Gone from a size 10 to a size 24 in 2 years. Feeling shit about myself

[NCbcosouting]

I have always been slim. At one point I was a size 4! I usually sit around a size 10-12 comfortably, weighing around 11 stone, very small on top, bigger on my bum and thighs. But since giving birth to my son 2 years ago I have ballooned up to a size 24, and weigh 21st, at the age of 27.

I think I have sleep apnea, get out of breath easily, find myself making snorting noises sometimes, breathe very heavily, I just feel shit.

I went up to a size 16 in pregnancy, and have gained 7 stone since becoming a mum. I’m not in denial. I don’t eat the best, but I don’t eat enough to warrant this much weight gain - I am still actively gaining every month no matter what I eat!

I have PCOS and had postpartum psychosis so have been on pregabalin, aripriprazole, lamotrogine, and lurasidone ever since. Would any of these medications make a difference? I know weight gain can be a side effect of all..

I’ve got to have gallbladder surgery on Thursday and I am worried about the anaesthetic and having sleep apnea, I’m worried that my weight will complicate things.

I guess I’m just posting for support, I really want to lose weight but every time I try I’m still gaining weight. I’ve had my thyroid checked and it’s fine.

Just feel so bloody crap and horrible about myself :(

Pregabalin is known to make you gain weight. It's a great drug but that's the pay off. Along with eating rubbish when we feel rubbish.

I've just discovered high protein low carbs and that's working for me and I've also signed up for saxenda pens which help as an appetite suppressant. I'm also on tier 3 nhs weight management which is a precursor to surgery.

Speak to your GP and ask what help and support is available.

your meds sound complicated and you should take medicaladvice about how to proceed/change them. Don’t do anything hasty.

2000-2500 cals is a lot

ideally 1500-1700 for weight loss. I would start there.

No processed foods, no sugar and water no squash or pop. Real food from scratch. High protein and plant based and smaller on the carb side.

loys of people like slimming world maybe try that?

breakfast
green smoothie-
kale, spinach, mango, ginger, fizzy water, but of OJ
obe boiled egg

lunch
Grilled chicken salad with lots of green leaves, sugar snaps, mange tout, radishes, toasted seeds, grated carrot with a lemon based dressing

dinner
chickpea and lentil Dahl curry. No rice. Served with with steamed green veg.

exercise 4 times a week
start with walking. Walk for 30 mins twice a day. Exercise classes on you tube if you don’t feel ready for the gym.

The leaflet that came with the meds will tell
you if weight gain is a side effect.

My DH went from a very skinny 6'7" and 10 stone to nearly 21 stone when he started antipsychotics as a teenager. He also had an uncontrollable appetite on the meds. It took 5 years, but he started to cook everything, ate no processed food at all and rode his bike everywhere, and it came off slowly and carefully and it hasn't been gained back in nearly a decade. I suggest going back to the psychiatrist and asking for a change in meds or a referral to nutritionist to help you make some changes.

My guess is the Lurasidone. Medications in that family are known for causing weight gain as they prevent your body from telling you it is full. I work in mental health and we see this all the time.

It’s the meds. I’m on steriods a large dose - hungry always and ballooned. At times I come off the steriods and my weight melts

see your gp

Really sorry to hear you’re going through this, I’ve put on 2 stone in the last year, since I started treatment for OCD. I’m mentally happier but not about my weight, and I’m starting to worry about long term health impacts. I suggest you speak to your GP and ask for help. Do you work? I was able to get therapy quicker by asking my employer for help, they paid for me to see a therapist as the NHS wait list where I am is 10 months!!
do you have family/friends who could support you? I have a group of friends who I regularly meet up for a walk once the kids are in bed, it’s good for the head space and is a gentle way to exercise.

Anti psychotics are renowned for weight gain, it will almost certainly be 90% the medication. There might not be a great deal you can do until you are ready to come off them, but worth having a chat with your mental health team.

aripripazole and any anti psychotic had massive weight gain as one of the biggest side effects. It gives you a ravenous appetite. Literally can eat a large pizza then be hungry for another 30 minutes later. My child is on an antipsychotic and has gone from a size 4-14 in 4 months. And we eat pretty well but it’s tough controlling the over eating.

Speak to your Dr to see if they can help adjust meds maybe?

I suspect this is the issue.

I had my TDEE calculated and for my age/size/height (which will obviously be different to yours) it's around 1700 calories a day, without adding exercise calories.

So even if I ate the recommended 2000 calories for a woman, I'd be gaining roughly 1lb every couple of weeks as a minimum. It's scary how easily it can happen.

As others have said, get your thyroid checked as it is common to have thyroid issues appear after pregnancy.

From what I understand, people with PCOS do better on a low carb, high protein diet. So cut out all white carbs and just have small portions of whole grain carbs. Fill your plate with loads of green veg, lean proteins (beans, lentils, tofu, eggs, chicken breast, lean pork), a small amount of wholegrain carbs (brown rice, oats, dark rye bread).

It's hard with a baby, but try to gradually increase your activity- a brisk walk, generally walking as much as you can rather than driving. The 7 minute workout is also really good- it's a short hiit workout that should build cardio fitness and muscles (and exercise helps decrease insulin resistance). You can stick with the 7 minutes until you feel comfortable with that and then you can repeat it two, three or four times. Once you are comfortable with that you can look at adding other exercises in. If you google 7 minute workout you'll find various ones- there is a free Johnson & Johnson app available that looks quite good (most of the apps try to get you to sign up to plans but this looks genuinely free).

Good luck!

My friend lost 6 stone on a very strict Keto diet. She had kept the weight off and stuck to the diet for 4 years. However, this year she had an op which went wrong has was given pregabalin for the nerve pain, it’s the only thing which helps however, despite her sticking religiously to Keto she has gained 2 stone in 6 weeks. Please don’t be hard on yourself, the combo of your PCSO and meds are not helping. Hopefully your gp can help.

My eating is different every day, sometimes I eat less sometimes more but calories wise I would say between 2,000-2,500?

That seems a lot and could account for weight gain depending on how active you are. Personally I need less than 1800 Kcals to maintain my weight (5'6", 9st) and would (and have on occasions) pile it on if I regularly had 2-2,500.

Plus I'm not sure meds cause weight gain per se; as a pp said they may increase appetite (which makes it easier to overeat) or lower metabolism (which can make you prone to putting weight on unless you decrease your energy input/massively increase your energy expenditure to mitigate those effects), but not actually create fat cells(?)

I've gone from size 14 two years ago to a size 20. Part of it for me is the progression of my RA limiting my mobility, so exercise is impossible (I used to run daily and walk everywhere). Also I suspect my meds (methotrexate and various painkillers, plus amitriptyline for another condition) have been a factor.

Nothing I've done in the past to lose weight is helping - I've stuck religiously to MFP for months and nothing has come off. If anything I've put more on.

I don't have any answers OP but I have lots of empathy/sympathy.

The steroids I often take for my RA absolutely cause me to pile on weight.

It's the meds, I put a stone a month on with similar and it took me 4 years after stopping them to get (nearly) back to normal.

Can you discuss with your psychiatrist?

aripiprizole is a bastard for weight gain, I put on two stone on it. I’d review medication with GP and maybe ask for referral to nutritionist or someone who can help you with a more balanced diet.

I’ve put on almost half a stone in the last month. Whilst I’ve definitely eaten too much, I have exercised loads and I honestly don’t feel that half a stone is at all a fair representation of what I’ve eaten. It is though, I’ve eaten too large portions and foods that are too high in fat and sugar.

Your weight gain would equate to half a stone a month too. It is unfortunately really easily done, but I appreciate that the medication may also be playing a part.

I second this. You might be able to dial back up n some of the medications now but you have to tell your team and gp that the issue is weight gain, and let them try and help you.

I might be wrong but surely medication just increases your appetite > making you eat more > your weight goes up? Or do they affect your metabolism slowing it right down?

If it's the former then surely calorie counting us the way forward to stop the weight gain?

Please chat to your Gp or mental health contact - I do think some of those medications can cause weight gain. Massive squishes and hope you get the help and support you need to get happy and healthy again. xx

I might be wrong but surely medication just increases your appetite

Yes, meds alone don't make you gain weight - it's the increase in appetite that goes along with taking some medications that causes you to gain weight.

If you eat 1200 calories a day no matter what medication you're on you are not going to gain weight.

A lot of denial on this thread I think.

@Buythebag40 I know what you mean, but I think this is a bit harsh to the OP.

She really has been through hell the last few years, still has a LO to look after and although seeking advice, surely some tact and useable advice wouldn't go amiss?!

@NCbcosouting I also have PCOS and had PP - there's a link I'm sure! - and I also have to do low carb/high protein and fat to have regular cycles and not be ridiculously bloated.

I would second having a medication review. I know everyone is different but that does seem a very complex array of strong medications to take a while after the pyschotic episode.

PCOS really does change everything!! So hard, big sympathy and solidarity for everything you've been through.

Also a lot of ignorance.

Steroids cause me to bloat, nothing to do with eating too much.

As I said upthread, I have used MFP religiously and still not lost weight. Overweight doesn't always mean overeating, but cheers for the judgement.

Apologies, it wasn't aimed at the OP - more just people saying "oh, such and such a medication makes you gain LOADS of weight almost overnight etc".

That isn't helpful to the Op either and I do sympathise massively. I've worked really hard (whilst on various meds) to lose 2 stone this year to take me from an overweight bmi to a healthy one - I realise that's not quite 10 stone but I've still had to make big lifestyle changes and I have to battle cravings every single day. Sat here right now desperately wanting chocolate and turning to MN instead! Il have an early night soon and read a book - but the point I'm making is it really is calories in v calories out - I understand it's made much harder by the increased appetite many meds cause.