Is this normal? Or lack of self-control?

[RolytheHipppo]

Had a baby just over a year ago. Managed to get down to 10st 12lbs by last September (pre-baby was 10st 7lbs). Unfortunately had to start taking anti-depressants in November and since then have gone up to 11st 2lbs.

I cannot stop eating. I'm always hungry and having major carb/sugar cravings. Managed initially to maintain because I work out a fair bit. 3-4 30 minute strength training sessions per week and an hours walking every day.

Got quite badly ill in January and have had a 6 week complete break in training. Am now better and been trying to get back on the workout schedule but I am so weak. Lifting half of what I was and today I only managed 15 minutes before having to call it a day as I was really not enjoying it and had to come in and eat something. Tried to at least make it not unhealthy so had a slice of toast with almond butter and a 2 egg omelette with cheese and spring onion. This is after a bowl of porridge for breakfast.

I'm so miserable. I desperately want to lose a stone but I cannot stop eating. I'm ravenous all the time. Does this sound a lack of self-control or could something else be going on? I know that's probably wishful thinking!

It might be the anti-depressants.

It won't be helped by eating carbs/sugar. I try not to eat carbs (by that I mean things like cakes, biscuits, toast, pastry, pasta, white rice, cereal, crisps, crispbreads etc) because they give me that false hunger about 2 hours after a meal.

Could you eat healthy naturally low-calorie snacks like an apple instead of toast with nut butter?

I think it must be as I've never known hunger/appetite like it.

Have tried reducing carbs/eating in a calorie deficit. Literally cannot stick to it. I've got to at something filling, eating carrots or fruit just doesn't satiate me.

Speak to your GP.

The omelette would fill me and I'd not be hungry but I'm not on ADs.
Carbs don't fill me up. If I eat them, then my eating goes crazy.

Which ADs are you on?

I've never had a problem with carbs before, always eaten a very healthy diet.

I'm on sertraline. Think I'm going to speak to my GP on Monday, I've done some googling and sertraline does seem linked to increased hunger/weight gain in some people.

I've never had a problem with carbs before, always eaten a very healthy diet.
I eat a healthy diet but generally avoid carbs because of the blood sugar spikes they give.
It's not something I've made up.

You have 2 things going on - the increased hunger from the AD and the increased hunger from the food.

Do speak to your doctor @RolytheHipppo
Many ADs cause an increase in appetite. They can try you on a different one.

Are you bored?

Carb cravings indicate high or raised blood sugar. Did you have gestational diabetes? How old are you?
I was prediabetic and had constant carb cravings and my GP said its a symptom as its the starch that converts to sugar, so not just sugar cravings is a sign of diabetes/prediabetes/insulin resistance as people believe.