diets for depression?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
diets for depression?
2
Sat, 12-27-2003 - 2:31pm
i've gained a lot of weight since starting Lexapro and quitting my vices of alcohol and smoking and so,now that is getting me down, i've heard the low carb diets help to relieve stress because of glucose levels? or something to that effect. i struggle alot with "what now?" since i'm not smoking or drinking and trying to keep bad stuff at bay i feel like a very boring person, anyway i don't want to stay on meds too long so i was wondering any of you have tried anything like changing the way you eat and it making you feel better? i'm having a tough time staying away from the cookies & sweets. So i'm hoping i can really stick to some sort of diet i don't know what else to do i've gained like 20 lbs. and at the end of the day i feel awful, i'm always sleepy morning, noon & night with no motivation whatsoever to start a walking routine, I used to walk 3 miles a day without fail on my treadmill. so i'm also contemplating going off the Lexapro, i don't like being so lazy all the time and forcing myself to go on every day. i feel like i need to tie myself up in order not to be chewing on something i take vit. c,calcium & l-glutamine but i still feel sleepy all the time, anyway i started a low carb diet this morning and hoping i can stick to it troughout the day and for a few days and hope to feel better after a couple of days, i hope cause i can't feel rundown, next week i start taking care of my grandson, he is on vacation from school.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-02-2003
Sat, 12-27-2003 - 5:14pm
Hi mz.gata2001- I don't know how much lexapro you are on, the usual dose is 10mg/day. If the lexapro is making you feel tired you might want to talk to your doctor about taking half in the morning and half after supper time. I am not a doctor so don't do this unless you speak to your doc first. I have been taking lexapro for about 8 months now but I haven't seen any wt gain associated with it.

Low carb diets do help with glucose levels to help the high and low feelings that carbs give you, but a low carb diet can not replace the serotonin that is in anti-depressants that help balnce your moods and relieve depression, but a low carb diet has been known to help balance out those high and lows with some people, which in turn makes you feel more energized through the day. It helps to not get that crashed tired feeling that you get after the carbs wear off. I am starting a low carb diet for the new year. It is called the southbeach diet. It looks easier to do than the adkins diet. It takes three days of this diet to clean you r system of carbs and then it takes up to two weeks to see weight change. I would read up on the low carb diets here at iVillage if I were you to see how the diet goes and what you can eat and what you can't. This is a very strick diet that requires low carbs all the time. It is more of a lifestyle change than a diet. I wish you success doing it.

Congrates on quitting drinking and smoking. It takes alot to quit those addictions/vices. I hope you continue to stay free of those. They only bring you down and they don't help depression. I am sure you already know that. Have fun babysitting your grandson. I am sure he will bring many smiles to your face and help your depression some.

Good luck and take care

Tina~

 
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Sat, 12-27-2003 - 8:01pm
you are right, i will speak to my doc first about the medication cause it does help me and i don't want to get off it too soon. i will read up online about the low carb diets cause i really need to lose some weight,i think it was the vice quit that caused the weight gain cause i had to have something to occupy my hand to mouth reflex i had with cigs. so i went and took a nap and feel a little better, still pretty bored so i'll try to read a book or something. & i'll catch up with you guys tomorrow,hugs to all.