Losing weight gained by taking medication

[UndertheCedartree]

I'm so fed up with being obese! I've always been a normal weight until I had a mental breakdown and now take a lot of medication.

I was 7st when I went on the medication and now weigh more than double that!

The only way I seem to have been able to lose weight is by severely restricting calories but then I don't find that sustainable. I was given an appointment with a 'health coach' at my GPs. I've only seen her once but she said I'm not eating enough and too much sugar! I'm eating way more than the level that I can lose weight at and in terms of the sugar, I eat a dark chocolate/nut bar after I take my night medication as it helps the terrible sugar cravings I get after taking the meds. If I don't eat that, I'll likely eat more sugar!

I was just reading through the Feel great, lose weight book and it just makes me feel really down. He says low self esteem can affect your weight and you might need to seek help with this. I've been waiting for therapy on the NHS for 3 and a half years (only option) - it's not as easy as just seeking help! Then I went on to the sleep section. I take medication which sends me to sleep - my body is never going to have healthy sleep. It just feels everything is against me!

Anyone managed to lose weight when taking lots of medication that makes you gain weight?

I only managed to lose it when I came off the medication, sorry i know that's not hugely helpful. But I too went from slim to obese on medication. And it frustrated me that there seems to be a lack of recognition of this problem in the medical profession.

I honestly believe you shouldn't be put on these medications without a dietician alongside it to at least try and mitigate as much as possible.

I find psychiatrists try to down play the issue because they don't want you to refuse the medication because of weight gain. But I'm so miserable at this weight and so physically disabled by it.

'It's not the medication causing you to gain weight, it's because it's making you feel better and your appetite has increased and you're eating too much'.

Go on, please tell me you've heard that a hundred times like I have?!

I've gone from a size 12 to a 22 in the past few years.

Yeah, right! Why would we being eating too much if we were feeling better?!

And yes, it is the meds! They affect the hormone that makes you hungry (grehlin).

I sympathise. I've gone from an 8-18. So tough, isn't it?