A few of you may have picked up on the fact that my weight has been a major struggle to me recently--particularly in the last few months. I feel like I have tried everything to no avail. I hit a major low point on Sunday. I should have been feeling great--I had just done well in my tri the day before (I placed 7th in my category!) Yet as I was getting ready for church, I couldn't fit into clothes that fit me just a few months ago. I was devastated.
Tonight as I was running along, contemplating life and my jiggling body, I had a total epiphany. A few months ago my doctor doubled my daily dose of anti-anxiety meds (yes, I am heavily medicated. I dare you to set a toenail into my life without some sort of medicinal help and see how you fare.) HELLO!!!! It all fits! That is why I keep gaining weight even while doing all that I do!! And why I live my life in a daily fog of complete and utter exhaustion!
I will be calling my PCP first thing in the morning to see if I can wean back to half of what I am on now. I don't dare go all the way off...maybe...or should I? I don't know! Fat and coping or skinny and emotionally unstable? Shouldn't it be the other way around?
I've actually been thinking for a while that your medications may have been one of the culprits in your struggle to get the weight off. Anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications are notorious for causing weight gain.
ReplyDeleteI would encourage you to see how you feel after being consistent with the clean eating for a few months and maybe you will find you could go a lot lower on your dose of meds or eventually wean off them completely.
I know you have an especially stressful life. I know what it's like to battle with those kinds of issues. Before I got married, I was on anti-depressants and thought that was the only way I was staying sane. While being pregnant and having kids I went off those medications and have never needed to go back on them. I strongly believe that my highly active and healthy lifestyle are the main contributors to my overall health, physical and mental. I believe you are stronger than you realize. You may be able to cope better than you think, and if you are at a more comfortable weight, your whole outlook would feel better, too. It might be worth "cleansing" your body of the meds. Obviously, everyone is different, so who knows. But taking into account all that you've tried so far, it's worth considering.
I don't know, Priscilla. I make light of the anxiety meds, but I have been having issues for years--all while eating well and working out regularly. I'm thinking it might be possible to go off them now that the kids are older, but I worry. I was having multiple severe panic attacks a day before I started the meds a few years ago. I hate feeling that way. It's not just a stress issue, it's a chemical imbalance. That is why I don't mind being open about it. I think it is important that people realize there is nothing wrong with treating your health problems, whatever they might be, with medication.
DeleteYou know, I know all medications have side effects, so it's totally reasonable to think that maybe your pills are the culprit! It's definitely worth talking to your doc to see if there's something you can't try!
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