Depressed and no motivation--HELP!

I'm 7 weeks out and feeling so depressed. I know that I'm experiencing withdrawal from my food addiction. Anyone have any suggestions on getting out of this funk? I called my psychiatrist to get a med adjustment but she advised me to get to a support group and use the resources around me. I've started doing that. I'm going to Dr. Frye's group at Centennial this week. I've kept in contact with my bariatric buddies but I'm still in a funk. I know it will take time. Anyone else go thru this? How did you pull yourself out of it. My weight loss is slow but Dr. H. says that some people lose slower than others. I've had a rough start so I've lost only 28lbs thus far. I need to step up my exercising and tweek my daily diet some. I'm trying to stay between 400-600 cals/day. I've been able to start exercising this past week but not consistently. I would appreciate your input! Thanks! Janie Could some of you share what you eat in a normal day? I would really appreciate it if you would also share your exercise too?

I had a slow start myself and I constantly feared that I wouldn't loose the weight I was suppose to. I just added my calories today..... oh my goodness is all I can say. I have had way too many. A piece of cheese here, a piece of cheese there really adds up! I'm curious to know what YOU are eating?? You know you need to up the exercise and become more consistent with it. These first 6 months are when you will lose the fastest...adding exercise will help you loose even more. At 7 weeks, I think my meal plan looked something like this: B - EAS Carb AdvantEdge Protein Drink L - 1/2 c. FF cottage cheese and a couple of slices of lunch meat (turkey or chicken) D - 3 oz. of chicken marinated in whatever. I also liked those Ready to Eat meals made by Tyson.. the one with chicken and gravy Also, had sf popsicles and sf jello through the day sometimes too.

Generally I eat B- EAS Carb Advantage Protein drink OR yogurt w/protein L- tuna w/tbsp lite miracle whip D- varies from chicken w/some kinda marinade to baked fish or turkey burger or turkey meatballs. S- 1/2 cup 1% cottage cheese ( I have to take my meds at night and they make me really nauseous so I have to eat something so I'm not nauseated) I usually average about 500 to 600 cal give or take a few /day. I think i may work on changing up my meds so I can get rid of the night time cottage cheese. I'm not sure April. Dr. H. says that I'm behind for one reason because when I was in the hospital a few weeks ago, I was getting about 1000+ cals/day because I was malnourished and dehydrated.

Even with the cottage cheese... you're doing really great! I think if you just add some exercise... start slow ...3 times a week for 30 minutes/day (break it up - 10 minutes here, 10 minutes there..etc.. it all adds up) you'll see that scale move a little Just keep doing what your doing, food wise. Don't forget you're still early out and the exercise will come to you and it will get easier and easier. AND you just might learn to like it too lol Make sure you talk to your doc about adjusting your medications. Staying connected through the various support groups is important too. So I strongly encourage that too. I hope you get to feeling better soon!

Janie, I'm sorry that you're feeling depressed. I have depression so I understand that aspect. During this those times, I exercised rather than eating and I also went to the support groups. I also spent a lot of time on the OH boards and the support and exercise combined helped me. I also really concentrated on getting my protien drinks in and my water...are you getting in all your liquids? I didn't feel hungry because I was constantly drinking water or a protien supplement. I hope this helps. -Alyssa

Hey Janie, I think you are doing great at 28 pounds...when was the last time you were able to lose nearly thirty pounds in less than 2 months? I battled depression a lot my first three months out...nearly full four months actually and have only recently really came out of it. I am a bit of a nerd and read more than I breathe, lol, so I knew to expect this...it is very common to experience depression after this surgery. Give yourself permission to mourn the loss of your best friend, food, but don't allow yourself to wallow in it. Try to find something and keep busy at it, it really does help. For me, I have been really focued on doing some things around the house. Like today, I painted a recent yard sale find to match my bathroom and I organized a bookshelf. I have been cleaning out my "junk drawers" all over the house...reading a lot more than usual, even for me...and have started doing my crafts again that I had abandoned. Of course, lately time has been consumed with school but I finished my last final yesterday and have the month off. I keep my calories at 600 or under. Dr.Houston said they could be as low as they could be as long as I was getting my protein in. Sometimes i get it in really low calorie ways like tilapia and end up at only 300-350 and he said this is fine. My exercise, which, by the way, I did not start really consistently until recently I am ashamed to admit, consists of a 30 minute cardio or strength training session depending on the day, and another 30 minutes of brisk walking. I do this six days a week. I found that if I let myself take more days off, then it was harder to get into the habit. Now, I HAVE to do it or I feel horrible. I do not like it, I hate exercise, but I love the way it makes me feel, inside and out! A typical days food is usually something like this: I hate eating first thing in the morning so I have an AchievOne every morning...that's 120 calories and 20 grams of protein. For lunch I have 4 ounces of chicken breast at 120 calories and around 24 grams of protein. For a snack I have a half cup of cottage cheese at 100 calories and 15 grams of protein. For dinner, I usually have either shrimp or other fish, around 100 calories and 20 grams or protein. This usually gives me a total of around 400-450 calories and 79-85 grams of protein. Days when I am having a bad case of nausea, I usually fix a shake instead of eating for the same calories and protein. Hope this helps...good luck and don't be so hard on yourself!!!!!!

Hey Janie, I'm not sure what it is but I also was depressed early out. It is very tuff getting a new routine going and that can cause stress no doubt. Just take it a day at a time and do your best. Slow weight loss is sometimes better especially for the loose skin issue. 28lbs lost is nothing to be sad about girl. That is great! Although you may not be losing as much or as quickly as you would like you ARE losing. Just keep that in mind and try to stay positive. As far as exercise you have to find something that you enjoy and that works for you. Personally I started with Water Aerobics and loved it. Now I basically do walking, ellipical,weights. I would like to try Pilates and Yoga to see if I like it. Just try different things and see what works. Wishing you all the best !!

Janie, I have not gone through a withdrawl from food as of yet, I sure hope that I will not. I guess each of us are different, but I really expected to have some depression in this area and I feel blessed that I have not experienced this. I will say, do everything you need to do to get you out of it, maybe post a before and after picture on the fridge so you will be constantly reminded why you did this and just how wonderfully you have done thus far. You are with the best group of people that understand and are more than willing to help!!! Shelia

Hi Janie, As you can see, everyone or almost everyone suffers through the mourning period with their food or with depression. I think it will help you to hear this. I also think that you are doing great. Just stick to what you are doing and maybe get in a little more exercise (maybe not more just consistent). Try to find something that you enjoy doing and you will be more likely to keep doing it. I also think going to the support groups is a good idea, but if the depression persists, I would go to the psychiatrist again with the concern for the meds. You may need to work with Dr H and your pharmacist to see if the ones you are taking are time release, this is not what you need. Also, don't kick yourself, you will always be the hardest on yourself. You have admitted the problem, tomorrow is a new day and you start over again. If you need me you know you can call or email me at any time. I will Pm you my phone #. Take care of yourself and don't be so hard on yourself. Darlene

Darlene, I was reading your post and had to re-read it... it said "almost everyone suffers through the mourning period..." and I thought you were talking about menstruation! I was going to say not just morning period, but afternoon period, nighttime period... Lord knows my mood swings!!! So you got an AMEN on that point. Too bad it wasn't the point you were really making!