tammync
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I was on Lamictal, which is similar to Lyrica, and packed on 10 lbs. in a month. Luckily, that was long enough to fix the nerve pain and I tapered off it. Even 10 lbs. is difficult for me to lose because of the hypoglycemia. I can't go for more than a few hours without food so I have to eat a small meal packed with complex-carbs right before going to bed and, as we all know, that is a big NO-NO for people who want to lose weight. Now I'm no expert at weight loss or I'd be thin right now, but I have maintained my weight for the last 20 years or so (and that sometimes meant having to drop those 20lbs I gained over winter). To maintain and lose weight, I use the following tried-and-true methods: **I switched to Sweet and Low to sweeten my iced tea and buy it in the spoonable boxes which is SOOOOO much easier than tearing open those little packets. I use about 3 generous tablespoons to a gallon of tea. It took a couple weeks to get use to it, but I prefer it now over soda for my cafeine fix. The antioxidents are good for you, too. **Not being able to exercise destroys your metabolism so you have to find other ways to rev it up. The easiest is to be costantly putting something in your mouth. Hard to fathom, I know, but it really does help. Even if it is nothing more than a piece of sugar free gum, it will get your stomach juices pumping and that's what starts the metabolic process. Now if you do this with high calorie foods, it isn't going to work. Also remember, you aren't doing this to "enjoy a meal!" I think of it as taking a diet pill... instead of a little capsule, it is a little chunk of raw cabbage... or lettuce... or pickle... whatever you prefer. Just make SURE it is low fat and low calorie foods. Fruits are actually diet killers for a lot of folks with nearly 100 calories in each apple or banana. Oh... and avoid potatoes at all cost! When I'm wanting to lose weight, I try to eat some little something every hour and do so for about a week. The following week, I cut back to 3 meals and 3 snacks a day and almost always drop a quick 5 lbs. If I need to drop more than 5lbs, I repeat the process the following week. Maintaining your weight is a LOT easier than losing and I think it helps to know I only have to do this for 7 days, then get a 7 day break. **If you are really limiting your calorie intake on a regular basis, that too can foul up your metabolism. Our bodies like to find "routines" and your body will often adjust to the low number of calories and start laying off employees, cutting salaires... cells wind up homeless... it is a HUGE mess, ha, ha. At least once a week, eat a SMALL high calorie, high fat meal to shock your body's metabolism. It will be like holiday season at Wal-Mart and your body starts recruiting seasonal help, ha, ha. For some, it may mean doing this twice a week. If you find your weight loss has stalled out, this may be the problem! **This one goes against everything I've been told, but I weigh myself every morning before I eat or drink anything. I was amazed to learn that my over-indulgence of pizza on Tuesday sometimes didn't register on the scale until Thursday. And this is different for everyone! It helps to understand how your body is using fuel and at what pace and this is one way to monitor all that. It also helps you to learn what foods are packing on the most pounds for you.
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