Thread: struggling with meds that cause weight gain

Hello,

I'm on a couple of meds that have weight gain as a possible side effect, and have also come off of two rounds of steroids. Long story short, I am doing well keeping from gaining any more, but not able to lose any, either. I had been taking in around 1400 calories/day and my weight creeps up on that. I cut back to 1000 day, and stayed the same. I further cut back to 750 and stayed the same. I realize that this is a starvation levels, but don't know what else to do.

Yes, I exercise: mixed martial arts 3 hours a week, aikido 6 hours a week. One thing to take into account is that I am under 5 feet tall, so that means fewer calories needed to keep my body running. I have been at 1000 calories or less for approximately 15 months, and have lost a total of 6 pounds. 1 clothing size. Big whoop.

My BMI had been 30, and is now 29 and some change, still close to 30 so it isn't a case of wanting to lose 10 pounds, I need to lose 35-40. I am drinking around 72 oz water a day, no sodas of any kind, we go out to eat about 3 times a year, and when I do that meal lasts me for 4-5 meals. No fast food of any kind.

Changing meds is not an option. I'm on a couple of mood stabilizers that are notorious for weight gain. We have tried weening me off or trying different ones, and are stuck using what works to keep me sane. Unfortunately, hubby hasn't shown any interest in me in ages, and when I asked him a few days ago about it, he told me to lose weight. How?

The doc asked me to keep a food diary, so here is a sample of typical "weekend" eating:

Saturday: breakfast 1/2 cup of Kashi with 3 oz. milk - 156.25 cal
snack 1 ritz cracker w/ 1 tsp peanut butter - 48 cal
lunch eggplant and zucchini entree - 300 cal
dinner 2 cups salad greens - 15
salad toppings: 1/2 oz cheese, 1/4 cup diced chicken breast, 1/2 tbsp lite dressing, 6 croutons : 335 cal
misc: 2 cups of coffee with splenda and coffeemate - being generous and saying 50 cal. 1 cube of starfruit snitched while cutting it : 3
total 952.25 (pig out day)

Sunday : breakfast 3 oz yogurt 50
lunch: mixed fruit made with 1/3 cup startfruit, 1/4 kiwi, 1/4 cup pineapple - 76
snack another 3 oz yougurt -50
chicken flatbread (Schwann's) 210
lite soup, 2 servings: 80 each - 160
snack 1 ritz w/1 tsp peanut butter - 48
misc 1 cup of coffee w/coffeemate and I'm counting it as 25 cal.

total Sunday: 614

Monday: thinking about having some star fruit and some diced asian pear

That gives you a rough idea of what I'm working with here. Any ideas or suggestions? One other bit of info: my body temperature runs at 97.0-97.2 so perhaps my metabolism is just whacked and there's nothing to be done for it. I don't see how I can possibly reduce my intake by even more. I have to eat.

Starting weight: 145
Goal weight: 120
height: 4'11"
age: 43

Hiya,

I must say that sounds very frustrating. Have you considered changing your diet method? I know there is a diet called lipotrim (sp?) and my sister in law used that and lost something like 20 stone i think. I beleive its one of those milkshake diets.

Also have you considered asking your doctor to find out whether you have a thyroid disorder? That can stop you losing weight. If thats the case then you can take it from there and hopefully get the results your looking for