For the past eighteen months I have been gaining weight. I have always been very health conscious and work out hard at least four times a week. I eat well but do have treats at weekends but no changes to my diet than before.
I have had blood tests to determine if I have a thyroid issue but this isn't the case. Joined various different slimming clubs only to gain pounds each week. Some people have suggested that it is muscle mass but this I know this is not the case. My clothes are mega tight and I'm buying new stuff to fit into.
I'm not sure if related but the weight gain started after a serious bout of pneumonia which I caught from running in the cold air whilst I had a slight cold myself.
Also, I was issued the antidepressants sertraline just under 12 months ago. It's a 100mg dose.
Doctors don't see this as a problem as I'm quite fit and healthy and not obese however I am now classed as overweight.
This is truly making me miserable and I'm trying everything to be back to the slim me 😟
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Smiler85
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Hi dolphin14 I'm 34 so not really that old. I had contemplated an early menopause but no other symptoms.
I think it could be the medication I need a review really- has anyone else suffered with gaining weight on anti depressants. They put me on it as I was really stressed with work (stressful job). 😒
I have had issues with anti depressant med. I was on Zoloft for years. Never had a problem.
Most side effects will say weight gain or loss. I had always hoped I would be in the loss category.
I gained weight from a different category of med for my depression. As soon as I stopped it the weight came off.
This is an inretesting topic so I can't wait to see the responses you get.
sertraline does not have weight gain as a side effect (listed & found in research) but mirtazapine does.
Menopause, could that be relevant? (Apologies if you are male & not remotely in the right age bracket). I am wondering myself if being pre menopausal is doing me no favours...
I guess you could ask... it can come very early. But very rare. I had a school friend who was like a razor blade, put on weight, did loads of research & found something unusual. She then wrote about it in the telegraph. I’ll google what it was. I am tubby(ish) because I ate too much. No mystery for me...
It would be worthwhile discussing your medication with your doctor and, if it is a factor, maybe there would be an alternative that doesn't have the same effect.
Apart from that, I would suggest you take a fresh look at what, and how, you're eating. Much of the advice we've had for years about low fat products being healthy, building meals around carbohydrates and building in frequent snacks are now coming under question. You may find this interesting healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh... and this offers a way forward phcuk.org/wp-content/upload...
In terms of the forum, the Daily Diary is a good place for sharing your meal plans and getting to know other members, and the weekly weigh ins offer great group support. This Welcome Newbies post will help you find your way around healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...
It could be the antidepressants. I would check the side effects as well as google the name of the medication to see whether somebody mention that it might cause weight gain.
It still could be something to do with the thyroid.
You said the doctors ruled it out, but I remember reading here, people saying that sometimes doctors are a bit hasty to rule out boarder line cases. Further tests actually proven thyroid issues.
There is a thyroid forum on HU, so it might worth checking it and see what other people said there.
You said you have a stressful job. This could be another reason for weight gain, particularly if it also affects your sleep. As far as I know, stress can affect badly your hormones.
You also mentioned that you have not change the way you eat, but maybe when you are tired and stressed sometimes you make not so good food choices. Maybe use a food dairy for a while to eliminate this as a reason.
I hope you manage to work out the cause of the weight gain and sort it out soon.
Hi Smiler85 - I've been reading up about the role of insulin in weight gain and have lost weight by combining a relatively low carb way of eating with a bit of intermittent fasting. I've had to rethink everything I thought I knew about healthy eating - for me - carbs are a bigger problem than fats - and I think a lot of people are discovering the same when it comes to weight loss. I wonder if you might be tempted to post a typical days diet for you on here for comment? Good luck x
You should have a badge. We like everyone to have a badge or you keep getting asked if you're new I'll give you a Visitor badge and a reminder of how things work healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...
Very much so. That's why I gave you those two links with useful articles that can point you in the right direction. Please give them a read, and this will also help
Insulin is the fat-storage hormone - so you do not get fat without it (Type on diabetics produce no insulin of their own - and get thin.
Carbohydrates raise blood sugar... insulin is produced to lower the blood sugar levels and store the energy as fat.
Many of us here find that what works (for weight loss and hyperinsulinaemia) is a combination of The Low Carbohydrate, High-Fat (LCHF) diet (see the forum here on Health Unlocked) and Not Eating All Day AKA Intermittent Fasting (IF). See:
It could be the meds and it could be hormones. Try to cut the sugar out totally for a week. Seriously see if it makes a diff and carbs from wheat. I’m gaining weight eating carbs right now & some sugar they really affect hormones. You may have high cortisol if you e been stressed.
Perhaps try to increase your healthy gut bacteria as the antibiotics you were given for pneumonia may have depleted your microbiome. Research is now showing that the microbiome plays a significant role in weight control, immune system, and brain health, so it is possible that this could be contributing to your weight gain. Worth a try anyway as it will not hurt and may help.
Perhaps also look at your portion sizes, even healthy food eaten to excess can pile on the calories.
Above all else, please don’t feel miserable, keep coming here for support as it will make a difference to the feeling of helplessness which we all feel at times. xxx
I too am on Sertraline it dies made you put on weight. I've been really I'll, breathing problems, so I've had to contend with steroids too. I've decided that instead of feeling bad I'm just goi g to wait until they finally work out what's wrong with me then get back to it. I do push myself because I feel if I just sit it will only make things worse. It takes me an hour to walk to local shop which used to take 20mins, but I'm not giving in. Hope this will help encourage you, you obviously need the tablets so you've just got to brave it out for now, you will get there there is light at the end of the tunnel. Good luck xx
I'm keen to lose weight but with health problems, not being as active as I was and meds it just isn't happening. I would just like to know why I'm so ill then hopefully I can move on and get the weight loss i want. Thanks for your reply.
Hi there, I was prescribed sertraline for ptsd after a car accident. I remember the doctor told me some people tend to gain weight on it because food starts to taste better and they enjoy it more as feeling better. Not sure if it's true but I took it on board and was determined that wouldn't happen so really minimised what I ate. I hope you get sorted, all the best
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