Welcome to the Group

Welcome! We would love get to know you, so please tell us a little bit about yourself. You can choose any format you'd like, but most of us here share some or all of the following details:

1. History with weight loss:
2. History with Calorie Count:
3. Reason for joining this group:
4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests:

And now just go ahead and make that first post!

HI! I figured since I started the group I would introduce myself right away! I am Brittani. I have Borderline Personality Disorder and I am a compuslive eater. I created this group because those of us with mental illnesses face different struggles and there was no group created for us! I joined calorie count because it is unlike any other weightloss site! It acctually gives reasonable goals! I have been overweight since age nine and I figure it's time to shape up! I have two cats, Jasmine and Orion. I hope this group helps! Good luck to all!!

Hello I'm Amanda and I'm glad to see this group, I have Bipolar Disorder and have been diagnosed for 10 years now. I am greatful that I am doing well because there have been times I've had to be hospitalized. I think one of the struggles we face is the factor of the medicines we take, as to how it can affect our weight. I know I've gained weight from many different meds in the past years. I joined hoping to find a group like this who share similar hardships with weight loss and life in general.

I am currently taking online courses through university and am supposed to graduate at the end of 2009 and can't wait, hopefully before then I will have reached my goal weight. I enjoy spending time with my boyfriend and family as well as going to the beach and shopping. I have a dog, Sugar who my family adopted from the neighbors, she wont stay at home, but we like having a pet.

Welcome to the group Amanda! I'm Brittani. I understand where you are coming from about the meds. I started a new medication in May and gained 20 pounds! I hope this group helps! If you know anyone this group may help please refer them, we all have to stick together! I am proud of you for starting college! Good luck with college and your weight loss journey!

Brittani

Brittani,

Just wanted to see how you were doing, I have had a couple of days where I have been more depressed, but I think I'm getting better. I still haven't lost any weight yet, but everyone has told me some weeks you ownt lose and some you will. I'm sure the depakote has something to do with it, but I'm gonna keep trying cause I know there are other people here that have took the same meds and have lost a significant amountof weight. What type of exercise do you do, I'm mostly walking and I enjoy that. One of the reasons I am depressed is beacuse I can't find a job I do go to school but that is online and at night I used to work 40 hrs a week and do school. I've been out of work a year and that affects my depression when I did get a job, back in June I had recently switched meds and my symptoms came back, so I couldn't handle it and quit. I switched meds because of the weight but lost a great job in the process. How was I know to know not long after switching meds I'd find work and that switching meds was a bad idea. I have so much regret but I have to move forward. I hope this isn't too long just needing soemone to talk to about the situation. Sometimes it seems like I should be in therapy every other day. Are you doing ok now or do you have good days and bad days too. Hope the rest of your week goes well. Gotta do some more studying.

A

Hi Amanda!

I am doing good, thanks for asking! I have fallen off the weight loss wagon and have been eating more, so I am pretty sure that I gained the 2 pounds back! It's okay you haven't lost! You are probably gaining muscle by walking, and it is true some weeks a person just doesn't lose weight! I think you also may be right about the depakote. How long have you been on it? Have you noticed it making any differences yet? I hope it works for you! I know switching meds can make life harder, but hopfully if you find the right ones it will eventually make life easier! I am going off of nortyptaline (don't know if thats spelled right), and I have been sleeping and crying alot more! As for exercise, I do Turbo Jam (when I can get the gumption up, that is!). It is really fun, has great music, and you don't have to workout long to burn major calories! I am sorry to hear about your job, but give yourself time (and a break!) to bounce back. At least you are trying new meds to make life better instead of people who refuse that they have problems. I am VERY proud of you for being so brave! You are doing more than I can do! I have been wanting to go to college online for about a year and keep on putting it off because I don't know if I can do it. I am terrified of failing. I know I wish sometimes I could be in therepy every other day! ANd don't worry about writing long posts! I am here for you to talk to! I am glad I can help in any way! I do have good and bad days. With my Borderline Personality disorder I can even have good hours or bad hours, or even switch from minute to mintue! I also have depression and anxiety and social phobia so it gets hard sometimes. Thank you for caring! I hope you are doing well and keep your chin up! Things will get better and you will lose weight! Thanks for writing!

Brit

Hi, I'm Kathleen.  I have schizo-affective disorder, anxiety and sleep disorders.  I have been overweight most of my adult life, actually since I was put on medication for my mental illness.  I go between eating too much to not eating enough.  Often my diet has lacked good nutrition.  My highest weight has been over 320 but I'm done to 252.  I have been diagnosed at times with malnutrition even at my highest weight due to bad eating habits.  I now am cooking differently because my boyfriend, who lives with me, is diabetic.  Since living together I tend to by healthier foods and prepare them more healthy.  I don't always achieve this but do try.   I'm not very active.  I tend to be a couch potato.  I find that quite a few of my medications don't help my weight problems.  Sometimes it is hard to get myself motivated.  Thank you for letting me be a part of this group.

Kathleen 

Welcome Kathleen! I'm glad you joined! Congratulations on getting down to 252! I also have had quite bad eating habits and am not very active. Medications really do not help with weight, do they! I know back in April I was down to 200 but then I started Nortryptaline, and now I am at 241! I wish there were meds that didn't cause weight gain, but getting mental disorders under control is more important. I hope you are doing well and thanks for joining!!

Brittani

Hi, my name is Sara. I have major depressive disorder and mostly all the traits of BPD. I'm joining this group so I can relate to other people that may be struggling with the same issues I deal with daily. When my depression started, (in 7th grade), I gained about 20 pounds. I've never really made a serious attempt to lose that 20 pounds until recently, and thats why I joined CC.

I'm really struggling with the whole medication thing. I'm currently not taking any medications mainly because the ones i've tried haven't worked and I don't want to gain ANY weight from them. I've also tried the therapy route, which didn't work for me either, considering that I couldn't relate to any of them, let alone feel comfortable talking to them.

Hi Sara! Welcome to the group! When you say BPD are you referring to Bipolar Disorder or Borderline Personality Disorder? Therapy is very hard, trying to find some one you can relate to and trust. Good for you for trying! I also started getting my worst symptoms in the 7th grade, everything just seems to come to a head then. I hope you are doing well, and welcome again!

Brittani

sorry, I meant Borderline Personality Disorder. I'm working on finding that winning combination of therapy and medication. I hope i find it soon =[ because right now i'm pretty miserable.

I hope you find the right combo soon too! Borderline Personality Disorder seems to be pretty hard to treat, and I know its hard to deal with. Sometimes I think I'm going CRAZY! Just know we are here to listen and help with what we can! Hope you are doing less miserable.

Brittani

I am so sorry I started my own post. I didn't understand everyone was putting their introductions in here.

Its no prob! We don't get mad here! Hope you are doing well!

hi my name is april i am 32 year old female honestly i have not had the money to find out what is wrong with me the only thing i do know is i have depression and this thing where if you have gone through tramatic events in your life i forgot what it is called if anyone knows what it is can you please let me know thank you. i can't keep a job very long because i have a learning disability and it takes me longer to learn something thin the average person i have a daughter that will be 7 in october she lives with her dad's aunt in kansas i live in florida i have a dog named rocky and i live with my boyfriend we have been together for almost 8 years now i love taking pictures and writing poetry and like makeing new friends i am trying to maintain my weight learn to eat healthy and quit smoking i have been drug free for almost 5 years now and i am very proud of myself

Hi April! Welcome to the group! Have you looked around in your area for an income based mental health facilities? The one I go to I don't have to pay anything for a psychiatrist, psychologist, or meds because I am unemployed! It is really awesome! Did you mean Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? I have struggled with mild dyslexia for many years and it was ignored by my teachers, so I kind of understand what you are going through. How often do you get to see your daughter, if I may ask? It must be hard having her live so far away. I have two cats, Orion (boy) and Jasmine (girl). Congrats on being drug free! I can't imagine how hard it is, but I am soooooo proud of you for doing it!!  Thank you for sharing so much about yourself and remember we are always here to help!!

Brittani

i dont even know where to begin to look i wish i could find someone that i dont have to pay anything because i am unemployed and yes that is what it is post traumatic stress disorder thank you. right now her birthday the first time i got to see her was in 2006 i also got to see her in 2007 and last year i did not have the money to go see her well once this economy gets better and i get on my feet i plan on fighting to get her back i feel that it is wrong the way they took her from me i feel like i have no soul now that she is not with me and i feel my hole in my heart is bigger it is empty i miss her so much. thanks for asking but it is a long story of what happened and i dont want to bother anyone with it so have a good day thanks for this type of group. 

Hi, My name is Karen.  I suffer from ptsd and treatment resistant depression and sever panic disorder and conquered self injury.  I have been diagnoised ill since 1995.   my life has been hell for the last fourteen years.  I have been on all the different medications.  I have had ect. treatments.  I have finally found a group of meds that seem to be working for me right now.  I go to a therapist once a week.  I am trying to learn how to get back into society.  I hid in my bedroom over the years.

I am married to a very supportive husband.  I have two grown children.  My family is very supportive of me and have been through all the garbage that I have put them through.  I have been looking for a support system.  I think I can add to the program, I have been through many situations and I am now finally seeing a reason for being here.

I have lost nearly 30 pounds in the last year.  I use calorie counting to help me.  Yet I have come to realize that my weight loss can't make me happy, it can only add to the enjoyment of life that I am now choosing to have.  I don't want weight and food to rule my life as it has in the past.  I don't want my mood of the day to depend on what the scales say that morning.l

I know that I am not cured of my mental illness, but for the first time I have some control over it.  I know there will probably be some rough days ahead. 

Atleast I hope in here we can be here for each other. 

Good Luck to all in this group, Karen

Hi,

I'm Sarah and you name it I have it.

1) Bi-polar

2) Anorexia/Bulimic (Recovered)

3) Anxiety

4) Self Injury

I'm stable on meds and haven't really had any serious relapses (Thank you Lexapro and Lamictal!) I want to loose about 100 pounds before my wedding in 2011. AND THE RIGHT WAY I would love to have buddies to support one another through this great journey of becoming healthier.

/\ /\
(>'.'<)
( UU )

Hello... I was surfing around and saw that this group fits into my world. I was diagnosed with BPD several years ago. Previous to that I never had a proper diagnosis or proper medication. I ended up ruining all my friendships, could not keep a job, and spent time in a psychiatric ward. I have always been a destructive force in people's lives and in my own. Either causing emotional/physical pain that I could never control. I went through life with the shortest of fuses because that was all I knew.

I traveled through life struggling with weight and personal issues stemming from BPD. I got married a few years ago and things were great I was becoming a better person overall.

Two months ago my wife walked out on me. Saying she has not been happy being with me for several years. She just did not have the chuztpah to execute an escape. Well she pulled it off and I am drowing in a flood of emotions that I can not express, release, or want to just sweep under the rug.

Weight loss and me has always been a roller coaster. I started the attempt to loose weight at 270lbs when my body started to shut down. I made progress over the first few years then became stagnant.

When I met my wife she was in progress of loosing weight. She topped off at 300lbs and she was determined to get to her healthy weight for her height (5'10" - 146 small frame to 165 for larger frame). She does not have a small frame she s built like an athlete so of course she is not going to be thin as a rail.

She spent more time in the gym than she did with me in order to get to that weight. She had a trainer which I trained along side of her to support her in her endeavour. I supported her through the skin removal surgeries and her emotional swings with how she looked, how others think of her, her fear of gaining all the weight back, and of course the big one having kids and loosing all that she worked for.

She became a totally different person. Now she is extremely vain, self centered, and emotionally closed (well at least to me). She pushed me away because she was afraid to talk about may things. She feared that I would get upset and eventually hurt her. Now I never laid a finger on her or even went to the extreme of being destructive. She just could not handle the slight raise in decible level that entails an arguement. She was afraid of confrontation.

She also stems it back to when several years ago me and my dad had an arguement that lead to a physical fight. That altercation occured because we pushed each others buttons. She never pushed any of my buttons mainly because she never really cared to know what they were.

Anyway here I sit writing this long entry wondering what's the point. Be it mentally or physically what's the point. I feel drained, tired, and numb.

hi. i'm michelle. been struggling with major depression and mood swings pretty much my entire life. finally got myself to a psychiatrist in the last few months, and was diagnosed with bipolar.  along with that, i have social/generalized anxiety disorder, and issues with binge eating. my psychiatrist first put me on lamictal, with clonazapam to help with the anxiety - the lamictal hasn't been doing anything. i got up to 200mg/day and 1mg clonazapam PRN/day. my dr. has recently switched me off the lamictal and over to lithium (i started getting that "rare" side affect of a rash..). i just took my first dose of lithium this morning - 1 300mg pill. i was supposed to take two additional 300 mg pills tonight, but i didn't.  i had a horrible binge today and was afraid of the weight gain/water retention due to the lithium, not to mention the fear of overworking my kidneys. 

what have others experience on lithium been like? and if my BED does continue to run out of control, will it seriously affect the affect of the lithium i'm on? does anyone have experience taking topamax while subsequently taking lithium..?

the medication side of this illness is so new to me. i spent my life time as of yet in denial, and have come close to suicidal a number of times. i'm glad i've finally seeked out some help, but a little discouraged that i still feel so miserable and hopeless and irritable and still have the mood swings and sometimes even the suicidal thoughts...