I’ve had a recent weight gain of 6 lbs this month. It seems like a lot. I think its from the increase in Lithium plus Abilify combo. I want to curb this while I can.
Has anyone ever seen a Registered Dietitian or Nutritionist?
What did you learn that you wouldn’t have otherwise gotten by doing your own research and planning?
Did they help you?
How did you find them? Should I ask pdoc for a referral?
I saw a dietitian for a while, and it did help.
She would weigh me every time I came in, and make a chart of how my weight progressed, and she helped me cut back on unhealthy things by gradually replacing them with things I still liked, but that were healthier.
It’s important not to make all the changes as once, as for me, it can become overwhelming, and she respected that.
I saw a dietician. I didn’t learn anything new. But i did lose a lot of weight while seeing her. Now that I’ve stopped seeing her I’m putting on weight again.
@anon1571434 has some good advice 
I will do the ketogenic diet and exercise soon.
Just by walking a lot i have lost 6 pounds
I seen one and did not learn anything that is not already out there, the cost of it all was very expensive.
I think my insurance will cover a few visits.
I don’t know whether or not to call the pdoc about this recent gain?
Who do I ask for a referral, the pdoc or GP?
Six pounds really isn’t all that much. You can lose that with exercise no problem. Eat whatever you want.
I exercise every day from 30 minutes to an hour.
I’m just worried because the last time a med made helped gain 70 lbs over 6 months. I’m 50 lbs lighter today and creeping back up.
I bit the bullet and called the pdoc’s office. I spoke with the nurse who wasn’t upset that I called about such a trivial thing. She is going to speak with the pdoc and get back to me.
I would suggest seeing a dietician as exercise is good, but only goes so far if you’re not eating right.
There are many diets out there but to stay healthy takes a proper nutritionist. If your meds are putting your weight up, you’ll probably be doing this for awhile so nutrition will be of proper importance.
The ketogenic diet is good to lose weight but once you get there you have to stop and you will have to keep proper nutrition anyways.
I saw a dietitian who said my diet was good.
I was a vegan at the time and was anaemic.
I am nolonger a vegan.
I also was pretty good with exercise I think.
I was constipated so she suggested pear juice but I still am.
Have you tried a probiotic for constipation?
According to my own experience, motivation and stimulation by coaching plays a big role in my achievements in many domains like weight control, exercising, houseworking, etc…
Well @y76 I am happy for you.
If you can just get your stuff together and improve that’s best.
I do everything under my control to improve,
but unless a cure is found there is a limit to how much I can improve.
Well, I am here cuz I have schizoaffective, but I also went to school and was a registered Dietitian (lost the registered part after couldn’t afford my dues a few years ago) and will honestly say that how much seeing one will help depends on how much you want to work at it. I did some research in school on how atypical APs cause the body to artificially lower leptin levels and increase ghrelin levels…so essentially your body tells your brain that it’s never full and it’s always mealtime. The best way to keep weight controlled is BOTH what you eat and what you do. Exercise tends to normalize those gut hormones more efficiently than diet alone, and diet-only based weight loss tends to come back. I am very overweight and just started Zyprexa, so I recently lost 30 lbs. but still have a long way to go. Even as a former RD I often don’t follow the best nutritional path…I literally can NOT buy certain foods just cuz I know they’ll trigger a Zyprexa binge. So I’m focusing on a plant-based diet with one fish or chicken protein meal a day, as many kale or greens salads as I want to quiet hunger. Nooo… it’s not the Cheetos or chocolate I would really LIKE to eat, but maybe I’ll treat myself to a single-serving bag once I hit 50 lbs. lost. Seeing a Dietitian can help if you’re open to changing, but it’s really up to you…
Like @y76 I respond to coaching in most aspects of life.
It dawned on me last night that this is probably water weight due to the increase in Lithium. I recalled that lithium is a salt.
The weight seems to have settled in my belly with a visible increase in size and shirts are snug. I feel almost bloated. Plus the past few times I’ve exercised my fingers have really swollen up. And today when I woke up I found they were stiff and swollen again without exercising.
The pdoc and I didn’t connect yet. But it was a bit concerning that he called me back himself rather than the nurse.
Maybe he wants bloodwork or to put me on a diuretic?
I just checked my MFP nutrition. I’m consuming way over the recommended Sodium allotment of 2,300 mg a day.
Yeah, lithium can definitely cause water gain, but I don’t think a diuretic is a good idea unless your doc prescribes it…too much water loss can cause the levels to go toxic. Because lithium is similar atomically to iodine it can get processed by your thyroid like iodine and lead to hypothyroidism, which also causes weight/water retention. Consider asking your doc to monitor your TSH levels periodically with your level labs to see if that may be an issue contributing to weight gain.
holy crap. how do you do that lol
I’m guessing you mean the MFP nutrition breakdown.
If you log into the website, you can find all sorts of stuff under Reports.
If you use a smartphone it is a little different. You can find detailed info under Progress and Nutrition tabs.
i was wondering how you got so much sodium lol
edit: never mind, i thought it was a way bigger number lol