I am getting so depressed about my weight!!!

Juliekaboolie · 09-10-2003, 07:46 PM

Hi! GlucXR 1500mg has been great for my bloodsugar although it isn't down to the range where it should be for me...yet. However, I have NEVER experienced since starting the Gluc the loss of appetite and the runs, etc that everyone else gets so I have had literally NO weightloss... and have, in fact, gained weight. This is so depressing and frustrating for me... I'm not sure what to do. I just recently stopped Yasmin (could the weight issues be from that?) and plan to be BCP free as I think it isn't helping me and could be hurting me. I have an appt on this Friday with a dr who is more 'natural' (he tries not to push meds but instead pushes various lifestyle changes)... he treated my mom, believe it or not, 27 years ago after the birth of my sister. She said that was the beginning of the healthiest period of her life. So. What can I do? I've been writing down my food and I can see that I can always eat more veggies and cut back on fat... do you all count calories, too? I follow the IR Diet and I've recently begun exercising. FWIW, thanks to Glucophage, I've just had my first almost normal period in several years. Even being on BCPs my periods were getting less and less to the point that I would have a light/spotting for one day. I am excited about this.

ANy ideas on this lack of weightloss, though???? TIA! Btw, do you think I need to go up in dosage or continue to stay put.... CHristyZ... how long does one wait for results?? I know it took you awhile and I'm having trouble being patient even though I'm slowly noticing some things happening... just nothing in the weight department. ugh.

christyz · 09-10-2003, 09:05 PM

Well first off, the weight loss on Met is *NOT*, I repeat **NOT** from the runs. That may contribute until your body gets used to it, but look at my situation. I had my most severe side effects from July '01 - August '02 and lost 13 pounds. Since Aug '02 through Aug '03, I have lost 29 more pounds and my side effects are rare.

The weight loss on Met comes from the lowering of the insulin in your body...IR bodies CRANK insulin and all that extra insulin is something our bodies store as fat. That's why no matter how much we exercise we can't take off weight easily. We have all this circulating insulin that is packed onto our bods and all the calorie reduction on the planet can't stop it. Once we open up those cells to use insulin better, our body doesn't need to over-produce it, and we can exercise and eat right like normal people and lose weight.

Now this next part, you may not want to hear, but here goes. I was on Met 13 months before I started seeing any significant drop in my labs (yes, 13 months). I have labs drawn every 6 months, and it wasn't until this past July, (after *2* years on the drug) that my hormone labs are finally all within normal lab values.

Going off the pill could certainly contribute to your weight gain. I told you when you posted about going off the pill, that your hormones can get worse before they get better. It's not fun, but it's part of the journey.

And don't suggest to me a dosage increase...

You have already made dosing decisions without your Dr's input, and my opinion on that doesn't change. If after your labs are drawn 3-6 months from your last increase, things still do not budge, then you can consider a higher dose with your Dr's consent. Give it time, hon.

You've had your first period, started to lower your blood glucose, Julie, they may be slight, but don't minimize you victories. Now you have to have the patience to let it do what's it's gong to do. Your body took years to get bungled, and it will take time to get it un-bungled.

Met is *not* an instant thing.

We all understand your frustration..heaven knows I was my first year on the drug, but our bodies have their own schedule. Fretting can't change it (unfortunately LOL).

Hang in there..YOU'RE on your way!!

sha-sha · 09-10-2003, 11:30 PM

I completely understand. I have gained between 6 and 10 pounds since I started met. I went off bcp in June. I had an AF in July and Aug. I have had symptoms such as cramping and a backache for the past week, but so far, no AF. I am exercising at a 30 min. workout place similar to Curves. That helps with my energy levels, but no weight loss. I have tried to cut my carbs, but I am not doing all that well. I have stomach problems when I try to cut the carbs very much. No diarrhea, just uncomfortable. I am a stress eater. I am a little frustrated by AF, but from what I read, this is normal.

KYBluegrass · 09-10-2003, 11:44 PM

Julie, darlin, you're gonna drive yourself looney!!

First of all, I know that you want off BCP's. BCP's do affect those hormones, and it will take a little time to undo that. Honey, my fear for you at this point, or I should say, concern, is that you're looking to change so much at once, you may not be sure what is really helping you and what isn't. I think the fact that your AF came should be an indicator of things to come (again and again..hee hee). I know we keep harping on this, but give yourself some time. I know I'm not in your shoes, but I'll share this with you. When I was dxd, my blood pressure was sky high, and a lot of other things were a mess, along with my AF. To this day, I really appreciate the fact that my doc could have put me on tons of medication to counter all those things, but she didn't. She decided that we would take things one step at a time. She waited 6 months before she would look at adding any new meds, and thankfully, the met took care of all of it...my Bp and Af were normal, and we didn't need to do anything more except stay the course. This can be a complicated disorder...and I know the frustration. Julie, honey, take things one step at a time, and give yourself some credit...you have had some improvement in some areas already! I am acually jealous of you that you didn't have the side effects! But, Julie I will tell you this....my gastric side effects disappeared after two months, and I still went on to lose another 130 pounds on top of the first 20 I lost the first two months. Having the "runs" isn't what loses the weight...it's that diet you're doing!

kristensmom · 09-11-2003, 01:55 AM

I just wanted to give you a ((HUG))!!!

Juliekaboolie · 09-11-2003, 03:21 AM

Awww... it is so nice to have everyone give me a 'reality check'. THANK YOU!!! That was what I needed and was looking for.

I have been writing down my food for the past couple of days in preparartion for seeing this new dr on Friday and I had my sister and mom look over what I've been eating for the past couple of days since they are fairly knowledgeable people about food, exercise, etc. From what they could see I was eating very healthfully but just too much. Of course, I could always eat more veggies...you can never have too many! So I'm going to continue to write my food down and see if I can pare down the amount I'm eating and increase the exercise. Thank you all so much for your kind and thoughtful words as well as support. It means a great deal to me that you give such thoughtful opinions.