By now many formerly thin people realize that antidepressant therapy, and related drugs for other mood disorders, come with a price, which is weight gain. This side effect, which can range from 10 to 125 pounds depending on the type of medication used, can have life-altering consequences. Formerly trim people find themselves unable to control newly experienced food cravings, in particular for carbohydrate junk food like candy and chips. People who were able to eat moderate amounts of food and feel full suddenly prowl the kitchen after dinner for more to eat. And as the medication-triggered weight gain creeps up, the formerly thin find themselves adopting the habits of those with lifetime overeating issues.

Maureen, a web designer and weight-loss clinic patient told us, “I was always a healthy eater. I never even liked junk food and exercised whenever I had time. But my antidepressant is turning me into a junk food binger and I find myself reaching for potato chips rather than carrots when I want a snack. And my exercise has just stopped. I feel tired; it is hard to walk without my feet hurting, and I puff and huff my way upstairs.  Now I feel as if I will never lose this weight that I gained from the meds.“

People confronting this totally unexpected and unwanted side effect repeat her story countless times. As Jake, another client told us, “If I had known that my antidepressant would turn me into a dumpy middle-aged guy, I would not have believed it. But look at me now. Every month on the meds adds a couple of inches around my waist.”

Still, there is good news. If you were once slender will be able to lose weight easily even though you are still taking the meds that caused your weight gain. The reason is that you really have a thin body and mind set underneath that recently added weight.  You never had issues with food or resistance to physical activity. All you need is to be wound up and sent off in the right weight-loss direction to return to the shape you were.

Just two things have to be done:

1.  Stop the meds from letting your appetite and cravings go out of control.

2. Start using those muscles that were used to moving, dancing, biking, running, and weight lifting before the weight gain.

Getting the medication to stop interfering with your appetite and craving controls is as easy as eating a potato, a plate of pasta or handful of pretzels. Our book, The Serotonin Power Diet, will tell you how much to eat and when to eat it to maximize serotonin production.

All carbohydrates with the exception of fruit will stimulate your brain into making serotonin. As long as the carbohydrates are eaten on a relatively empty stomach and as long as no protein is eaten along with the carbs, serotonin will be produced. Once this brain chemical is made it is able to turn off cravings and the nagging feeling of never feeling satisfied. Enough serotonin feels like drinking enough water. Water turns off thirst and serotonin turns off the desire to eat. We have found in our research that eating carbohydrate foods or drinking Serotrim, a blend of carbohydrates, as snacks twice a day will effectively start and sustain weight loss.

Adding exercise into this program is easy because one of the very pleasant side effects of more serotonin is a feeling of renewed energy. Turning that energy into a long walk, bike ride, or line dance will use up all those stored calories in your body. The neat thing about you, the formerly thin, is that your body is longing to exercise again. You will find yourself feeling good after a vigorous workout and as the weight slides off, your exercise will become even more effective and fun.

So eat some pretzels, dust off that treadmill and dig into your closet for your smaller size clothes. You will need them.

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