Thread: My Big, Fat, Wake Up Call....

Okay girls, I just had a huge wake up call (you'll have to forgive the pun in a sec). I was sitting on my couch working on a cute gold and black stretch lace top to wear under a Turkish vest which in itself wasn't a bad thing. What was bad was what happened when I looked down whilst trying it on...I'd taken off the shirt I'd been wearing to do it then the awful moment: I didn't recognize my body!!! Literally, 'What the hell?' went through my mind and of course I had to poke the rolls a couple of times to verify that they were, in fact, mine. It could be the Dove chocolate, the red wine, or that lovely premenstrual week but WTF? Can a person's body change in such an incredibly short amount of time? I'm soooo not pregnant (took care of that this year, heh, heh, heh) but could it be my age (36)? Medications (Effexor, benicar)? It's not thyroid (had it checked) or hormones (normal). Anybody else going through something similar? Incidentally I have to nearly starve to lose any weight. Arrrgh! I'm considering a serious medical intervention, i.e. diet pills and possibly W.W.'s. Anybody else in the same boat? Should we start a support group?

Ok take a deep breath. It could be the meds (check with your doctor about side effects).

In the mean time, sign up at Calorie Counter, Diet Tracking, Food Journal, Nutrition Facts at The Daily Plate, and log in every.single.bite.you.eat. Im serious, use measuring cups if you have to. I bet you will be shocked (measure out the wine, Im telling you- dont eyeball anything, our ability to gague portion sizes is distorted).

You can also add in your fitness activities (bellydance is in the database...I usually add 45 min for an hour class due to talking time, music changing, etc).

Do this for a few days to see what your caloric intake is, and then you can make (small) changes accordingly...

I would blame the Effexor as drugs of that sort often have weight gain as a side effect. Maybe ask your doctor about it?

Good idea. I probably do eat more than I think...it's funny how often we can't remember what we ate for breakfast when we think about it at dinnertime. I've asked my doc about my meds but he says it's the one least likely to cause weight problems. All I know is that I've been the same 150-155 pounds for two years (two years ago I was almost 170--yikes!). Recently I lost a few pounds by eating almonds for snacks but I got sick of them!

Sometimes not eating enough makes your body horde fat. It is better to eat small amounts throughout the day. I am fighting "medical" fat. I gained 40 pounds in the last few years. I have three chronic medical conditions. I have fought for every pound I have lost. Another thing that helps me is right when I get home from getting groceries I measure the recommended servings into snack bags. That way I already have servings measured out for me. I just grab a bag and go to work. Good luck.

Snack bags...another great idea. I just created a profile on the daily plate website and already I feel better...being more aware of what I'm eating will help alot I'm sure. I'm going to revisit the medicine issue...it seems like since I've been taking it I have a much harder time losing weight. I have weight around my middle and my upper body now, which is so unusual for me. In the past I'd get bigger everywhere else, especially my lower body. Good luck with what you have going on....chronic things are so hard to fight.

Not to be overtly dramatic here; I just had a scary tour through the side effects and withdrawal symptoms of Effexor and Effexor XR. From what I've read so far (and experienced when missing a dose) is that it's tough getting off of this medication, even more than other depression medications. I've read that this medication can cause high blood pressure which seems to be true in my case since for the first time in my life I have high blood pressure that I take medication for. If anybody else out there is taking Effexor or the XR version or is thinking about it, please do some research. If I knew then what I knew now I wouldn't have started taking it in the first place.

I have never talked with anyone who is on Effexor that hasn't complained of weight gain! I know it is very helpful to some people but be careful with it; some of the side effects are scary.

As a Pharmacy Tech, I can tell you that those two meds can have that affect on you. Check with your doctor.

effexor is some scary sh*t. i've helped someone through the withdrawls. its quite serious and takes mental and physical fortitude. please cut down very slowly.

that stuff will make you blow up really fast and F up your metabolism so you can't lose weight until you get it out of your system.

i will refrain from the rant i wanna insert here. suffice to say, don't take it unless you will die without it.

Damn. This is going to be tricky, getting off this stuff. Why in the heck do they let us take medications that make us sick down the road? Just a teaser of fun symptoms I've experienced even with missing a dose...sensory disturbances (vision), vertigo/dizziness, hard to concentrate, headache, nausea, fatigue, 'electric shock' symptoms, disturbing nightmares; this is with one missed dose (last night's) that I remembered to take at four this morning after a nice bout with night sweats. You bet your bippy I'm going to be very cautious, doing this with my doc's guidance!

I'm really not trying to be a bummer or a drama queen...I just had a huge epiphany tonight and I needed some ladylike support. My husband is also very supportive and I'll have help with this situation. If anyone would like to pm me with their experiences I don't mind---if I can help someone else it's the least I could do. Thank you!

Sent you a PM. :)

(((Big Hugs)))

I know this has to be very frustrating and difficult to deal with. (I was on a steroid at one pt. because of an inflamation problem and blew up, so I feel your pain there...but with these depression related drugs, there's a whole range of other issues potentially involved. And sometimes its a matter of finding the one that you can tolerate the best.

Yes, please talk to your doctor, or even get a second opinion before you make any changes with this stuff. It's easy for people who don't know you/don't know your situation and medical history to say "stay on it" or "get off of it," but you want to be careful with this.

Also...you mentioned wine...I'm not very familiar with this particular drug, but if you're drinking wine on a fairly regular basis, I wonder if the alcohol (and/or the way it mixes with your meds) could be contributing disproportionately to your weight gain. Some drugs that diddle with your metabolism don't mix well with alcohol. I am on an anti-migraine drug that can have effects on metabolism (though more typically the other direction) and I've had to pretty much cut alcohol out of my diet because of the unreliable nature of it. It seems the deletreous effects catch me much faster when I'm on the drug, and I don't process it well. I tend to feel poufy and yucky the next day if I drink...like I ate a whole box of pasta or something.

I have to be really careful of alcohol...it effects motor coordination much more with depression meds on board. My husband and I will occasionally share a bottle of wine or I'll even have drinks with friends, again, moderation is a huge key. I feel much better today, mood wise as I had a great day at work and the sun is out here in Southern Oregon. I'm still bent on getting of my meds, or at least taking them down a few notches because I'm maxed out on the Effexor at this point. It makes me caffeine sensitive in a bad way as this medication makes peoples heart rate rise (and blood pressure). My withdrawal symptoms if I forget a dose are also worse than when I was on 150 mg, half of what I'm taking now.

Just a note about alcohol...it IS very dehydrating so if you drink a glass of water for each alcoholic drink you'll feel better the next day if you do choose to indulge--and this goes for anyone!

Just make sure with the depression medications-or any for that matter, that you talk to your doctor first before changing dosage/trying to get off. I just know from going through something similar with my father that these are serious drugs that are very helpful if respected/used properly. Please be careful! And good luck....

I'll be totally under my doc's care in this! I'm hoping that my memory will improve--once I'm off it. I have a tough time remembering choreographies and of course being down about weight can make it hard to be motivated to dance in front of a mirror at times. Having to cover my tummy does limit my costume choices alot though L Rose and other designers are finally making affordable alternatives to more traditional and expensive costumes. I'm working on some designs myself, especially since I just bought Belle's beautiful turquoise/pink/black bedlah. Dancing, and doing it well has become so important to me that I'm considering such a serious life change that may help me do it better.

Originally Posted by Uulady

I would blame the Effexor as drugs of that sort often have weight gain as a side effect. Maybe ask your doctor about it?

I can vouch for this. I went up 3 dress sizes in a year and still cant get the weight all off!!! Plus I have had a baby since as well. Plus it seems the older you get the harder you have to work to lose weight. I go through times where I cant bear to put on my costume and allow the whole world to see what nature has allowed to happen, but I find that no one really notices it anyways. This is why I have chosen Belly dance as well-it helps to be a bit curvy

Curves are definitely a plus in bellydance...though I would prefer less curves, heh, heh, heh. At least around my midsection and my arms. I've made peace with my considerable badunkadunk and matching thighs (besides, my hubby loves my soft skin there)...it's just that my 'good' body parts aren't so great any more! I called my doc today and he okayed dropping from 300 to 150 mg. I was told that I might experience some dizziness for a while, but I'm not holding my breath. From my experience there's more fun withdrawal effects than that but I digress....I hope I'll feel good for class on Monday.
Maybe I should take some photos of me in full bellydance regalia and post them...maybe they're not as bad as I think!

Effexor is one of the worst for weight gain. I don't know what your doc is talking about there. I'd get a 2nd opinion on that one. I took it a few years back after Sept 11th...and I swore off anti-depressants after about 6 months on them. I see a counselor regularly to work on the REAL problems instead of putting a band-aide on them with medication and not working out the core issues. I understand some people have medical conditions that require medication (bi-polar disorder, severe depression, panic attacks, etc.) and I was a psych major in college so I guess that's where my opinions on anti-d's come from. I think they are widely overused.

The snack packs is also a good idea. You eat one, and you're done. For me, I've taken off 3 lbs this week by eating light at night and more during the day. I have to stop the after 7 eating, period. Even having a drink (alcohol) or 2 does not seem to effect me like eating late does. A good friend of mine who is a former Marine recommended this -not eating so much late and more earlier - and she was right for me. (yep, she, and yeah, she's a bellydancer, too!)

And lastly, yes, age is a factor, at 39, I find it harder and harder for me to lose any weight, and to keep it off. So I do not recommend counting every calorie you put in your mouth. Make some minor changes, when you eat, how much, and maybe add 1/2 hour 3 times a week of aerobic activity, and you will see some changes I'll bet.

Overall... just love yourself. That's the most important thing.
Eve

Originally Posted by EveRabie

I see a counselor regularly to work on the REAL problems instead of putting a band-aide on them with medication and not working out the core issues.

You know what? For some of us "the REAL problems" and the "core issues" do require medication, and it's hard enough to reconcile ourselves to that without former psych majors, who should know better, dismissing meds as "band-aids." Medication and counseling are not mutually exclusive, and one is not inherently better than the other, and often (but not always) they work best in combination, in exactly the same way as do treatment modalities for other illnesses. Sometimes the meds alone are enough; sometimes it's the meds that give you back enough of your energy and your self and your life to get you to counseling in the first place.

It's great that you don't need meds -- yay for you. But if chemo alone were sufficient to treat your cancer, would you take a self-congratulatory tone about not needing radiation, too?

Hi, Doozer! I'm so sorry you're going through this. Been there, done that, had no fun at all. But the good thing is that it doesn't have to be permanent, and you're already starting to do something about it just by waking up and talking about it. This is a Good Thing and the start of more good things.

About those meds: I've never been on Efflexor, but I have had good results and no weight gain with a low dose (10 mg) of Lexapro. It's now available in a 5 mg tablet, and I think I would try that dosage first if I were to go on it again. I was afraid of developing "fuzzy brain" and memory problems as a side effect but did not notice any problems of that kind. A friend of mine who had bad side effects with Efflexor switched to Lexapro (over time and with supervision, of course) and found it much easier to tolerate, with fewer withdrawal symptoms when she went off it, so that might be something to talk to your doctor about.

And don't forget to keep dancing. ..g.: I've struggled with my weight forever, and depression has always compounded the problem because it takes so much extra energy just to get through the day. Exercise helps with both, especially if it's something with a "fun factor" that you don't have to force yourself to do. Getting back to regular bellydance classes after a long break, and in general just having dance as a creative outlet and a reason to get moving, has made a huge difference for me both physically and emotionally.

C'mon, post your pics if you get a chance -- bet you look much snazzier than you think you do!

Best wishes,
Suzana

Be wary of almonds. They are great (and good for you, but sparingly). 1/4 cup is 170 calories. This is a great snack to have after a workout (Ive read that you need a carb snack before a good workout and a protien snack after).

Loosing weight just sucks in general, without added medication complications. I feel for you!!!!

Originally Posted by Doozer

Curves are definitely a plus in bellydance...though I would prefer less curves, heh, heh, heh. At least around my midsection and my arms. I've made peace with my considerable badunkadunk and matching thighs (besides, my hubby loves my soft skin there)...it's just that my 'good' body parts aren't so great any more! I called my doc today and he okayed dropping from 300 to 150 mg. I was told that I might experience some dizziness for a while, but I'm not holding my breath. From my experience there's more fun withdrawal effects than that but I digress....I hope I'll feel good for class on Monday.
Maybe I should take some photos of me in full bellydance regalia and post them...maybe they're not as bad as I think!

I definetly experienced severe dizziness and nausea. But instead of dropping from 300 down to 150. I would recommend dropping down by 75mg first. So you ease your body out of it. Do it when you have someone around to look after and fuss over you a bit. Also, make sure you dont have any classes or gigs to do because you feel unwell for anywhere up to 2 weeks,f:: I have now been off effexor for 4 and a half years after being on it most of my college years. I had to go cold turkey when I found out I was pregnant-but at least feeling really awful for a while-theres light at the end of the tunnel I embarked on a low GI diet and seems to work ok. I am 12kg-approx 25 pounds lighter than I was after having my daughter. I am amazed to see how many other ladies have had the same experience with effexor that I have had-it is definetly one of the worst anti depressants and I am not planning on going back on it ever. Have you considered going on something a little less invasive like maybe Zoloft or Ciprimal???? Things will get better. Every time I am feeling chubby or ugly I put on one of my costumes and look at my self in the mirror-I know it sounds weird but it seems to always make me feel a bit better

Ugh. Day two on 150, down from 300 and I'm a mess this morning! My physical symptoms aren't that bad...I feel like my brain is soggy and my tummy is upset BUT the emotional effects are unbearable. I'm so emotional that I (and my husband) can't cope so I took a capsule so hopefully I'll get through the rest of the day (and be able to go to BD class tonight, yay!). I'm going to call the doc to get some 75 mg. capsules today...cutting my dose in half was too big of a jump! Guess I should have taken Monsoondancer's advice!

Hey Doozer- You'll get through it eventually:) But give yourself time to do it slowly. Unfortunately you will feel ill for a while. I have been off it now for nearly 5 years. My doctors have wanted to put me back on it but I have refused opting for something milder. Effexor really is an awful drug to wean your body off of-but you will get there I promise

hang in there doozer. cut down very slowly. be patient with yourself. you are weaning your body off a very strong chemical and it takes time and fortitude.
we are here cheering you on to a successful result. ultimately your mind and body will thank you for doing what you know is right.

Ugh, so I'm pretty much on my old program...300 mg. at night and I do feel better...the irritablity is pretty much gone after my little experiment and the fatigue that went with it really took the wind out of my sails at class though afterward I felt better. Guess now isn't the time to try to kick this stuff...it was really hard on my husband and two little boys. My other half understood what was going on but the kids didn't. I'm at my best on medication and they deserve it (and so do I). My weight issues will have to be dealt with some other way, i.e. acceptance with the focus being on fitness and not appearance. My teacher and one of my classmates are a bit fluffy and they are amazing women...their appearance has no bearing whatsoever on their dancing abilities. How can we be so hard on ourselves when we are so accepting of others?

Ah Doozer, it's in our nature. We can be in acceptance of so much in others that we beat our own selves up about. (Munching down a whole bowl of popcorn by myself at the moment - butter flavored no less, so it's not as good for me as you might infer.) Try to remember to love yourself. Any discomfort you might have visited upon the family will be short lived in their memories now that they have the you they know back. With any luck you will have much more support in place when you are ready to revisit getting off the Effexor. I haven't had any experience with that, but from the other posts to this thread it sounds like there are plenty people here ready and willing to talk you through the next time. Know that you are loved and appreciated for the lovely dancer that you are. The more jiggle there is, the more there is to love (my husband's sentiments, and mine too for that matter).

Heh, heh, heh. I read somewhere that extra body fat adds 'wunga wunga' to the shimmy...last night at class my classmate that has 'a little extra' looked amazing when she shimmied! It's that jiggly feeling that is hard to accept, but if it ain't jiggling, you ain't dancing, right? Maybe that should be my new motto!