and 1200 calories, but at the moment it's not proving too hard. And its such a relief to get weight down that it's worth it.