the weight gain group/too fat

[[Sa...]]

good to hear otehrs ar facing the same problem...

[[Wa...]]

I too have packed on 25 lbs in less than 6 months.  I lost 7 lbs during acute w/d and thought well, hey something positive in the midst of this hell.  Then in September I had to go to a doctor's appointment and none of my nice clothes fit!  I was mortified and was made worse when I stepped on the scale. 

 

I recognize now my mistakes, beyond that all the hormones/chemicals are totally out of whack.  First, I fed my nausea and not with an organic-paleo diet, a lot of take out, because I couldn't cook or go to the grocery store and my partner was more than happy to pick up food.  I was paranoid from not eating the first month or so that my brain was starving and my healing would take longer...wow.

 

Then I could cook.....comfort food.  Emotional eating :'(  Who the heck wants a kale salad when your life if falling apart....not me anyway.  Sugar cravings....gave in big time.  Now sugar amps up my dizziness, cog fog, anxiety, so that's a plus.

 

So it's really easy for me to over do it with food and taking in way more than I burn.  I had an epiphany a couple of weeks ago while watching a marathon on Downton Abby on the couch- about how I'm eating and really how many calories does a brain injured, couch potato like me need?  I mean really-I had to go to the Salvation Army to buy "fat" comfy pants. 

 

I hate it!  But, I try not dwell on it, making changes to my diet, and have hope that the weight gain has stabilized and the more my brain heals the weight will come off.

 

Apparently, we are in the minority and I know I could use some encouragement and have plenty to give 

[[El...]]

I've gained about 8-10 lbs.  I'm so upset.  At first I thought it might be the inositol, but I stopped that and no change. I know it's not my diet or the amount of calories so I think it's that I have become a lot more lethargic than I even realized. It's all I can come up with.  I'm also squeezing into my clothes, and it's just sad.

[[Wa...]]

Happy New Year Ella1!!  Albeit weight gain does suck, your so lucky it's only minimal!  I know it's hard because it seems no matter what I do the weight is not budging.  Of course I've made a promise to myself not to get on the scale for at least a month.  I really didn't realize just how much of a slug I had become, staying in bed for days at a time.  Only to move from the bed to the couch for Netflix marathons. But, hey, it happens and when your mind and body are racked with w/d sx.

 

I just bought some shape wear on Amazon so I can squeeze "easier" into my clothes

 

Be kind to yourself. This is only temporary

[[El...]]

Hi Wanna-B-Sunn-e and Happy New Year. I don't know why I missed this.  Thank you for the much needed perspective and also the shape wear idea 

 

[[Gr...]]

Ugh. I just went shopping and saw myself in a full length mirror. I was shocked at just how far my belly sticks out, like I'm seven months pregnant. My arms, legs and face look pretty slim, I'm not even big up on top, it's just extreme weight gain all at the waist. Then I started comparing myself to all the other women in the store who had much flatter bellies and their clothes just fit them so much better while I look like a pregnant slob. I'm almost off benzos and wanted to ease back into dating again once I'm recovered, but no guy is going to look at a "pregnant" slob. I'm worried my metabolism is permanently altered. I keep craving carbs all the time too, otherwise I have no energy.

[[be...]]

All my weight is round my tummy ....I feel like a blob.....I try and exercise also without any results....my digestive system is also all screwed....

 

Wtf is this...

 

Love

Bey

[[Wa...]]

Hi bey!  This is our bodies trying to get back to "normal"...so glad you can exercise!  Even though you may not feel like your getting any tangible results you are helping your brain to heal. 

 

I know how frustrating this is....like all the other symptoms weren't enough....hang in there.

 

 

[[Sa...]]

Hey guys,

 

i lost weight (26 month) but not in my belly area---so i am slim-fat-slim....i wonder when it will go away? I am very sceptical that it will go away- i know everyone is saying it will but making me very desperate. Always when I bench over I feel it so badly. (Still also have strong tinnitus and muscle/nerve pain in my legs/back)

[[Je...]]

I have gained 100 pounds on these meds. They messed up my metabolism and I don't know what to do. I have been off and gained 30 more. I was walking 10000 steps a day and was trying to eat ketogenic diet but then this crushing wave now where I can barely function at 15 months. I need the weight off. I am sooooo uncomfortable. Thanks for listening.

[[Sa...]]

I have gained 100 pounds on these meds. They messed up my metabolism and I don't know what to do. I have been off and gained 30 more. I was walking 10000 steps a day and was trying to eat ketogenic diet but then this crushing wave now where I can barely function at 15 months. I need the weight off. I am sooooo uncomfortable. Thanks for listening.

 

Hey Jenn I know exaclyhow u feel..I am 32 months and still can't really use my additional pounds and the belly..always sticks out. Throught some months ago that I have lost some weight but obviously not really....I a also pretty desperate if this will ever go away

[[mo...]]

I have been thin my whole life. When I quit klonopin and SSRIs in 2011 I gained 35lbs over the course of 3 years. I have done weight watchers, ate clean paleo for over a year, cut out all sugars completely and I never lose weight. I did cardio, weight training, bike riding, no muscle gain, no fat loss. The only time I've lost weight is when I had to take Flagyl (antibiotic) that gave me such bad gastro distress, I lost 6lbs in a week. Gained it back immediately upon stopping Flagyl.   It's all in my belly too. I've never had a belly.

[[Sa...]]

morningbee, I know exactly how u feel..it is also my third year and still can't lose it and also don't know what to do...very frustrating...i wonder if it will ever go away?

[[Gr...]]

I have been thin my whole life. When I quit klonopin and SSRIs in 2011 I gained 35lbs over the course of 3 year... It's all in my belly too. I've never had a belly.

 

This is me too except for which year it happened.  I actually think that the klonopin was keeping me malnourished and not allowing me to digest all my food because I was SO skinny and ate whatever I wanted and had so little problems with eating and stopping after just a few cookies etc...In fact, I barely even liked sugar. 

 

Now...it's so different.  Even at the same weight, after a cut, my belly is giant and sticking out like I'm pregnant and my face is puffy.  I gotta take a picture of this and compare it to another picture at the same weight not after a cut cause wow, I think it's very different looking.

[[mo...]]

GreenCup,

When I was on Klonopin for 7 yrs, I was the thinnest I've ever been. I couldn't gain weight at all. 7 yrs of eating like a complete pig and yet still, my body was way too thin. The women I worked with spread rumors that I was bulemic. It was very upsetting. I thought I just had a high metabolism but I now realize what you say is probably true-I was not absorbing any nutrients and was malnourished. I'm plenty nourished now. 

[[Re...]]

I'm relieved to find this group! It seems most people are talking about losing weight on benzos and withdrawal. I have gained a lot of weight on benzos and the weight isn't budging since my quit date. The benzo belly doesn't help either. My gut is so bloated I look pregnant. In the past when I quit benzos I was able to lose weight no problem. I don't know why this time is so different. It's frustrating. I'm glad I'm not alone in this. xoxo

[[da...]]

i've gained weight.  once started tapering, along w calorie watching and gentle exercise, lost 18 lbs.  but have now gained back 7-9 lbs.  benzo belly too...at least was glad to know what this is now and can put a name to it! 

[[Ri...]]

Hey guys!

 

I have gained 8 kilograms since July last year when I started taking 7.5 mg Mirtazapine. I have reduced my dosage but I believe Propranolol together with Remeron is the cause of my weight gain. I have been on so called 'cabbage soup' diet for more than 3 weeks, I have lost so far only 2 kilograms, this makes me mad, I walk every day at least 3 kilometres.

I am very frustrated I cannot lose more weight. Do you know any diet we can lose weight or simply it is not possible while taking beta blockers and just a tiny piece of Mirtazapine ( about 4 mg).

You can google "cabbage soup diet" if you wish to try it out.

 

I am 6'3" and my weight is at the moment 110 kg. I was at 112 kg before starting the diet.

I have an appointment with my family doctor maybe I can get a referral to a nutrition specialist?

Btw, sorry for metric figures, I am from Europe.

[[Re...]]

Rick, that's a good question. I don't know much about diets and I would like to hear if others know of a successful weight loss diet. It seems like this group has been inactive lately. I hope more people post here.

[[Ri...]]

Rick, that's a good question. I don't know much about diets and I would like to hear if others know of a successful weight loss diet. It seems like this group has been inactive lately. I hope more people post here.

 

Yeah, that's right, it seems nobody post here. I used to be on this cabbage soup diet and had very good results (before taking any medications).

Perhaps I have answered my on question, no way to lose weight while taking valium, remeron and propranolol.

[[Gr...]]

Rick, that's a good question. I don't know much about diets and I would like to hear if others know of a successful weight loss diet. It seems like this group has been inactive lately. I hope more people post here.

 

Yeah, that's right, it seems nobody post here. I used to be on this cabbage soup diet and had very good results (before taking any medications).

Perhaps I have answered my on question, no way to lose weight while taking valium, remeron and propranolol.

I couldn't lose a single pound while I was still on Valium, even a low dose of Valium. Once I got off, I lost about 6-7 pounds the first few months without really making an effort. I just didn't eat as much since my appetite wasn't as high. I've hit a plateau now, so I guess I really need to focus on dieting harder.

[[Re...]]

Yea, I don't understand why the weight is so hard to lose after this. I'm definitely not eating much.

[[Gr...]]

Honestly, at this point in my taper,  I am just relieved to not have gained anymore weight.  I'm exercising 3-4 times a week and trying to walk more.  I don't eat tons of junk, and I used to be SO SKINNY.  I am actually wondering if benzos caused me to have some sort of food malabsorption problem.  For a lot of time, while on benzos, I *couldn't* gain weight, even when I was trying. 

[[Re...]]

So I've done some research and learned more about benzos and metabolism. Benzos mess up hormones. All the hormones. Cortisol/adrenal hormones, reproductive hormones and thyroid hormones. Now it makes sense why most people have weight issues gaining/losing and have a hard time making any changes to weight. I've heard from others that during healing your hormones and metabolism eventually balance again. (unless you have a hormone imbalance separate from withdrawal.)

[[Gr...]]

Sigh. i'm gaining weight again.  . I try to go just one day eating less carby, cheesy stuff and substituting veggies and I just wind up feeling ravenous and panicky and can't calm down unless I have a carby, cheesy meal. Some people on this forum feel lousy if they eat stuff like pizza, but I feel weak and lousy when I try to eat healthier. So frustrating.