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!
What Do You Do When the Depression Keeps You from Wanting to Eat Right or Exercise?
I've found that on days when I'm really down, it's nearly impossible to eat right or exercise because I just don't care. What do you do when you're in this situation and simply can't motivate yourself and your commitment to weight loss just seems to go out the window?
73% of people who try and adopt new habits, like for instance, working out and following a diet plan, usually abandon them after six weeks.
Trying to adopt positive new habits, or cut back on vices, or anything in between! Whatever it is, it seems crazy that we allow ourselves to quit on something we want.
Every time you try and start something new, I want you to keep something in mind. I'm sure you've heard of the phrase, stick to your guns.
What it means is "refuse to compromise or change, despite criticism."
Keep in mind why you undertook your endeavor in the first place. It's something you wanted. You owe it to yourself to keep working towards it, no matter what.
Again, this is the kind of focus I want you to have — whether it's reading a book from cover to cover, creating the physique of your dreams, or simply just trying to do more for others.
Stick to your guns, and you can do anything you want.
That's a tough one. I went through the same situation and I received practical advice on this thread. Maybe it can help you too... http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/depr...-exercise.html
Good luck, because it's NOT easy
It might help to remember that exercise is linked to serious improvements in both depression and anxiety- it's a fact that if they could bottle the effects of exercise, it'd be the most in-demand Rx in the world. When I really don't feel like exercising, I make a deal with myself that I only have to do 10 minutes and I can quit after that. Anyone can do 10 minutes. I've only quit twice after 10 minutes. Usually once I get going, I stick with it. Also- do something outside when the weather is nice. It's a huge boost to get a little sun, fresh air and some nature in with your exercise.
Find a good psychiatrist you feel comfortable with, listen to what he/she recommends for meds, ask questions about side effects, join some support groups like weight watchers, or a meet up activity group, find a new place to take a walk and enjoy your surroundings, call a crisis line as needed, find a dietitian and if join a gym work w/ a personal trainer, drink lots of water, pray, and Good Luck...
I do five things. Four are pretty healthy. One is not.
1) I have a rotating list of motivations. One motivation is that I want to have kids. Sometimes, when I want something that won't be good for me, I try to think about my future kids, and how I need to be in shape for them. But sometimes that's really hard because it feels so far off, so then I think about smaller-term goals: okay, I won't eat THIS ENTIRE TRAY OF BROWNIES because I don't want my clothes to be so tight. Shifting my goals and motivations keeps them fresh for me, and helps build up some defense against cravings. Try making a list of your motivations--what are all of the reasons you want to get in shape? What will be different about your life if you meet your goal?
2) I hold myself accountable. I weigh myself every Monday, even if it's hard, even if I know I overindulged the weekend before. I talk to my friends and family about my lifestyle changes. I talk here, with you guys! I share my meal plans and photos of meals I'm particularly proud of. Sometimes I refrain from doing something that's bad for me because I don't want to lie to anyone, but I don't want to tell people I did it, either! Talk to us about how you're feeling, or go to a group meeting, or see a therapist. You could also find a buddy.
3) I set up a system of rules for myself, and I follow them. My mom is also overweight, and something she has done a lot since I was a kid, was to justify whatever she was doing: "I can have this box of donuts, because I had a hard day/because it's my sister's birthday/because they're going to go bad if I don't." Then I saw I was doing the same thing. So I set a rule for myself: I don't get to reward myself with food, because it's a slippery slope. Set rules and follow them!
4) I don't do things that are unpleasant for me. I am never. Ever. Ever. Going to eat raw broccoli. Ever. I don't care how healthy it is. And I don't force myself to do this because I believe that I don't need to just lose some weight, I need to change how I live my life. It doesn't matter if I can choke down something I hate now, because I'm not going to do it for the rest of my life. Knowing this, I can make different choices, and figure out what's sustainable to me long-term. So maybe I won't eat raw broccoli, but you know what's delicious? Roasted broccolini, baby. That I can do long-term. What can you do long-term? What unpleasant "right now" things are you doing that you can turn into pleasant "forever" things?
5) My unhealthy one... I set up a reward point system related not just to weight-loss goals, but general healthy practices. My darling, ridiculous husband agreed to let me pick prizes, and I can cash the points in for prizes. They range from small things (like letting me give him a cooking lesson, or letting me drag him to a movie he doesn't want to see) to medium (buying some new clothes) to large (going on a trip, getting a dog, etc.) to HUGE (if I hit 150, dudes, I'm renovating the kitchen). How can you reward yourself with things other than food? Can you get a friend or partner to help you come up with rewards?
I hope some of this is helpful. I struggle with depression and anxiety, and these really help me. If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here!
Depression is an illness, it's not caused by not being disciplined enough. Can you access treatment for it? If you're getting treatment, it doesn't sound like it's doing enough for you, so can you see your doctor about improving it? You can't cure wonky brain chemistry by telling yourself you should be more motivated.
Depression is an illness, it's not caused by not being disciplined enough. Can you access treatment for it? If you're getting treatment, it doesn't sound like it's doing enough for you, so can you see your doctor about improving it? You can't cure wonky brain chemistry by telling yourself you should be more motivated.
As someone with depression, yes, I totally agree with you on the "can't cure wonky brain chemistry by telling yourself you should be more motivated" bit--however, depression is also exacerbated by external factors or triggers. If you can figure out what's triggering depressive episodes, and find ways to circumvent those triggers, you can better fight the depression. We posted some diet/exercise-specific ways, but other ways of changing environment would be to use self-affirmation in front of a mirror, utilizing light therapy, etc.
Of course, that doesn't work for everybody--but it certainly works for many, and it's worth a shot!
I've found that on days when I'm really down, it's nearly impossible to eat right or exercise because I just don't care. What do you do when you're in this situation and simply can't motivate yourself and your commitment to weight loss just seems to go out the window?
In the sense of problem solving, this is what I read: You have identified the symptoms and affects of the depression (Lack of motivation, reduced to commitment to personal goal of weight loss), but have not identified the "cause" of these affects.
Something within you needs to boil with desire, to look into the reasons and causes of the depression, and deal with these effectively, then by default the effects (lack of motivation and reduction in commitment) will reduce (they will never be "totally" eliminated however.): You will meet challenges (lack of motivation etc) again, whether depression is the cause or something else. And, no matter how many times you give up, when you return.....the rules of engagement (of weight loss) will remain unchanged and challenging. This is facts of life.
Your desire (and the mechanics of carrying this out) has to rise above all challenges: When you fall you just get back up, dust yourself off (apply what is learned, adapt, overcome), and try again.
I wish I could post a pic, do not have enough posts yet.
Its a pic of the human brain having a metal chains attached to the hands......
This is a good representation on how the brain can chain your body (hands, Legs, mouth, etc), in the things you want to do. The body is giving you all kinds of crap (tired, depression, etc) but the brain is the filtering system.
You "can" live your life working toward your goal, in chains, and not even realize you have the key.
Hypothetical chains that surround and lock your body and prevent you from doing the things you need to do. The "Key" is your own mind and the way you think, and its this that will let you loose.
If you want we can rock out some ideas.
Everyone be strong, be positive. Keep working at it, and most of all, ROCK ON!
I try to motive myself by thinking that never giving up can only make my successful in my pursuit to weight loss. I have understood very well that there is no defeat for someone who always try and does not give up. Good luck!
It's depressing looking at myself yet the being sad happened first. I had so many pitfalls that I turned to food and the bed. I'm working my way out of it.
A step at a time. Rome wasn't built in a day. Each day I'm a bit better.
Today has me feeling pretty defeated. I opened the door to our delivery driver , cat food, (looking and feeling horrendous) and couldn't have felt worse but not even a reply when I said thank you. I mean that pretty much dashed my attemptto have up emotion, further dwn. People can be mean. I was just being nice. Not a crazy cat lady hitting the driver. grrr
Detoxing from bad food is so hard too. I keep obsessing over differnt prepkg treats. 'ugh'
I am feeling way low. I think my family and their lack of true support is making me feel weak today. Maybe I'm not ready or I just don't love myself enough.
What Do You Do When the Depression Keeps You from Wanting to Eat Right or Exercise?
