Going raw: weight loss & mental illness

[paperoceans]

Hello everyone, it's me again.

After being raw for a second time, I gave up and went back to normal food. Mainly because I felt like it wasn't working and I didn't notice a difference in my weight or health. Well, here I am again, willing to try it again. I was diagnosed with bipolar (something that I think is inaccurate, but I'll explain later...) and I went to have some blood work done since no matter how many times I exercised and how my diet changed for the better, I didn't see a decrease in my weight. Turns out, I gained 9lbs and my cholesterol was high--something that I thought was strange since I was on a raw food diet for two months.

Anyway, one of the medications that I'm on for my nonexistent bipolar disease causes WEIGHT GAIN and HIGH CHOLESTEROL! I researched online and people taking Risperdal found it almost impossible to lose weight, even with diet and exercise. Also, I feel like I was misdiagnosed. I do not believe for a second that I'm bipolar. I absolutely think that I have a case of depression and anxiety, something that I believe I can solve through natural means (diet and exercise! and possibly taking natural supplements). So, I just came back from the doctor and they are lowering my dosage and it's going to take me two months to get off Risperdal completely, but it's a start.

So, I have a question... Should I start my raw food diet now, or should I wait until after I'm completely off my medication? I also wanted to start exercising again. So now I'm not only doing this to lose weight and feel more energized, I'm doing it to lower my cholesterol and to become healthier. Please guide me!

Also, I believe that before I wasn't eating enough calories. You and I both know that raw food is low in calories, and I believe that I was only eating 900 calories per day. So, should I eat larger plates of food and eat more often? What do you think. I need some guidance!

[PunkRotten]

Get off the meds. Raw food diet shouldn't be all about weight loss. If this is your mentality its going to be recipe for disaster. Eating raw is beneficial no matter what way you look at it. I think you should get back on it ASAP.

[paperoceans]

Get off the meds. Raw food diet shouldn't be all about weight loss. If this is your mentality its going to be recipe for disaster. Eating raw is beneficial no matter what way you look at it. I think you should get back on it ASAP.

You have to gradually get off the meds, I'm already in the process of getting off them. It's going to take me two months. The weight loss part is on my mind since my meds have caused me to gain 30lbs, so I would like to see that melt off as soon as possible. And I'm doing it for health reason.

[SevenKindsOfCookie]

It makes me happy to see that you are taking responsibility for your health. It's so common that doctors makes the wrong diagnoses and most of the time the patients just goes along with what the doctor says even though they know in their heart that it's the wrong path.

I personally think that I got the right diagnosis (depression and anxiety), but I felt that I didn't want to take the meds. But I had to play along to get insurance money. So I told the doctor that I was taking the meds even though I wasn't.

The funny thing is: The improvement curve I had was exactly the one that the doctor said I would have when taking the meds. He said that "Yeah, I can see that the meds start working now. This is what's supposed to happend."
He could just as well have prescribed me sugar pills, because based on that experience the meds would have done nothing for me.

[paperoceans]

It makes me happy to see that you are taking responsibility for your health. It's so common that doctors makes the wrong diagnoses and most of the time the patients just goes along with what the doctor says even though they know in their heart that it's the wrong path.

I personally think that I got the right diagnosis (depression and anxiety), but I felt that I didn't want to take the meds. But I had to play along to get insurance money. So I told the doctor that I was taking the meds even though I wasn't.

The funny thing is: The improvement curve I had was exactly the one that the doctor said I would have when taking the meds. He said that "Yeah, I can see that the meds start working now. This is what's supposed to happend."
He could just as well have prescribed me sugar pills, because based on that experience the meds would have done nothing for me.

Yea, I'm not sure if the meds actually helped me. I did feel a lot better, but then again, it's possible that it was all in my head. Especially since they started working within a week or two and it takes three to four weeks for meds to start working. Anyway, I'm going to try to stay off them for two months or so, and if I am indeed depressed, etc. then I'll go back on them. But for now...

[Cayman Islands]

Personally, I think it's okay to initially go raw to lose weight. If that is your motivation, I think that is fine and I say "Good For You" ... I do think that along the way you will start to feel better physically and mentally and that you will find on your own there there are other benefits to eating this way.

Best wishes!

Michele

[kjduf]

Personally I would start the raw eating right now and not wait till you got off the meds. It a great healthy way of eating and it can only help you. Just make sure you ween off the meds correctly so that you dont hurt yourself.

[janicejourney]

paperoceans: I would start on raw now. It will probably help your body bounce back from the withdrawal from the medication easier. And to answer the question about more calories... it is really easy to get more then 900 calories. Nuts, avocados, flax seeds, green smoothies all have plenty of calories and you can eat them in abundance on this diet without gaining. I wish you all the best :) I know that Seroquel can raise cholesterol and weight as well. Lots of the psych. meds have weight gain issues.

[Juniper44]

I would start on raw now. There isn't any reason to wait? It will benefit you now and after.

I've lost weight being raw the easiest pounds that I have ever dropped. And I don't feel hungry.

[paperoceans]

paperoceans: I would start on raw now. It will probably help your body bounce back from the withdrawal from the medication easier. And to answer the question about more calories... it is really easy to get more then 900 calories. Nuts, avocados, flax seeds, green smoothies all have plenty of calories and you can eat them in abundance on this diet without gaining. I wish you all the best :) I know that Seroquel can raise cholesterol and weight as well. Lots of the psych. meds have weight gain issues.

Yea, someone who understands the hazards and consequences of going on psych. meds. I'm going to start on Monday since I'm going shopping on Sunday. I'll make sure to eat more often!