I am testing out a four part weight management plan for people with bipolar disorder. It’s a comprehensive program that covers management of the illness, medications, lifestyle choices and actual diet. All of the stuff that gets very negatively affected when we have mood swings.
I will start the pilot program in May. Please send me an email through the comment button if you would like to know more. I will read all of the comments, but will not post them.
I know there is a way for us to manage our weight while we manage bipolar disorder. And it’s not only about the food we eat. There are so many ways the illness and the medications affect our bodies- from metabolic syndrome to using sugar as a treatment for depression- I am going to find a way to make us all healthy and lean.
Julie
PS: I have received many replies to this post. I will get back to everyone soon. Please do write if you are interested.
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I think this is a GREAT idea!
Hi Julie,
I have so appreciated your blog and your books that I have purchased. I have found them very helpful. They have helped me understand that this illness is manageable. I was diagnosed with BP II about 3/08. I do agree that diet, exercise and medication have played a huge role in my ability to recovery. Rencently, I changed medication and got off sugar and procesed foods and have added exercise to my rountine. With those changings I feel more balanced. I feel “normal” for the first time in my life. Eating whole grains, good protien, lots of fruit and veggies and limits on carbs (I have 2 servings a day for now)has been the biggest change (along with the new medication)I have seen. I was diagnosed with metabolic syndrom but have reversed the pre-diabetic and the cholestrol issues completely. Eliminating sugar from my diet I also don’t experience the huge cravings I use to have. Sorry this is so long winded. Thought I would share.
Jen has the good ideas that people with bipoar need to have hanging on the refrigerator. I have been struggling (and sometimes successfully) with this illnes for 40 years. My biggest complaint about weight is the zyprexa. I know it’s a life saver for mania but a person could get very despondent about the weight around the middle. Makes shopping for clothes a depressing event. If you didn’t have a positive body image before hand, the mirrors in the dressing rooms will confirm the bad news. I have even considered having a tummy tuck whick is very drastic. So I got a very good price on a park department gym/swimming center pass. I love to do aerobic swimming and now I am learning to use the machines to get some muscle which will burn more calories.
So in answer to your desire to put together this group, I say “yes” count me in. Let’s be each other’s cheerleader and coach. I’m willing to do it.
Julie,
I just recently started up my own blog that deals with postpartum depression and weight gain. I was doing some research for an upcoming podcast that I got asked to do and I ran across your blog. I suffered through PPD and was diagnosed as bipolar…and then undiagnosed. Anyways…I have been put on just about every medication and just about every one made me a little fatter. I solved the whole problem by switching to a low carb diet and am now trying to find some science to support why the diet works the way it does when simple calorie cutting and adequate exercise didn’t make the weight budge. If you get a chance I would love for you to stop by my blog.
Glad I found your site.
Christina
I would really like more information. I had a comment on a previous post asking about what medicine side effects we have to live with to be “stable”. My comment was weight gain. If it isn’t a side effect of a medicine, it is my own mood swings! If I am hypomanic I feel so good I want to go out to eat anywhere I want. If I am depressed, I just want to eat something to make feel better. Of course, eating it at home by myself.
I think it is great idea and would love more information!
Wow Robin and can so relate. I too struggle with the concept of eating when I’m manic and eating when I’m depressed. It really helps me to realize I’m not the only one going through these things.
I am very interested in this topic.
I think it’s a brilliant idea to tackle this challenge. Please let us know about your findings with the pilot program. Thanks for being such a pioneer. William.
Julie
Over thirty five years i have been on many medications and combinations. The current medication i am on is seroquel and lamotrigine. I have a voratios appetite and battle with it daily. I have gained fifty pounds in one year as my appetite ruled out of control. I’m looking forward to some advice from you as to where to go from here.
I am interessted.
Hi Julie
you have helped me so much, i am very interested in you program. you see I have stopped two medications because i gained to much weight, i dont way that much, but i have a mental problem with weight gain, some even say i might have a eating disorder, like Ziprexa helped me a bunch but i jumped up 50lbs so i quit it and went on a fasting diet, with in two months i was back down to 160lbs, i wish i could find something
I”ve been on Zyprexa for many years, and it was only after I gained 90 pounds that the doctor told me it’s one of worst weight-gainers of all the bipolar meds. I also take Depakote, which is another med that causes weight issues. What a combination!
The weight thing is a huge issue for bipolar people, so this is a really great idea. I’d love to receive more information, because I know this weight thing is only making me more depressed. Thanks!
I don’t understand the concept of weight gain as a side effect of meds such as Depakote. I’ve been on it for 10 years. I didn’t notice anything when I started on it so I wouldn’t expect anything to change now. Have some meds been demonstrated to affect metabolism?
I have bipolar 1 and take a number of medications to keep me well which is great. I have been taking medication for around twenty years and am overweight. Now I have type 2 diabetes due to the excess weight. My doctor does not seem to understand why I can’t lose weight. I can do everything right for a period of time and my weight doesn’t change. I get disheartened and give up until the next lot of tests. Then I try again. There has to be a better way. Help!
( I admit I don’t exercise regularly ) I feel you have to have a certain amount of confidence which I don’t have.
Yes, I am very interested in your weight management plan. Please count me in. I was going to send my long history of being Bi-Polar II but, after typing and reading it, decided not to and deleted it. It’s good to be able to communicate with someone else who has the same diagnosis. At least I know that you can appreciate the endless challenges that go with this disease.
Would love to join you. Although I am scared to fail.
I recently got sick and put on 45 lbs. I am so heavy it’s hard for me to move around, but I am willing to try. Please include me, I need this badly for my health.
Thank you,
Kathleen
I would like to learn more. I would write more but it seems the comments are being posted. Thanks.
I’ve gained 85# since being diagnosed and having the docs try all the various meds. I’m definitely interested!!!
Hey Julie!
When will we be getting information on the weight management group? I am eager to be involved.
- Melissa -
Like everyone here who has responded I’ve gained weight on my meds–50 lbs. in about 12 yrs. & now am on meds for high blood pressure & high cholesterol & am testing in the diabetic range (both parents were diabetic). I actually had a very bad relapse 3 yrs. ago (suicide attempt) when husband told me he no longer found me sexually attractive due to weight gain (well, duh, it was pretty obvious & since my self-esteem has pretty much always been in the gutter, that remark put me into the sewer system w/the rats). Have been in individual therapy & DBT since then & husband didn’t know my reaction would be so dramatic & self-destructive (as he is “normal”) & he has much remorse & is being very supportive & helpful in repairing our relationship (just celebrated 36 yrs. of marriage). Weight gain is a HUGE (bad pun) issue for us w/bipolar as we usually feel so badly about ourselves anyway. Would like to learn more about any method to help w/weight loss.
Has this group started yet. I am in a hurry now. I have to have a surgery
and have to lose 35 lbs, before my doctor will schedule it.
Please let me know.
Kathleen
Hi K.
As you can see – it took me a while to get back to you. I also want to lose 30 pounds and am doing it slowly. I wrote in a recent blog about stopping ALL fast food and I did it. I am now stopping wheat as I have a allergy. If you go to the front of the blog, you will see the fast food challenge a few entries down. Please join us and we can go from there. I will then move forward with the weight loss group. Julie
Hi, your site is amazing and I love reading your articles. Although I couldn’t agree with you at some aspects, that was good to learn a different point of view, too! Thanks a lot!