Healthy Brain or Healthy Body?

[verhrzn]

My struggles with both weight loss and depression are pretty well-documented on this forum. I've struggled with both my entire life. In the last 8 months however, things took an interesting turn; the first five months I was feeling pretty good emotionally, but could not lose weight despite my very structured diet and exercise program. No matter how hard I tried, I stayed at 122, 123 pounds. (I am 5'1/2".)

 

A stressful event occurred a few months ago that set off my depression, but had the positive side effect was I lost weight. I was suddenly down to 110 pounds. I haven't been that skinny since before puberty. And that was with me dropping my diet and exercise program.

 

About a month ago, I finally got on anti-depressant medication (still can't afford therapy, but I can do medication at least.) The chemicals have now been in my system long enough that I'm beginning to feel the effects. I feel MUCH better emotionally... I can now "self soothe" when I feel anxious, something I had great difficulty doing before. I feel calmer and more emotionally stable than I have in years. It's been fantastic!

 

But... the physical side effects are also kicking in. I'm tired almost all the time (but that isn't so bad, I can push through that) but worse, I'm starting to gain weight again. It's been slowly creeping up, and I'm currently at 116 pounds.

 

I've gone back to my diet and exercise program, but yet again, it's not making a difference. Weight gain is a very probable side effect of my medication, so it might be that no amount of diet/exercise can necessarily combat that.

 

So here's my question.... is it better to be healthy mentally (no more depression!) or physically (I'm skinny!)?

[tman666]

I think a slightly softer looking, but mentally stable girl would be a FAR preferable partner than a skinny bat-**** crazy chick.

 

(Not saying you're crazy btw; hyperbole for effect)

[Weezy1973]

Being skinny does not necessarily mean being physically fit. I would keep on doing what you're doing; keep exercising every day, eating healthy and taking the meds. If you ever can afford therapy or find someone who uses a sliding scale, one day you might be able to stop taking the meds (or at least go on a lower dose). In the meantime, regular exercise and a healthy diet plus the meds should improve both your mental and physical health. If you gain weight, so be it. In our culture one's weight holds way to much, er, weight.

[threebyfate]

You might want to read this article from WebMD about antidepressants and weight gain, verhrzyn.

[Anela]

Mentally healthy, definitely. And as someone else said above, skinny does not automatically equal healthy.

 

I've been thinking about you; I'm glad that something is helping you.

[Els]

You need both - however, you never were and are not medically overweight. All other things being equal, a 110 lbs you is not any more healthy than a 123 lbs you. Most other things, especially your stress level and emotions, have more impact on your physical health than 13 lbs.

 

Depending on which anti-depressants you're on, there will almost certainly be some sort of side effects - sometimes they are negligible, but sometimes not so. Only you, with the help of your doctor, can decide whether the side effects are worth it. If your major concern is the weight gain, being 116 lbs and happy is far better than being 110 lbs and depressed. Never underestimate how much your mood can affect your functioning and quality of life. Honestly, V, your depression was so bad that you came on LS talking about suicide repeatedly. There is no use having the body of a model if you're dead.

 

Sometimes anti-depressants take a while to sync with your system, and after taking them for several months the side effects stabilize and lessen. That is why doctors usually advise you to take them for a while before deciding whether you want to continue, switch, or stop. A month isn't really all that long. Hang in there for a while, and if the weight gain spirals out of control instead of stabilizing, you could talk to your doc about switching to a different type.

 

FWIW, I fluctuate about 3-5 lbs each month depending on various factors such as the time of the month, so I wouldn't see a 6 lbs gain as a definite predictor of a trend.

[Identity]

I would not worry about gaining a few pounds if you feel a lot better yourself after taking these anti-depressants. Usually it takes a while for medication to kick in and there is the odd chance that one bit of medication is interfering with another bit of medication.

 

We tend to equate health with thinness. Thinness is not a good marker for physical health. I really doubt that taking these pills has destroyed the muscles in your limbs or that you are suddenly unable to ascend a flight of stairs.

 

The fatigue you experience is the bigger problem. If you are not doing the things you like to do because you are tired then that may negatively impact on your depression. In which case you might want to look into changing your medication.

 

It is also possible that this has nothing to do with the medication. That you lost weight because of the stress you were under. You may simply be returning to a healthy baseline for you. If that is around 115 or 120 pounds I would not worry too much.

[Anela]

 

It's possible to be both mentally healthy and have a healthy, athletic body (within reason). People who claim it's not possible are Meatheads, Nerds, and Christians. In other words, people who wish to be caricatures and have irrational for either the mind or the human body. Try to master all of you, not just 1 aspect (or 0, since its artifical).

 

Nobody said that it wasn't possible; she was asking what others would do in this situation. She says the medication is helping her to feel better, but that she's putting on weight - she isn't taking the pill to drop weight.

[seren]

I take a number of tablets for Lupus, RA and now Diabetes, all have weight gain as a side effect. I have taken anti depressants, those that are SSI selective help to balance mood chemicals, some of us have a deficiency and some people take them for reactive depression. I have been slim and in so much pain I became depressed, taking tablets, even at the risk of weight gain is preferable any day to illness or depression.

[verhrzn]

Well, I'm up to 118 pounds now, despite no changes in my diet or exercise routine. So looks like I'm really going to have to decide.... be skinny, or be mentally stable. What a bummer.

[Anela]

I bought chia seeds for my stomach issues, but I've heard that they can help to control weight.

[Ruby Slippers]

I think those pharmaceuticals are poison, for the most part. I'd ditch the pills and try other methods of managing depressive episodes.

[Identity]

Well, I'm up to 118 pounds now, despite no changes in my diet or exercise routine. So looks like I'm really going to have to decide.... be skinny, or be mentally stable. What a bummer.

 

I think you are worrying too much. What if 122 pounds is what you should weigh when you are healthy? Your body is then slowly returning to its ideal weight. If you keep gaining weight beyond 125 then there is cause for concern. It seems that you are very conscious of your weight and gaining a bit of weight can add to your depression.

 

How is the fatigue? Are you doing fewer things as a result of feeling tired?

[Chocolat]

I don't see this as either/or. Regular exercise, for instance, has been shown to improve both physcial fitness and mental fitness. It also helps with depression and, in some cases, is as effective as medication.

 

 

Find a physical activity you like and engage in it regularly. Eat foods that are good for you (low in sugar, as close to nature as possible). These are easy steps to take and they can only benefit your body and mind.

[verhrzn]

I don't see this as either/or. Regular exercise, for instance, has been shown to improve both physcial fitness and mental fitness. It also helps with depression and, in some cases, is as effective as medication.

 

Find a physical activity you like and engage in it regularly. Eat foods that are good for you (low in sugar, as close to nature as possible). These are easy steps to take and they can only benefit your body and mind.

 

Mild depression, perhaps. But not a chemical imbalance in the brain. This is proven by the fact that I was already exercising and eating decently, and still suffering from moderate to severe depression. So.... nope, not as effective.

[Chocolat]

Mild depression, perhaps. But not a chemical imbalance in the brain. This is proven by the fact that I was already exercising and eating decently, and still suffering from moderate to severe depression. So.... nope, not as effective.

 

Right. I specifically said "in some cases" exercise can be as effective as medicine. In other cases, exercise simply augments the benefits of medications, allowing people to reduce the amount they need.

 

Even if exercise did not affect the amount of medication you needed, eating right and exercising regularly can only help you. There is nothing controversial about this recommendation.

[Zed]

Barring the placebo effect, it’s good to read that you are following up on medication and that you can actually track an improvement. Since you appear to be following an exercise regiment, I would suggest that you continue taking your medication and monitor your moods and weight. If you continue to see compounded weight fluctuations, you would need to consult with your doctor. I am sure your doctor already cautioned you to do so due to the capricious nature of psychotropic medications.

 

And there are anti depressants such as Wellbutrin that do not significantly cause weight gain as an example. Anti Depressants work differently for each individual, so it is an art to finding the right balance that will modify the debilitating effects of depression while not causing significant side effects. In short, work closely with your Doctor if the weight gain or any other side effects become a problem. you are really great at advocating for yourself should it become a problem, but with such an insignficant weight fluctuation I would not stress out about it. instead enjoy the increased serotonin levels and ride the wave.

 

Good luck verhryzn

[GLDheart]

Muscle weighs more than fat. All that exercise could be doing it's thing in a positive way. The number on the scale means nothing.

 

I vote that you put a pic up so we can boost your ego.

[Leigh 87]

Your NOT SUPPOSED to be 110 lbs.

 

If you were, you would surely be able to get there through a low calorie diet, and execise.

The only way you can maintain 110 lbs is to starve yourself to 1000 calories or less per day, and work out for an hour or more 5 days a week. Otherwise, it looks like your body WANTS to weigh more.

 

Sorry, you have missed out ont he skinny gene. There are people with missing limbs who try to be positive and make the best out of what they have.

Come on, you really let not being thin get you down. You have the innder strength to be totally happy and content, with just being fit; eating right, and working out to have a nice body. Just not a thin or skinny body.

You continually post about how you wish to lose weight; yet your body refuses to. Because it is fighting to keep you at your natural weight!

 

Why don't you work accepting your natural weight and making the BEST out of it; be the best version of your natural weight, rather than being anxious and frustrated at your " normal" weight.

 

I am BMI 22 too, which is what you are at 122 lbs and about 5'1 inch tall..... And I look slim! I have a killer body according to MOSt men who come across me! Because I work out 5 days a week and eat healthily. But I am not skinny or even that thin anymore. I just LOOK slim and fit, for my own natural body type.

 

I know losing a few pounds is desirable! I am getting down to 125 or 120 lbs, because that is a really THIN version of my body, but it is very HARD to get there for me. I have to eat 1500 - 1900 cals a dar WITh an hour of exercise.

However, once I am at my thin weight, I can maintain it VERy easily. 200 cals with exercise, 1600 cals without.

If you can maintain 118lbs eating NORMALLY, without dieting, more power to you! But if you have to under eat and work out more than an hour a day to stay there, it is UNHEALTHY.

 

 

Please be carful, you souldl like a person who is not happy being anormal weigh, even if it is your natural weight, and it sounds like your not ready to accept your body for the way it is supposed to be. This makes me sad:(

[AlanFairfax]

Both matters. But in my personal opinion if I had to choose one, I would go for a healthy brain.

 

If you are psychological healthy, you can cope with physical problems but vice versa is almost very difficult.

[jamesclarde]

The fitness and health of a person depends mostly on the condition of the brain and then next to the entire body. The Meditation is the best practice of keeping these both healthy and fit. Taking an hour daily for meditation keeps us away from many problems and we will be stable and also healthy. Please produce some more attachment links regarding the various types of meditative practices and the different advantages of it.