How do I lose weight while on anti-depressants?

Unfortunately one of the side effects of most antidepressants is weight gain. However this can be combatted with correct eating habits and exercise.  Antidepressants tend to slow down your metabolic rate so often it is necessary to exercise in the morning and then again a short session in the evening - this also helps with the depression.  You should be doing at least 10000 steps a day if you use a pedometer. You should be eating 6 small meals a day.  Keep your portions small and eat every 3 hours to keep your metabolism working through the day. If you look on my website www.arlenesway.com.au there are examples of menus which you can follow.  Try these for four weeks and I look forward to your feedback on how your weight is reacting to this lifestyle of eating and exercise.

In terms of exercise and metabolism, it is important to ‘change it up’. Your body will ‘get used to’ certain types of activity that you have been doing for an extended period of time. Your gym program should include multi-joint resistance-based exercise to increase your ‘active tissue’ (ie muscle because it uses energy). Weights and resistance work are very important for long-term weight maintenance. Also, some moderate to high intensity interval training would give your metabolism a ‘boost’ if you are not already doing this in the gym - ie 12 secs at a moderate  RPM on the bike/rower/treadmil/elliptical (so that you can still talk) and then 8 secs at a higher RPM or resistance(so that you are breathless enough to not be able to talk comfortably). Repeat 3-10 times. Your daily jog could incorporate some higher pace ‘sprints’ between light poles and such if doing this outside.

This advice is of course dependent on other health concerns, injuries and currently fitness levels. I hope this helps :)

Also ask your psychologist/look into meditation/relaxation. There are free meditation groups around the world: freemeditation.com Stress hormones can be another major factor preventing weight loss. Is there any option of decreasing medication?

Unfortunately some anti-depressant medications do have an effect on your appetite and/or metabolism making it more challanging to maintain a healthy weight - but as you mentioned, you often need to stay on the medication which is best for your mental state.

What this means is that you will have to work harder than usual to maintain a healthy weight.  You'll need to make sure that you're eating the correct portion sizes, make sure that you're not consuming too many treat foods and make sure that you're including plenty of physical activity into your weekly routine.  If you're putting in enough work, you'll be able to beat the side effects of the medication.

Best wishes with your journey!

Melanie McGrice
www.health-kick.com.au

Weight gain is quite a common side-effect of Avanza (aka Mirtazapine or Remeron).

There is some official (FDA) information about this here; http://www.drugs.com/pro/remeron.html .

You might like to print it out and discuss it with your prescribing doctor.

I have a couple of things to say about this.
1.I agree with Kiwi33,  ask your doctor or psychiatrist about changing your medication again,  to one that doesn't have weight gain as a side effect.  Newer anti-depressants are better but may not be on the health benefits scheme.  
Much depends of why you're taking the anti-depressant as mild to moderate anxiety or depression can usually be helped with medication-free thought and behavioural change therapy.  You said you get worse when off the medication, it what way?  You said you stopped taking it for a couple of weeks.  Ideally you should reduce it slowly over a period of time, expecially if you are trying a new medication.
2. I reecommend you read the book ‘Why we get fat: and what to do about it’ by Gary Taubes, published by Anchor Books, 2011.   Richard is a top science journalist in the U.S. and debunks many myths about calories and excercise.
The emphais here is on high protein low carbohydrate.  This approach can be very effective but make sure you get enough carbs from vegetables and allowable carbs as carbs mellow you out, whereas protein makes you ‘sparky’ (again, it depends on why you are taking the medixcation - is it for anxiety, or depression?).