Carb Crazy - Thanks Medications!

It Can be so very Difficult to Control Weight on Antipsychotics

Photo by i yunmai on Unsplash

There is no doubt about it. It is hard to control your weight with certain medications. I speak specifically about the antipsychotics that I take.

I have been a diagnosed schizophrenic since the late 2000s. I have been on a variety of drugs. Seroquel, Risperdal, and Zyprexa - they all made me gain weight.

I’ll admit, even as far back as my college days, the medications made me gain weight and I stopped taking them, in part, for that reason. Not to mention, I thought I was well.

Though today, I want to celebrate. I am doing very well with maintaining my weight today and these days.

I think there are tricks to be learned.

Maybe first and foremost, know thyself.

I have learned things about myself. For one, I have a primal craving for carbohydrates with my medication. I don’t eat one Oreo, I eat a sleeve.

I admit, I eat sometimes to feel better.

Today, there is a solution. I don’t allow myself any refined sugars.

That seems to work for me. I let myself graze on other things. Those things range from celery to carrots, but I really restrict refined sugars and pure - all out carbs.

I have to do it. I wouldn’t be able to control my weight at all if I didn’t do this. There is always some incremental solution.

I know there is a lot of information and misinformation out there about what people can and should eat. I grew up in the 80’s. Remember, when fat was the enemy and every product suddenly spawned fat free versions of themselves.

I fully admit and say with full disclosure, “I am not an expert on nutrition and I am not a nutritionist.”

I can only relate my own experience and how I have been successful at stabilizing my weight under a fairly high dose of antipsychotics.

I do two things.

1. I eat healthy non processed foods

2. I exercise in some form regularly

I have learned that 90% of the Serotonin in your body is in your digestive tract. That’s just a fun fact and I’ll let you take it where you may.

For me, when my cravings are at their worst and I keep going to the fridge or cabinet, I only allow myself whole healthy foods.

The truth is, I do eat a lot. There is no getting around that. Today though, I have a handle on my weight and it has stabilized. I believe this is because I fill myself with healthy food options and because I exercise.

These are tips I found on the web:

• Identify Patterns: Notice when your cravings occur (e.g., after meals, late at night, between meals) and try to address the underlying cause

• Healthy Snacks: Keep low-calorie, fiber-rich snacks on hand, like carrot and celery sticks, to satisfy hunger without overindulging in carbs

• Delayed Gratification: When a craving hits, wait it out for about 20 minutes. Often, the intensity of the craving will decrease

• Balanced Meals: Ensure your meals are balanced with protein, healthy fats, and fiber to help you feel full longer

As an aside, why do all my resolutions to lose weight happen after I’ve binged on food and have a full stomach?

I will also add, going without my medications is not an option. I need to incrementally tackle whatever side effect problems I may have.

I will often think to myself that I graduated college because of Zyprexa. If I hadn’t gone off of it in my early twenties, my life might have been very different.

There’s no point crying over spilled milk, but I do want to learn from the past.

I want to live with a minimum of the negative side effects such as weight gain and working toward an incremental solution is key.