Posted by SLS on September 1, 2001, at 8:31:59
In reply to Re: Delayed Geodon Side Effects » SLS, posted by ChrisK on September 1, 2001, at 3:59:43
> Mentally I didn't really see a signifcant difference between the two so I'd rather get some sleep and be fat than be up all night and slightly jittery.Chris - I think you may be smart enough not to get fat. Disciplined too. Maybe you can innovate some behavioral changes that allow you to maintain your weight. The first time I tried Zyprexa 10mg, I think I gained 10 pounds within a week. However, I ate like a pig. I have since been on Zyprexa 5mg twice for over a week. I didn't gain any weight at all. Of course, this difference might have been related to using a lower dosage of Zyprexa and taking Parnate and desipramine concurrently. My appetite did increase however.
I now manage to restrict my caloric intake by not denying myself food when I am genuinely hungry. The trick is to learn how to recognize hunger as opposed to just having a desire to eat. It is extremely difficult to break a behavioral cycle that first time. However, I have found that the urges disappear very quickly thereafter. Similarly, I seem to lose my desire for sweets after being without them for two to four days. One treat, however, can get you hooked again. I guess it's like cigarettes. I try not to allow the clock determine when to have a ritualized meal. I eat very slowly. I allow my brain to catch-up with my stomach. I put on my plate a minimal amount of food. This is to prevent the tendency to eat more than what really satisfies me just to finish what is on my plate. I never deny myself the option of putting more food on my plate, but it is probably more effective to leave the extra food in the kitchen and not have it sitting there right in front of you. It also forces yo to get up and walk over to get it. It's just too much work. By eating very slowly and walking away from the table for a little while (watching some TV or playing on the computer), I allow my hunger to disappear. One of the tricks I use for eating more slowly is to put down my knife and fork after every bite. I chew slowly, and try to focus on the taste experience. I have found that a great deal of the impetus to continue eating is to satisfy a continuing gustatory desire. I sort of try to mimick the way gorillas eat. They sit down, relax comletely, and leisurely eat one berry or nut at a time. We eat too fast and think about too many other things while we eat.
I can't really address the issue regarding carbohydrate cravings. I have found that substituting an equivilent amount of protein to substitute for starches doesn't reduce the cravings. However, I think some of the tools I mentioned above help to reduce how much carbohydrate I consume to satisfy those cravings.
I'm thinking about writing a diet book: "Listening to Leptin".
:-)
I haven't been listening over the last few months, however. I am so week.
Cam W. feels that the tendency to gain weight on Zyprexa is related to increased appetite and caloric intake rather than a decrease in the rate of metabolism. Zyprexa does produce effects in glucose dynamics, and I don't know how this would affect the disposition of calories.
I don't know. I'm probably being a pollyanna. It wouldn't be the first time.
Oh, well. Just trying to help.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:76938
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010828/msgs/77258.html