I went on SSRI's 9 years ago at 145lbs ( 5'7") and now am 215lbs.
The women in my family seriously don't even get to 145 lbs despite not doing anything phenomenal and eating a regular ol' American diet and low-to-moderate activity. Myself averaging between 135 and 145 in my non-SSRI adult life caused me to be "the big one" in my family. (Eye roll, right?)
NOW im 215 lbs - but I've maintained a very similar level of activity despite gaining 70lbs. I don't own a car, live in a big city, and walk everywhere. Additionally, i go to the gym for an hour at least 2 times a week. However, since the weight gain I can't do high impact exercises, like running, anymore but I still get cardio by doing low impact elliptical-type machines. And obviously I still get major depressive episodes and will have to hide under the covers some days - being totally inactive. But it's important to remind myself (and maybe you too?) that it is totally okay to do that because that's just something that happens with depression... and it's critical to accept ourselves needing that self-nurture-hiding-time and the resulting inactivity from having *those days.*
Anyway, my diet is not the best, not the worst... I like a heathy green salad with a side of cookie. HOWEVER: Starting SSRI's also started major binge eating episodes with occasional purging episodes. I use so much cuteness mental energy to keep the insatiable-food-obsessive-outbursts at bay.
Recently I stopped taking my SSRI's completely... tapering off off my 200mg of Zoloft (max dose) because every time I look in the mirror, step in the scale, or see a photo of myself, I, not only, don't recognize myself, but I look/am considerably heavier than the last time i looked in the mirror, stepped on a scale, or saw a picture of myself. (Note: I'm still gaining weight as of now but the DIY tapering had been going on for 4 months with the cold cut off of 1 week. )
I would love if you could share diet tips, ideas for low cost high protein foods, herbal supplements, or anything that could help me counteract the weight gain from the SSRIs and keep away the desire to binge and purge.
Additionally, *and I'm sure all of us feel this* Aren't you all SO OVER people thinking your weight gain is due to laziness and poor Nutrition!? People see the moments those with depression need to hide under the covers to deal with *those days* and they see "laziness" and not a symptom of depression. People see the times our eating is out of control and they see "gluttony" and they don't care to understand that our Anti-D's make our metabolism and our cravings and our relationship with food complete-wackado.
I appreciate being able to vent and I really appreciate you all for writing your experiences and reading everyone comments. It's nice to not feel alone - I don't have friends that have chronic clinical depression and I find it to be a struggle to feel that isolation on top of a mental disorder that also causes feelings of isolation.
I'm going to bookmark this page and check back to see if you all add or update on your stories.
And then I do recommend Air-popped, unsalted popcorn, for pacifying episodes of binge eating. Very important it's NOT salted and also air popped. But this is low in calories enough where you can eat a larger quantity and the fiber, protein and whole grains fill you up while satiating *that* uncontrollable urge to binge eat. I am Super-not-a-doctor and it's important to address the root cause of the binge eating... blah, blah, blah... but therapy is expensive and I can buy a jug of popcorn kernels at the market for $3.99 that'll last for weeks and weeks!
Thank you for sharing and letting me share!