Overweight and ADD

[Andrew]

Do you see yourself as being overweight? I personally could lose a few pounds, and I think my weight issues stem from poor self control (disinhibition), poor follow-through on long-term projects and low self esteem (its a viscious cycle)

[LiLMissADDitude]

I don't know how true this is but Ive heard that as adults people with ADD inatentive type are more likely to be overweight while people with ADHD are usually in their correct weight range. I was at my perfect weight but since starting strattera Ive lost some weight which I should probably try to gain back. Wooohooooo ice cream, hot fudge,& pizza!!!!!!

[Tara]

Many ADDers also self medicate with food for both stimulatation and to help with anxiety.

[sleepzalot]

I'm not overweight, I'm slightly underhuge.



Sleepz.

[fasttalkingmom]

Originally posted by livingwithadd
Many ADDers also self medicate with food for both stimulatation and to help with anxiety.

This would be me....

[Jonathan]

As a child I was always pretty much fat-free. As a young adult I was still pretty slim. I am not very overweight but am beginning to grow a belly, although my wife is the one who is pregnant at the moment. This has quite a bit to do with giving up smoking earlier this year, and I would say with ADD too (though it happens to most people - on a Western diet at least - who give up smoking). I'd apply that quote to myself too - I get food (especially sugar/carbohydrate) cravings through the day, associated with feeling restless, frustrated and unable to concentrate (though it's not always as bad as this sounds!). Been a bit better the last few days - wonder what I'm doing right...

[sleepzalot]

Science time.....

When you smoke, it acts as an immediate appetite suppressant. the nicotine takes less than 15 seconds to reach the receptor sites in the brain. When you use sugar based food to satisfy hunger, it takes 20 minutes before digestion gets the messages to the receptors. That is why you eat a lot more to get to satisfy the craving feeling.

Knowing the above hasn't stopped me from eating. I just try to last the 20 minutes and hope I'm not being too bad with my snacks!!

Sleepz.

[DSCH]

I went on Atkins induction phase after I cleared my head up through trying B-complex vitamins and amino acids (DLPA) in addition to my prescription (pemoline). This was because I suddenly noticed energy and focal sensitivity to sugar and carbohydrates. It's not strictly glucose intolerance (I have self-montored that) but maybe the inhanced uptake of tryptophan at the blood brain barrier with high blood insulin forming more serotonin (I think I have plenty of that already, thankyouverymuch!). I've since been able to drop the pemoline and all other suppliments except for my vitamin/mineral complex.

My last panicky episode was in the early spring of 2002, and I dropped to about 235 pounds at that time. I gradually put back on until I was at 255 in July. I am down to 239 at the moment, and am shooting for about 200.

I tended to be chubby as kid until my mid teens. Then I was a rail in my late teens (also my better years mentally). Later years in university they started adding back on again, and my ability to concentrate and stay task-orientated wanned.

[EchoHD]

I was never overweight until I had my children, at ages 37 and 38 (yes, I was out of my mind). Since then (11 yrs) I have continued to gain. I definately eat for stimulation and anxiety. And I smoke like a bad chimney. But then, I eat and smoke at the same time.

[joanrdtobe]

The poll says 85% of us consider ourselves overweight....Congrats to anyone having the courage to be honest with this poll

I'm overweight....always have been and definitely always will be....I think it's not only what Tara says....stimulation seeking and way to deal with anxiety.....but I've also been told that growing up with alcoholism has a lot to do with it....Daughters/sons of alcoholics many times tend to have problems with overeating......

And it's a very genetic thing....how many of us who have said we are overweight -- also have parents, brothers, sisters, grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, uncles -- SOMEBODY in our family -- who is also overweigiht....and genes are a TOUGH thing to DISinherit....not impossible......(not looking for an excuse here)...but tough...

[DSCH]

We didn't evolve eating lots of sugar and refined wheat and rice. We had a nice mix of meat, fish, nuts, roots, and the occasional sweet fruit going on as hunter-gatherers.

Americans only really started getting seriously obese en masse with the introduction of packaged foods in supermarkets and fast food restaurants. Look at people in photos from the 1950s and earlier.

High carb/low fat is not the answer for most people.

[InattentiveType]

I'm not overweight. Although I am getting kind of flabby as I get older.

Personally I'd like to put on weight. I'd like a good 20lbs of muscle. I just can't ge my lazy *** motivated enough to hit the gym on any kind of regular basis.

[joanrdtobe]

Originally posted by InattentiveType


I just can't ge my lazy *** motivated enough to hit the gym on any kind of regular basis.

Inattentive: I'll go if you go.....

[Keppig]

Wouldn't it be great if we had a "Going to the Gym" support thread? You know one where you can write "I made it to the gym today, praise me! I worked out for 10 minutes, praise me again!"
Or the "I was so sore from yesterday I slept in" "I really wanted to go but 20 other things got in the way" "Get me motivated, please!!"

What do you think, Joan?

[joanrdtobe]

A-W-E-S-O-M-E IDEA.............

Makes for accountability for our exercise efforts.....

Would you like to start the thread Kassie, since it was your brilliant idea??