3 years ago I fired a psychiatrist once for wising off at me about weight gain when I brought up that I was gaining weight as a side effect of the meds he prescribed me. It was printed as a side effect in plain English on the package every time I came home with my meds from the pharmacy, and yet this guy thought it was cute to be a smart aleck about it.

I care about this, because it's one more thing to deal with in our commitment to the various kinds of help out there for us--for me the big three being meds, talk therapy, and support group participation. Now I have kidney disease and can't do my meds the way I did for many years, and I have weight gain due to drastic loss of my metabolic rate after losing 60% kidney function. I fired my kidney doctor this month and got a new one because he didn't care about that, either. In my first appointment with my new kidney doctor, we addressed the issue.

Obesity just got listed in the medical community for the first time as a disorder in and of itself, and it's about time. It's not ok just to trade one disorder, PTSD, for another, obesity, and laugh it off. We have a right to strive for health just like anybody. I exercise daily and don't follow fad diets, but a nutritional regimen of fruit, protein, limited carbs, and vegetables I got from my doc. I'm glad you brought this up.

Muji

I'm trying to tune in to my body better. For all my childhood I learned to ignore my own physical and mental needs till I no longer was even aware of them any more. So I appreciate what you two are saying... the exercise, healthy food, paying attention to side effects. Too many doctors just pump people full of meds until they can't care and call that treatment. Sometimes we do need a certain kind and amount of meds, but always to take care of ourselves in the other ways too.

never felt better than when I got the exercise going and aerobic water exercise classes , muj again buddy enjoy the trip you surely have earned it you are one of the nicest i have met always giving to others and accepting ,, I truly appreciate all your support,, Go with the angels and return safely friend BMW

I used to tip the scale at 228 and lost about 40 pounds but have gain about five pounds since my new med was added. It makes me discouraged when I have been working out and I gain weight. I am hoping it will level off soon and I will start losing again.

bmw, bless you, and thanks for the good wishes on my trip. I'm so grateful for the support you send out here, too.

Aries, I know. I lost 26 pounds in 2012, then in the winter when the weather limited my exercise I gained back 17. See sawing is not good. I'm losing pounds again. It's a never ending battle. It's good we can support each other with it here.

I still havent gotten back to my "regular" weight from some meds I had two doctors ago. Thankfully the doctor I have now really knows his shit about side effects and Ive been doing pretty well on that front.

I'd try the healthy snack option. If you want to eat all the time, try celery. Very crunchy, so it has that satisfaction like chips, but zero calories. Or, you could try drinking water when you get the urge to eat. Or try gum. Aroma therapy can help, too.

Also, I'd watch what you drink. If you cut just one glass of soda out a day, that's one pound you save at the end of a month. Think of what you can cut if you drink a lot of juices and others and only drink zero calorie beverages!

Also, get on a treadmill. I burn 500 calories per session which is a another pound in a week if you don't alter calorie intake.

Combine those strategies, and you'll lose the weight in due time.

For what it's worth, fear of weight gain is why I've never considered taking meds. I'm a very small-framed person and 15-20 pounds would make a huge difference.

I like to be at 115. At 118, I'm starting to get stressed. By 120, I'm like HELL no! If I'm 112, I'm like, "Whoo-hoo! I can have some ice cream or pizza today and not feel guilty. It's the same 5 pounds I'll always worry about for the rest of my life, but I've finally come to grips with it after having 2 kids and I realize it's my little demon I have to fight every day when I get on the scale. So I just try to say "Boo!" to it by making smart choices.