You will read about Zoloft weight gain below and what people did to reverse the Zoloft weight. For what you need to do the same click here
“Zoloft has been terrific, except for the weight gain. I tried; diet, exercise, low carbs, no carbs, you name it and I’ve likely tried. The Zoloft weight gain would not budge.
I was thinking hard about going off the Zoloft when I ran into The Road Back website. After a discussion with Jim Harper and telling him how well the Zoloft has worked for my depression, we decided to just give weight loss a try.
I got to be part of his test group on a reformulated supplement called JNK 5 and Optimum Solace. He said to give this 90 days to begin working and I felt like 90 days was going to pass anyway, so why not. I felt my mood improve during the first 30 days. Up from more of a flat line feeling. No weight loss at all. The first week of the third month I lost 2 pounds! Then another, then another and more Zoloft weight began to come off. By the end of the third month I had lost 12 pounds.
Jim described to me how a normal diet and exercise would not work and to begin exercising a bit and to start watching what I eat more closely. It’s not been 5 months and I am down to a weight I will be happy with the rest of my life. My BP is back in a normal range, my mood is fantastic. I am so happy to share my story with others.
I was one of the impossible ones. You can do this as well.” Clare, Miami, FL.
The debate over weight gain associated with the use of antidepressants was prominent in 2001. While weight loss was recognized as an adverse effect of antidepressants, weight gain was not. The Road Back organization reported receiving hundreds of daily emails from individuals who experienced sudden weight gain after starting an antidepressant, including aerobics instructors and various athletes.
Common sense indicated that the weight gain was not due to diet or a sedentary lifestyle. These individuals were active for at least six hours each day without altering their diet. Yet, dieting and exercising were ineffective. In 2004, I founded Advanced DNA Testing, and we conducted hundreds of DNA tests on individuals with a range of symptoms. Although we investigated weight gain, the data was inconclusive. Simply put, something within the body was triggering weight gain, and it wasn’t poor diet or lack of exercise. After nine years, I discovered the cause of antidepressant-induced weight gain: a gene known as JNK. When activated excessively by antidepressants, this gene initiates a chain reaction leading to weight gain. The JNK gene is also referred to as a kinase enzyme/protein among other terms, adding to the confusion.
This subject is quite intricate, but I will strive to simplify it for clarity. It’s important for my readers to comprehend the ongoing processes within their bodies.
For certain individuals, the initial intake of an antidepressant may further inhibit the JNK gene, leading to initial weight loss. Over time, however, this effect may reverse, and the antidepressant may begin to activate the JNK gene. This could be due to the antidepressant activating upstream proteins, which then move downstream to activate the JNK. It is not the activating proteins themselves that cause weight gain, but rather the overexpression of the JNK gene, potentially due to these proteins or another cause.
For the past 12 years, The Road Back has utilized nutritional supplements to mitigate the side effects of antidepressants. This approach is somewhat similar to the science behind weight loss resulting from antidepressant use, though it is not exactly the same.
The JNK has 3 routes within the body. They are JNK1, JNK2 and JNK3. Each route goes to unique parts of the body. JNK1 and JNK2 being over expressed leads to obesity and insulin resistance. JNK3 protects our body from excessive obesity. In developing an approach to help reverse antidepressant weight gain a natural substance needed to be formulated to reduce the over expression of JNK1 and JNK2 and NOT reducing the activity of JNK3.This weight loss method is quite different from all other weight loss approaches. Frankly, most other weight loss approaches that are diet based will work for you BUT only after you have chilled out the JNK gene and the upstream proteins that continually keep the JNK overly expressed.
A frequently asked question – How long does it take to begin losing weight? I wish I could give you an exact answer to that question. There are things you can do with your diet to help speed this up but still know way to tell. It may be in 1 week and in some cases it has taken several months.
The other frequently asked question – Do I need to stop taking my antidepressant? NO. One more frequently asked question – Do I need to continue taking the supplements you recommend once I lose the desired weight? That’s a yes and no answer. For some people the JNK begins being overly activated again if you stop using the supplements and the weight gain begins to return. For others it does not and the weight remains off.
I have traced the weight gain to a few areas. The person switched antidepressant, changed their dosage of the antidepressant or discontinued the antidepressant. Any of these changes can start the weight gain. Here are some things you can do that will help start bringing the JNK back to normal activity again. Stop or greatly reduce eating any food containing preservatives. The preservatives activate the JNK. Avoid frozen fish. The type of fish that has been boxed and sold in the freezer section of the grocery. A preservative is used in this fish that activates the JNK more than most other chemicals. This is a weight loss process and is not an instant weight loss program due to starvation. Don’t do that type of diet. Let’s make this a healthy diet. With that; start looking at the sodium amount used in all diet foods you may purchase. Limit your daily sodium to no more than 2,500 mg a day. Even lower sodium if you can. Your blood pressure will also thank you!
Not a bad idea to buy a blood pressure cup and monitor your blood pressure while you use this method. Chart your blood pressure and watch it fall into the desired range as your proceed.
If you are taking medication for diabetes PLEASE check with your physician before starting this method. With insulin returning to normal the medication will likely need to be reduced as well. What you need to do – Take the JNK 5 and Optimum Solace daily. Get some exercise daily. Start watching your calories but don’t go overboard on that. Wait until you have had some gains and then it becomes easier to reduce calories.