Why a Fitness Update on a Bipolar Blog?
As I remind you with every fitness update, over 80 percent of people with serious mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression, are overweight or obese. Much of this has to do with medicines that reduce the metabolism. This contributes to them dying at three times the rate of overall population. Therefore, I have begun this weekly fitness update for motivation.
Fitness Update Overview
Losing Weight over the past few years has been an exciting and frustrating adventure. At one point I lost exactly 90 pounds and was excited that I was so close to reaching the 100 pound milestone. But, I stayed at 90 pounds…and stayed at 90 pounds…and stayed at 90 pounds.
Eventually, my weight started changing, but it was moving in the wrong direction. Each week I’d gain ¼ pound, then ½ pound, and so on. Eventually I gained back 45 of the 90 pounds I lost, but fortunately I stopped gaining and have stayed there. While I’m very frustrated about the weight gain, I’m also relieved. Why? Because most people who lose weight regain their entire loss back, plus additional pounds.
I am stuck though. I’ve been hovering around 255 – 260 pounds for a long time and I’ve been damned upset about it. Mentally my body has been feeling the same way physically as it did when I weighed over 300 lbs. To my relief, my husband, Maurice, pulled up the following photos to show me visually our weight loss success over the past couple of years. I’m still damned frustrated over the 45 pound gain, but I’m happy to see in the picture that my progress is obvious.
This Weeks Statistics
Original Maximum Weight: 303 lbs
Goal Weight: 160 lbs
This loss/gain this week: -0.4
Total loss so far: -44.0
Current weight: 259.4
It’s quite understandable to be frustrated by it being so difficult to lose weight but you are moving towards your goal. And I think that is nothing short of amazing. So Bravo!
Thank you, IC, I need all the bravo’s I can get. It is an accomplishment
i find losing weight to be impossible as long as i take my psych meds. so kudos to you for losing and maintaining for so long! am sure you will make more progress as you keep up the good work.
I don’t know if you tried Weight Watchers, kat, but they’ve really helped me. It was either that or gastro-bypass surgery and I really didn’t like the idea of someone going in and rearranging my organs.
WTG Bradley (and Maurice)! 😀 I think you can definitely tell a difference between your two pictures, in both of you. Let that motivate you and keep you going. All you can do is try, and I think even if that’s ALL you did, that would be admirable.
Seeing the two pictures together is a big motivator. If I could do it once I should be able to do it again.
Hello Bradley! Congratulations on your weight loss. I know it is hard, but you should be motivated more because you see beautiful results from your hard effort. Maybe you have been doing the same routine of exercises that is why you hit your plateau. Maybe, you just need to mix it all up. Proud of you! You can do it bro!
Hi Rick,
You may have a point regarding mixing things up a bit. I love to walk so that is pretty much all I get my exercise from. I may have to look for some alternatives.
I love reading your fitness updates and applaud your success. I do however hate being reminded of the the fact that our chances of dying sooner than others because of my mental illness. It’s a bit depressing to see that in writing every time. Feel free to skip that part and just uplift us with your determination and success I have enough to worry about!!!
Point well taken, Juneau. I may write more articles about those awful statistics from time to time, but I will lighten it up in the Fitness Update.
Bravo! You’re doing good. You didn’t gain all the pounds back. You stopped the gaining and you’re losing again, bit by bit. And all those bits add up to pounds lost. Congrats.
Initially, I thought the pics were of two different people!
Thank you, Cat. That’s a great compliment