Intermittent Fasting and Bipolar

BPQuestions · Feb 21, 2018 at 12:53 PM

Has anyone had any experience with intermittent fasting as well as taking medication to help with mood stabilization?

99fairies · Feb 21, 2018 at 01:14 PM

I have done this a lot, but haven't really noticed a difference in my mood. I did notice an improvement in my energy levels though.

UpDownAround · Feb 21, 2018 at 01:35 PM

Which kind of IF? There is daily (I did 5:2, where you eat normally 5 days and have 2 "fast" days of under 600 calories that aren't back to back) and there is hourly (like 16:8, where you only eat during an 8 hour window each day).

5:2 daily IF didn't have any impact on my mood.

BPQuestions · Feb 21, 2018 at 02:28 PM

16:8 IF.

Quote:

Originally Posted by UpDownAround

Which kind of IF? There is daily (I did 5:2, where you eat normally 5 days and have 2 "fast" days of under 600 calories that aren't back to back) and there is hourly (like 16:8, where you only eat during an 8 hour window each day).

5:2 daily IF didn't have any impact on my mood.

Carmina · Feb 21, 2018 at 02:44 PM

I do 16:8 daily and an occasional 1-2 day fast to top up, feels great, brilliant for type II diabetes

Pookyl · Feb 21, 2018 at 11:10 PM

Yes I do intermittent fasting. My pdoc, endo and GP encouraged me to do it.

IF impacted on my mood indirectly. My blood work improved and my cognition improved like 100%.

It was the fact that my cognition improved that made me compliant with meds thereby causing a positive effect on my bipolar.

bizi · Feb 21, 2018 at 11:46 PM

I eat at 1130am and 6pm.
I could do the skip breakfast but can't give up my popcorn at 9pm.
sigh
bizi

UpDownAround · Feb 22, 2018 at 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carmina

I do 16:8 daily and an occasional 1-2 day fast to top up, feels great, brilliant for type II diabetes

Interesting. I thought to was better for diabetes to spread out eating so you wouldn't get the big spike. I read an article about diabetic farmers having trouble when they only ate a big breakfast at day break and a big dinner at sundown.

Feb 22, 2018 at 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carmina

I do 16:8 daily and an occasional 1-2 day fast to top up, feels great, brilliant for type II diabetes

Quote:

Originally Posted by UpDownAround

Interesting. I thought to was better for diabetes to spread out eating so you wouldn't get the big spike. I read an article about diabetic farmers having trouble when they only ate a big breakfast at day break and a big dinner at sundown.

There are many fallacies about how to best treat Type II Diabetes. When someone I know with it followed ADA diet guidelines, his diabetes worsened. Perhaps fasting is good for diabetics. This person started eating as this doctor is suggesting and his blood sugars dropped significantly, he lost weight, feels better, etc:

Reversing Type 2 diabetes starts with ignoring the guidelines | Sarah Hallberg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da1v...&feature=share

Carmina · Feb 22, 2018 at 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UpDownAround

Interesting. I thought to was better for diabetes to spread out eating so you wouldn't get the big spike. I read an article about diabetic farmers having trouble when they only ate a big breakfast at day break and a big dinner at sundown.

There's a big difference between type I and type II - they are really different diseases in many ways and you could get those problems with type I but the 'little and often' myth for Type II is just that. IF helps break a pattern of carbs intake that feeds Type II diabetes and in particular promotes insulin resistance.

Tucson · Feb 22, 2018 at 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carmina

There's a big difference between type I and type II - they are really different diseases in many ways and you could get those problems with type I but the 'little and often' myth for Type II is just that. IF helps break a pattern of carbs intake that feeds Type II diabetes and in particular promotes insulin resistance.

This is very interesting indeed. If I ever become pre-diabetic, like the possibility due to extended use of Olanzapine, I will keep this in mind.

Feb 23, 2018 at 12:47 AM

My doc treated me for type II diabetes with a low carb Paleo diet in 2004 before anyone heard of Paleo. He also advocates fasting. I reversed it by losing @75 pounds.

I follow Dr Jason Fung now for my fasting protocol. He has great podcasts with Jimmy Moore and YouTube videos too. He is a nephrologist (kidney doc) and has reversed diabetes by fasting his patients. He is interesting because he has placed hundreds of patients on fasts.

I do it for weight management. I have heard Dr Fung talk about brain benefits, but more along the lines of preventing dementia. I’ll listen again and report back if I have it wrong.

The most important thing I’ve heard is a ketogenic diet has benefits for bipolar, just like it does for epilepsy. I found this fascinating because anticonvulsants treat both disorders.

Ketogenic or even just plain old Atkins diet is known for resolving seizures in children.

Fasting would operate on the same principle if you fast long enough to burn fat stores, and even better-go low carb between the fasts.

Carmina · Feb 23, 2018 at 02:16 AM

Yeah I lost 3 stone since I was diagnosed with Type II and have also reversed it using a combination of IF, more exercise (including HIIT) and overall a healthier, more veg rich, diet (and looking after my gut biota). Managing to keep a stable weight too now for months.

Pookyl · Feb 23, 2018 at 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by key tones

My doc treated me for type II diabetes with a low carb Paleo diet in 2004 before anyone heard of Paleo. He also advocates fasting. I reversed it by losing @75 pounds.

I follow Dr Jason Fung now for my fasting protocol. He has great podcasts with Jimmy Moore and YouTube videos too. He is a nephrologist (kidney doc) and has reversed diabetes by fasting his patients. He is interesting because he has placed hundreds of patients on fasts.

I do it for weight management. I have heard Dr Fung talk about brain benefits, but more along the lines of preventing dementia. I’ll listen again and report back if I have it wrong.

The most important thing I’ve heard is a ketogenic diet has benefits for bipolar, just like it does for epilepsy. I found this fascinating because anticonvulsants treat both disorders.

Ketogenic or even just plain old Atkins diet is known for resolving seizures in children.

Fasting would operate on the same principle if you fast long enough to burn fat stores, and even better-go low carb between the fasts.

How do you find following the Keto diet when you’re unwell? Any tips?
I’m ok when I’m well but I’m constantly having an episode and I forget the principles and then forget how to actually do the diet. Takeaway then becomes the go to for dinner.

To clarify I do IF but on my eating days my Keto diet goes out the window when I’m unwell.

bizi · Feb 23, 2018 at 09:16 AM

There are two different modes of IF.
How should we differenciate the 2?
One type talks about reducing calories to fast for a few days.
The other is 16 hour fast(no food or calories then 8 hour window of eating).
So When you say IF. which one are you talking about?
bizi

Zigy · Feb 23, 2018 at 02:15 PM

I often eat only breakfast around 7:30am and lunch at 1:00pm and then nothing for the rest of the day. I don't think it makes any difference in the way I feel. It helps keep the weight down though which makes me feel better.

BPQuestions · Feb 23, 2018 at 02:59 PM

I do the 16:8 IF.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bizi

There are two different modes of IF.
How should we differenciate the 2?
One type talks about reducing calories to fast for a few days.
The other is 16 hour fast(no food or calories then 8 hour window of eating).
So When you say IF. which one are you talking about?
bizi

Feb 23, 2018 at 06:15 PM

I do various versions - Dr. Jason Fung says to do what works for you.

Dr. Fung does the one meal a day version (aka OMAD, if you've ever seen that acronym).

I USED to be able to fast for days at a time; I've done several days in a row. However, since I've started the lithium, I am having a really hard time with it.

Now I'm lucky if I can get it down to a four-hour eating window.

~Christina · Feb 23, 2018 at 09:42 PM

I have anorexia so I can’t do any fasting as it can trigger me to fall into that hell again.

I do only eat twice a day , toast in the morning and a average dinner.

Some people need to be careful as certain meds need 300 calories with it to get the full benefit of it.

bizi · Feb 23, 2018 at 11:42 PM

I am sorry christina, I did not know.
(((((HUGS)))))
bizi

Menu

My Support Forums - Mental Health Support Groups

Get emotional support and friendship from others like you!

Intermittent Fasting and Bipolar

My Support Forums

BPQuestions Member Member Since Jan 2018 Location: California Posts: 151 6 75 hugs given	Feb 21, 2018 at 12:53 PM #1 Has anyone had any experience with intermittent fasting as well as taking medication to help with mood stabilization? __________________ Bipolar2 Lithium 600MG

99fairies Grand Poohbah Member Since Sep 2015 Location: Alberta canada Posts: 1,834 8 2,627 hugs given	Feb 21, 2018 at 01:14 PM #2 I have done this a lot, but haven't really noticed a difference in my mood. I did notice an improvement in my energy levels though. __________________ Bipolar 1

Carmina Poohbah Member Since Sep 2017 Location: A Growlery in the UK Posts: 1,158 6 129 hugs given	Feb 21, 2018 at 02:44 PM #5 I do 16:8 daily and an occasional 1-2 day fast to top up, feels great, brilliant for type II diabetes

Pookyl Poohbah Member Since Aug 2017 Location: Australia Posts: 1,435 6 79 hugs given	Feb 21, 2018 at 11:10 PM #6 Yes I do intermittent fasting. My pdoc, endo and GP encouraged me to do it. IF impacted on my mood indirectly. My blood work improved and my cognition improved like 100%. It was the fact that my cognition improved that made me compliant with meds thereby causing a positive effect on my bipolar.

Carmina Poohbah Member Since Sep 2017 Location: A Growlery in the UK Posts: 1,158 6 129 hugs given	Feb 23, 2018 at 02:16 AM #13 Yeah I lost 3 stone since I was diagnosed with Type II and have also reversed it using a combination of IF, more exercise (including HIIT) and overall a healthier, more veg rich, diet (and looking after my gut biota). Managing to keep a stable weight too now for months.

Zigy Member Member Since Dec 2017 Location: New York City Posts: 230 6 26 hugs given	Feb 23, 2018 at 02:15 PM #16 I often eat only breakfast around 7:30am and lunch at 1:00pm and then nothing for the rest of the day. I don't think it makes any difference in the way I feel. It helps keep the weight down though which makes me feel better.

~Christina Legendary Wise Elder Community Liaison Member Since Jul 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 22,450 (SuperPoster!) 12 12.7k hugs given	Feb 23, 2018 at 09:42 PM #19 I have anorexia so I can’t do any fasting as it can trigger me to fall into that hell again. I do only eat twice a day , toast in the morning and a average dinner. Some people need to be careful as certain meds need 300 calories with it to get the full benefit of it. __________________ Helping others gets me out of my own head ~

bizi Bizi is bizi Member Since Nov 2005 Location: cajun country Posts: 10,858 18 43.9k hugs given	Feb 23, 2018 at 11:42 PM #20 I am sorry christina, I did not know. (((((HUGS))))) bizi __________________ 150mg of lamictal 2x a day haldol 5mg 2x a day 1mg of cogentin 2x a day klonipin , 1mg at night, 4-5 peri-colace for chronic constipation multi vit,, vit c, at noon, tumeric, caffeine at noon PRN Remeron 15mg at night, zyprexa10mg under tongue, requip2mg.