Weight loss and medication

[Sgspurs]

I am feeling at a loss as to what to do. I need to lose weight for an operation on my knee, besides I would like to because of the pressure on my knees. I did the 5:2 diet and the 800 cal diet for 12 wks and lost not one single kg. I blame this on my medication. I take Gabapentin, co-codamal, ranitidine, omeprazole, pziforen for migraines. I also have the deprovera injection. I cant come off the meds, it's not food related. I'm not a terrible eater. I'm being tested for Cushing's disease but they think it's unlikely I've got that. I honestly don't know what to do

[Zipped-Mouth]

Hi and welcome to the forum have a look here on how to get the best out of the forum healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

Can I suggest that you do the NHS BMI Calculator which will give you your own personal calorie allowance nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-we...

There are a few people on here doing Low Carb High Fat (LCHF) healthunlocked.com/lchf-diet

Wishing you all the best

An admin will be along shortly

[Sgspurs in reply to Zipped-Mouth]

It's not my calorie intake. Or what I eat. Neither the exercise. I suffer with neuropathic pain as well. Fed up of being told its food. Its not

[Zipped-Mouth in reply to Sgspurs]

Are you not willing to try? We are not experts here we are all here to lose weight

Perhaps you need to see a dietician as IndigoBlue61 has said below about her experiences, she gave it a go and found what worked, if you don't give it a go you will never know

Wishing you all the best

[IndigoBlue61]

Hello and welcome to the Weight Loss Forum 😊

You sound very like me when I first joined, I got very overweight eating healthy food ☹️ The first thing to do is to write an accurate food diary, everything weighed, and then you will have an idea of what and how much you are eating. Then look and decide what you can change. Belief about what is ‘healthy’ is also changing, for example, we now know that eating fat doesn’t make you fat, it’s too much sugar and carbohydrates (see here healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh... ) And then start to make small changes that will add up toma big change overall 😊

You will have been given links to our Pinned Posts in your Welcome message when you first joined, please read them carefully, especially the Welcome Newbies and the Security Post. (I notice you have left your post unlocked)

Nothing beats joining in with forum events and activities for motivation. Have a look at the Whats Happening Chat Thread for a full list

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

I highly recommend the Daily Diary for giving and receiving support and feedback on meal planning (in Events on the forum Homepage healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh... )

This is a very busy forum with lots going on but feel free to ask if you have any questions. 😊

Best Wishes in your weight loss journey

Indigo 😊

[Sgspurs in reply to IndigoBlue61]

Thanks but as stated it's not about food, carbs or anything like that

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to Sgspurs]

But that’s what I thought too. If you go to see a dietician they will ask for a food diary. I suggested it as there may be something we can spot that you’re missing. 😊

As you aren’t able to change your medication I don’t see what else to suggest.

[Lillie285 in reply to Sgspurs]

I too have the same problem, I wish Dr's would take us seriously, I have gained approx 10 kilos, my diet is salad and fish or chicken, I have massive double chin and a fleshy back of neck, tinnitus, now bruising, my Dr isn't interested, it is so terrible to see myself change this way, I give up, interested in your outcome.

[Slimforsummer Visitor]

How about weighing and writing down everything that you eat and drink for a couple of weeks and taking it to a dr who will point you on the right path. Tell him/ her that you are keen to lose weight and are finding it difficult and that you would like to go on a nhs 12 week weight loss course to support your recovery and health after knee surgery, if there is one in your area. Many on this site suggest high fat, low carb, vegan or many other diet ideas. The nhs advice is cut out unnecessary high fat foods eg crisps, cake, fizzy drinks, fried food and eat 5 portions of veg/fruit, small portions lean protein, and moderate portions of wholemeal carbs eg wholemeal bread, wholemeal rice or pasta or potato/carrot mash. Plus milk, small portion cheese and 2 teaspoon olive oil. A mediterranean / DASH type diet. An hour is needed to go into full detail but check out on the Internet. Good luck.

[Sgspurs in reply to Slimforsummer]

I dont eat badly as I have stated. I did the 800 cal diet and LOST nothing????

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to Sgspurs]

Maybe 800 calories is too low? Only by writing down everything and getting a second opinion will you be able to get further help. If it’s not food then it must be the medication, and then the doctor will be able to help.

[Sgspurs in reply to IndigoBlue61]

I know your all trying to help, but I have done all the things suggested. I keep a diary of good, exercise, sleep the lot! I've been to docs and on weight mgt prog. As I've said before it's not food

[Hidden in reply to Sgspurs]

Hello Sgspurs. I’m sorry you are in such a bad place.

Have you considered looking into alternative ways of dealing with your pain, so that you might be able to reduce your medication, which in turn might lead to some weight loss?

There was an amazing programme on BBC1 a while ago with Dr Chris van Tullekan called The Doctor Who Gave Up Drugs. He put people on various different types of controlled exercise programmes, and the results for many were nothing short of miraculous. You can probably find this on iPlayer or YouTube, it’s worth looking at. Good luck.

[Sgspurs in reply to Hidden]

I have watched. I have tried but too much pain. Talked to so called professionals to no avail!

[Slimforsummer Visitor in reply to Sgspurs]

Perhaps advice from a suitably qualified medical expert is your way forward. I hope you find answers.

[focused1 Maintainer 13kg]

Maybe with your complex meds - ask your GP to see someone at your practice . I had a gastric problem I didn't know I had until I was finding hard to swallow . I was put on a cocktail of meds which made me sluggish and very moody . After loads of awful tests I had op/ surgery for hiatus hernia and was told by my GP the main cause was my weight .

After surgery I joined an NHS Paris scheme which is 3x6 months of gym , exercise and guidance to what you do/don't eat . As I work it is £20 for the first 6 months rising to £25 for the last course . It seems little known but google , contact and I had a phone interviewas to my suitability ....and off I went .

I know your depo injections don't help but for my sister - she needs them but if she has something to do and go to then she is a lot better. Even try this for 6 months as you don't neeed any fitness level .You may be advised just to swim at first combined with a ressonable eating plan but for me it was someone to go and talk to , be weighed in etc .

[Sgspurs in reply to focused1]

Thanks again but no one has read post its NOT food. I go swimming twice a week and do other exercises when I am not in pain.

[focused1 Maintainer 13kg in reply to Sgspurs]

I am wondering whether 800 cals was right for you . I found my 1000 cal plan wasn't as effective as the 13-1400 cals plan I loosely follow .I am now 19kg lighter. The kind of exercise does matter too as I was merrily jogging on a machine and the Paris trainer advised other exercise .If you were exercising and only on 800 cals plus your meds then I feel that you would benefit from expert advise . Like others say - food diary with portions , your exercise , sleep patterns etc . How did you cope with just 800cals as I know any very low cal intake can make you constipated and feeling horrendous . A work mate tended to drink water all day too without much food . She ended up with mouth ulcers and her hair felt dry and she was shredding loads of it .

Expert advice would help plan how much weight on your meds it was safe to lose too . I was advised to aim for 2lbs a week after my op as my body needed to heal . I think people here can give general advice but if your weight didn't drop off as I feel on 800 cals you should have seen something ...(and thats why - sorry I now do get it - you have written your story ) then please seek the experts as you are really making an effort.

[Dolphin14]

It must be the Gabapentin?

I was on a depression med and put on weight. The md kept telling me it wasn't the med. I told her I was exercising and watching everything I put in my mouth. I said I know it's the med so I told her I was stopping it. Surprise! All the weight came off and pretty quickly.

Not sure if they can switch the med for you? Control the pain with something else?

I also switched to yoga. I've lost a lot of inches. I swear by it. But, I'm not sure if you can do a basic yoga with your knee pain.

Anyway, I do understand the medication challenge.

[Sgspurs in reply to Dolphin14]

Thank you. Swimming is the only one I'm told to do. I do sitting exercises too. I wished I could come off the meds believe me

[Hidden in reply to Dolphin14]

I was also told it is the meds can not put weight on and make me sweat so much. For 4 yrs I put up with it. over those 4 yrs I managed to lose 2 1/2 stone. That how long I have been here on this forum.

A couple of months ago I changed drs. Last week had blood tests done. Also told in deed the anti depressants are the cause of weight gain and the constant sweats. Said I have done well to loss the weight. Must have been strict with myself as I could have easily put more than that on. Now slowly coming of them.

Meds can always be change as there are plenty around. Also you can loos weight even when taking these meds that make you put weight on. So there is always hope. Take care and well done for losing the weight again. 😊

[Dolphin14]

Forgot to say the cortisol level with cushings can cause weight gain too. I'm sure you already know this.

I switched to yoga because I was on the treadmill daily for over an hour and still not dropping. I think cortisol had something to do with that too.

Just my guess.

[Sgspurs in reply to Dolphin14]

Being tested but said unlikely

[Hidden]

Well it looks like nothing we can say or do will help. Why don’t you try HealthyTanya’s Happiness Celebration healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh....

It might help you focus on the positives in your life, which might just be the first step forwards🤞😊

[Hidden]

Sorry it seems to me you don’t want to try anything that any one as said to you. We have all got ways of getting round things but listening to what other folk says can help.

I had 4 spine surgery’s in the past and suffer from chronic pain for the past 30 yrs. Have several damaged nerves that affect my legs. Like numbness from knees down pins and needles and feeling of thousands of ants walking up and down my legs. Also my arms are the same only i drop things and cannot always grip. So I know what pain is. Like you I thought nothing would work. I did a course of pain management for 12 weeks. It helps you to live with the pain it doesn’t stop it. Also sorts of meds I was swallowing. I still lost weight even though the meds that I take cause weight gain and constant sweating. On this forum now for 4 yrs. listened to what was said. I didn’t believe at first but thought it might just work. So slowly made changes. It has taken a long time and hard work on my part. I have lost 2 1/2 stone being here. ( I could have put that on and more in that time. ) according to my Dr. I walk 1 to 2 hrs each morning Then 1 most afternoons when I am able. Others times I cannot get out of bed. Still plodding along now. I will not stop. The meds I take are controlled drugs one is a patch. Which is changed every 3 days. Still have constant pain. I try to keep busy and not let the pain rule me, I rule the pain. So it is all down to what you want.

Sorry if you don’t like me saying these things but I am talking from the heart and experience of been a nurse when I was young. Now for 30 yrs been a patient. It is up to you to stay the same or try something different like what have been said here.

Again I am sorry if I upset you. I don’t mean to. You take care now. All the best . 🤞👍😊

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Hidden]

Your approach is always positive, Caroline, whatever you're dealing with

[Hidden in reply to BridgeGirl]

Thank you BridgeGirl. I was trying to get it across to Spspur. That any thing you want can be done. Without upsetting her. 😊

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Hidden]

I know

[Hidden in reply to BridgeGirl]

Lol👍😊

[Hidden]

Its very difficult to see a way forward when you have been trying so hard and cannot see any progress. If you are only eating 800 calories for 12 weeks and exercising then it is no wonder you are exhausted.

You say that you are on a weight management programme given to you by your GP. Is this 800 cal programme? Is your GP aware that you have been following this plan for 12 weeks has a medically qualified person been supporting you in this programme throughout the whole 12 weeks?

I'm not medically qualified and I don't know what others think but expecting you to keep to such a restrictive diet for 3 months with no weight loss seems really quite unkind.

Can you seek another opinion? I know others have suggested a dietician and that you feel it will not be for you.

I can't say much more than the others to try and help.