Hello @neilc,

While we wait for others to join in this discussion, I thought you might find it interesting to read a little about Sandexa from the website. Here is the link, just click on it and you will get some information. https://www.novocare.com/saxenda/savings-card.html?

Is your weight-loss doctor aware of your depression? Did your doctor have any other suggestions regarding your weight loss other than a med?

Thank you Teresa. Yes I am on a low carb high protein diet and have lost 14 lbs in in about three months which is ok but not great. I am seeing my weight loss Dr possibly next week again. In the three months I have had some set backs like the death of my Father and a 5 day fishing trip.

That is good that you are making some progress toward more healthy eating. I am sorry to hear of the death of your father. The death of a parent can be quite a struggle, can't it? Perhaps you might be interested in participating in a discussion here on Connect about Loss and Grief. I opened up the discussion about the loss of my father and you might find that post to be helpful. Here is a link to that discussion, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/loss-and-grief-how-are-you-doing/?utm_campaign=search.

How long ago did your dad pass away, @neilc? Is your mother still living?

Hi, @neilc – I also wanted to invite @katie215 and @johnbishop to this discussion for any input related to Liraglutide (Saxenda) and whether it might worsen your depression.

Hi @neilc, I'm not familiar with Saxenda but if one of the side effects is depression which it appears to be, I would look for natural ways to suppress my appetite. I've used a couple of these tips, including drinking a full glass of water before a meal.

Ten natural ways to suppress appetite
— https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320625.php

Good article, @johnbishop and another great excuse for eating dark chocolate, which I love. I buy the large high-quality candy bars and recently have had a couple of dark chocolate with ginger ones. So that knocks off two of the suggestions at once! I buy the bars and then break them into the predefined squares and eat a couple, generally after breakfast, but maybe I should switch that to before dinner.
JK

John, I, too, joined the chocolate snack since I read that it is a good antioxidant and I know that flavor is important to a diet. I eat two squares after dinner, usually, but sometimes after lunch if I only have a salad. The ones I eat have only ninety calories, low sugar, and have orange bits in them. After dinner I wash the chocolate down with a glass of milk in preparation for the sleepiness that seems to come from the milk. Then I can get to sleep easily, or I can drink camamille tea which does the job of bringing on sleepiness. Tonight is an exception because I have too much on my mind to process, and I have been awake all night. Depression is not a problem for me because I indulge in a prayer life which erases my loneliness from living alone. I recently walked away from problems which were not being addressed and now need to get it out of my head. Life is good when you engage with and help others. I seldom use food for comfort anymore, and I have lost 6 pounds from not being able to cook with a fractured shoulder injury. I'm getting better now. Dorisena

@dorisena I really think chocolate has an anti-depressant effect. I will always have a picture in my mind of my daughter, when she was still in a highchair, eating M&Ms. The look on her face was positively euphoric and dreamy!
JK

Yes, when I am tired and planning to play a concert with my community band group, I eat a little chocolate before the concert and the small caffeine in the chocolate seems to give me just enough of a boost to really enjoy playing and doing well with the group. At my age, daily mental and physical boosts are a requirement. We had one granddaughter who loved cheddar cheese as a toddler and actually preferred it to cookies, which surprised the kitchen ladies at her summer Bible School events. So we didn't push the sweets and now as a grown woman she is a careful eater, and even stays too thin, in my opinion, however that is her choice. I wish I could get my endocrinologist to boost my thyroid medicine because I fought low thyroid and finally had it removed due to cancerous nodes. Now she keeps the numbers low because she says it wards off more cancer, but I am tired most of the time. I refuse to be depressed because I have a very good life here on the beautiful farm. We all need people in our lives to love and to be loved. Dorisena