Hmm...I suppose it could be something else interfering, sounds like you are taking lots of things. Still, if it wasn't helping with your arthritis I'd say don't waste your money on it. If it doesn't work for you it doesn't work.

Don't bother with borage or flaxseed oil--that's ALA. The active omega-3 fatty acids for libido are EPA and particularly DHA.

quote:

Originally posted by zaneblue:
Hmm...I suppose it could be something else interfering, sounds like you are taking lots of things.

OH! I almost forgot! I never stopped drinking coffee! Just cut back a little. . . You warned me!

Usually coffee drinkers on the diet start having erotic dreams, particularly in the morning when the caffeine has fully worn off. Anything like that?

You might want to try quitting coffee for a couple weeks, see if you notice anything.

quote:

Originally posted by zaneblue:
Usually coffee drinkers on the diet start having erotic dreams, particularly in the morning when the caffeine has fully worn off. Anything like that?

No, I almost never have erotic dreams anymore and they have declined for some years (20?). Testosterone supplementation seemed to make no difference. I assumed it was just a matter of pushing up toward and reaching 60. I have a strong sexual response whenever I am directly stimulated or purposely fantasize but almost never have erotic dreams or spontaneous sexual thoughts at all like I did a decade and more ago. One thing I forgot to mention is that I have been taking prozac since 1993 when I became quite depressed having to close my business and declare bankruptcy. I have stayed off prozac several times for 60 days at a time, but saw no difference in sexuality. However, I would feel more compulsive and tempermental. Going back on prozac, I would feel more even tempered, level headed. Depression really wasn't the issue anymore, but I just seem to enjoy the prozac state. They do say that prozac lowers the sexual drive of many men.

quote:

You might want to try quitting coffee for a couple weeks, see if you notice anything.

It would certainly be an interesting "datapoint", but I don't really "want" to stop drinking coffee! Maybe, for a really good datapoint, I need to stop prozac and coffee for a month or 2. I've never stopped both. . . I've never stopped coffee ever since approx 1968 when I graduated from College and started work!

Zane: When should we look for the book.

Shangri-la Diet Progress Report

The Shangrila techniques have worked pretty dramatically. I have really enjoyed being able to eat whatever I feel like with no "do's and don'ts". Shangri-la works subconsciously. Suddenly I realize that I found "reasons" no to stop at a donut shop I ALWAYS stop at or found reasons not to eat a full portion of something, etc. etc.

Here is my weight history. I had been eating compulsively from about 1988 to 2000 gaining weight until I was about 265#; not flabby but a big firm ballooning "beer belly" with fat underneath the abdomen muscle wall. Then I went on Atkins and got down to 225#. On Atkins I stabilized at 245 until we temporarily took in a refugee from Africa who cooked for us. . . that ended the Atkins and I ballooned back to 265# (Uncomfortable!). Then I went on Shangri-la about a month ago, eating anything I feel like, but taking the light olive oil twice or thrice a day 2 hrs away from meals. Lost ten pounds in first week or 2 and am now down to 245! Much more comfortable!

I didn't realize you were on Prozac. That most certainly will kill the lion's share of the effect.

You can pre-order my book here:

The Orgasmic Diet

It comes out next spring

quote:

Originally posted by zaneblue:
I didn't realize you were on Prozac. That most certainly will kill the lion's share of the effect.

I've been taking Prozac since the 1992(approx). I can't say that I noticed any downturn in libido, but I have had a gradual downturn over the same time frame as I approached and finally turned 60. On the other hand, my libido has always been, I can now see, "light" as might be expected by my borderline T. Now I can see that my cheating on my first wife 1969 to 1984 was mostly an absurd attempt to deny my low libido. Porn, prostitutes, affair, drinking kept me in a masculine delusion. Really a lot to regret back then. . . we were actually perfect for each other: both with low libido!

quote:

You can pre-order my book here:

The Orgasmic Diet

It comes out next spring

Done! Did it through my Amazon affiliate account so I will get a couple dollars commission! I see you rank about 1,000,000 from the top! We'll change THAT!

Shanggri-la diet keeps peeling away my pounds. Now down from 265 to 243!

Wow, good for you! I keep wrestling about losing, I know I should but

(I think I like being fat)

But I mustn't think that way. I really am done with my book now, it's going to copyediting and now I have to concentrate on letting people know about the book. It's a serious mental adjustment for me. And I will be able to promote the book better if I'm thin, rationally I know that.

Ok, now I'm worried about all the supplements I've been taking.

I skipped a year for my physicals and, so, after 2 years, I find my blood pressure was up to 150/90 the day of the physical.

Zane, any ideas on what to quit using as I get my pressure checked once a week to see if this reading was a fluke? I'm sure fish oil, which I just started a couple months ago, would have the opposite effect, right?

Yes, here is current research showing fish oil reduces hypertension:

http://www.oilofpisces.com/hypertension.html

You are taking a kitchen sink's worth of herbs and hormones. Also caffeine may make hypertension worse. I would cut back on all the herbals if I were you and talk to a trained nutritionist. I know about herbals for sexual purposes, but I'm not an expert on herbal/drug interactions.

Well, believe it or not, I have been off coffee and all other caffeine sources for 2 days now. . . I feel terrible!

The blood pressure issue lit the fire under me, but, who knows, maybe other benefits will accrue.

quote:

Originally posted by Lloyd Baker:
Well, believe it or not, I have been off coffee and all other caffeine sources for 2 days now. . . I feel terrible!

The blood pressure issue lit the fire under me, but, who knows, maybe other benefits will accrue.

Well no coffee for just over a week. I am pretty comfortable now. No help so far on blood pressure or sexual appetite, but I did have a sexual dream. Maybe you have a point, Zane!

I realize now that I was also addicted to those "energy drinks" which are loaded down with salt and caffeine. Also, my salt level in the blood tested at the VERY high end of normal. . . maybe that is where the high blood pressure got started. No only do I now drink no coffee, but not drink with any caffeine at all.

Lloyd

Keep me posted! Sorry it took so long to get back to you, I've been on vacation.

My blood pressure dropped from 148 to 134!

I am going in for another blood pressure reading this week and hope to see continued improvement or at least stability so I can avoid medication.

Blood pressure dropped to 125 and then another back up to 145. Dr. recommends against drugs and suggest I lose 20-30 more pounds and stay away from heavy salt. He doesn't think caffeine is much of a factor, but now I feel better without it and will only drink on special occasion when I need a lift. Coffee is really great now that I am no longer SATURATED with caffeine!

Had my testosterone checked after staying off my herbals (which could have affected blood pressure too) and I was below normal low point. Dr. wants another test to confirm before he prescribes anything.