Putting on Weight

[Duxwing]

Dear Forum,

I suspect that my atypical antipsychotic, Risperodal, has caused one of its typical side-effects: increasing my appetite to the point that I've gained six pounds in two weeks. In terms of relevant medical information, I'm an otherwise healthy, 5 foot 9 inch, 142 pound, unathletic sixteen year old male. Any ideas on how to eat in a way that won't fatten me up while still keeping my hunger satiated?

-Duxwing

 

[Auburn]

Why are you taking antipsychotics?

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

I'm not a fan of Risperdal. That's what I was on for 4 months before my second expulsion from high school, which led to a week of hospitalization involving Haldol (not fun). Clearly I found it ineffective, and, well... my investigation into its long term effects prevents me from jumping back on that horse. But hey, if it works for you, then have at it.

Regardless, I'd suggest a diet high in fiber and protein in the form of several smaller meals spaced throughout the day.

Many other views and valid commentary have been espoused here as well: http://www.intpforum.com/showthread.php?t=7251

Starting a habit of mindlessly lifting a small dumbbell while otherwise concentrating on something else may also be worth consideration.

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

It might be noteworthy that I'm 6'3", 177 lbs, and not the most muscle-bound creature either.

 

[Affinity]

Pick up smoking.

 

[Minuend]

I've tried intermittent fasting and find that it has made my sense of hunger some dull background feeling that I'm not bothered by.

I'm not strictly on it now, but I only eat regular meals 1-2 times a day. With some fruits, nuts, tea and coffee in-between if I feel like it. I find that I don't require more, that I become full much quicker. I think that earlier my body was used to eating a lot, so it did. But now that I have reduced calorie intake, my body is better able to tell me when it's actually full. I gained weight very easily before, I think my weight started increasing about the time when I increased the dose of cipralex to max. Now my weight is stable and I don't feel as filled up all the time.

 

[Architect]

Bulky water dense foods with low calories will do it, namely vegetables. Stay away from high caloric dense foods like grains, sugars and meat, as our satiation mechanisms don't play well with those foods.

Make a vegetable soup - that will fill you up and not give you weight.

 

[Oedipus]

Yeah I have this problem too. Except not because of medication. Broccoli works well for me but I mostly do shitty stuff instead.

 

[EditorOne]

Keep in mind you're 16. Sometimes in your teen years you just grow upward or bulk up. It might not have anything to do with your pharmaceutical stuff.
Have you talked to whoever it was prescribed the drug?

 

[EditorOne]

Not dissing the drug thing. I changed a drug six months ago and lost 15 pounds. My wife, who suffers from intractable migraine, changed drugs and lost about 20 pounds in the same period. There are side effects.

 

[nanook]

i speculate the drug messes with insulin sensitivity, so then the weight gain would be related to carbohydrates. the insulin system decides how much carbs to burn and how much to store as fat. if it decides to store so many percent, you will be hungry (sooner than expected) AND lack energy and therefore be incapable of ignoring the hunger with willpower. so as long as you eat carb based, no amount of discipline will stop this from happening. getting most energy out of fat and protein would minimize the effect of the distortion within the insulin system, because your body will always burn 100% of fat (unless you overeat or you have eaten carbs and the body is busy with those or you have eaten protein and the body is busy with those). whatever the body does with protein depends on many factors.

i agree with vegetables, they are a good start in the day for me. first thing in the morning i eat 750g of peas, cauliflowers and carrots with 50g of butter (packaged that way). doesn't cause sugar or insulin peaks but has just enough carbs to prevent a carb-panic. later when hungy i eat protein powder, to cover my daily protein needs (50g). even later i may eat cashew nuts, herring, more veges, a soup ... it kinda doesn't matter, ... unless i choose 200g of chocolate ... if i had a good start in the day (stable sugar, enough protein) then i won't overeat.

(i don't take meds, but my insulin system is naturally fucked up)

actually, i'd be surprised if choosing low-carb during those meds is even possible, i imagine they give you bad carb cravings.... but it may be worth a try

 

[Duxwing]

i speculate the drug messes with insulin sensitivity, so then the weight gain would be related to carbohydrates. the insulin system decides how much carbs to burn and how much to store as fat. if it decides to store so many percent, you will be hungry (sooner than expected) AND lack energy and therefore be incapable of ignoring the hunger with willpower. so as long as you eat carb based, no amount of discipline will stop this from happening. getting most energy out of fat and protein would minimize the effect of the distortion within the insulin system, because your body will always burn 100% of fat (unless you overeat or you have eaten carbs and the body is busy with those or you have eaten protein and the body is busy with those). whatever the body does with protein depends on many factors.

i agree with vegetables, they are a good start in the day for me. first thing in the morning i eat 750g of peas, cauliflowers and carrots with 50g of butter (packaged that way). doesn't cause sugar or insulin peaks but has just enough carbs to prevent a carb-panic. later when hungy i eat protein powder, to cover my daily protein needs (50g). even later i may eat cashew nuts, herring, more veges, a soup ... it kinda doesn't matter, ... unless i choose 200g of chocolate ... if i had a good start in the day (stable sugar, enough protein) then i won't overeat.

(i don't take meds, but my insulin system is naturally fucked up)

actually, i'd be surprised if choosing low-carb during those meds is even possible, i imagine they give you bad carb cravings.... but it may be worth a try

Hmmm, baguettes have been looking tasty lately, so I'll mention that to my psychiatrist.

-Duxwing

 

[PhoenixRising]

Read this book: http://www.amazon.com/Perricone-Wei...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323108964&sr=1-1

I know it says it's an anti-aging diet, but what it actually does is balance and optimize the system so that the body reaches and stays at a healthy target weight. Though, you'll have to give up pizza, corn syrup, etc. if you're going to try this out.

The main point of this book is that weight gain is linked to inflammation. This is what underlies insulin and leptin resistance. You can just do a search for "weight gain and inflammation" and many articles about the specifics will come up.

Best of luck!

 

[Duxwing]

Read this book: http://www.amazon.com/Perricone-Wei...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323108964&sr=1-1

I know it says it's an anti-aging diet, but what it actually does is balance and optimize the system so that the body reaches and stays at a healthy target weight. Though, you'll have to give up pizza, corn syrup, etc. if you're going to try this out.

The main point of this book is that weight gain is linked to inflammation. This is what underlies insulin and leptin resistance. You can just do a search for "weight gain and inflammation" and many articles about the specifics will come up.

Best of luck!

Well, actually, I've recently reduced my baguette consumption and risperidone dose, and my weight has stabilized: the former has reduced the excess energy flowing in, and the latter has reduced my 'munchies'. So I don't think that I'll have to "optimize my system" any time soon. Thanks for the help, though.

-Duxwing

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

Just to add to nanook's point, it does appear to be insulin resistance associated with atypical antipsychotic use in general. Some supporting sources from the Wiki page on Ziprasidone:

Spoiler

1. Guo JJ, Keck PE, Corey-Lisle PK, et al. (January 2007). "Risk of diabetes mellitus associated with atypical antipsychotic use among Medicaid patients with bipolar disorder: a nested case-control study". Pharmacotherapy 27 (1): 27–35. doi:10.1592/phco.27.1.27. PMID 17192159. http://dx.doi.org/10.1592/phco.27.1.27.
2. ^ Sacher J, Mossaheb N, Spindelegger C, et al. (June 2008). "Effects of olanzapine and ziprasidone on glucose tolerance in healthy volunteers". Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology 33 (7): 1633–41. doi:10.1038/sj.npp.1301541. PMID 17712347. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.npp.1301541.
3. ^ Newcomer JW (2005). "Second-generation (atypical) antipsychotics and metabolic effects: a comprehensive literature review". CNS Drugs 19 Suppl 1: 1–93. PMID 15998156. http://content.wkhealth.com/linkback/openurl?issn=1172-7047&volume=19&issue=&spage=1.

 

[Duxwing]

I've gotten my medicine switched to a less side-effect laden drug, and although its name currently escapes me, I am hopeful.

-Duxwing

 

[Milo]

Everytime I eat more fat, I lose more fat. Mainly staying away from grains and carbs (mostly bakery items and processed foods) other than vegetables is probably your best bet. When bodybuilders are in their cutting phase they change their diet from really lean meat to higher fat meat like fish and then also eat sweet potatoes or squash on the side.
The only time I've ever gained a noticeable amount of weight was when I was eating 2lbs of spagetti a day with a gallon of milk, plus breakfast. Once I cut the carbs it just all went away.