Like so many other women I found this diet through Self magazine; it struck a chord in me and I immediatly ordered your book. I started with the calcium/mag/zinc pills along with Vit. E, B complex, and just added L-Arginine. I can't afford the fish oil yet which is why I just added the Arginine. I'm a fish-eating vegetarian, so I've increased my fish intake, reduced my coffee intake to 1 cup in the morning (sob! I just love a great cup of French Pressed coffee), stopped eating soy products, and am watching the rest of the oils, trans fats, and so on.

Within 3 days of beginning the c/m/z mix I began feeling happy little twinges in my nether lips and have had one erotic dream (and it was a doozy!).

My question for you Marrena is this: In your book you have the c/m/z pills spread out over the day. I'm getting my full doses in 2 calcium, 1 mag. and 1 zinc pill. Is it better taken over the course of the day? I am checking into a MultiVit. that contains nearly the full dosage you suggest in one pill, with the exception of the magnesium which can be made up with just one more pill. Just how important is it to take them throughout the day?

My other question is: what is considered a starchy fruit? Banana's, of course. The potatoes you mentioned and I believe parsnips are on that list also. What about brown rice? It is a whole food and a complex carb. Is that 'safe' to eat? Whole wheat bread?

Lastly... THANK YOU!!! Many times Thank you. My relationship has suffered in the sex department for various reasons and this will help us improve it greatly. Thank you Marrena for the strength you have in not only developing this diet, but also in promoting it and giving us your life story to boot.

Drat our polluted oceans! The advice I would like to give you is just simply to eat plenty of fatty fish like salmon every day, but you have to worry about pollutants like mercury. I think the recommendation for non-pregnant and non-nursing women is fatty fish no more than twice a week.

I'm surprised L-arginine is cheaper than fish oil. I wouldn't mix the two.

If you can, get one pill with calcium/magnesium/zinc together. If you take the RDA all at once, it won't be absorbed as well, so it's better to spread throughout the day, and it's okay if your multi has some zinc too, just don't go over double the RDA (and of course check with your doctor if you have health conditions).

All starchy carbs are "safe" to eat as long as they are eaten in proportion with protein and good fats, although it's better if it's half starchy carbs and half non-starchy carbs like fruits and vegetables.

I am glad you are responding! As I said above, fatty fish work the best on this diet, but be careful with the mercury thing. Also of course if you are eating a lot of fatty fish, decrease the fish oil amount.

Thanks for such a quick response, Marrena!

Hmm... so the L-Arginine is okay as long as I'm not on the fish oil; good to know.

I did have another erotic dream last night, or actually early this morning- same as last time they are showing up right before I wake up- and today I'm beginning to drink decaf coffee rather than the real stuff.

As for not eating fatty fish due to the mercury I think the smaller fishes that grow rapidly are okay as they don't have time to absorb it before they are caught, so... guess I'll have to try eating sardines and herring!

Thanks for the info!

Marrena,

I am wondering why L-Arginine is not advised when taking the fishoil. L-Arginine is suggested alot to help libido - by itself or as ingredient in supplements like ArginMax for women.

Thanks!

From this website:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-arginine.html

In theory, arginine may increase the risk of bleeding when used with anticoagulants (blood thinners) or antiplatelet drugs. Examples include warfarin (Coumadin®), heparin and clopidogrel (Plavix®). Some pain relievers may also increase the risk of bleeding if used with arginine. Examples include aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®) and naproxen (Naprosyn®, Aleve®, Anaprox®).

Never take high-dose fish oil with something that interacts with blood-thinning drugs, as fish oil already acts as a blood-thinner. It could be dangerous.

Thanks Marrena,

A followup question then - I have regular back pain that I try to relieve through stretching/yoga/heat/cold etc but do still regularily take Advil/Motrin especially after tennis, golf or other activities. On those bad days that I am taking the pain reliever should I reduce the amount of fish-oil or will that not make a difference because the amount of fishoil ciriculating in my body is built up over time. For example, if I am taking a lot of Advil for back pain on a Monday if I reduced/stopped the fishoil on Monday will the amount of fishoil in my body not drop until "Thursday" or the later in the week. How quickly does the fishoil increase/decrease in our body relative to when we take it?

Hope that makes sense.

You should have less pain on the fish oil, it works as an anti-inflammatory. The very occasional use of painkillers is fine, but I would definitely cut back on the fish oil on the days you take them if you are taking them every week.

Hmm... maybe I should cancel taking the L-Arginine. It doesn't seem to be adding anything to my libido and I'm currently taking 1000 mg daily. I'll give it another week and see what happens by then.

There hasn't been a change in my responses- no more erotic dreams as of this morning; still feeling an occasional 'tingle' in my nether region, and that's about it. I read the posting titled "Diet worked.." by BlueMoon and haven't noticed the sensitivity she wrote "smells, sounds, touch all pleasurable, oily facial skin and hair, bright eyes, glowing complexion, awareness of lips, breasts, desire and arousal off the charts!"

I guess I'll have to wait until I can add the fish oil to my diet to experience that part of the diet!

I'm still keeping on, though. I am not going to quit this now!!

Huntng, I hope you can experience the sensations I did (and that I can get them back again!). It was so great feeling that way. Keep us posted on how the diet works for you and, if you add the fish oil, what changes you see. Happy Hunting! I hope you bag the Big O!

Hi Bluemoon.. Yes, I'm hoping to bag the big O also! LOL

Have you figured out the dosage to bring back the yummy effect for you? Did the chelated zinc help?

I have noticed this and I'm a touch concerned- I feel a cramping sensation deep inside me where I imagine my uterus is located. This is occuring at least 2 times daily, sometimes missing a day. It has occured throughout my ovulation and isn't linked with my typical 'period' cramps. Has anyone else experienced this? Any ideas?

So far things have gotten 'worse' for me rather than better: no more dreams, no more tingles, and even less desire than before... though I must admit I am quite stressed out right now for various reasons and Marrena did point out that will cause problems. Guess I just proved that one. <sigh>

I did stop taking the L-Argnine and am now spreading out my other vitamins later in the afternoon: E, Calcium, B complex, and the second Magnesium pill. No changes yet.

Am thinking about getting some lower quality fish oil and just starting it now. If I have to take 8 extra pills a day... so be it.

Hi, Huntng40s!

I take the enteric coated, concentrated Fish Oil from Costco...seems to work for me, although I do take 6 softgels a day. Remain optimistic. I went through a horrible lull right after ovulation before my period, and I stopped taking everything. I'm back on and it's picking up again. Remember, we do have to give our bodies time to adjust to the change. I am not a patient person, so that's hard for me to say, but I do believe it.

Hmm... maybe I'll have to look into joining CostCo. I have a BJ's membership now- has anyone gotten any fish oil from them?- and will have to make a trip out there to see what they've got. Or I can check online, too...

I'm not patient either Mafiaprincess and this is annoying me to no end. Not to mention my boyfriend!

I would assume you were benefitting from the l-arginine and when you stopped the benefit went away. Don't judge the diet until you try the fish oil, that really is the main thing.

Hi Marrena! You are so prompt with replies. Thank you.

I was feeling the effects before I began the L-Argnine, and sort of lost them around the same time I started it which is why I've since stopped taking it.

I think the reason I stopped feeling the effects is because my body adjusted to having the proper dosage of supplements and vitamins.. what do you think?

And NO WAY am I giving up on this diet! I haven't even started the fish oil yet. I'm saddened that whatever progress was made has halted for now; I am still taking the c/m/z, the chocolate (yum), and staying away from the soy (not easy for me as I am a vegetarian and used to eat lots of Boca type burgers/sausages/crumbles, etc) products and the other oils. And backing off from the pasta dishes, along with baked potatoes and so on.

At any rate... I will continue with those things and will add the Fish Oil when I can and in the meantime... hope for the best!

I was looking at some of the other posts in the 'mens' section and saw one by grimpickle asking about soy in fish oil. Marrena, you wrote you were more concerned about women who eat the soy products, drink the 'milk' and so on. What about the soybean oils in salad dressings, or other foodstuff? Do we women need to avoid that also? I haven't had my favorite bleu cheese dressing for that reason- it contains soybean oil.

My reasoning is due to your mentioning finding a canola based mayo, and I love my Hellmanns mayo, so I thought I should avoid all soybean oils. Hmm... Bleu cheese dressing on my salads again, what a treat!