Then, people had the gall to say to me I needed to lose weight, no matter how much money I spent or how hard I worked. I could have gone to Bali all inclusive in a beachside resort with unlimited cocktails for that. My weight has stabilized where it was before I spent seven f'ing thousand dollars. I did this and other military- like insanity for a year. He stacked 300 pounds on a cart, hitched it to me like I was a freakin ox and had me crawl around the track until I couldnt move. Met the guy Mondays thru Thursdays at 6am before work. You can find Natasha Tracy on Facebook or GooglePlus or on Twitter or at the Bipolar Burble, her blog. I’d rather be fat and happy than skinny and depressed any day of the week. Acceptance of a body change isn’t easy, it’s a process, but it’s one that we can do and that we must do for our own happiness.Īnd if nothing else, remember this: sanity before vanity. So, knowing that there’s only so much of the number on the scale that we control, understanding that judging ourselves for it is illogical and admitting that other people just don’t care about it, the only thing left is acceptance. Other people just don’t give it that much thought. Different thing.) While, in our heads, we think everyone is judging us for our weight, the fact of the matter is that is a self-centered view. (Well, except one person who was concerned I was losing too much weight.
In fact, I don’t recall a lover commenting on it either. I’ve been through many dress sizes and I don’t remember a friend remarking on it even once. The thing is, most of the people around us accept our shape just fine. Other People Accept Our Weight Gain Just Fine Not everyone can afford a Lamborghini.Īnd I know that this type of judgement tends to feed right into feelings of depression, which is a double whammy for people with bipolar disorder.Īnd while it’s true that just saying that this judgement is illogical doesn’t make the feeling go away, especially after years of judgement, if we want to feel better, it’s a feeling we have to stand up to and fight. Letting a number that you only partially control run your life is like letting the type of car you drive run your life. It’s not like I haven’t done this or don’t understand this. Now I know that people judge themselves (especially women) by the number seen on the scale. That’s your call and with enough work and persistence, I suspect you’ll experience some success.īut to everyone else who just can’t win the battle or doesn’t want to wage it, then I think acceptance is key. Now, don’t get me wrong, if you’re determined to battle your weight then I’d recommend seeing your doctor and working out a diet and exercise plan that works for you. So sometimes, acceptance is the only answer. Losing weight is something that is tough in the average population let alone in a medicated one. (Tip: the antipsychotic that was newly approved in bipolar disorder, lurasidone, has been shown to be weight-neutral.)Īnd while many people work very hard to try to lose it, the fact of the matter is, most can’t. Antipsychotics, in particular, can make a person put on a lot of weight and fast. I suspect it’s also because of untreated and undertreated people exhibiting major depression and never getting off the couch (something I know a lot about).īut then, of course, there are the side effects from medication and one of the big ones that effects people drastically is weight gain. This is likely due to sedentary lifestyles and poor dietary choices due, in part, to reduced income. People with bipolar disorder, regardless of medication, are, on average, heavier than the average person.