Actually my weight started with acid reflux-I had to eat only selective items I could digest well. Then I added 15 minutes of aerobic stepping on one of those boards you step up on ( not the stepper machine) and 5 minutes of lunges and pushups. My daughter soon after became a vegetarian and we stopped having meat in the house pretty much all together. I have lost 20 lbs and am only 8 pounds heavier than my prepreganancy weight years ago. I eat lots of greek yogurt, enjoy fiber cereal squares, drink coffee, water, for brunch and then eat a bigger lupper ( lunch supper) when my daughters gets off school-like cheese quesadillas, grilled cheese, cheese pizza (examples) or sometimes a burger out, with fruits and veggies, chips and even dessert. I eat a small snack before 6 and that's it then-and drink lots of water and sometimes tea. I am really surprised at this weight loss and feel back to my old self. Another thing I do is watch what meds I take and almost demand that they be weight neutral. I also use my skills because they are big part of my bipolar regulation puzzle. A drug can only go so far and I am afraid now of too many serious side effects. After Lithium gave me hypothyroid and then Linchen Sclerosis that was it. No one deserves that-luckily the hypothyroid left but I am forever stuck with LS. I also think Lithium gave me Sarcodosis yrs before that. So anyways -weight loss to me is a combination of things. Plus I have to add that I am always rocking in a rocking chair-I found out it burns up to 150 cal per hour. So maybe that keeps my metabolism faster.

For acid reflux a tablespoon of good apple cider vinegar in water will stimulate the sphincter in your stomach to close. Its also good for inflammation. I would steer clear of anything the doctor prescribes for it as among other things they are implicated in dementia. Sweet cravings can also be killed by eating a pickled onion. Good luck, hope you feel better soon.

I simply gave up sugar and did some walking and now I'm beginning to see results. :)

Off Balance: My sympathies for the acid reflux. Mine has been acting up for the last 4 days and it's hell. Unfortunately eating does help it some. I try heavy foods, but small amounts to kill the pain and not cause weight gain. Like Cream of Wheat, Creamy soups, stuff like that.

Looney- really? Apple cider vinegar?? I'm going to try it. And yes, I recently heard that the acid reflux meds (of which I'm on) can cause dementia. Just what I need to go with my Bipolar!
Thanks for the advice!!!

I lost 40 lbs . Here is how I did it:

Eating in small plates with a tea spoon. By doing this, you eat smaller portions and you eat slowly so by the time you finish eating , you feel full.

Eating healthy : lots of veggies and fish , tuna in particular . Salmon is great too.Lots of eggs.

Eating a huge salad bowl with 4-5 types of veggies. Add a little italian sauce.

Bought measuring spoons for portion control.

LOGGING my meals in app : my fitness pal , on my cell. The most important advice I can give is to log your meals.

Good luck :)

my diet rarely changes - i have almost no sugar, lots of fruit and veg and only a small amount of meat with about three ltrs of fluid each day but my weight fluctuates according to whatever meds i am on and it drives me insane. as has been said i try to insist on weight neutral meds but sometimes they add on anyway and as soon as i stop them the weight just goes. at the moment saphris has given me a weight explosion as did stopping and starting topamax and i am extremely depressed about this. (have even cut my stomach) if i eat any less i would be eating nothing really and i'm doing the exercises that i can with fibro and using the vibroplate. it sucks. without meds i never gain an ounce at all. it is very frustrating. i used to be anorexic so you can imagine how difficult this is. it is a catch 22 for us with these meds for one thing causing another.

My first antipsychotic was Olanzapine and that was when the weight gain and laziness started.

I am not controlling it. I gained 12 lbs since I saw my doctor last year. However, I recently got out of a really stagnate job where I was eating lots of crap.

Now, since I have time, I am taking the opportunity to walk. Brisk walks around 3.2 miles. Every day or skipping a day when my legs are hurting. Also, I am not going to eat corporate food i.e. fast food. My portion control sucks. However, I have to really work on that. Lots of water though, no colas, sodas etc...no juices. I stopped colas long ago.

Sugar is the worse. I do partake in a beer or three every so often. It's my little treat. I know I should not. Coffee, I have to curb that. The caffeine is just making my head race.

But I think no fast food, and no colas is a good start for anyone. And also some brisk walking...just my two cents ;-)

There is lots of good advice here Offbalance...

I'm needing to lose about 40 lbs. so I feel better and reduce stress on my joints.

The only thing that worked for me in the past was writing down my food ahead of time and sticking to it! Also making sure I got enough protein in each meal that helped me get to the next meal without eating in between.

Eating a lot less of things made with sugar and white flour was important too.

Exercise is important to me I could have kness issues if I'm not careful so that is motivating me to lose weight.

Good luck it's a great endeavor of self care! Come back and tell us how you are doing...