Hello. I purchased the book about 5/6 months ago and have been on the diet ever since. I am 5’9” and weigh about 165 pounds, so I try to take what the book suggests for 170 pounds. Here is a break down of the supplements I take:

4 caps of Nature Made Double Strength Fish Oil (2 caps= 672mg EPA and 552mg DHA) 2 in the AM and 2 in the PM. Just did the math and realized I am NOT taking enough of these.

3 tabs of Nature Made Calcium(333mg each)+Vitamin D(200I.U. each), Magnesium(133mg each) and Zinc(5mg each) 1 in the AM and 2 at NOON.

1 Nature Made Balanced B-100 Complex (Thiamin 100mg, Riboflavin 100mg, Niacin 100mg, Vitamin B6 100mg, Folic Acid 400mcg, Vitamin B12 100mcg, Biotin 100mcg, Pantothenic Acid 100mg) in the AM.

1 Ester-C 1000mg in the AM.

1 Nature Made SAM-e Mood Plus in the AM. (Should I be taking this at all? Could this be affecting the fish oil? I have only been taking it for 2 weeks.)

1 Just Once Prenatal One Multivitamin/Mineral (with LOTS of stuff in it) in the PM.

I have battled depression for most of my adult life (I’m 33) and due to some life hiccups lately I feel it trying to resurface. I have been off my Welbutrin for 3 months now and have been battling the blues pretty seriously for the last few weeks, which is why I started taking the Sam-E. I would prefer to stay OFF Welbutrin since we are trying to conceive and I just hate taking them. I rarely eat breakfast or lunch and drink lots of water and about 2 to 4 cans of Pepsi a day, (a terrible habit that I truly need to quit) but it makes me feel better and lately I have just needed the pick me up. I will sometimes eat a banana in the AM, a sandwich for lunch and eat a fairly healthy dinner. We are in the middle of redecorating our home and my exercise equipment hasn’t been readily available in months, so I haven’t been getting much cardio.

One question I have is about the fish oil. I know that the book recommends an ultra-refined type so you take fewer pills, but my question is does that also affect the quality? If you have to take 6 of the Nature Made Double Strength (2 caps= 672mg EPA and 552mg DHA) does it matter that I could take less and get more with the GNC brand (1 cap= 647mg EPA and 253mg DHA)? Will the GNC actually give me more benefit? At this point I'll spend whatever I need to as long as it is truly worth it. One other issue I have is that I get constipation on a regular basis. I take pain medication for swelling I have in my feet and one thing I was really hoping for was the laxative like affect that fish oil is said to bring. Could the GNC brand help with that as well? I guess I am just trying to figure out if it is about getting the right quantity or quality or both? With the GNC I will need to take 4 caps daily plus extra DHA to get what is suggested… Correct?

I am also curious how important the diet changes are or if taking the supplements alone are enough if I am just looking for mood and libido boosters? My libido comes and goes, but the one thing I KNOW the fish oil has helped with is my orgasms. NO complaints there. I am going to order the GyneFlex this week with my fingers crossed. I have only had clitoral orgasms and am excited to think there might be more to my sexual life out there! My husband and I already have intercourse at least 3 times a week, more or less depending on life and stress… I am a worry wart and am looking into yoga to see if I can help myself learn to deal with it better. I read something about a tea on here that sounded intriguing… Damania tea I think. Where can I buy this and does anyone know how well it works? I will re-read my book because I do not remember anything about it, but that was a few months ago.

Sorry this is so long, but I wanted to give as many details as I could so that I can get the answers I’m looking for with little effort on the part of the helper. I am very thankful I happened across this site tonight! Any help, advice or wisdom will be greatly appreciated. Have a great weekend everyone!

Welcome!

The only thing I can reply to is the damiana tea. This is NOT for regular use, just a once-in-a-while thing. I got mine from a local health-food store that carries herbals. I have also seen it in tea-bag form on Amazon.

For me one strong mug of damiana feels like a glass of wine, with out the negative side effects of alcohol.

Good luck with everything

SAM-e will absolutely affect the diet! It raises serotonin, just like an antidepressant. The diet won't work.

If you are trying to conceive, I hate to say this but you must only use the highest quality fish oil, either Minami or Zone Labs brand. Minami you need to combine the MorEPA and MorDHA to get the right dose.

Taking the full dose of fish oil should help with depression. Try going on the full dose for a month (of one of the brands mentioned above) and see if you can gradually cut back on the SAM-e and Pepsi. This also should help with constipation. If you are taking prenatal vitamins you are getting a large dose of iron every day. Don't take any extra iron.

Also, if you are taking a prenatal vitamin, why are you also taking a B-complex vitamin?

As for depression, try getting a brisk half hour walk every day, and this is important, outside in the sunshine with your skin exposed--bare arms, bare legs, etc. You may want to consider taking extra Vitamin D too. Outdoor mellow cardio will help depression more than yoga or indoor cardio on a machine.

Four cans of Pepsi a day will kill any affect the diet has. Obviously you are needing high serotonin if you are craving this, you are self-medicating for depression. The problem with caffeine is that it gives you a boost, but it also will crash and make you feel worse, needing another Pepsi, etc. A better approach is to do the 40/30/30 diet I recommend, but make sure to eat vegetables/fruits/whole grains, and eat them throughout the day--breakfast, lunch and dinner. They will take longer to digest than refined carbs and give you a steady serotonin boost.

Also, do not take damiana if you have depression issues. It does work a little similar to alcohol, and will leave you a little blue the day after, a damiana hangover.

Thank you so much for the response!!

I am taking the B-complex because I get very little of the B vitamins in my prenatal(only 10%) and I read that B vitamins help with low energy. Do you think it could be causing a problem? I can definitely give it up. It tastes pretty bad and I wasn't sure about the folic acid. I take 400mcg in the AM and 800mcg in the PM. If the complex needs to go then I will cut it ASAP.

I am glad I waited on going to the GNC store. I will go online and order one of the two fish oils you recommended and take what I have until it gets here.

I will stop taking the SAM-e immediately. I have been taking it off and on for the last 2 weeks, so it isn't like I am on a set schedule. I am also going to try to cut back on the Pepsi. I was down to 1 can or less a day and recently due to stress, bounced back up. I REALLY want to feel better and will do what I need to to make it happen. I will go to the store tomorrow and buy some better foods and re-read tonight on the 40/30/30 you suggest.

I will also get outdoors. My husband has been trying to get me to exercise for weeks. He says he has noticed my slow fall back into depression and I know he wants to help, but it is good to know I need to get sunlight and a walk is very do-able. NO damiana, got it.

I can not thank you enough for your help and for writing this book period. It is great to know that people like me, with depression, have other options then just taking medication. I am open to any advice or suggestions. Have a great week!!

Actually the way I stumbled on the diet was in trying to get off antidepressants so I could get pregnant. I adopted natural ways to fight depression and improved libido and orgasms were the surprising result!

If your prenatal vitamin is low in B vitamins then keep taking the B-complex. B-complex vitamins help with serotonin. Also make sure to eat at least three meals a day, maybe even snacks too, that have fruit, vegetables, and/or whole grains. That will give a steady serotonin supply to your brain and fight depression.

Please let me know how it goes! I feel bad about the expense, but I hope you will find it is worth it.