Has anyone else noticed that concerns about weight gain while using anti-depressants are being mentioned a LOT on the boards lately?

A bunch of us are just getting back onto AD's yet again. For some who experienced a LOT of weight gain with AD's, and managed to lose some of the weight getting off them (only to sink back into depression ), it's a serious concern. There are others here who are newly getting on to anti-depressants, but are worried about this, too.

I'm wondering if we can give one another some support and advice for not eating everything in sight, and for resisting special treats (like those Margharita's that Erynnsmama has been mentioning, which are sounding more delicious by the minute)?

Our regular meals aren't as much the problem, I think, as the between-meal "splurges" we want.

Here are some alternates to high-calorie treats - can anyone add to the list?

To drink - big glass of flavored seltzer water - no calories! Or regular ice water with lemon or lime.
Wine "spritzer" if you must have alcohol (1/2 wine, 1/2 seltzer).
Diet drinks for those who love soda.
Cold-weather treat: warm broth, or tea, or coffee (no Iced Mochas from Starbucks ).
Lo-fat milk.

Snacks -
Small salad
Celery with lo-fat cream cheese, or with a thin spread of peanut butter
Veggie bits - baby carrots, peppers, broccoli spears, cukes, etc., maybe dipped into lo-fat ranch dressing
Piece of fruit
Nuts or Seeds - just a handful
1/4 c. dates, raisins, or figs
Whole grain crackers or bread
Pickle
Small piece of cheese
Hardboiled egg
1/2 bagel
Cup of brothy soup
Low-fat frozen yogurt (a cup or so, not the whole quart, LOL)
Regular low-fat yogurt
Few cups popcorn
Wheat pretzels

If we're out and about and HAVE to have the fast-foodish treat -
Small cone or dish of low-fat ice cream or better yet, frozen yogurt
McDonald's yogurt parfait - DELICIOUS, and only 110 or so calories!
One McD or BK hamburger, hold the fries
Low-fat double cappucino

Any other ideas? Please? I need them!


JJ

JJ,

I notice some things missing on your list...like chocolate ice cream, candy, potato chips, cookies! Oh, are those the things you are trying to get away from??? haha!!

Hmmm, I am certainly feeling challenged. I do fine during the day, I can eat normal meals....but at night I am like this ravenous beast that can't seem to get full! It is crazy! And it isn't healthy stuff I am wanting, it is the junk food. and when not on ADs I am not a huge junk eater. So I feel your pain, I share it!! I would offer you ideas if I had any!! I need some too! How do I stop the overwhelming desire to eat crap????

I gained way to much weight when I was AD's. How about popcorn with all the different seasonings that don't add many calories... fruit salads with little mandarin oranges, sliced bananas, cantaloupe and raisans all topped with cool whip and crushed walnuts.
Rhubarb cooked up with splenda and cool whip, fruit smoothies with cool whip... can you tell I love cool whip! lol
Good luck guys, I so understand.

Eat 5 to 6 smaller meals every day, instead of 3 big ones.
Eat protein at each one of these meals.
Drink lots of water.
Never go more than 2.5 to 3 hours without a meal.

Eating many smaller meals is better than eating 3 big ones. You never go more than a few hours without food, so you are never hungry, and you won't NEED to snack on junk. Eating protein at every meal keeps you fuller longer, because of the steady insulin response, you won't crave simple sugars or starchy carbs that pile on the bodyfat.

Remember, you need to eat fat to lose fat. Just make sure you eat a little HEALTHY fats at each meal, also. If your diet is too low in fats, your body will burn your muscle for fuel, and hold onto the fat you already have. Damn bodies are tricky that way!!

Thanks, all.

Jalyn, I'm glad for the reminder about Cool Whip. I have been known to stand at the fridge door, eating Cool Whip with a spoon, like ice cream. It's yummy!

Oh, Floater, we have the same night-time munchies! What is it about that time of day??? TV and food = heaven!

Great info, Armadillo. Believe me, I don't have any trouble "going 2.5 to 3 hours without a meal!" Your comment about having to eat some fat - I'm hearing that a LOT lately. So what are the good sources of fats?

I recently bought a Cuisinart corn-popper, and have been making it with just a tiny dollop of canola oil, and some salt. It's very good!

(((HUGS)))

JJ

Good fats are the naturally-occurring, traditional fats that haven't been damaged by high heat, refining, processing or other man-made tampering such as 'partial hydrogenation'. The best of these kinds of fats are found in fish, nuts, avocados, seeds and, believe it or not, fresh creamery butter and whole milk dairy products. These foods are also very high in calories, so don't go overboard and eat tons of them, just because they're healthy. A little goes a long way here.

Animal fats have a bad reputation, but many professionals believe it is not animal fat, but the combination of animal foods, fats and low-fibre vegetables that is the problem. Also, because of horrible factory farming methods, antibiotics and steroid use, fats from non-organically raised, non-free-range animals should probably be used with prudence. In Europe, grass fed animals are in good supply, because you smart folks don't factory farm. In the USA, grass fed animals are becoming more popular, but are only sold in specialty shops and on the internet. Look for a local source for healthy meat.

Among the worst of the 'bad' fats are margarine and the fats found in anything fried. And if you see 'partially hydrogenated' on any food label, avoid it like the plague!!. Refined vegetable oils are also on the 'bad' fats list. These oils oxidise easily and have been processed with high heat, which removes all the healthy nutrients, like Vitamin E. Extra virgin cold-pressed olive oil, however, is a 'good' fat.

I HATE to break it to you ladies, but have you read the list of ingredients on your Cool Whip? It's full of hydrogenated vegetable oil!
You are MUCH BETTER OFF eating some fresh homemade whipped cream! Really!

So you see, some sweet treats really are good for you!
Please stay away from the processed crap that is full of artificial ingredients and is making you fat.
Eat some good , natural dark chocolate.
How about a slice of fresh baked whole grain bread with some sweet, creamery butter?

If you learn to eat right, and get to know how your own, individual body responds to certain foods, (again, we are all different here, too!) you can eat like a queen with a gourmet chef, and keep the ugly fat off your body, too.

Armadillo,

Thanks for the great info, 'Dillo!!

Yes, warm whole-grain bread with butter sounds pretty darned good....

Love avocadoes, too.

It sounds like just by staying away from ANYTHING FRIED, we are doing ourselves a favor. No chips, that means! And don't anyone recommend Baked Lays - I CAN eat just one!!!! ( need a smiley face holding its nose!)

Dark chocolate is delicious, but gives me migraines, and upsets my bladder...


I had to grab lunch on the road today, and got a BK Tendergrill Chicken Sandwich, with ice water to drink. 510 calories, but delicious. No fries, no bacon or cheese added, no cookies for dessert (yes, the guy asked me about each of these things!).

JJ

Let's see.......for breakfast I really enjoy having eggwhite french toast. I just whip-up some eggwhites, dip whole wheat bread in it, fry it up in the frying pan (which I coat with fat free spray). Then I add some low-call syrup. Also, eggwhite omelettes with tomatos, spinach and cottage cheese is another favorite of mine.
For a snack during the summer, I mix some non-fat sourcream and brown sugar together and dip strawberries in it. I also dip veggies in some onion dip made with low-cal sour cream and onion soup mix.
For dinner, well, I'm stuck!

Thank you for all the excellent information Armadillo, I read it several times!

Hugs,
Karen

There is a lot of great information here, thanks. I too am on an AD. I feel I have weathered the worst of menopause now. At 51 I think I have crossed over to the brighter side. But, it wouldn't be the case without the bioidenticals I'm on. I am left with the aftermath though. I am out of condition and overweight. I believe heart issues developed as well.

BUT, I feel so great today. I am on the 3rd day of a vegetable and fruit JUICE fast. This is the type that as long as you supplement properly, you can stay on for quite a long time and still ave plenty of energy for your daily activities. The only people that may have some issues are those with severe hypoglycemia or diabetes or other illnesses that may require higher protein needs. There are veggie protein powders that you can add to your juice. Pea protein powder is available at health food stores. Also nutritional yeast in the bulk isle at whole foods has B12 and other missing nutrients from a veggie diet. Even though I am probably insulin resistant because of my awful diet the last year or so a low carb diet wasn't working. I tried all kinds of diets. I just couldn't lose any weight. It is so much harder now.

A juice fast is much easier to stick to than other diets, at least for me. There are so many good juice recipes. I make my own, juices from the store lack the healthy enzymes and unless you read labels carefully, you bring home what appears to be all juice but has sugar, flavorings, colorings, and other additives. I also make soups that I cook for a very long time till the brotheth is very flavorful, I season them heavily, and especially like salt (celtic sea salt), pepper, garlic, celery salt and hot stuff, like cayenne or chillies. I strain the veggies, leaving a touch of the pulp for texture. It is really good to have something hot to "eat" especially at dinner time. You are not supposed to, but I still drink coffeee in the morning and an occassional diet coke. I also take metamucil morning and evening. For supplements I take ascorbade which has many nutrients, particularly vitamin C and lysine per a heart disease reversal protocol. I also take Advanced Oral chelation, also a heart disease reversal nutrient complex that contains EDTA. I add vitamin D, Folic acid, Coq10 and no flush Niacin. But that is my nutrient protocol, everyone will add different things according to their needs.

I have been reading a juicing forum http://www.curezone.com/forums/f.asp?f=334

It has lots of good motivation and recipes as well as other links in some of the posts. My weight has already moved 4 lbs. in the 2 days behind me. I know it is mostly water weight but I haven't even been able to get rid of that by dieting lately, in fact my weight has continued to rise so I am ecstatic. I know I can stick to this. Many people do it for 2 weeks, or some for 30 days. Some lose about a lb. a day. It appears to be permanent weight loss as I read others experiences. Unless, of course you resume bad eating habits.

I hope some of you find that it is helpful for you too.

Personally, for me, I don't feel satisfied on ANY type of liquid diet, and here is why:

When I was younger, I broke my jaw, and it was wired shut for 6 weeks while the bones healed. I tried every type of supplemental liquid diet. Yuck! I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into solid food, once the metal came off! Besides, just surviving on liquid for that long made me feel a bit nauseous, and my stomach was still rumbling with hunger pains, no matter how much solution I put down there.

So, whenever I hear of any type of diet that is 100% liquid, I get bad flashbacks!!!

I just think that for me, any type of diet that I do temporarily, will drop some weight, be it calorie restriction, liquid, grapefruit diet, maple syrup diet..they all work. But how long can you live this way without feeling deprived? Once the weight is lost, most people just go back to their regular eating habits, and pile it right back on. It gives you a temporary quick fix, but how will your body respond in the long term? What will you have gained back in weight in a year, 5 years from now, 10 or 20 years from now?

Isn't it just healthier to eat a good balanced diet, with some treats on the weekends, and do this for the rest of your life?

Anyway, if I had to choose a liquid diet, it probably would be alcohol. Then I would be to drunk to care about my weight, anyway.

I can see how an experience like that would give you a permanent phobia of solids being taken away. How awful. How do you even get liquids thru wire? I would feel like I was suffocating, talk about panick.

In my case, it is because since menopause a regular balanced diet doesn't equal weight loss like it used to, and also because the extra weight has put a strain on my heart. As far as the permanence. You'd be surprised. Check out the posts on the link I sent. I also did a search on that site using juice fasting for weight loss and got many other testimonial posts. Really there is no diet that you can consider permanent. Situations and eating patterns change. So, if once a year or so you even the score and get to a proper weight, you are more likely to avoid obesity or even being overweight. The other advantage is that during this relative time of rest for your digestivr system, the body uses that time to detoxify. First the colon and then the rest of the body systems, liver, kidney, blood vessels, etc. You can help this along by adding detoxifying teas and herbs to your juicing program. You wind up not only thinner but healthier too.

But, there is ore than one way to skin a cat, as they say. And due to your previous experience, I doubt I would choose a juice fast if I were you either. One thing I would like to point out. You mentioned a liquid diet. This is different. You could easily gain weight if that were the only consideration. Shakes and the like are not part of a juice fast, though I'm sure they are a part of dealing with a broken jaw. You certainly would have needed additional protein to help in your healing.

When they wire your jaw, it's actually your teeth that the bands are on. These bands are exactly the same metal braces put on to straighten crooked teeth, except that both top and bottoms are fixed together so your jaw is aligned properly. You talk funny, try speaking with your teeth clenched together, it's rather amusing! But I could drink through a straw, and breathe fine, although brushing my teeth was a feat of engineering.

In any case, perhaps I am just critical of these types of diets because I have had problems with anorexia when I was younger, and still sometimes struggle with food to this day. Having an eating disorder wrecked my metabolism, until I learned about the science of nutrition and exercise. I have found what works for me, and has kept me healthy and moving, so I am also telling others what I do and how I do it.

I agree with you Armadillo. I lost 50 lbs. last year and have managed to keep it off because I am now eating a healthy diet, just as you describe above. Protein with every meal, 3 meals and 2 snacks a day, plus a little something for dessert (usually just a square of dark chocolate, which I love). I am amazed at how easy it has been to lose the weight, keep it off and continue to feel satisfied. I'm never hungry! And I don't feel deprived in the least.

If I get a craving for something more, I might have a root beer float or something (diet root beer and low fat ice cream!). I also drink a fare amount of red wine

I am actually now looking for opportunities to eat fruits and vegetables and other 'good for you' foods. I can easily eat two fruits for just for breakfast by having a small protein shake with 1/2 banana and blueberries (plus soy milk!) -- one of my favorites. I also have fruit for an afternoon snack virtually every day, along with a couple almonds. I eat a big salad for lunch with lots of veggies almost every day and for dinner I fill my plate half way with veggies and 1/4 protein and 1/4 whole grain or sweet potato.

This way of eating is not that hard and I think I will have no problem sticking to it for the duration. I have tried many "diets" over the years and many of them have worked, but I ended up going back to the way I ate before (not paying attention to meal sizes, fats and useless carbs) and gained the weight back. I think, ultimately, you have to decide to eat more healthfully and just not think of it as a 'diet.' That doesn't mean you can't splurge once in awhile, you absolutely should so you don't feel deprived -- but you have to keep a handle on it.

Oh, and I do work out about 5 days a week -- that certainly helps (in a lot of ways!). I generally walk for 1/2 an hour during my lunch hour each day and then I add 45 min to an hour at the gym (spinning, elliptical, jog).

I would suggest this approach to anyone who is looking to lose weight and keep it off. I don't know why I didn't realize how simple this was before ... I guess it's taken me 50 years to learn what to do!

Maple syrup diet??? Do tell!

Seriously though, I too can't do liquid fasts - just get much, much too shaky and sick-feeling. Having said this, I know people who've done GREAT on them, and it's really kick-started some serious weight loss.

Karen, your "egg-white" concoctions sound AWESOME. I generally don't think of using only the whites, and I adore eggs - now you've given me something to try.

Marjorie and Bestlife, congrats on your dedication to getting the weight off! You're inspirational..

What do people think about the "free calorie" thing, where some people claim that in eating certain fruits and veggies, it actually burns more calories to digest them, than they have?

JJ

It's called "thermic effect of eating" but it only works if you have a low bodyfat percentage and lots of lean muscle mass already. Otherwise, it's negligible.

Hi Everyone.......... Thought I'd chime in as well!! BestLife......congrats on the weight loss. Armadillo thanks for all the health advise, I was sharing with my husband what you said about "Cool Whip". Hmmmm....... he always ate it and thought he was doing good Sooooooooo much for that, I said you may as well enjoy & have the real thing!

I've tried mega diets & only found I starved myself & to then put it back on I decided to heck with diets, I'm going to get healthy & live at the same time. I got moving........... I do FAITHFULLY every single blinking day - 2 miles (I walk at a fast speed) & 3 days per week I do the "Rock & Roll" Stepper.......... reduce hips, thighs & most of all BUTT.

I've been doing protein shakes from a company that has a Weight Loss program & the rest is eating healthy......lots, lots of vegetables (think I was a rabbit) fruits & just plain eating heathly. When we go out, I eat & relax & not worry about it. Next day.......I'm back in the saddle & for the 1st time last week; I actually got on a scale.......I'm down 40 lbs. I knew I was loosing as I didn't have a thing that fit!! WOW, now that's a good problem. However, saying that it isn't about the #, its about getting healthy & the rest happened.

I feel great & for the 1st time in my life.......I think I'm on to something & yes it took me over 50 years to figure it out!!



Loganbil

Congrats loganbil!! Isn't it nice to have to buy new clothes!! (I was sick of all my old clothes anyway ) Just goes to show that the old fashioned -- eat healthy, watch your portion sizes and move your body -- will work to get the weight off and help you keep it off if you stick to it. And you should treat yourself one in awhile too!

Good luck to all in achieving your goals!

Wow, Loganbill!

That's awesome... good for you!

I could definitely kick up the exercise. It's funny, we got a dachshund last October, and I thought walking him would give me all this exercise. I have to walk slow so he can keep up, what with his little legs!

Have to consider how to get moving more.

(((HUGS)))

JJ

PS - Armadillo, have you thought about becoming a personal fitness instructor? You have just an extraordinary amount of understanding of all this stuff! Thanks for sharing!

I have thought about becoming a trainer, but the salary stinks, and I need to pay off my debt first. My current thoughts are to take the certification training for accreditation in the US, then specialize in training for women over 50. The baby boomers are a HUGE demographic, and there ar quite a few of them with lots of "disposable income" right here in Connecticut and the greater NY area.

So who knows? Ten years from now, you may see me on TV as the coach on "The Biggest Loser", for the over 50 crowd!

Sounds like this would be perfect for you! We get Shape magazine as well as a couple of other fitness-type mags at the doctor's office I work in, and I am noticing more and more of the articles (tho NOT the feature articles unfortuantely) are aimed at the 40+ crowd.