weight problems and ADD | ADHD Information
I've always had trouble trying to maintain what I believe to be a healthy weight. I'm borderline overweight for my height (5'4", about 149 lbs), and the lowest I got to once was 132lbs.Everytime I start a new diet/exersise regime, it only lasts for a little while and then I get bored and lose all progress that I have made. I hate exersise because mentally I feel it takes me away from the other things I would rather be doing (like my crafts, or a good video game - Lol). How is it that one can be hyperactive, but so damned lazy at the same time?
you know, for my husband i think its the whole IMPULSE thing, the NOW factor that messes him up. He just CAN'T WAIT. He's hungry, he passes by pizza hut, he wants it NOW! He is cooking a nice dinner, and he is too hungry while he is waiting for the food to be done, and he makes himself a sandwich to eat WHILE HE IS COOKING DINNER. he needs immediate relief from his hunger.
Plus, the whole problem with getting bored with a routine does not make things easier. And sometimes he gets too unmotivated to excersise. I really don't think he is going to make any progress until we get him properly checked and treated for his ADD.
With me, it's the opposite. i am small, and was SKINNY especially when i was a little kid. I would get so wrapped up and overfocused on something exciting, that I would forget to eat, and forget that I am hungry. And if we had a special trip planned, like to an amusement park, or some other special occassion, u could forget it. I just was so hyped up and overfocused on the event that i could just totally forget about eating ALL DAY.
I definitely think it depends upon the person who has ADD. Just like each person who has ADD is affected differently depending on the individual, then it probably can possibly affect their weight differently depending on the individual, or it may not affect their weight at all, just as some people with ADD have certain symptoms that other people with ADD simply do not have at all. It just depends on the person.
is there anyone out there that seems to have problems sustaining a healthy weight due to AD/hd?
my husband weighs about 300 lbs and we think he has ADD; (not because of his weight, but because of other symptoms) but he tries SO HARD to lose weight and he will be doing SO WELL for about a 2 days, and all of a sudden, he gets a CRAVING and he WANTS IT and he WANTS IT NOW! and he will get REALLY UPSET with me for trying to talk him off of his craving.
and i had never really connected it with his other ADD symptoms before, until I read about it somewhere on the net.
i think that maybe for some AD/HDers, it sets them up for doom when it comes to losing weight because of the whole problem trying to avoid impulses and the problems trying to stick to a routine, plus getting bored with the same old foods and stuff...
Sonya h,
I definitely agree that there is some connection. I am an overeater and since I've been on my meds (strattera 40mg/day) I have not craved not one thing! I havent even done my late nignt rounds, my appetite had decreased tremendously. Have him checked out.
Good luck
ok sorry but i don't think so with the connection bit because i have ADD and i am 5'5'' and weigh about 8 stone (110lb) i think lol but i'm underweight but healthy for my size because it is my nature build it may have some to do with the depresstion or something like that, that goes along with the ADD but not connected I used to eat out of boredom. It was also a concentration aid. I would eat while doing something else and it seemed to helpme focus on what I was doing. I was never real heavy because of my metabolism but I used to eover eat and eat compulsively[QUOTE=sonya_h]you know, for my husband i think its the whole IMPULSE thing, the NOW factor that messes him up. He just CAN'T WAIT. He's hungry, he passes by pizza hut, he wants it NOW! He is cooking a nice dinner, and he is too hungry while he is waiting for the food to be done, and he makes himself a sandwich to eat WHILE HE IS COOKING DINNER. he needs immediate relief from his hunger.[/QUOTE]My best friend's husband is the EXACT same way. The guy will munch on nachos even though his wife will have JUST told him that dinner will be ready in 5 minutes. An hour after dinner has been eaten, he'll announce that he is feeling "peckish" and will get into the nachos again. They'll be out and pass by a McDonalds and he'll pull into the drive-through, just because.
I don't even think he is actually hungry half of the time. It's just the impulse thing and immediate gratification of getting something he enjoys - food. He displays MANY symptoms of ADD, and I'm sure he probably has it.
I wish I had some suggestions for you.
I think there is a connection as well. I know now taht I am on my meds, I don't have the awful cravings at all (unless I have PMS LOL). I am still hungry, but I have a normal appetite now which is great!substance abuse, depression, Anxiety disorder and ADHD go like Wine, cheese, a picnic basket and a summer day. Everything I have read tells me as a population we are much more prone to those things than the non ADHD population. Real obcessive, destructive, overeatting is a form of substance abuse. Maybe he should check out OA... being serious here. Over eatting when it becomes compulsive is as destructive as drugs or drinking. From what I have heard there program really helps those who give it a real try and are sick and tired of using food as a crutch for dealing with how they feel then feeling like crap for doing it... nasty merry go round ride that one.
[QUOTE=RandomUser]Sorry, not to be rude, but there are a lot of overweight people in America and not all of them have ADD. Diet and exercise for the win. Exercise also increases dopamine levels and the number of dopamine receptors in the brain. Granted, dieting and exercising isn't much fun, but it certainly delivers if you stick with it. [/QUOTE]
While it's true that lot's of people out there who are overweight do not have AD/HD, those who are overweight and DO have AD/HD have a unique set of challenges before them. We have to deal with our impulses in a different way, and some of us CAN'T deal with our impulses without the help of our medications.
To diet and excersise regularly means that we need to establish a routine, which is something that we as ADDers have a problem with as a whole. We can see how the ADDer who has had a problem keeping up with ANY kind of routine in everday life would have extra hard time keeping up a routine that includes excersise, something that most people would consider not fun after a certain amount of time....
The problem is the "sticking with it". Most of us ADDers have trouble sticking to ANY kind of routine, be it excersise, diet, cleaning the house, etc, if it is not fun, interesting, or stimulating.
While each AD/HD individual is different, and some have problems dealing with certain issues that others do not have problems with, I definitely feel that there are at least a FEW AD/HDers out there who have problems dealing with their weight directly associated with their ADD symptoms, and have to face the challenge of dealing with it in ways that may be DIFFERENT than a "normal" overweight individual would.
The question is, is there anyone out there, who feels that their weight problems, or the weight problems of someone they love, is affected by their AD/HD? If so, how did your AD/HD symptoms affect your weight issues, and how where you able to overcome them?
I am overweight, and pending diagnosis of ADD, though I'm pretty certain I have it. And, as I mentioned above, I really think people with ADD (who suffer from low dopamine levels), use snacking / OE as a form of self-medication because it increases their dopamine levels.I know that on pseudoephedrine, I RARELY get hungry and have almost no snack-y type urges. I've lost about 15 pounds now just taking it rather sporadically. (PSE is very similar to ampethetamines (addreall) and increases the dopamine and noradrenaline levels in the brain)
On a sidenote, and on a uh, more adult level, I notice a very strong snacking urge post-orgasm. I am not sure of the cause of this; perhaps it is dopamine related as well?
[QUOTE=RandomUser]I notice a very strong snacking urge post-orgasm...[/QUOTE]
Doesn't everbody?
1. Eating triggers a dopamine release. In individuals with ADD, who have depressed dopamine levels, "cravings" etc can be a form of self medication with food. A better solution is to get medication instead.
2. Lack of self discipline. Sorry, not to be rude, but there are a lot of overweight people in America and not all of them have ADD. Diet and exercise for the win. Exercise also increases dopamine levels and the number of dopamine receptors in the brain. Granted, dieting and exercising isn't much fun, but it certainly delivers if you stick with it. A personal trainer can probably help you keep the program long term, if you don't mind the expense.
You can also try stimulants like ampethetamines to suppress appetite, but remember, your body consumes your muscles and thus lowers your metabolism when you don't eat enough... which is why the key is a healthy diet without overeating rather than undereating...
Hi Sabrina, I know exactly what you are saying. Add/Adhd has so many different aspects! I'm not a parent in the traditional sence(mom to a 23 yr. old Amazon Parrot) with the intellingence of a 3 yr old for life, 80 to 100 people yrs! But as a child, I really don't know how I ever made it this far. They say the disorder rarely travels alone. In my case I've had ADD, Dyslexia and social anxiety ALL my life. Who knows what else could pop up! Sometimes I think thats what makes me so "connected" w/my parrot ,Tequila
. I can be mature, but I think she see that "inner child" in me, and knows I will tolorate muck more than most. We are as my hubby says "Soul Mates" And yes, I will admit she's spoiled beyond rotten! I was a real Mom for 2 mos., long story, long time ago. I really don't know how I would have handled it.
As for the weight thing, when I was first perscribed adderall, 20mg 2 times a day. I actually gained weight b/c I had to take the first dose at 9 am and than at 2pm. Well around 6pm, I made up for lost eating and gained alot! I also lost my focus, so I was given 20mg 3 times a day. The weight dropped off like magic! But I had to make sure I got the proper vitamines and when I did eat, I ate good meals. By mature, I'm a junk food junkie. I still however have my " little Puerto Rican Booty, just not as much"!OH DAH! My doc has me trying adderall XL 30mg 2 times a day. It seems to be working. That was started last month. Concentration seems better.
There are so many issues that sprout up out of the fertile ground of ADD. Inpulsitivy, impatience, the 'old, I want what I want when I want it'. I know many people with ADD and most manifest the same way. We all have an "inner child" that tells us what it wants us to do. Children can be very impatient. The ADD adult has to connect with that small child inside and talk to it. Sort of like being a parent to yourself. Most ADD people mature in so many healthy ways but never learn about the little kid and how to parent it as adult to child. I hope someone understands what I am talking about. If the ADD adult is comfused and chaotic, just imagine the state the child is in...I find that I like to snack a lot, just because it's something else to do. I'll do it even if I'm not hungry. And when I do eat, I like to stuff myself. I'm not really overweight, but that will probably change if I keep it up.
As for husband, sonya_h, you should probably try to realize that he isn't mad at you for talking him off of his craving. Rather, he probably realizes you're right, and he's upset at the situation. Speaking from a guy's perspective, you should try not to take it personally, because he likely doesn't mean it that way. Hope it helps some.
i have to agree, walking for excersise can get boring. for excersise to keep motivated, we plan to try to mix it up and keep it fun. we have bicycles, live near a community indoor pool, and plan to get some rollerblades. if he gets tired of doing one thing, he can switch to something else. and also, to go outside to get the excersise makes a difference for my husband rather than inside excersise. He will do inside excersises for about a day, and then not do it no more cuz it's boring. Something about getting outside and seeing what's new in the neighborhood keeps him more motivated than staying in the house.
it's just the whole problem of GETTING UP and motivated to GET OUT THERE that we have problem with.
and the other problem of finding a pair of rollerblades in a size 15!!
since graduating high school. And I can be on a diet for 3 months doing great and I would go nutty HAVING to have certain foods, NOW! I had never even thought about the connection, being newly diagnosed. Perhaps now I will stand a chance with losing weight now and staying healthy. Now if I could only motivate myself to exercise! 
But that gets too boring, even walks, BORING!