Is a sugar jolt triggering my mood?

I started my lifestyle change in November of 2004. From that time, I was following the dietary and exercise regime recommended here for fat loss and muscle gain. Each month, I would incorporate a new facet to my diet as not to overwhealm myself at once. i.e. tracking meals, incorporating supplements, etc.

Around february I started using Dextrose after reading from many sources how important it was to consume a hi GI carb after a workout. A few weeks later, I feel into a bad episode of Depression.

Now, this is nothing new. I've had issues with anxiety and depression for over 10 years. The few months of working out made a huge impact on both. I was used to have episodes that lasted a few days every so often but during the time of my transformation I did not have a single one. Here's my theory.

People who are depressed are told to avoid sugars, alcohol and drugs because these substances can affect your mood negatively when combined witht he mood disorder. The statement below was taken from www.lef.org

Avoid Alcohol
It may make us feel giddy at first, but that's only because it's dulling our inhibitions. In the long run, alcohol is a depressant, which is the last thing depressed people need. If you must drink, limit yourself to one drink a day. (One drink means a single serving of a single alcoholic beverage a day, either one ounce of hard liquor, straight or mixed, four ounces of wine, or 12 ounces of beer.)


Quit Caffeine
Caffeine can leave you mentally and physically drained. Avoid the caffeine in coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate, and cocoa, as well as the "hidden" caffeine in Excedrin, Midol, Anacin, and many other medicines. (Ask your physician or pharmacist if the medicines you are taking contain caffeine. If they do, talk to your physician about switching to other medications.)


Avoid Sugar
Sugar jolts us with a burst of energy which can make us feel excited, talkative, and ready to take on the world. However, when the body responds by snatching the excess sugar out of circulation, it often takes too much, leaving us tired and depressed. Some depressed patients experience wild, sugar-induced fluctuations in their moods. Convincing them to stay away from cakes, candy, soda, and refined and processed foods often solves the problem.


I started feeling like shit again after (this is what I realize now) I was using Dextrose. I used a ratio of 1/2 dextrose/protein which is way lower than was recommended from all the sources I read. I've been severely depressed now for about a month and a half. I quit exercising, I started binge eating again and craving sugar like ever before. I realize now this behavior is keeping me depressed. All the hard work I put into my transformation went to spoils. I"m all fat and out of shape again. I'm surprised it only took a little over a month to reverse the effects. I was doing so well.

Does anyone here feel any fluctuations in their mood like I have? I know now that I have to quit sugars again and go back to eating 5-6 short meals to regulate the glucose levels in my body. Most importantly, I need to start exercising again. I feel so weak though. I barely have energy to get out of bed each day and work. Those who suffer from this know what I mean.

I'm not a Doctor (although I wanted to be, heh.) or a research scientist so I'm in no way implying that Dextrose causes depression. I"m simply stating some observations.

Anyone else notice anyhting?

Luis


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Edit
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I made it through the worst of the depression and my motivation to workout came back this week. So, I hit the gym with all my might! Not really, started slow to get my body used to the trauma again. I'll post pictures, etc., in the future. Kinda lazy to do so now, lol. My legs are going to be sore tomorrow. Can't wait!

Thanks for the heads up. I know that sometimes I can turn into one moody fella - caffeine & sugar always seem to play a part. It's good that you've recognized some symptoms & are working towards making a positive change again.

All the best & please post your positive results,

G

it often takes too much, leaving us tired and depressed
Perhaps you need to incorporate a PPWO meal that has more complex carbs that will not let your body go too low on sugar by giving it a steady supply.

I've experienced the opposite with caffien/sugar actually.
Alcohol is a depressent with me, no matter what; but since ive started this ECA stack, which causes me to consume 600 mg of caffien throughout a given day - i've been really happy constantly. same with the PWO dextrose.

altho - im also pretty good at pingpong, so that might throw off the results in my case and should be taken into consideration if we're doing an informal study.

Perhaps you need to incorporate a PPWO meal that has more complex carbs that will not let your body go too low on sugar by giving it a steady supply.
but then you would have an ineffective PWO meal. The whole point of the PWO meal is to CAUSE an insulin spike, and support it with a good portion of protien + glutamine.

Although, potatoes are one of the few complex carbs that has a high GI, so i think it would be safe to give that a try. (I'm not sure it's high enough to cause a spike though)