I’m trying to figure out the best diet and exercise regiment for my own situation. I thank you in advance for your help, I just went through your articles about neuro-types and it was really amazing.
So, I used to be in pretty good shape when I was 17, I was doing a bunch of boxing and stuff, and I had close to a 6 pack. Then, around 18 or 19, I started to feel down, lethargic, low-energy, irritable, angry, negative for no reason. Later, I was given a diagnosis of dysthymia, a persistent depression that doesn’t go as low as suicidal thoughts, but is consistently low everyday. I began gaining weight, and while never becoming ‘obese’, I definitely wasn’t in shape anymore and became semi-fat/chubby or averageish.
Overall, I’m a people pleaser, though I do find myself going against the grain quite often. But I don’t like confrontation. I do find myself ALOT mimicking peoples attitudes and beliefs and going with the flow to please them. I do have trouble with groups where as 1-on-1 I can read people much better. I’m highly critical. HIGHLY. Of myself and others, especially after dysthymia started. OCD runs big time in my family, and I believe I have some of it too. In general, I get more anxious about situations rather than people. I’ve never had panic attacks. Like I overthink things more kind of anxiety or worry about being a failure, etc.
However, now with the medication I’m on, I kind of have increased anxiety around people where as before I didn’t have much but more so about not meeting life goals. I’m kind of a negative person I guess, even though I try to be positive. Playful workouts I love. I’ll find myself meeting goals if I know I’m going to get in trouble for not doing so or for recognition rather than the goal itself. I love looking good and being center of attention. I’m good at mingling with people, however, it’s a bit harder now with the meds I’m on, but naturally, I’m good at mingling even though I have had trouble maintaining friendships.
Currently, my main regiment is Tegretol 200mg, gabapentin 100mg 3xday, both not the highest doses, and a little bit of Zoloft and adderal here and there, but the main meds are tegretol, and gabapentin. The biggest thing with the medication I’m on I notice is that I feel sort of ‘dumb’, like high and drunk at the same time.
Also, when I do get myself to work out, which is rare these days but lately starting to increase, it’s very hard for me to push myself enough to really get a sweat going as I get tired pretty quickly. I assume this dumb/stupid feeling is from the tegretol lowering my dopamine or norephenefrin. This is why it works for bipolar mania. Either way, it’s annoying as hell but given tegretol is what works for me the best it’s what I got to go with.
Also, I have done some blood tests, and while my Total T is in decent levels, mid 500’s sometimes upper, my FREE T is on the lower end, sometimes low, or usually near the low end even if it says average. I believe that’s why I get tired. Sometimes, I even have trouble maintaining erections, but not normally. Like I can get hard but not kept hard for long sometimes. Normally I’m fine, but I’ve noticed it more often then not since being on these meds. Could the low free T be fucking my energy up and other things? Should I take some T?
I also have experience being on a variety of diets. The best thing while on meds that has worked me for physically is ketosis. I lose weight quick and have tons of physical energy, BUT, my mental energy goes through the garbage and I am much more irritable, and annoyed. I’m mentally very sharp, but too sharp. Before, when I had no work or school, keto could be done, but now, with mental demands, keto is hard to do, and it seems my brain does need carbs. Recently, every time I try keto, I can only survive it for 4-5 days then I rush and grab a pizza. Too much stress.
I’ve also done low carb, and that doesn’t work great either. I don’t work out much.
Lately, I’ve tried high carb, and high carb gives me more energy to where I’m working out more. Much more than I did before. I believe I need carbs, unless I’m in keto. Plus I can still get work done. HOWEVER, high carbs makes my brain fuzzy and sort of unmotivated. And a little irritable, perhaps too much serotonin in conjunction with other meds? I am thinking a moderate carb diet is the way to go as I believe I have had the best results with that , and which leads me to why I’m pouring my life out and writing you in the first place…
What neuro-type am I ? Originally I thought 3, but I don’t see myself as a technique freak at all. I’m not a neat type of guy and I don’t care about the ‘manual’, I just like to do shit. I’m thinking type 2 is what I am. I was in good shape before because boxing was fun too me. Not sure if I’m 2A or 2B. But I know a lot of the psychological features of Type 2 I related with. Anyways, I’m thanking you in advance for going through all this, I wanted to give you as much information as I could to help in figuring out my neuro-type.
By the way, with the meds I am on, is it possible to actually get a 6 pack again? It seems my stomach seems to be where all my fat goes now and water-weight too. The only time my stomach has gotten flat is when I was on keto.