One thing I knew going into this, because I've tried it before is, weight loss does not cure depression. I don't know how many of you have depression but I'm guessing there are a few of you like me, whose weight is a symptom of depression? I am not thin yet by any means but, now that I have dropped a lot of weight I'm getting questions like "do you feel better?, are you happier? do you have more energy?" In a nut shell the answer is YES I do feel better, moving around does help depression losing weight and feeling better does help, but it doesn't cure it and I know that deep down that is what most of these people are asking they are veiled questions for "Are you still depressed?" Depression isn't just a bad mood, it's a medical condition, just like obesity and I can treat the symptoms but it never really goes away.

While I do not suffer from depression, lot's of friends and family do -- and you are right. I have seen them make great improvements in certain aspects of their live's (financial, health, romantic), but the depression has a life cycle of its own in many cases which is hard for those of us on the outside of depression looking in to see. Thanks for reminding me to be more aware of this reality.

Ellen

@@MeAndTinyTina I appreciate it when people do at least try to understand it.

I too suffer from depression. I have since my early 20's, and have been medicated for it ever since and probably will be for the rest of my life. My mother was Bipolar. Although I am not Bipolar, I have been diagnosed as clinically depressed.

I have lost and gained weight many times in my life. Does diet and exercise help with the depression? Yes, I feel it curbs it a little. Does looking better and physically feeling better help? Yes, it definitely helps when you feel better physically and even like what you are seeing in the mirror. But none of that will ever take away the chemical imbalance in my brain. The only thing that really treats it are my medication and counseling. Even then, I still have my dark days, but with the help of medication and counseling, I can climb my way back out of them as opposed to not ever being able to see the light at the end of the tunnel....

My counselor said this once and it stuck with me:

Everyone has "down" days, especially when things aren't going well. But a person who is truly depressed is still depressed when things ARE going well.

Edited December 29, 201411 yr by Babbs

amponder,

I went through a VERY DARK period several months after surgery. I think it was because I lost my "best" friend-food as a solace and comforter. After all, food never looked down on me, taunted me, or turned away from me. Food never ever reacted negatively to me like people do.

I suffer from, actually I should say, "I deal with" depression. I take medication for it. I come from a long line of people who dealt with depression by diving into a bottle. With the weight loss, medication, exercise and with my faith--I've been able to deal with depression. I believe God has a purpose for me to be here--hope I figure out what the heck it is before I kick the bucket .

Changing my brain after surgery was far more difficult than changing my physical body. To that end, I have a post it note taped to my bedside lamp. It says: "Fake it till you make it." and "Make up your mind to be happy."

I have to make a conscious effort EVERYDAY to think about the positive things in my life. I have to count my blessings regularly otherwise I just see all the negative things. I now have a big aversion to negative people and DO NOT like to be around them. They bring me down--and I sure don't need any assistance there.

Congratulations on your success!!!!

Kathleen

Maintaining a positive attitude is so on point. And everything you are doing is working toward making yourself a healthier person. Health goes a long way toward encouraging happiness, so you are definitely on the right track. I'm cheering you all on from the sidelines, as depression is a big deal in my family, too.

Great topic and great feeds. I've was diagnosed with "depression" shortly after my son was born in '96. I take Zoloft and fortunately it works for me. I know for me personally it's a chemical thing not something that is bothering me, upsetting me or causing me stress. I do feel great as a result of the weight loss, but it has had no effect on the depression.

I also struggle with depression. I take two meds daily for it, and those are the only meds I still take after surgery. It drives me nuts that people equate depression with just being sad. Like when someone says things like "oh, I broke my iPhone, I'm so depressed!" No, you're sad, not depressed. Depression is a medical condition like diabetes or high blood pressure.

Right before they wheeled me into the operating room for surgery, I was going over a list of my meds with the NP at the hospital. She heard which depression drugs I'm on and told me I "must" talk to the doc to change my scripts to something else because one of the meds causes weight gain and makes it more difficult to lose weight. I explained that I know that, but I've been medicated for depression for almost 25 years. I've tried more drug combos than I care to think about, and I'm finally on a combo that allows me to function relatively normally. I think I'll stick with what works. She told me that it was my choice, but that I was making it needlessly harder on myself. SMH