mujuro
Member
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2014
- Messages
- 696
Hello everyone!
Just wanted to introduce myself. Male, early 20s, 6'1", 225lbs.
Some history...
___
TLDR; I had on and off health issues ever since mid-2012 when I began a stupid crusade for year-round lean physique, culminating in a total thyroid meltdown March 2013. Issues consisting primarily of stress intolerance, anxiety, depression, mood lability and insomnia. I had no idea - despite my excellent knowledge of nutrition within the bodybuilding context, which is strictly for fat loss or muscle gain - just how far off I was when it came to healthy dieting. Things weren't always bad, but the bad periods usually lasted longer, waxing and waning, similar in nature to bipolar disorder.
___
I was diagnosed type 2 bipolar shortly after graduating high school, and was medicated for about 5 years. I took up bodybuilding during that time, which kept my mind focused. Never encountered any health issues - immediate or long lasting, psychological or otherwise - despite the minor experimental dabbling in AAS. In early 2012 I gave up serious bodybuilding, dialed it back to a more casual intensity, and I decided to come off the medication. HPTA function was never an issue.
I began to experience sleep problems and anxiety shortly after I embarked on a typical low carb fitness style of living in mid-late 2012. This included occasional fasting, lots of the wrong fats, no sugars, etc. I got very lean, down to ~8% bodyfat drug free, still very muscular at about 210lbs.
Still medication free, I tried T3, which immediately improved my mood and energy and wellbeing. But I used too much and for too long. In March 2013 things got worse, and I was borderline hyperthyroid. I stopped the T3 but my thyroid was already suppressed. I endured 5 weeks of total hell in a hypothyroid state, which eventually recovered. Things were getting much better around December 2013, but still not completely healthy. I went backwards from March of this year, when I began my degree. Being unmedicated, my symptoms came roaring, eventually not even being able to attend classes. That's where I was at until about a month ago when I implemented some Peat ideas.
I found Peat's writing by chance one day when I googled "coconut oil" and was captured by the very unique thinking. I have implemented some of the dietary principles: more calcium and salt, much more sugar, almost no starches, less muscle proteins, more cheese/dairy. Most remarkable improvements:
- sleep! I can sleep all night, I can fall asleep before midnight, and I don't wake up with stomach-turning anxiety. I can't emphasize just how much better my sleep is.
- energy. Energy in the gym is improved, physically. While I may feel mentally drained or lacking in sleep, my physical strength and stamina still prevails, so if I just force myself through the first 10 minutes of a workout, I can get enough momentum to keep going. I keep it to 40-50minutes, sipping on salt and sugar drink throughout.
- general anxiety. I don't catastrophize things. Learned helplessness is diminished, still not removed entirely.
- skin. Much less glossy, holds a healthy glow, texture is more supple.
- GI habits. No more IBS symptoms.
Issues still to resolve:
- pathological, almost debilitating procrastination
Thanks everyone. Sorry for the drawn out post. Glad to be here.
Just wanted to introduce myself. Male, early 20s, 6'1", 225lbs.
Some history...
___
TLDR; I had on and off health issues ever since mid-2012 when I began a stupid crusade for year-round lean physique, culminating in a total thyroid meltdown March 2013. Issues consisting primarily of stress intolerance, anxiety, depression, mood lability and insomnia. I had no idea - despite my excellent knowledge of nutrition within the bodybuilding context, which is strictly for fat loss or muscle gain - just how far off I was when it came to healthy dieting. Things weren't always bad, but the bad periods usually lasted longer, waxing and waning, similar in nature to bipolar disorder.
___
I was diagnosed type 2 bipolar shortly after graduating high school, and was medicated for about 5 years. I took up bodybuilding during that time, which kept my mind focused. Never encountered any health issues - immediate or long lasting, psychological or otherwise - despite the minor experimental dabbling in AAS. In early 2012 I gave up serious bodybuilding, dialed it back to a more casual intensity, and I decided to come off the medication. HPTA function was never an issue.
I began to experience sleep problems and anxiety shortly after I embarked on a typical low carb fitness style of living in mid-late 2012. This included occasional fasting, lots of the wrong fats, no sugars, etc. I got very lean, down to ~8% bodyfat drug free, still very muscular at about 210lbs.
Still medication free, I tried T3, which immediately improved my mood and energy and wellbeing. But I used too much and for too long. In March 2013 things got worse, and I was borderline hyperthyroid. I stopped the T3 but my thyroid was already suppressed. I endured 5 weeks of total hell in a hypothyroid state, which eventually recovered. Things were getting much better around December 2013, but still not completely healthy. I went backwards from March of this year, when I began my degree. Being unmedicated, my symptoms came roaring, eventually not even being able to attend classes. That's where I was at until about a month ago when I implemented some Peat ideas.
I found Peat's writing by chance one day when I googled "coconut oil" and was captured by the very unique thinking. I have implemented some of the dietary principles: more calcium and salt, much more sugar, almost no starches, less muscle proteins, more cheese/dairy. Most remarkable improvements:
- sleep! I can sleep all night, I can fall asleep before midnight, and I don't wake up with stomach-turning anxiety. I can't emphasize just how much better my sleep is.
- energy. Energy in the gym is improved, physically. While I may feel mentally drained or lacking in sleep, my physical strength and stamina still prevails, so if I just force myself through the first 10 minutes of a workout, I can get enough momentum to keep going. I keep it to 40-50minutes, sipping on salt and sugar drink throughout.
- general anxiety. I don't catastrophize things. Learned helplessness is diminished, still not removed entirely.
- skin. Much less glossy, holds a healthy glow, texture is more supple.
- GI habits. No more IBS symptoms.
Issues still to resolve:
- pathological, almost debilitating procrastination
Thanks everyone. Sorry for the drawn out post. Glad to be here.