A wonderfully inspiring story from Judy:
A few days ago I bumped into a former weight loss clinic of mine who I had not seen for about 3 years. I was so happy to see her, and what she looked like, that I almost cried with delight. For this client was not your ordinary individual seeking weight loss help. She was special; someone who fought many obstacles to lose over 250 pounds. Alyssa (not her real name) had been a thin, active attractive young adult before she experienced a variety of severe emotional disorders which effectively stopped her normal life. She was hospitalized for an extensive period for psychiatric treatment. Alyssa told us that it was common practice at the inpatient facility for her and the other patients to order vast quantities of take-out foods such as pizza and Chinese food that they consumed most evenings. Alyssa, like nearly every other fellow patient on mood stabilizing medications, developed new seemingly insatiable food cravings and an inability to ever feel full. So she ate and ate. Ultimately Alyssa recovered from her emotional disorders, but the medication regime, which caused her to eat almost constantly, left her weighing over 500 pounds. She could barely walk without being out of breath and experienced an almost constant need to eat. As she began to resume life outside the hospital, she resolved to lose the weight she had gained. But she feared that an ordinary diet would leave her desperately hungry, and she did not know how to begin to exercise.
While she continued to take her medications, we helped her over almost two years with our weight loss plan that took away the incessant food cravings she had been experiencing. At first we told her to eat 5 meals a day and three high carbohydrate snacks so she would not feel hungry. The foods were considerably lower in fat and calories than what she had been consuming, and as the weight came off, we reduced the number of meals and calories she was eating. We also found a personal trainer who worked with her weekly to improve her stamina and increase her muscle strength which was weak due to her almost total inactivity. At first, she could not walk up and down the three steps in front of her apartment building without holding on for support. One of the first things the trainer did was help her buy walking shoes to support her weight. She could only walk around the apartment with difficulty when she first started to exercise but after several months, she was able eventually to walk 3-4 miles each day. And most importantly as she lost weight, she gained confidence in her ability to live a life without any restrictions due to weight or lack of fitness. As we worked together, I felt privileged to learn and share in her plans of what her future life would be like when her weight would no longer restrict her. And seeing her a few days ago, happy with her work, looking radiant, exuberant and full of good humor, I felt doubly privileged to learn that her future had arrived.
We have heard from a number of weight loss clients who also suffer from fibromyalgia that sweet and starchy snacks like breakfast cereal, as well as carbohydrate meals such as pasta, particularly eaten in the afternoon and evening, helped relieve their pain. Of course it is well-known that low doses of antidepressants effectively relieve fibromyalgia pain, and all of our clients with fibromyalgia have been on antidepressants. To remind myself of this form of therapy, I visited this fibromyalgia site which I thought gave a nice overview of the use of antidepressants to treat fibromyalgai: <a href="http://www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org/fibromyalgia_antidepressants.html">Fibromyalgia Symptoms.
They write "Though antidepressant drugs are typically used to treat mood disorders, they have also proven effective in relieving the pain and sleep-related disorders of fibromyalgia. When people with fibromyalgia receive antidepressant prescriptions, it is typically in order to interrupt pain cycles and restore restful sleep. Antidepressants are prescribed in lower-than-usual doses in order to treat these symptoms. Many people with fibromyalgia also suffer from depression. In these cases, antidepressant medications are prescribed in order to lift mood. However, regular doses of antidepressants are required in order to improve depression."
Judy just shared this story with me:
A few days a weight loss client told me that she eats sugary foods to help her pain. She has been suffering from fibromyalgia for decades and her treatment has included a variety of antidepressants. “They work,” she told me, “to control pain most of the time. But every so often the pain breaks through and then I have to eat something sweet. The sugar takes away the pain for about 30 minutes and it’s enough of a reprieve so I can deal with it when it comes back.”
Our client was afraid that if she went on a diet, she would no longer be able to use sugar when her pain again became intolerable. But to her immense relief, we told her that our diet plan insisted that she eat carbohydrates either in the form of a sugary or starchy snacks at least twice at day. And if she followed the plan, she could count on much longer periods of relief from her pain.
“It isn’t the sugar itself that is taking away the pain,” we explained. ”But sugar and other starchy carbohydrates trigger the production of serotonin in the brain. And this brain chemical, serotonin, will diminish the pain you are feeling.”
“Well I guess I won’t be losing any weight on your diet,” she told us sadly, "but if the pain goes away, I guess it is worth it.”
“Au contraire” we answered (using our very limited French), on the contrary, you will lose weight very easily. Because serotonin not only takes away pain, it takes away appetite and gives you back a better mood. But you don’t have to eat sugar. Any carb except fruit will get the brain to make new serotonin. You just have to be careful and eat the carbs on an empty stomach. Avoid eating protein with the carbs when you need to make serotonin for pain and appetite control because the protein prevents serotonin from being made.”
“What is a sweet snack I could eat on my diet?” she asked. “Well," we answered, “how about those sugary crunchy very low fat breakfast cereals?”
“You mean like Captain Crunch?” she asked.
“Sure,” we answered. “But you can’t eat the whole box. You have to follow the diet guidelines and measure your portions. You only need a certain amount for the brain to make serotonin. Any extra will just add unnecessary calories.”
“Pas de problem.” she answered in her limited French. “Not a problem. When can I start?”
Each person needs to experiment with their eating to find a diet that best controls their symptoms. For anyone, we always recommend a balanced diet that includes wholesome carbohydrates, lean proteins, and healthy fats whether your goal is pain control, weight loss, or general well-being. We just like to let people know that a little sugar can go a long way in making you feel good.
