Carbohydrates and Serotonin, How do the longterm people do it??
I have been on IP for 3 months and down 30 lbs. The last week I have been so grumpy and everyone and everything is irritating me. I don't want to talk to friends and would rather just be home alone. I found this article on LIVESTRONG and wondered who else is experiencing this and how did you get over or through it???" Although high-protein diets can help you shed pounds, they can be hard to stick to because they deprive you of serotonin, the brain chemical that makes you feel happy and calm. When serotonin deprivation starts to make you feel grumpy and stressed-out .
Last edited by sweetsloan; 08-23-2012 at 01:16 PM.
I have been on it for 67 weeks and have had no side affects like this at all. I haven't changed when it comes to my moods if anything I am happier and more happy go lucky
Interesting. I don't remember being depressed during Phase 1, and I am prone to chronic depression. I do remember being amazed that it was working.
If you are capable of it, a little exercise will help boost the seratonin to counteract the effect of protein. It doesn't need to be aerobic, even walking will help.
Interesting. I don't remember being depressed during Phase 1, and I am prone to chronic depression. I do remember being amazed that it was working.
If you are capable of it, a little exercise will help boost the seratonin to counteract the effect of protein. It doesn't need to be aerobic, even walking will help.
Good luck ! Hope you feel better...
Margaret
Thanks Margaret, I walk 5 miles a day, just in my work commute, more than my IP coach likes. I swim at the Y twice a week. I think I have been getting the exercise in. I don't even know if it is IP diet related, it is just not like me to be so grumpy irritated. Thank you for the reply.
I think the word "deprive" is inaccurate. Carbs are a convenient source of serotonin and other feel-good biochemicals but not the only source, and possibly not the best.
Carbs do increase serotonin levels, but they're not the only source of serotonin. The feel-good rush of carbs (especially the higher glycemic ones) is intense and immediate, but also short-lasting. And the more intense the rush, the more intense the "crash" when the effects of the carbs wear off.
High fiber carbs (the non-starchy veggies and low-sugar fruits) provide a more gradual, but longer-lasting, more controlled serotonin release. No dramatic peaks, but no dramatic plummets, either.
Exercise is another way to increase serotonin levels (again slower and steadier so there's not as profound a crash). Exercise also releases other feel-good biochemicals such as the body's natural endorphins.
Many low-carb foods contain tryptophan which is used to create serotonin.
So whole low-carb does affect serotonin levels, it doesn't really "deprive" us of serotonin, it provides serotonin in appropriate amounts, and by different pathways than a high-carb diet.
If we're eating TONS of carbs, we may be so used to the serotonin overload, that our bodies stop responding to it in the ways it normally would, and when we eat a more healthy level of carbs, we go through carb- and serotonin- withdrawal symptoms because we've been desensitized to it.
So even though we may have more serotonin in our systems than a person on a healthier diet, when we try to eat a healthier diet, we go through withdrawal because "our normal" has been so artificially high for so long.
I think the word "deprive" is inaccurate. Carbs are a convenient source of serotonin and other feel-good biochemicals but not the only source, and possibly not the best.
Carbs do increase serotonin levels, but they're not the only source of serotonin. ...
So even though we may have more serotonin in our systems than a person on a healthier diet, when we try to eat a healthier diet, we go through withdrawal because "our normal" has been so artificially high for so long.
Also, fat cells store estrogen, which is released into our systems as we lose weight. If you normally get moody/down and irritable before TOM, it could be heightened due to the extra estrogen rolling around in your body.
Very interesting, so I can tell my husband I am crabby because I am going through seratonin withdrawals. I wonder if some are more sensitive to the lower seratonin than others, hence the reason some experience the irritablitliy more. I suppose like all withdrawals it will eventually get better.
Also, fat cells store estrogen, which is released into our systems as we lose weight. If you normally get moody/down and irritable before TOM, it could be heightened due to the extra estrogen rolling around in your body.
...and that could explain my "tempter tantrum" before my TOM. My poor, poor, hubby!
I have been on IP for 3 months and down 30 lbs. The last week I have been so grumpy and everyone and everything is irritating me. I don't want to talk to friends and would rather just be home alone. I found this article on LIVESTRONG and wondered who else is experiencing this and how did you get over or through it???" Although high-protein diets can help you shed pounds, they can be hard to stick to because they deprive you of serotonin, the brain chemical that makes you feel happy and calm. When serotonin deprivation starts to make you feel grumpy and stressed-out .
I've been on IP for about 2.5 months and in the first month, I was definitely very crabby and irritable. My poor husband, lol. But the last month and a half, I have been soo much happier - I don't know about the serotonin, but I think it's because I've seen some results and feel better and have more confidence. I'd say the diet's benefits definitely outweigh any cons like these as far as your mood goes.
I am in the middle of week five. Down 20 pounds (25 pounds away from my goal weight).
I had to come off the diet yesterday after speaking with my GP. Last Monday I starting feeling really depressed and anxious. I tried to ride it out and shake it off for over a week.
I spoke with a nutritionist yesterday about introducing some complex carbs into my diet and portion size. I'm not going to go out and stuff cake in my face. But as great as this diet has been for me (been lurking here for a few weeks), my mental health is more important. And I'm already feeling better.
Everyone is different and everyone's body chemistry reacts differently to certain things. For me, following this diet OP screwed up my brain chemistry. I wish everyone on this board the best though.
I have been on IP for 3 months and down 30 lbs. The last week I have been so grumpy and everyone and everything is irritating me. I don't want to talk to friends and would rather just be home alone. I found this article on LIVESTRONG and wondered who else is experiencing this and how did you get over or through it???" Although high-protein diets can help you shed pounds, they can be hard to stick to because they deprive you of serotonin, the brain chemical that makes you feel happy and calm. When serotonin deprivation starts to make you feel grumpy and stressed-out .
I'm about three months in on IP, and I definitely feel the ups and downs of my mood moreso than before. I honestly think it is my changing body chemistry that is the culprit. For me, it was about finding new ways to calm myself instead of numbing out on food. My advice would be to think of ways to feel good that are not food related - a walk in the park, dressing up, a good book, etc. And when all else fails, make some IP ice-cream.
I'm about three months in on IP, and I definitely feel the ups and downs of my mood moreso than before. I honestly think it is my changing body chemistry that is the culprit. For me, it was about finding new ways to calm myself instead of numbing out on food. My advice would be to think of ways to feel good that are not food related - a walk in the park, dressing up, a good book, etc. And when all else fails, make some IP ice-cream.
I wonder if you feel the ups and downs more because of changing chemistry or because of sticking to the program? We can "use" food to help us thru rough times and if we don't have it to "use" (abuse), of COURSE we will feel the ups and downs more!
I wonder if you feel the ups and downs more because of changing chemistry or because of sticking to the program? We can "use" food to help us thru rough times and if we don't have it to "use" (abuse), of COURSE we will feel the ups and downs more!
Good point! Maybe both. I actually have bipolar disorder, so I am pretty sensitive to any changes in my body chemistry. I am sure that the estrogen released from losing weight, the ketosis and the lack of using food to get through the rough times has made an interesting mix. I would guess, also, that the few cheats I've had haven't helped.
Getting back to sweetsloan's question, though, yes, definitely had a case of the grumps more than once. Good thing we have this group.
I do agree with you all , that I have used food to cope with stressful situations, and now I don’t have food as the coping mechanism, My point to all this is, NOTHING is causing me to stress or a situation has not happened and now I am stressed because I can’t go eat potato chips. The thing that is strange is I wake up irritated, my day starts off bad/grumpy and the more stupid people I come across throughout my day the more irritated I become. I have enjoyed reading all of you posts and I will keep an eye on it for the next few weeks. Thank you I am so grateful for each and every one of you.
Carbohydrates and Serotonin, How do the longterm people do it??
