Depression and Weight IssuesHave you been diagnosed with depression, are possibly on depression medication, and find it affects your weight loss efforts? Post here for support!
How long until you started noticing a change in your mood from exercising? I started a workout routine in November. I was hoping I would notice a change in mood by now.
Exercise certainly saved me from my "depression days" in my mid-20's. I actually found it to be, in itself, a kind of "drug" though. I became addicted to the good vibes. But in the end it was nutrition that saved me from the medication. Exercise is taxing on the body - a type of stress that burns out key hormones that are required to produce serotonin! Yes, exercise is certainly necessary, but I encourage people to look at what fuels your body (and your exercise) BEFORE focusing on exercise. You are what you eat, after all If medication is necessary, I would certainly have a discussion with my doctor about what food types are proven to help alleviate depression. If they don't know, choose another doctor as they can't use Google very well...
I have been struggling alot with my weight, I even had gastric bypass surgery in 2009...I was regaining after 5 years... and then i found MY solution... I love not feeling hungry... because that is where i make dumb choices.
Obviously, every kinds of exercise reduce the stress. it also helps you to maintain your weight. For quicker results, people also take pills.
Can I ask for advice for a person, who is too shy to go to the gym?
She can't exercise at home, since she doesn't have a proper equipment and a free space for this. And I don't know, how to encourage her.
upd: she signed up after all and now she's working with a personal trainer
Last edited by mintleaf; 11-28-2018 at 02:19 AM.
Reason: update
I like what @jlife said. Just make a good habit of simple thing till it doesn't feel like it requires effort. Like showering or brushing your teeth, just make it a part of the routine and it won't be hard to do.
I find that the most useful way to lose weight is just to start with something your body can handle at first. I for instance dealt with anxiety myself and just forced myself to go to the gym. I go with my husband about 2 times a week and have noticed that I look forward to the impact it has on my life. The first step is just to start, the second step is to make sure you only do what your body can handle. In other words go slow, if you can only handle a 15 minute walk for the first few weeks that is perfectly fine A month later you can start increasing the amount of walking to 30 minutes per gym session etc.
Your body is strong, adaptable to change, and you can reach your full potential! you can do this!
I noticed the effect on my mood right away. That's not to say that I don't have bad days but they're certainly not as bad as they would be without exercise. There are days that I might cry at the gym while I'm working out but I know it would be worse if I didn't work out. I know this because I can compare how I feel to the days when I don't work out at all.
It's a process and it takes time. Each day gets a little easier and then I might have a really bad day but it's small steps forward.
I didn't notice the effects of "working out" until I started eating better AND sleeping better. But I think having the mind-set of "baby steps" goes a long way.
For example:
Move. You don't need a gym membership to start working out. Walk around your house or the neighborhood. Follow along to free workout videos for beginners on Amazon. That's how I initially lost weight (285 to 240lbs).
Eat better. You don't need to eat salads for every meal or only consume 1,300 calories a day. Find out how many calories you're taking in, and slightly reduce it. When you get fast food, practice some self-control. I.e., If you go to McDonalds, don't buy the large Big Mac meal with an extra side of nuggets... instead, get the medium fries and toss out the third slice of bread that comes with the Big Mac
Sleep. Go to sleep by 9pm. It'll keep you from night-binging, and you'll feel more rested in the morning (assuming you don't sleep in lol).
Thinking "baby steps" every step of the way also keeps me from beating up on myself when things don't go as planned or I slip up. That way when the inevitable happens, my anxiety and depression don't spiral. You got this. You're not alone on this journey.
I have tried supplements but to be honest it comes down to 3 things: 1) Consistency in exercise 2) Know what you are eating 3) Get support from professional coaching.
If medication is necessary, I would certainly have a discussion with my doctor about what food types are proven to help alleviate depression. If they don't know, choose another doctor as they can't use Google very well...
