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I thought I'd just post about my issue here and see what kind of ideas / thoughts you all have. I figured I'd get a better response here about my weight issue than I would in the regular LI forum. wink

All right, I'll just come out and say it. I'm fat. Well no, technically, in medical terms I'm labeled as "obese." And I'm having a hell of a time getting out of that category. I've tried everything... you name the diet, I've done it. Religiously, weeks or months at a time, but eventually my body always gives up and I'm so fatigued from the dieting I can't do it anymore. Exercising is equally as hard on me.

Before you go labeling me as a lazy fat slob, let me tell you of WHY I'm having such a hard time losing the weight.

Four years ago, I was healthy - 140 pounds - but then everything in my body started to go wrong. Some of the people of this forum may already know, but I had stomach cancer when I was 17 and had half my stomach removed. Again I had surgeries when I was 19 and 20 to remove the tumor that came back, but it seems that now I'm fine. All the medications I'm on for my digestive problems, though - they all have "weight gain" attached to the possible side effects. stare Figures, right? I also have hereditary depression, and I'm sure you all know that any antidepressant causes MASSIVE weight gain. I gained 20lbs. from Zoloft, 30 from Paxil, 50 from Effexor... yes, I did lose most of it back off before going to the next fabulous wonder-pill, though not all. I am on Lexapro now, and before you make the comment of "Just stop taking the antidepressants, woman!", it's clearly apparent to me and everybody else I know that I can't function without them (I stop making sense, I sleep 18+ hours a day, I cry at everything for no reason, etc.).

What was the real killer though, was finding out I had problems with my uterus. I had dehabilitating cramps so bad that I would be stuck in bed for literally days. Painkillers didn't work, so the doctors decided to put me on Depo-Provera (birth control) shots... bad idea. Then I went from 170 pounds to 230 within a year. I'm off the Depo now, and on something that doesn't cause weight gain - and I DID manage to lose 30 of those pounds - but it seems not any more than that. And something else wonderful that I got from the Depo-Provera - I developed fibromyalgia. I'm in excruiating pain all over my body most days, which makes exercising very difficult. I do manage to take our dog for a walk at least every day, and I play DDR when I can... usually 45 minutes, 3 times a week.

Now my problem: how can I realistically lose weight and stay on my medications? I don't think it's even possible maybe anymore, but if any of you know of anything that could help, I would REALLY appreciate it! Also, I should note as far as dieting is concerned, because of my digestive problems I'm not supposed to have any nuts, fruits, or vegetables. I'm pretty much nearly on an Atkins diet, though it's not doing anything.

Thanks in advance! heart pirate

I was lucky enough that I didn't need any radiation. They just went in and surgically removed it, and that was that - each time.

My thought is that the birth control shots changed my metabolism more than anything else. I was horrified after I'd been on those for a year, gained a bunch of weight, and it felt like everything was going wrong with me. Depo-Provera's a horrible drug, and what I've read sickens me - while what happened to me from it sucks, there's much worse stories out there. The shot is so strong that they use it on sex offenders in prison to shut off their sex drive. eek They use it to sterilize animals. When most females use it, it really does one of two things:
a) Tricks your body into thinking its gone into menopause, which causes massive weight gain,
b) Tricks your body into thinking you're pregnant, which causes massive weight gain.
Either way, it basically shuts everything off "down there" which makes it literally the best (strongest) birth control out there, but in my case it stopped all the pain I was in... until I got the fibro.

I've been able to maintain my current body weight at a solid 200ish for about a year now, but I can't get it down any lower than that, no matter how hard I try. I think you're right that I'm going to have to wait and see if, someday, I can get off of some of these medications and lose the weight.

You know, really what this comes down to is I'm sick of the stigma associated with being overweight. It's hard to find clothes, my boyfriend of two years admitted awhile ago he isn't really physically attracted to me anymore, and I'm sick of the looks I get whenever I go out to eat (even though because of my stomach size, I really can't eat much at all).

*whine whine whine whine...* wink

Yes, I am constantly tired, but it's because of the fibromyalgia.

What I usually eat now... is eggs, whole wheat breads, rice foods, jello, and meats. I forgot to mention that because of my digestive problems I have a hard time consuming anything dairy. I guess you could say that I'm quite lactose intolerant because eating anything dairy will have me curled up in bed for quite a few hours. I also eat broth soups quite frequently. I do have times though when I cave in and I just HAVE to have the ice cream or chips... that's probably my downfall.

I've been crazy at writing down calories as long as I can remember. I consume roughly 1000-1200 calories a day, which is why this is driving me nuts that I'm not losing weight (in addition to the exercise).

The problem with having fibromyalgia is that any intense physical activity is strongly discouraged. My doctor doesn't even want me to play DDR anymore, but I like it so tough s**t for her. wink Even just taking a 20 minute walk on my bad days can wipe me out and throw me back in bed for the rest of the day. It really sucks.

I know how you feel. I have ALOT of intolerences and one of them is cows milk (not that I follow them that much so I get sick). There are a lot of alternatices nowadays thought I think. But no eggs sadly sad

Exercise wise you could do yoga mabye? Either in a class or a home DVD or video. Yoga tones but I don't think you would get very tired from it.

Do not weigh yourself for a few months. Running five miles and loosing a half a pound can be discouraging. This is just the way it is, and it will add up in a few months.

Pick out an aerobic exercise routine and stick to it every day, rain or shine. Do it for at least an hour. There are people who have overcome greater obstacles, and do even more exercise than this. Lance Armstrong would be an example.

Just stay committed and remember why you are loosing the weight. Just keep this in mind when you feel like you are too tired and cannot continue exercising.

Stop eating fast food period. Stop eating junk food period. It may be tough at first, but after a week or two, you won't even miss it. Whenever you get some sort of craving, just go for some water or sugarless tea.

I turned my PMs on a few hours ago.

WHOAWHOAWHOA. Depo makes you gain weight?

gonk

*hasnothingtocontribute*
I was thinking of going on depo, but I'm fat enough as it is. I can't afford to gain 30 pounds because I'm too forgetful to take the pill everyday.

Honey you have ever right to want as normal a life as possible and if being smaller is an important part of that for you then you should go for it. You have been through a lot more then most of us can even imagine.

I don't know if you remember but we talked awhile ago about my fiance's hiatus hernia too. I appreciate all your help then. He still has it and they aren't planning on doing the surgery just too keep you updated.