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Re: It's not that easy with a lot of drugs » Racer

Posted by yxibow on January 14, 2006, at 0:43:19

In reply to It's not that easy with a lot of drugs » yxibow, posted by Racer on January 13, 2006, at 12:52:05

> I know -- it seems like easy math, but it's not. Especially for women, by the way, because we actually have to prime the pump, so to speak, in order to lose weight. We have to expend 4000 extra calories to lose a pound -- which is a pound of weight, not a pound of fat, by the way -- because our bodies are evolved to protect and feed fetuses. Our bodies don't want to lose weight, because we have a more active role in reproduction.

I wasn't saying there was a "cookie cutter" method for losing weight, and I do recognize the differences between men and women. Men have more muscle mass than women which accounts for the greater expenditure of energy for women to lose weight. I'm not sure where the 7,500 calorie figure comes from though.

>
> Also, these drugs, in many cases, cause weight gain pretty directly, by affecting metobolism. That means that we can't 'just eat less and exercise more' to get the weight off. When I stopped Effexor, for example, I didn't change diet or exercise -- but proceeded to lose about 30 pounds within months. NOTHING changed, except discontinuing the Effexor. And gaining weight on Effexor? I don't overeat, as a rule, and I worked outdoors, on my feet, all day. I got exercise, and a lot of it. So how could I gain weight, when I was probably eating LESS than I had been?

For some, and some drugs, they may actively change metabolism and other factors in the body. Seroquel has probably changed my cholesterol somewhat even though I'm a vegetarian. Its unclear how much is due to the drug and how much is due to a slow but steady increase in eating patterns, which may not be noticeable over a period of months.

> When I started Paxil, I was actively anorexic. Starved myself and worked out two to three hours a day, EVERY day, weights and cardio. And I started gaining way before I stopped overexercising, or started eating more. The drug itself changed something.

I fully agree with your statement. Some bodies are just different. Its also worth knowing that weight gain can occur more greatly in those who are underweight than overweight for some medications.

>
> I'm writing all this to let other people know that it's NOT necessarily "your fault" if you gain weight on these drugs. I know how wretched I felt when my doctor was saying, "Oh, you're gaining weight because you're eating too much, and not exercising enough." The Paxil, for example, had me suicidal when I gained 10 pounds before it had any effect on my mood.

Never did I say it was "your fault." Its a combination though often of decreased metabolism and either the same amount of caloric intake or just a slight increase, over a long period of time.

>
> Yes, diet and exercise can help for many people, but not for everyone, and it's respectful to remember that. Sorry if I sound defensive -- I am. Even doctors are learning that it's not productive to blame the patient in this matter, and they're starting to prescribe mitigating agents, like Topomax, to help alleviate some of the metabolic changes.

Topamax never did a thing for me in weight loss -- I guess it varies by the person. It is not without danger -- it causes kidney stones 2 to 4 times those not treated with it. There have been rare gall bladder related events as well.

Finally, as for weight differences between men and women; the BMI does take account for some of these -- women are not considered in the obese category at a higher fat percentage than men, which as you clearly pointed out has plenty to do with reproductive functions.

I wasn't saying weight loss is easy -- its sometimes a lot of work for a given individual. I have to burn extra calories even in my given weight loss plan, for the very reason that has been mentioned, that some medications change metabolism by innate reasons -- atypical antipsychotics and possibly Remeron being the big problems. But it is true, sooner or later, regardless of sex differences, if you take into account them, and the metabolism changes of a drug, and the food intake, the body, male, or female, has to maintain its caloric (fat, muscle, and water) balance at a certain number. That number may be greatly different for someone on a medication regime. Eating below that number will eventually, over time, many weeks and months, gradually show a loss in weight.

 

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