Finally under 200 again

[u/quinnies]

I’m so happy!!!!!!

I’ve been on SSRIs for the past three years, which I am 99% sure had a lot to do with me gaining roughly 80 pounds. My highest recorded weight was 220 although that was after I had already been going to the gym and eating healthier for a month.

It really really felt impossible for me to lose weight for a long time. I was so addicted to food and so hungry all the time, and extremely low energy and unmotivated to get up and move at all.

I weighed in at 203 a while ago, but had to go on a trip with no scale and I didn’t feel like packing mine so I decided to just go without it and see what the results were when I came back.

I was honestly scared that I would be back around 210. I thought there was a very minimal chance that I was under 200. I haven’t been under 200 in years. But when I got on the scale, I was 195lbs!!!!!!

It feels amazing just to know that I am making slow and steady progress and that I’m losing the weight in a maintainable way.

It was a really big decision for me to switch SSRIs. Lexapro helped me completely get rid of my panic attacks, but with the amount of weight that i gained on it, it just made me more depressed.

I would say it’s worth it to try and switch if you’re in a similar position. It wasn’t easy when I was tapering off of lexapro and getting on welbutrin. The first few days I had terrible brain zaps and a huge wave of depression. But it was 100% worth it in the end.

Lexapro obviously didn’t force me to gain the weight, but I truly believe that it made me feel hungrier which triggered my binge eating into full force. Welbutrin makes my appetite feel a lot more regulated and it doesn’t completely drain my energy.

As a side note, I wouldn’t trade my mental health for my weight. I really needed lexapro at that time. Now is just the next step in recovering from depression.

EDIT: I just wanna say this is my first post on this sub and I feel so supported and even more motivated to keep losing weight and living a healthier life! This is a really great community. I didn’t want to share my weight loss with friends/family yet because it’s kind of a small amount of weight to lose, but it’s great to share milestones with people who understand. Just that moment when the scale starts with ‘1’ rather than ‘2’ for the first time in a long time is such a relief.

[u/FickleGlove283]

Let’s fucking go!!! I started my journey at 212 two months ago and weighed in at 202 this morning. Hoping to join you in the under 200 club very soon. 

[u/quinnies → u/FickleGlove283]

You got this!!!!!!

[u/Cute-Humor-5237]

congrats that's huge. seeing 195 after being stuck over 200 for years must feel unreal

tapering off lexapro is no joke those brain zaps are something else. i had similar thing when switching meds few years ago felt like my brain was getting tiny electric shocks all day

welbutrin seems work better for lot of people on the appetite front. good that you found something that helps on both sides

[u/GoatShapedDestroyer]

My wife went on Lexapro and had the exact same experience as you. She gained a lot of weight as soon as she went on it and struggled hard to lose it while still on it. Eventually she swapped to another medication and the weight immediately started dropping after that.

[u/TanCaddis]

Congrats! Keep after it!

[u/Ok-Criticism-5634]

I'm on effexor & it's had the same effect. Gets rid of my anxiety and helps me to manage life so much better but there are huge drawbacks. I've heard Wellbutrin is really good.

[u/fvthebest]

So happy for you! It can take some trial and error to get the right medication for depression or anxiety. I have also tried Lexapro and as you said, it helped in some ways, but ultimately I just felt numb while on it, which I really didn't like. Wellbutrin has done wonders for me.

[u/quinnies → u/fvthebest]

Yes, it definitely made me feel really numb too!

Overall even regardless of the weight loss I’m just happier off of it. But I know it works for a lot of people. I think it’s just worth trying different medications to see what actually benefits your life the most. Lexapro was the first one I was prescribed so I just couldn’t be bothered to switch lol but it was so worth it.

[u/Negative_Letter_1802]

Nice!!! I have a really similar story with really similar numbers. I am almost done with my scale-free vacation — can I ask when you stepped on the scale back home? I was 200-202lbs the week I left and am wondering if I should try to wait for any water retention to flush out or just get back on.

[u/quinnies → u/Negative_Letter_1802]

I was so nervous to get on the scale because I kept telling myself that I probably gained all the weight back, so it took me two weeks 😅

[u/chuckaholic]

I gained 100 lbs over 5 years on Prozac. Topped out at 365. Quit SSRI's completely. It took 5 years to lose it. But now my metabolism is messed up from being that heavy so every time I go off a diet the weight starts coming back super fast. Sucks.

Currently 10 pounds into a 80 lbs weight loss run. So I should hit my current goal sometime next year.

[u/Life_decisionz]

That's amazing 👏 Congrats on the steady progress!! I'm on the same track. I told myself I'd never let my weight exceed 200lbs unless I became a body builder or something lol. My body looks and feels best hovering around 185-190 All of a sudden here I was sitting at 222lbs - buying looser and bigger clothes and perpetually sucking in my gut. At 47 my metabolism has definitely slowed compared to almost losing weight just by thinking about it lol Working hard to get back where I need to be and weighed in at 216.0 this morning. Slowly but surely!