if the weight is bothering you go through your cupboards and fridge and get rid of prcessed high calorie foods. don't eat out anymore. cooking burns calories. i know from my own pain that it hurts to exersize. but get up as often as you can, clean house, try to go outsided and do one small chore, sweep the porch or something. i think this would help with your weight. you can almost eat as much as you want when it is healthy. with all the pills that we take our bodies are deprived of vitamins anyway. ps drinks with b vitimans help. green tea and water. good luck

I can relate to how hard it can be to lose weight when you can't get much exercise. Do you know if the drugs themselves cause weight gain, or do you think you are gaining weight just because you can't be as active and you're eating more?

I have been overweight for a long time and it's not a lot of fun. Lately though I have been losing weight, and I too can't do very much activity at all. I have found Weight Watchers works quite well if you stick with it. They encourage exercise, but it's still possible to do the plan even if you can't do any exercise. They have a couple different types of plans.... the names of them just changed so I'm not sure what they're called. I like the one where you eat all the healthy foods best, because I find you can eat more and feel satisfied. They have both online membership as well as meetings in person. Also, if you can't afford much you can join just long enough to learn the program, then stop paying and do it on your own. They have message boards online that are really helpful and they're free.

Good luck!

I used to take Neurontin, which is in the Lyrica family, and it did the same thing to me. I'd always been very slim and athletic so to pack on all that weight was very hard to take.

Eventually, I stopped the Neurontin and lost down. At my top weight, I was 180 and now I'm down to 150, which still isn't where I'm used to being but these days I have a different perspective of what attractiveness is and it has nothing to do with weight.

When you like yourself and are confident, you are at your most attractive no matter what you look like. It's true. Think about it. What attracts you to a person whether it be sexual or just in the day to day run of things when you meet people?

That being said, I am still watching what I eat. I don't count calories as much as try to eat healthy. I take supplements that help with overall wellness.

Bottom line, I'm 43 and I like who I am much more now than I ever did when I was in my 20s even if I do weight 30 pounds more.

Hi Megan! I too am trying to lose weight to take pressure off my back. I didn't realize til a few days ago I have actually lost alomst 15 lbs in 3 months! Not bad considreing how inactive I am. When I started the oxycocdone it did help reduce my appetite. I haven't used lyrica, but I hear it can cause weight gain. Same with the sterroids. A couple things I have changed that has helped with the weight loss is drink a glass of water before I eat, then stop eating when I'm not hungry anymore, not when I am stuffed. I still eat whatever I want, so I don't feel like I am punishing myself by being on a diet. I have a skinny BF and son, so they love the junk food. I eat everything they do, but much smaller portions, eat slow and enjoy it. Another thing I do is brush my teeth if I am wantiing just to snack. I hate to dirty my fresh mouth! I tried hard for a while to 'diet' and I just got frustrated and ate gallons of ice cream and candy. Now I just eat smart and it is coming off a chip at a time. I am also rewarding myself with a little gift here and there. I have been very depressed and the reward to myself does make me feel better. I have battled depression pain and wieght all my life, and it is not easy. One thing I do know is diets don't work. The wieght loss is temporary if you crash. My advise is relax and don't expect to lose it overnight. It's not your fault you have gained the weight, so don't beat yourself up over it. Reward yourself when you do good, and don't deny yourself what you want to eat, just eat in moderation. Hugs to you! :) Julie

It is the lyrica that caused the weight gain. Losing the weight is very hard for us. Walking is the best way and changing your eating habits to include 6 small and healthier meals to raise metabolism. Don't use one of those fat burners the medication will burn faster too.

I never had a problem with gaining weight on lyrica although it's apparently a side affect for a lot of people. I rarely suggest taking another chemical/drug if you dont have to, but for me chronic fatigue comes with my diseases, and I think a lot of us are fatigued in general. If you have fatigue on a regular basis, I would ask your Doctor for Adderall ofr Provigal. Provigal is a better version of Adderall but along with stopping fatigue, they help cut your appetite. If you do not have fatigue, drink a lot of water before each meal to fill you up so you wont eat as much. For a lot of people pain meds make you crave sweets, so try some lifesavers, or sweetarts; anything small that will curb the cravings. I hope this helps a little. I had weight issues a while ago but with the adderall for fatigue my weight has stayed between 125 & 130 for the past 8 years and still holding steady. If you cannot excersise hard try Yoga for Beginners by Rodney Yee. It's VERY easy on your body, only 20 minutes a day and you can get it at Borders for 10 bucks. Not only will you get some sort of excerise, it will help elongate your muslces while making them more supple which helps with the pain.

thank you guys today is not good at all for my pain and I am so tired. i forgot to mention that my dr also put me on prenatal vitamins because of how often I get my cycles I tend to get anemia so I am more tired and not wanting to move. I think the biggest part of my problem is the nerve block steriod injections I tend to get sooo swollen in my face and stomach area. I decided to make a goal for myself I am going to try to ride my bike down my street once or twice a day and I have a yoga dvd that i do at night before bed because it helps me to get relaxed and i drink the sleepy tea with chamomille. take a lot of baths. My problem is I have always been skinny 4"8 and 85 pounds never more than that until now. My hubby told me the other night that he felt sorry for me because of the weight gain. I have always been very active so I have never really gained weight this is the most i have weighed ever. My friend lost 50 pounds on weight watchers so I may talk to her about the program and see if there is some of her cook books I can borrow. Many of your guys replies made me cry I have never really battled depression I lost my mom when I was young but im kinda just now dealing with it and the pain and hubby. I belong to the gym I joined to have some time with my hubby but he told me we have to take seperate cars that it was his quiet time. I understand he needs that time but I see no point in driving across town to the same point in two cars. I can leave him alone at the gym because i mean im in a class and he is doing weights. Im just not sure what to do the class is the same time he goes. any way thank you guys so much I do crave sweets and bread noodles and stuff my biggest problem.

I completely understand. I gained 20 pounds. I used to exercixe 5 x a week. Now it's a big accomplishment if I walk my little dog. I take so many meds but I think it's the inactivity. My husband swears that I am crazy, but I feel ugly and I hate looking in the mirror. I am taking Topamax and one of the side effects is supposed to be weight loss. As a matter of fact, my doctor was concerned that it might cause too much weight loss! No such luck. I think I need a haircut, and a manicure and pedicure and some new clothes instead of squeezing into what doesn't fit. Money is tight - but I haven't treated myself in a long time. Maybe you should do the same. =)