Popular Post betterreadthandead Posted June 30, 2014 Popular Post Report Share Posted June 30, 2014 One of the reasons I took Adderall was to avoid gaining weight, and possibly even be thin. One of the reasons I was afraid to quit Adderall was, of course, to avoid gaining weight and possibly even be fat. I'm roughly ten months free from Adderall, and for those who are interested about weight changes as I was, here's what I experienced. The first three months were a blur in almost every respect. I didn't know what it was like to feel hungry. I hadn't felt hunger for many years. I was relearning what it meant to be hungry, and to feel full in my first three months free from Adderall. I gained weight at this time. I'm not sure how many pounds, I just know that my clothes weren't fitting me. Months three through six of being off of Adderall, I began to understand my body again. My body told me what it needed. It was at this time that I began to learn how to listen to these internal bodily queues. I stopped gaining weight. I may have even began to lose some weight in the five to six months range. Months six through nine, I understood how to feed my body so that it fueled itself. I understood what it felt like to feel full. I knew when it was time to eat because I would feel hungry. I picked food that only gave me energy. I stopped having those junk foood, high sugary cravings I remember always having while on Adderall. I began losing weight during this time. Months ten and change, I'm astonished to share this, but I am at the weight I was at while using Adderall and maybe even less now. I'm able to fit into all of my clothes again. No more holes in the jeans where my thighs were rubbing together like what I experienced in months three through six being clean. My embarassment for thinking that Adderall was the solution to being thin increases by the day. All throughout this experience I practice Bikram yoga regularly. Including the months where I gained weight. That's why I want to emphasize the diet and appetite aspect of this post, rather than the exercise aspect -- because my physical fitness regime remained steady throughout. For all those who are anxious about the seemingly trivial subject of weight gain, take heart. You'll see your weight change, yes, and then you'll see it change again. Don't let that fear stop you from putting down the pills. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perullo Posted June 30, 2014 Report Share Posted June 30, 2014 Great post. It sounds like you were able to still make a lot of good decisions, even during the chaos of the whole process. My embarassment for thinking that Adderall was the solution to being thin increases by the day. My favorite line in the whole post. It goes to show that the fear of taking on a challenge like this can actually be tougher to get through than the challenge itself. Congrats on seeing through your fears - it sounds like you are doing exceptionally well. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quit-once Posted July 1, 2014 Report Share Posted July 1, 2014 Dealing with changes in body weight is a huge factor in one's recovery. It requires a higher level of self-acceptance. I timed my Quit to minimize rapid weight gain by quitting in the summer when I could be more active. Kicking Adderall and cigs at the same time caused almost 20 lbs. of weight gain by month Ten. I was back to my "using" weight by Month 15. Oddly enough, I now weigh exactly what I weighed when I quit three years ago. I had a lot of belly fat from lack of sleep and poor diet. Now, more lean muscle & clothes fit better. Great topic. I plan to start another discussion thread about the workout program I have embraced this spring: HICT (high intensity circuit training) + (power) yoga + keeping a daily food/calorie journal and a daily activity score. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post SweetCarolinee Posted July 3, 2014 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 This is very inspiring because I am still struggling with the weight gain. From right after quitting til my 3 month mark, I was doing hot yoga every other day and being insanely healthy and still gained weight. Then I moved down to FL and started a new job, which I love but now I work 6 days a week and haven't had as much time to focus on working out or being healthy but I know it's because I've been making excuses and haven't made enough time for it. The painting events we put on are in different local bars and restaurants so I've been eating out a lot and drinking a few drinks every night, as well so clearly I'm gaining weight from all this but I'm having a lot of fun and making new friends. I just know this isn't healthy or the life style I want in the long run. We are also in-between moving to a new, bigger place near by, which is awesome yet stressful. Tonight, I'm working and I am going to eat a healthy meal before going into work and just drink soda water the entire time. If I do get hungry, I will order a spinach salad. I'm also gonna start waking up earlier so I can get some yoga or runs in. I'm also gonna allow myself only 2 drinks, maybe 2 times a week or go cold turkey from drinking for awhile after the 4th, which I'm off and want to celebrate with new friends. My younger bro just got out of rehab for drinking. It's my own fault this has happened but it just really sucks right now. The weight gain is the only reason why I would ever want to take Adderall again and why I still think about it and sometimes long for it but that is out of the question. I just need to get my shit together. Thanks for the story, there is hopefully light at the end of this tunnel. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quit-once Posted July 4, 2014 Report Share Posted July 4, 2014 Alcohol has a LOT of calories and they are all empty. Seven calories per gram (ml) of ethanol. I never realized how many calories I got from drinking until I started keeping a calorie journal. 4 beers = 600 calories. one mixed drink with one ounce of 80 proof liquor has almost 100 calories from the alcohol alone! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlwaysAwesome Posted July 4, 2014 Report Share Posted July 4, 2014 I am on day 28 adderall free and I am up 10-12 pounds, depending on hydration and time of day. I have been sporadically exercising, and keeping my caffeine levels up in the afternoon. I have developed a sensitivity to most artificial sweeteners, so my only low cal caffeine option is coffee. Since Alabama afternoons are pretty hot, I'm thinking I should switch to iced coffee. I have tried to stay away from wheat (wheatbellyblog.com), but carbs are screaming my name!!! Well, I'm going to try to get back on track, and I just wanted to thank you for the inspirational post. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idonttan Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Out of curiousity, how long did you take adderall for before quitting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetCarolinee Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 For me, it was 7 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlwaysAwesome Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 6 1/2 years, or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quit-once Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Nine years on Adderall and 3+ years of post-Adderall freedom. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
listful Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 I am dumbfounded by the weight thing in my situation. Had kids in between using episodes, so I really don't know what my true weight is/should be. I think I was around 110 in high school, I'm 5'3 though, pretty short. First pregnancy stopped adderall and weighed 114, shot up to 170 by term. Then after two kids, started using and dropped to 98. Stopped, had another kid, 11 months postpartum currently and 119. Who knows... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlwaysAwesome Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 I was up 40 pounds, but I am down almost 10 pounds since I quit grains and sugar 2 weeks ago...I feel better and My mind is clearer, too. I am resuming my exercise and I find that my exercising heart rate doesn't get to 180 BPM anymore. I am amazed that my heart didn't explode while I was taking Adderall! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idonttan Posted February 4, 2015 Report Share Posted February 4, 2015 I only took adderall for a year but I lost 20-30 lbs while on it, and I am now 40 days clean from it yet I still haven't gained control of my eating. It seems like the first month of detox was so much easier and I ate so much less. Now I'm snacking all damn day and can feel the weight adding on. I just needed to vent this frustration because compared to others, I used for shorter duration yet it seems like my ability to just get to a healthier version of myself is taking far longer than expected and leaving me very frustrated with this never ending hunger/ still eating even when full. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassie Posted February 4, 2015 Report Share Posted February 4, 2015 I only took adderall for a year but I lost 20-30 lbs while on it, and I am now 40 days clean from it yet I still haven't gained control of my eating. It seems like the first month of detox was so much easier and I ate so much less. Now I'm snacking all damn day and can feel the weight adding on. I just needed to vent this frustration because compared to others, I used for shorter duration yet it seems like my ability to just get to a healthier version of myself is taking far longer than expected and leaving me very frustrated with this never ending hunger/ still eating even when full. It's only been 40 days - that's not a long time to have quit something. I kept gaining weight for the first 3 months off Adderall, then my appetite and metabolism started to normalize and I lost the weight. Your body, mind and hormones will adjust over time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Searchingsoul9 Posted February 8, 2015 Report Share Posted February 8, 2015 Great job! That's awesome. I too started adderall mainly for weight-loss and feared gaining it all back once i stopped, I was sickly thin on adderall and gained about 13 pounds over the course of a year and have just now dropped about 5 due to exercise and better eating. I'll admit, i miss my adderall body, but i know it was not realistic. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mila490 Posted February 18, 2015 Report Share Posted February 18, 2015 I have to be really careful about looking through my old photos. Without fail, I end up craving it every time I look at pictures of myself at the height of my adderall use two years ago. I have to remind myself that it wasn't the adderall that made me lose weight - it was the fewer calories and the increased exercise that I did during that time. Quitting has totally messed with my motivation to workout. I can't let myself sugarcoat it though - I initially lost weight on it, but then all the benefits gradually diminished and I gained it all back even while still on adderall. I'm trying to be patient with myself and be proud of another day off adderall, even if it's yet another day I didn't go to the gym. At some point I need to push myself a little and just get back into it, but I'm still struggling to get to that point. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knows_Better Posted June 23, 2015 Report Share Posted June 23, 2015 I lost 36 pounds between Feb and April of this year ... Lately , since my appetite has come back I'm scared to gain weight back Binge eating has never been my thing. But I cannot NOT eat Crazy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doge Posted June 23, 2015 Report Share Posted June 23, 2015 Just go with it, it will bring you some measure of happiness which will make this journey somewhat bearable. Lots of food/sleep, as much of the latter as you can fit into your schedule! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlwaysAwesome Posted June 24, 2015 Report Share Posted June 24, 2015 SNACKS!!! I lived on them for the first 4 months or so. No worries, because it does come off again if you try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nouedis Posted June 24, 2015 Report Share Posted June 24, 2015 One of the reasons why I had to take adderall was because I was hyper and stuff and the teachers didn't know at the time why I couldn't stay focused. So, I had to deal with that for quite a while. I was never addicted to it, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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