I’ve struggled with my weight since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1995. I certainly had weight issues before that, but there were small time compared to what I’ve been through in the past 10 years.
Statistics show that those of us with severe mental illnesses die a LOT earlier than those without an illness. When I heard this, I said, ok. That’s not going to be me! I’ve written about this on the blog before. I have found that a low carb diet is working well for me in terms of my sugar cravings and my up and down weight. I’ve lost a lot of the weight I gained last year after taking Serequel.
Here is a book that can give you more information on this way of eating. It’s not really a diet as it’s life long.
The Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet: The Lifelong Solution to Yo-Yo Dieting
Definitely leave your comments on what works for you!
My goal is to be at my gorgeous, healthy weight by this time next year. I can’t keep going up and down every six months. It’s not healthy and it’s not fun! I will keep you posted on my progress.
Julie
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Hello again, Julie! I wrote once to you sometime in the past. I´m the girl who was living in Europe and started to read about bipolar disorder through your site because of the mood issues I was going through in that period. I´ve finally come back home to see a doctor. It happened this afternoon. The initial diagnosis is: Dysthymia. The reason I thought I might have bipolar disorder was that I had found so many similarities in our stories but this is because in both bipolar disorder and dysthymia the depression symptoms are present. I was told to take an antidepressant (sertraline hydrochloride). Do you know any side effect of this ? Also, I´d like to ask if you believe that the Health Cards would still help me in any way, although my actual diagnosis is dysthymia. I know meds won´t be enough and I want to learn from your experience. I still think that your books, specially “Get it done when you are depressed” , can help me very much and I have ordered it already and will be receiving them in some weeks. I´m looking forward to it!
Thank you very much,
I.K.G
CalorieKing.com is a great website that is centered around nutrition and weight loss. It is affordable to join but you can access the food database that lists calories and nutrition information for free. (unless they have changed that) It is a wonderful tool. C
Went to see a psychiatrist for the first time in over two years (couldn’t find a psy dr that take Medi Cal now). The doctor add Lamictel. I’ve been on Seroquel for more than 3 years now…though it really helped stablized me and I was able to sleep well for the first time in my life, I gained about 25 lbs after starting taking Seroquel. I wonder if Abilify and Tegretol is weight neutral like Lamectel or you gain weight on that too? Has anyone tried meds that can replace Seroquel?
Hi Shannon,
Lamictal isn’t known to cause weight gain. Thank heavens! Doctors were very happy when Abilify came out as it was designed to cause less weight gain than Zyprexa, Risperdal or Serequel. Most people like it a lot. Just be careful of the agitation that may come with it.
Tegretol can defintely cause weight gain as can Depakote. These are very successful anti- mania drugs- but the weight gain is a problem for many people.
If you have gained 25 pounds and it has stopped- then that may be livable- you can lose the weight over time. If your weight is continuing to go up- especially if you have excessive and obsessive hunger, I would talk with your HCP for help. If the weight is stable, you may want to live with it as a trade off. To be able to sleep and find stability is amazing. Even though Abilify and Serequel are anti psychotics- they don’t work in the same way. If you don’t have to change meds- I defintely wouldn’t! This is something a HCP can really help you decide.
Drugs that work are miracles- and sometimes they come with less than pleasing side effects. It depends on what you can handle. Julie
ever since i been on lithium i put on 80 pounds in 4 years.
You can definitely find some help with a ketogenic or low-carb diet such as Atkins, South Beach, etc. I have been diagnosed Bipolar for a few years now and through both medication and depression had gained a good 70 pounds over my optimum weight. Once into the ketosis phase, my metabolism sped up, I lost 30 pounds in one month, and my energy level was through the roof but NOT manic! I was simply in a good mood, felt great and productive and lost weight. I highly recommend a low carb diet for Bipolar Disorder sufferers! The science behind how the diet works on your body is inarguable. You will lose weight if you stick to the diet.
Kenny: My daughters mother in law might have bipolar. Two people (a brother & a sister) in her family have it and she is showing a lot of the signs. She refuses to be tested.
She is also having a lot of problems with her weight. I have been doing low carb for a while now, but was unsure if I should suggest it. I had read a few things that said it might help, but I appreciate your first hand knowledge. Thanks