One of the best things you can do is exercise - indoors if necessary. I don't leave my house much - agoraphobia - but I do yoga in front of the tv. There are MANY DVDs out there if you feel like giving it a try. Also, be sure to set a time at night after which you won't eat anything. Late night munchies can be awful if you're trying to lose or maintain weight. Good luck!

Since going on Depakote I have gained much weight. I'm going to try exercise too - so I'll let you know if it works - it worked before in the past but you really have to be in the right frame of mind. Good luck xx

thanks for your advice. it was very kind of you to answer.

I gained alot of weight on depakote about 70 lbs over a few months without increasing my food intake. I've tried everything to loose it. I eat mostly health food and excersize. It took me almost a year of going to the gym to loose 15 lousy lbs and it seems like I've hit a wall. Hope things work out for you. Not sure what Meds you are on but ill be so f ing glad when i am off this crappy depakote!

Depakote...I've gained weight

When I first started Lithium , many years ago , I gained 80 pounds in 3 months . I had to stop the Lithium, too many side effects .

Being on BP meds can, and more often than not, causes weight gain.

I keep to a healthy diet, no snacking , and since Jan , I have been doing a Walking video I watch on YouTube

" Leslie Sansone Walking Away The Pounds"
I've lost 14 pounds.

I won't kid you, it's hard work, but it can be done

talk,to,your,pdoc,and,stop,taking,the,med,that's,causing,the,weight,
gain!--there,are,alternatives,topamax,and,prozac,actually,cause
weight-loss...iwas,on,meds,that,caused,weight,gain,stopped,weight,just,fell,
off,and,now,am,my,normal,size4-81/2stone(14lbs=1.stone).
i,felt,so,bad,about,the,weight,gain,that,it,completely,negated,
any,benefit,from,the,meds.good,luck,with,it.

I was skinny till I was diagnosed with BP. Yet I did not gain weight till I was put on Depakote ten years back. Its been phenomenal with mainly accumulation of abdominal fat. May people have taken unkind swipes at my body because it looks kind of funny only a tummy and thin arms and legs. My home is not conducive to exercise and gym is far too expensive, so too yoga. One of the epithets thrown at me - Paunch goddess. It hurts like hell when people are so mean. But as my shrink said, the people who mind don't matter, those who matter don't mind. But it hurts.