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Q: Reader Tells of Her Success with Exercise and ...
Of course, this is all anecdotal, but when I read the
chapters on exercise and metabolic syndrome, I decided to 'put the book down, go
to the front door and step outside'. It was 3:30 am. :)
I began a light walking regimen the next day and in the past 3
1/2 weeks, I've only missed 1 day because I was down with an bout of Chron's. I
carry my pedometer on me at all times. I can walk 2.5 miles just doing
housework!! But I still go out walking because getting out is so important for
depression! It's completely changed my outlook on life!
I changed my diet to follow your comments about metabolic
syndrome immediately and have lost almost 15 lbs in 3 weeks and I am not 'eating
light', I have not been starving, just avoiding simple carbs & making a
concerted effort to eat more vegetables, otherwise, I substituted complex carbs
for the simple.
I really have to read those labels because labeling laws in the
US allow for quite a bit of deception. I read the total carbs, total sugars and
then read the ingredients as well to be sure they're not sneaking something in
there. Even if the package says, 'sugar free' or '100% Whole Grain', some have
15 grams of sugar per serving or more! Also, I have to watch the Maltitol, I'm
very sensitive to it, especially Russell Stover brand.
Since about the 2nd day I started walking (can't do more than
that because I have a huge midline adominal hernia that's currently inoperable)
and changed my eating habits, I have not had a SINGLE episode of hypomania and I
was a rapid cycler. I now easily sleep 8 hours, waking up maybe once in a night
for a few seconds, if that.
I am now up to 3-5 miles per day of walking at a moderate pace. I
live in South Texas & it's very hot and humid here, so I drive to the mall to
walk early in the mornings and later in the evening, I walk 3 blocks to a strip
mall & return all the carts from the parking lot to the correct stores. That
usually takes me 30-45 minutes, but it's exercise & I've become very popular
with the Target, Office Depot, Ross and PetSmart employees :)
My therapist has been impressed with my results. I am only about
8 weeks into therapy, going twice a week at first, now down to once a week.
After years & years of going to therapists, becoming suicidal 3 times on anti-drepressants,
she is the firts person to diagnose me as Bipolar II.
I spent 11 months in therapy with a psychologist & psychiatrist
in practice together, became suicidal on every AD they gave me & Bipolar II
never came up. That was only 6 years ago.
Two quack MD's have since prescribed AD's for me while I was
obviously hypomanic, never screened me for Bipolar either time. I took the
Lexapro I was given the first time and was suicidal within a few days.
The 2nd time, I caught it with the pharmacist before I filled
it..that doctor had snuck in a generic of Lexapro on me after I stated in my
intake that I could not take anti-depressants (they lost my medical records
shortly thereafter).
My current therapist is 'only' an LCSW, but she has been
wonderful and had heard good things about your book, but hadn't read it. I lent
it to her when I finished it.
Because I have been in a very serious financial situation and the
only psychiatrists covered by my insurance are currently booking for the end of
August, we agreed that we would attempt to control my disorder with diet,
exercise & talk therapy. She'll decide later if I'll need mood stabilizers or
not, but for the moment, it's working. Meds won't be an option for a few months
because I can't afford to see an out of network MD, but for now I feel normal
for the first time in at least 10 years. Even if I could afford the $250.00 for
a single office visit, I have a choice between cheap meds with tons of side
effects or $500.00 a month for the newer, fewer-side effects meds. Not much of a
choice.
For anyone else out there reading this, if I can do it, so can
you. I threw away all the sugar-laden products in my fridge and pantry and
bought whole grains. Now when I occasionally have a piece of fruit, it tastes as
sweet as candy!
The weight loss is another terrific incentive. How else could I
eat 2k calories or more a day and still be losing 2-3 pounds a week?
Thank you so much for your book, I would still be suffering
through the rapid cycling if I hadn't read it.
I went to Amazon.com to look up books on metabolic syndrome and
there are tons of them! Are there any in particular you recommend?
Regards,
Deanna
Dear Deanna --
Thanks for your note. Your account will probably inspire others as well. (At
some point, you will probably go through a phase where you are getting less
exercise. Then later, you will probably pick it back up again to your current
level or so. If that happens, don't let this alarm you In words I have heard
attributed to Bill Rogers, winner of the Boston Marathon several times, "you are
never in shape. You are either getting in shape, or getting out of
shape". ) Good luck with the process.
Dr. Phelps
Published August, 2008
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