LittleJ

I know this post is from almost 6 years ago, but I figured others might have the same question and could find my answer useful. I have been clean since March 10, 2022, from Adderall, and my weight did not fluctuate at all. I had a monthly prescription of 60mg IR a day and would blow through it in the first two weeks of the month. I would spend the next two weeks recovering by heavily smoking weed and sleeping as much as I could. On my worst days, I would take 200+ mg and would've taken even more if I had enough pills. A big part of my using was because I was obsessed with being skinny. I stayed in active addiction for longer than I needed to because I had such a genuine fear of gaining any sort of weight. My mind was so twisted that I thought it was worth being an addict if I stayed skinny. My turning point came when I looked in the mirror and realized I was never going to be my goal weight of 99 pounds. I didn't quit immediately after that realization, but it stuck in my mind that even after so many years of abusing Adderall, I STILL couldn't reach the ridiculous goal weight I had set for myself. When I got clean, I almost immediately started going to the gym because I knew weight gain would be a huge relapse trigger. I started by doing 12-3-30 (12 incline, 3 speed for 30 minutes) on the treadmill. I have eventually worked my way up to using the Peloton app and try to go to the gym 4–5 times a week. I used to previously try to starve myself or eat as little as I could when on Adderall, and then would binge when I ran out. I was very concerned that I wouldn't be able to eat "normally" and that I would gain a ton of weight after I quit. I now eat three meals a day and snack occasionally, but all in all, I feel like I eat pretty "normally." I don't restrict myself, but I also try not to overdo it with foods that I know aren't healthy. I don't weigh myself because it's too triggering, but I know that I've pretty much stayed the same weight because I haven't had to buy new clothes. If anything, I have actually started getting a size small shirt instead of a medium. The combination of going to the gym, walking as much as possible, and eating a balanced diet has really helped in my recovery.

I hate to say this, but I don't think there's anything you can say, do, or show to make him say that he's an addict. Deep down, he probably knows that he is, but he's not ready to acknowledge or accept it. In my humble opinion, a person isn't ready for recovery/to stop using if they can't admit that they are an addict. I was in a relationship where my boyfriend basically asked me to choose between him or Adderall, and I chose the pills. I stayed in active addiction for an additional four years after we broke up. I was not ready to quit when he asked, and I had to hit my own rock bottom before I turned things around. I would recommend putting yourself and your two children first. He will ask for help when he is ready, but don't force yourself to wait around while he figures it out. I am very sorry you are having to deal with this, and I do just want to note this is my opinion, and I am in no way an expert. I can only speak to my experience as someone who was an Adderall addict for about 8 years.