depression caused by stopping the Zone?

I am a 25-year-old woman. I started the Zone diet at the beginning of
December 2003 and followed it for two months. After successfully
losing twelve pounds (I was hoping to lose about 10 pounds), I stopped
the diet at the beginning of February. Since then I have had horrible
PMS for two cycles. I never experienced PMS symptoms (both physical
and emotional) to this extent before I went on the diet. I am also
wondering if I may be slightly depressed in general. Has anyone else
had problems when stopping the Zone?

I should note that I am hypothyroid, although my TSH levels have been
successfully maintained for the past 5 years.

Did this Zone diet include not consuming wheat, barley and rye based
products? Or perhaps significantly reducing them?

If so:
Gluten intolerance is more common for people with thyroid disorders, and
going off gluten for a period of time, followed by resumption of previous
levels of gluten intake causes hypersensitivity like reaction. The longer
one is gluten-free, the worse the reaction.


"heather" wrote in message
om...
I am a 25-year-old woman. I started the Zone diet at the beginning of
December 2003 and followed it for two months. After successfully
losing twelve pounds (I was hoping to lose about 10 pounds), I stopped
the diet at the beginning of February. Since then I have had horrible
PMS for two cycles. I never experienced PMS symptoms (both physical
and emotional) to this extent before I went on the diet. I am also
wondering if I may be slightly depressed in general. Has anyone else
had problems when stopping the Zone?

I should note that I am hypothyroid, although my TSH levels have been
successfully maintained for the past 5 years.

I'm not aware that many people here are doing it. What most people
here seem to realize is that maintaining proper weight requires a
lifelong program of exercise and healthy eating.

heather wrote:

I am a 25-year-old woman. I started the Zone diet at the beginning of
December 2003 and followed it for two months. After successfully
losing twelve pounds (I was hoping to lose about 10 pounds), I stopped
the diet at the beginning of February. Since then I have had horrible
PMS for two cycles. I never experienced PMS symptoms (both physical
and emotional) to this extent before I went on the diet. I am also
wondering if I may be slightly depressed in general. Has anyone else
had problems when stopping the Zone?

I should note that I am hypothyroid, although my TSH levels have been
successfully maintained for the past 5 years.

"Patricia Heil" wrote in message
...


I'm not aware that many people here are doing it. What most people
here seem to realize is that maintaining proper weight requires a
lifelong program of exercise and healthy eating.


HahahahahahahahahahahHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!! !

(heather) wrote in message . com...
I am a 25-year-old woman. I started the Zone diet at the beginning of
December 2003 and followed it for two months. After successfully
losing twelve pounds (I was hoping to lose about 10 pounds), I stopped
the diet at the beginning of February. Since then I have had horrible
PMS for two cycles. I never experienced PMS symptoms (both physical
and emotional) to this extent before I went on the diet. I am also
wondering if I may be slightly depressed in general. Has anyone else
had problems when stopping the Zone?

I should note that I am hypothyroid, although my TSH levels have been
successfully maintained for the past 5 years.

The problem may be in the diet you were on before you went on the zone
diet. By that I mean a diet high in refined carbs.

The human body needs b vitamins and folate to metabolize sugars and
carbs in general. Foods that contain sugars and carbs usually come
with these vitamins. Refined carbs don't. When you metabolize these
carbs, the body has to get these vitamins from the existing vitamin
stores in your body. Eventually you will become depleted of these
vitamins.

What does this have to do with depression?

Tryptophan and niacin are serotonin precursors. They get converted
into serotonin in the body. But in the absense of the b vitamins and
folate, the body is unable to convert them to serotonin. Thus you
become depleted of serotonin.

It has been shown that carbs gives you a short burst of serotonin,
which may explain the addictions people feel towards refined carbs. It
may also explain how the depression is more pronounced when you
restrict carbs.

Bottom line.... take a good b vitamin complex stress formula. Over a
couple of weeks you should feel the difference. Stay on the zone too
if you are so inclined. And most importantly, cut out refined carbs.

TC

heather wrote:
I am a 25-year-old woman. I started the Zone diet at the beginning of
December 2003 and followed it for two months. After successfully
losing twelve pounds (I was hoping to lose about 10 pounds), I stopped
the diet at the beginning of February. Since then I have had horrible
PMS for two cycles. I never experienced PMS symptoms (both physical
and emotional) to this extent before I went on the diet. I am also
wondering if I may be slightly depressed in general. Has anyone else
had problems when stopping the Zone?

You are not supposed to stop the Zone, but multiply the fat amount by 2
for maintainance.

tcomeau wrote:
Tryptophan and niacin are serotonin precursors. They get converted
into serotonin in the body. But in the absense of the b vitamins and
folate, the body is unable to convert them to serotonin. Thus you
become depleted of serotonin.

I've heard sunflower seeds are good against depression.

On 25 Mar 2004 11:52:00 -0800, (heather) posted:

I am a 25-year-old woman. I started the Zone diet at the beginning of
December 2003 and followed it for two months. After successfully
losing twelve pounds (I was hoping to lose about 10 pounds), I stopped
the diet at the beginning of February. Since then I have had horrible
PMS for two cycles. I never experienced PMS symptoms (both physical
and emotional) to this extent before I went on the diet. I am also
wondering if I may be slightly depressed in general. Has anyone else
had problems when stopping the Zone?

I should note that I am hypothyroid, although my TSH levels have been
successfully maintained for the past 5 years.

So you are NOT hypothyroid now?

What has PMS to do with depression? (I ask this as a non-woman

On Thu, 25 Mar 2004 23:31:21 -0600, "minerva nine"
posted:

"Patricia Heil" wrote in message
...


I'm not aware that many people here are doing it. What most people
here seem to realize is that maintaining proper weight requires a
lifelong program of exercise and healthy eating.


HahahahahahahahahahahHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!!!!!!!!! !!

Is common senseTHAT funny?

"Moosh" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 25 Mar 2004 23:31:21 -0600, "minerva nine"
posted:

"Patricia Heil" wrote in message
...


I'm not aware that many people here are doing it. What most people
here seem to realize is that maintaining proper weight requires a
lifelong program of exercise and healthy eating.


HahahahahahahahahahahHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!!!!!!!!! !!

Is common senseTHAT funny?

I'm laughing at the assertion that common sense is regularly dispensed on
this newsgroup.