i'm overweight, and depressed, which should i take care of first?

Question

i am about 100pounds overweight, however, i also have severe depression, my boyfriend say's i should lose weight, and that will help my depression. losing weight isn't going to happen soon, but my depression needs to be taken care of. what should i do????

Answer 1

Don't you love how people make it sound so easy (meaning your boyfriend, although I am sure he means no harm, he just doesn't understand)? Here is what worked for me. I was so depressed and so overweight. I was more overweight than you. I finally got tired of just letting myself stay depressed. I knew that I was treating food as my best friend. It filled me when nothing else would. I have been in counseling for a year now and I have learned so much. First, I have a very low self esteem. It's pretty much at zero and working it's way up. I have lost so much weight since I started going to counseling. I am also on medication to help me. My advice is seek treatment. It has changed my life, hopefully it can help you too. You must find someone that you can really talk to. I have had treatment before and it was awful. I love my current counselor. She is amazing. I think the two go hand and hand. You need help for your depression first. In my mind I have no doubt about that. I wish you all the best. Good luck!

P.S. I think Joyce was really trying to help you, but for me that would never work. I can't get into that whole technical side of things. Just eat healthier smaller portions. Don't beat yourself up if you take in a little bit more one day. My counselor told me to try and never let myself get hungry. Once you get hungry you already somewhat lost the battle. Oh, and I should mention. She used to weigh 250, she has lost over 100 pounds herself. She is only 26 and so am I.

Answer 2

Why can't you do both at the same time? Loosing weight may help you feel better about yourself and increase yor self confiendence and there is no time like the present. But you are right - it will take some time. If you can afford it (check your health insurnce to see if any of this stuff is covered), you might want to see a nutritionist and join a gym. At the very least, look into progrms like weight watchers. Start increasing your activity and making healthier food choices. At the same time, your depression may be situational, but it may be biochemical. Start tackling your depression by seeing a therapist now also. Therapy is a long road too. Even if you take anti-depressants, you sill need to work on behavior modification. Good luck!

Answer 3

You should start exercising, that way it'll help with both of your issues at the same time. I know it's a lot easier said than done so just start little by little and hopefully you'll start feeling better. You should see a doctor, he can help you more so with both. Maybe put you on medication to help with your depression and suggest what to do about loosing weight. Both are very difficult to deal with especially at the same time (I suffer from depression). In your situation they probably go hand in hand. Being overweight could cause you to be depressed, and when you're depressed you don't feel motivated to do anything like losing weight. I hope everything works out for you.

Answer 4

Neither will be an overnight success. Be happy you are alive, be happy you are not bed bound. I too am some what depressed, my sister passed away Dec 2006. And I thought I was dealing with it but for some reason these past 3 months have been miserable for me, I eat and eat all the wrong foods. I did make myself go to Weight Watchers meeting last Monday and I was convinced and went ahead and signed up. I want to lose weight for me, all my family is helping me per the Weight watcher chart I need to lose down to 137 from 250 lbs. so we all have something we have to work on but we must want to do it. And you also have your boyfriend that sounds like he will support you.
Good luck, I don't know that I helped you. But We Can Over come our weight and depression.
God Bless.

Answer 5

Take care of your depression first. Depression can trigger overeating, which isn't going to help you any. See a qualified doctor, who can then refer you to the right people.

You have my compassion. My mother had the same problem. She dropped 145 pounds of her overweight once she started taking antidepressants and talking to a therapist once a week. Enlist your family and your boyfriend as support. Anyone who is derisive or cruel needs a good thwack over the head.

Good luck. I hope you feel better and I hope you get down to a healthy weight.

Answer 6

Well sometimes the depression stems from being overweight. How is your self-esteem? If that seems to be a huge issue, then start eating healthier. I'm a little bias, b/c I am one, but I strongly suggest vegetarianism. It promotes both weight loss and heart health, both of which would be important to your situation. As you go and start to see results, trust me, the depression will get better. I also recommend seeing a doctor and getting a professional's advice. Keep your chin up!

Answer 7

well in order to be able to see a change in yourself, you will need to treat that depression. Your boysfriends way might work but depression affects the way we percieve things rather than the way they really are. No matter how thin you are or look you won't see that through depression.

Start with a visit to the dr, he can prescribe you some A/D if he feels its needed. After that and after they start working (it can take 6 weeks sometimes to see any change) than re-evaluate and see what you want to do vs what you must do.

Answer 8

I would work on the depression first, this condition leads to over eating and lack of motivation...then you can start on your way to loosing your weight with a positive up lifting attitude! Good luck!

Answer 9

hi well id like to give you some advice dont take this wrong but if your boyfriends tell you to loose wieght thats pretty harsh ,,, anywho well ive been joining curves its a great womens ONLY gym its nice anf friendly i strogly recommed it its great but with the depression just you know go there its only 30 min. a day so what do you got to lose? youll meet plenty of nice women and itll be a fun experience try it !

Answer 10

Just taking positive steps towards a goal can have very positive effect on reducing your depression. If you were to start working towards a goal of getting in better shape you might be surprised at how much better you felt about yourself.