Hi guys. I haven't been on here in months. I've recently gained nearly 9 kilos back, and am slightly heavier than when I started. I had been going strong for 4 months, but started to struggle. I still managed to maintain the weight loss. Then I was diagnosed with major depression, and started taking antidepressants. I then proceeded to put all of the weight back on. I'm not sure if it was the antidepressants (lexapro) were to blame, or if I would have gained the weight back anyway. My phsyciatrist put me on a different one, but my depression came back, so I'm back on the lexapro.
I really just needed to come here and admit to the weight gain. I had a bad morning eating way too many muelsi bars. But I'm determined to get straight back on track. I keep saying that I'm going to start tomorrow and I never do. So I'm starting right now today.
Good for you for owning up to the gaining, I'm in the same boat. I did really well for about 6 months and then pretty poorly for the next 6 months. Nothing like NOW to get back on track! Good luck!
I gained weight on lexapro too, when I was on it for almost a year about six years ago. It's hard to say with antidepressants, as many people do report weight gain, but there are other factors too. For me, it was probably a little of both, since I tended to eat lots of junk food when I was feeling miserable or tired, and then of course there was the depression that made me take lexapro in the first place! All in all I think it was better I went on the lexapro than trying to manage everything together (weight, depression, finishing my senior year of college), so if the lexapro is helping with the depression, cut yourself some slack and try not to "fix" everything at once. This has been a hard lesson for me to learn, and I think the main thing is reflecting on little things that have improved, and not to see everything in black and white terms.
For instance, you are treating the depression, and that's a step towards better times for you. Good luck!
(I also meant to add that after I went off the lexapro, I lost the weight- but this could have been due to the fact that my depression had improved by then, or it could've been the lexapro. hard to say)
Last edited by stressedstudent; 03-10-2013 at 10:35 PM.
Good for you for starting NOW. I would ask your doctor HOW Lexapro causes weight gain so you can arm yourself. My doctor said the medication I was on caused cravings but didn't slow down metabolism. Knowing this, I felt more hopeful. You can do it!
Welcome back. So many of us have been there. So many more have been there and haven't come back, and here YOU are. Huge step. Give yourself credit for that! I remember you, glad to see you!