Confused about weight loss

Im 5'9" 195lbs 30%BF (I got sick lst year and threw 45lbs on my body).

I also take Depekote for BP (Bipolar disorder)  and I have heard that this can cause weight gain but no where can I find any Information on this and my Dr. gives me the "It can be a side effect but Im not sure how" repsonse when I ask her.

I run for 60-75 mins 5x week right know and feel that My diet is apporpiate caloricly? The odd thing is that with all this cardio I have only dropped 7 pounds in 3 weeks? And I am assuming thats moslty water. The only weight lifting right now is my abs.. will start an routine as soon as next week..

thanks Caladins wife

But Im new to weight lifting and supplemntation aka clen and t3 which i have heard about at the gym?

post you're current diet on an average day ... i'm sure the girls can tweak it up for you..  

tiny

btw.. welcome to mc ...

I would be very careful taking anything in combination with the meds your are on for BP.....that is something that you DO NOT want to mess around with.  You are going to have to do some heavy research on T3 and Clen and and ECA before you start taking any of them to make sure that they wont interfere with the Depekote.  You could start by asking your pharmacist.  I am sorry that I don't have any info to give you on the compatability of those drugs.
 You may find that after you start a lifting routine that you add weight on the scale at first....don't get mad...just keep going.  You will see that your clothes are getting loser and that you look better...at first don't worry about what the scale says.  I hardly ever even weigh myself.
 As far as your diet goes.....your calories may be in order....but how are you eating?  Try breaking your meals up and eat 5-6 times a day.....start a high protien, low carb diet....and to get the 5-6 meals a day start up with a couple of protien shakes.....make your 2nd and 4th meal a shake.
Your cardio sounds about right......and once you start to add muscle to your frame, your metabolism wil raise and you will be burning more calories.
Hope this helps.....good luck!

i would talk with your doc and mayb get a new one that will give u answers and a script....45lbs in a year is not good or healthy...

Welcome to MuscleChemistry!!

If I were you I would consult your doctor and maybe even get a few different opinions if she keeps giving you the "It can be a side effect but Im not sure how repsonse" before you decide on taking any type of drug to help with weight loss.  Especially when it comes to BP.  

I know I have read that you aren't supposed to take certain anti-depressants with some thermogenics....I forget the exact statment but it stated "do not take this product if you are using and MAO inhibiting prescriptions"....etc etc.  Something to that effect.  Just be careful.   I know I have read that on Hydroxycut and Ripped Fuel bottles.

Also, you don't want to loose the weight too rapidly.  Loosing 7lbs in 3wks doesn't seem bad at all.  You want to loose it in a healthy manner by eating properly and doing cardio AND lifting weights.  Remember the more muscle you have the more efficient your body will be in burning fat.  I also think if you loose the weight too quickly it can be unhealthy and you may just be setting yourself up for disappointment if you gain it back fast like some do.

Overall, I would try to watch what you eat.  High Protein, low carbs.  Space your meals throught the day (5-6 mini meals), continue the cardio and definitely lift weight for each body part not just your abs.  See how that works out with shedding the weight.  When you feel like you have reached a plateau and the weight is not coming off --then consider some sort of supplementation.   I don't know if this made sense or helps, but it was my .02

Good Luck and hope to see you on the board!!

SF



<!--EDIT|Spanishfly|Mar. 29 2002,5:17-->

hello..
i was doing some readings on what you have and the sites listed below i thought might be of some help... with the meds you are on and condition you must becareful not to take certain meds..even over-the-counter ones..
hopefully these can be of some help to you ..

http://bipolar.about.com/cs/weight/

this one even has a weight loss/ diet plan for bipolor patients that put on weights..
http://bipolar.about.com/library/weight/bl-wl-central.htm

you have lost 7lb in 3 weeks.. hey that is great.. when "the healthy amount to loose is 1.5 -2lbs in a week" so i think you are already on the right road to your goals..

definetly start with some weight training.. the more muscle you build the better you will boost your metaboilism..  


sasha..

WOW! you ladys are great! thanks! I do have some more questions but let me work on how I wan to phrase them. Sasha thanks for those link! The have been a big help!

thanks Caladins wife
 <!--emo&GG--><img src="http://musclechemistry.mantisforums.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/bigsmile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='GG'><!--endemo-->  

UPDATE!!!

My doctor put me on Topomax instead of Depakote. Holy crap was I tired for  a week straight coming of the Depakote. Slept almost 12-14 hours a day. But Im feeling better now and this is suppose to let me lose the weight that depakote added. I found out that Depokote causes Hunger and possialbe decreased metabolism

But Will see... Its back in the gym for me after a week off and plan to implement that workout the Sasha was going to send me.. hint hint.  <!--emo&GG--><img src="http://musclechemistry.mantisforums.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/bigsmile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='GG'><!--endemo-->

Thanks for all the help and the motivational insight

Caladins Wife (Boy do I have to get my own logon...   )

I am glad to hear that he switched your med.  Hopefully things will start heading in the right direction for you now.

Good luck and keep us posted!!