|
|
Our recent breakthrough with handling the symptom
of depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and tapering off antidepressants
has led to a direct breakthrough with weight gain associated with
antidepressants.
If you have come to this page first, before reading the
rest of the site, we need to answer the question many of you have.
Who is The Road Back?
The Road Back is a step-by-step program used by the patient and prescribing
physician to taper off psychiatric medication safely. This program has been in
existence since 1999. Over 30,000 people have now used this program to taper off
psychiatric medication.
In 2002, The Road Back began researching to find the cause of medication induced
weight gain and hopefully to find a solution. As thousands of people completed
their taper off the medication, many success stories began to come in about
weight loss as well. Some of what we found was by research, but some was by
chance.
As mentioned in the first paragraph above, a new breakthrough has emerged and we
now know the cause of the weight gain, and now, how to combat the weight gain
and then lose the weight gain induced by the antidepressant. Part of the
successful method we suggested in the past for weight loss is still valid today.
We now have more information why it was successful and have been able to use
that data to better address additional parts of the body that need the help.
With this help, weight loss should follow. We do need
to get somewhat technical to explain what has happened to your body and what we
are doing to reverse the weight gain. The additional plus side of this weight
loss program is you should also begin to feel a lot better during the early
stage of the process! We will be
addressing your immune system and another cycle that takes place in what is
called the pituitary-adrenal axis. One major function of the pituitary-adrenal
axis is the control of hormones and the adrenal glands.
There is an
interesting phenomena we have found when people use this program. If you are
overweight, you lose the excess weight. If your body weight is in the normal
range for your body frame you will not lose weight.
Inflammation and Weight Gain
– Our immune system responds to inflammation with the release of
anti-inflammatory fighting substances. The human body also has a mechanism that
releases inflammatory substances. In your immune system you will have something
called interleukin-6 (IL-6). IL-6 is associated with inflammation. In simple
terms, when you have inflammation, your IL-6 levels will be extremely high. The
role of an anti-inflammatory drug or anti-inflammatory supplement is to lower
the IL-6. If you wish,
you can take a simple blood test and have the level of IL-6 in your body
checked. If your Body Mass Index is such that it puts you in the range of
needing to lose 20 pounds or more, it is all but a guarantee your IL-6 levels
will be too high. If you also have depression or are prone to feel depressed, it
is a guarantee the IL-6 will be too high.
Hundreds of clinical trials have shown;
a person with depression will have high levels of IL-6.
Clinical trials have shown
people with obesity will have high levels of IL-6.
Clinical trials have shown;
if you do something to keep the IL-6 levels low, you have a difficult time
making any person depressed or obese.
Clinical trials have shown;
if you take an Omega 3 fish oil with high levels of the fatty acid EPA, a high
percentage will receive depression relief. One clinical trial has shown using
Prozac along with Omega 3 fish oil with high levels of the fatty acid EPA gave
an eighty percent success rate for treatment of depression. Was it the Prozac
creating this success rate or the Omega 3 fish oil high in EPA? The Road
Back was the first to publish information about using Omega 3 with high levels
of EPA to help combat antidepressant weight gain in 2002. The success rate was
not what we hoped for but was better than anything else being done at that time. The Road
Back then introduced Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) in 2005 and the weight loss
success rate shot up to around 34 percent. Roughly thirty four percent taking
the Omega 3 along with CLA would begin losing weight between week number four
and week number 5. For that group of people weight would fall off. Usually they
would begin to see a reduction in size first and then the weight loss.
Note:
You need to take a vitamin E everyday if you are going to supplement with Omega
3 and CLA daily. The vitamin E helps the Omega 3 and CLA metabolize in the body. The Omega 3
and CLA are still very much part of our weight loss suggestions. If thirty four
percent of the people can now lose weight that never could before, that is a
better result than any other weight loss method most had found.
The Omega 3 that is high in EPA is helping to lower the
IL-6 (inflammation) and the CLA has been clinically shown to significantly stop the production of
IL-6. This is why you will find reports of CLA also reducing depression for
some people. Please do
not take CLA without Omega 3 and vitamin E. CLA needs Omega 3 to balance the
Omega 6/3 ratio and both require vitamin E for metabolism assistance. The vitamin
E we have recommended for years is 200 i.u. of an all natural vitamin E. With
this type of vitamin E you only need the low amount of 200 i.u. daily.
Moving forward
– Reducing the IL-6 was our goal to reduce the symptoms of depression and
antidepressant side effects. This led to further discoveries that directly
related to weight loss for people taking or now completely off antidepressants.
Clinical trials have shown; at least 18% of the people that have used an
antidepressant have Candida yeast overgrowth.
Three possible side effects of Candida yeast overgrowth are
depression, weight
gain and bloating. If you have
ever used an antibiotic, a birth control pill, or most other medications, you
have increased the chance of Candida yeast overgrowth immensely.
Other symptoms of Candida yeast overgrowth include –
fatigue, recurring infections, a mental fog, headaches, sore throat,
abdominal pain, muscle tension and pain, joint pain or
swelling, digestive issues, such as heartburn, indigestion, and Irritable Bowel
Syndrome (IBS).
You may have a
Candida yeast overgrowth, you may not. Lowering the IL-6 is
still the ultimate goal. What we have found is a pre-biotic and probiotic blend,
Advanced Probiotic Blend, that will help rid the body of Candida
yeast overgrowth and more importantly, help reduce the level of IL-6 in the
process.
Calcium,
if it can be assimilated, will help a
person lose weight. The big “if” for everyone is “assimilation.” The old
standard way of taking calcium is with a vitamin D. Calcium requires vitamin D
to metabolize in the upper portion of the small intestine. The problems are; a
high percentage of the population will have the genetic makeup that blocks
vitamin D assimilation and a high percentage of the population will have the
genetic makeup that blocks calcium absorption through the upper portion of the
small intestine. This weight
loss program includes a scientifically proven way to assimilate calcium. To address
calcium first: As you may know there are several types of calcium and probably
as many viewpoints about which calcium is the best. Frankly, which calcium is
the best is pointless unless the calcium can be assimilated in the body. We do
recommend you take no more than 250 mg of calcium every four hours. Calcium
needs the time to absorb and overloading a body with too much calcium ultimately
causes more harm than help.
Calcium Absorption
Calcium absorption is a major health concern throughout the world. We hear the
ads on television constantly about a new food product enriched with calcium.
With all the emphasis being given calcium, why is
osteoporosis still on the rise? Why is there such a problem with being
overweight in America since calcium promotes weight loss? Why do so many females
suffer debilitating PMS symptoms, pre-menopause, menopause and post-menopause?
Being calcium deficient is not always due to not consuming enough calcium. We
need to be able to assimilate the calcium and let our body put the calcium to
use.
The
absorption of calcium has been on our research agenda for several years now at
The Road Back. Many people with anxiety that take calcium will have a calcium
reaction and instead of the natural calming effect as advertised by most calcium
suppliers, these people would become overly anxious. Once these people stopped
taking their calcium, their anxiety level went back down once again. But, people
taking medication will usually need additional calcium because the medication is
depleting it from the body. Many people need to supplement daily with calcium to
help with health conditions and are caught in the “damn if I do and damn if I
don’t.”
How to
improve the rate of calcium absorption without affecting the metabolism of
medication or creating a drug/supplement interaction needed to be found.
The Road Back has now found the solution.
What is the Solution?
A food supplement by the name of Calsorption is the solution.
What is Calsorption and How Does Calsorption Work?
Calsorption is a natural soluble fiber, made from chicory roots. Calsorption has
been shown to increase numbers of beneficial bacteria within the digestive
system. Healthy levels of these important bacteria can result in improved
intestinal functions, relief of constipation, digestive comfort and assist with
the assimilation of calcium. In addition, with Calsorption having a positive
effect on calcium absorption in adolescents and postmenopausal women, Calsorption is
potentially playing a role in bone health.
Calsorption is an all-natural prebiotic that supports optimal colon functioning and
mineral absorption. Prebiotics are non-digestible fibers that are the energy
source for the beneficial bacteria in the colon. By feeding the beneficial
bacteria, we keep our bodies in balance. Calsorption, from chicory root, is an easy
to disperse fine granulated white powder. Furthermore, with its mildly sweet
taste, but without a surge in blood sugar levels, Calsorption can be used as a sugar
replacement in low calorie or diabetic-suitable foods.
What are the health benefits of Calsorption?
Calsorption is a prebiotic that is fermented in the large intestine by the beneficial
bacteria, bifidobacteria. Following the consumption of Calsorption blood sugar levels
are not elevated making it a quality sugar substitute in foods for diabetics.
Also, Calsorption is a soluble fiber which may help maintain regularity.
What is a prebiotic?
A prebiotic selectively stimulates growth of healthy bacteria in the colon such
as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli, which provide benefits to the body's
digestive system. Calsorption is fermented by these intestinal bacteria, and short
chain fatty acids are produced. This can
then cause a lowering of the pH in the large intestine, and result in increased
calcium absorption. This lower pH also slows the growth of certain bacteria
that can weaken the immune system.
How much Calsorption should be consumed each day?
Prebiotic benefits and calcium absorption can be seen from Calsorption at 5 grams per
day. You can add 5 of the 1 gram scoops of Calsorption to water or any other food or
drink daily for this benefit.
Clinical trials have shown that 5 grams of Calsorption a day
will increase the assimilation of calcium by up to 38%. That is a
significant increase of absorption. You will find Calsorption being used in several food
products now. However, it does require 5 grams a day of Calsorption to have this
effect with calcium absorption. There are a few products now being sold that
claim their unique patented product helps with the absorption of calcium. All
they have done was add a unique substance to Calsorption and filed for a patent but
the real benefit is only coming from the Calsorption. These other added substances
are really no more than a filler and what the customer receives after taking it
is less than 5 grams of Calsorption and no true benefit. The
absorption issue with calcium cannot be emphasized enough. Weight loss requires
calcium.
RenewPro
– To further lower the IL-6, remove toxins and supply the body with all natural
amino acids, we use a product called RenewPro. A complete book could be written
on RenewPro and what it does within the human body.
First, RenewPro contains an exceptional amount of the amino acid cysteine.
Cysteine lowers IL-6 significantly.
RenewPro will greatly increase the intracellular levels of our master
antioxidant glutathione. Glutathione will
lower IL-6.
A protein called
lactoferrin is higher in RenewPro than any other whey
protein product.
Lactoferrin lowers IL-6. If you are
lacking energy or feeling dull, the RenewPro is a must.
RenewPro is a whey protein concentrate made from disease-free, pesticide-free,
chemical-free, hormone treatment-free and natural grass pasture fed cows.
Craving Food
- A fair percentage of people have reported craving food of all type, especially
sugars and carbohydrates, with antidepressant use. These were people that never
had food cravings before.
Control
- We have another product that can be used for the food cravings. Many of the
ingredients in this product have been used in weight loss formulas by supplement
companies. Our research shows the ingredients should have very little to do with
helping with weight loss but they do help stop cravings for sweets and
carbohydrates.
Control also has 62.5 mg of green tea extract per capsule. Normally we suggest
people not take a green tea extract with an antidepressant. Green tea will use
the same metabolism route as most antidepressants. With the low mg amount and
the assistance green tea has in reducing the IL-6, we recommend the green tea
extract here.
Vitamin C
– The role of vitamin C for our everyday health is accepted as truth by most
people in the year 2008. When it comes to what type of vitamin C to take and how
much vitamin C to take daily, the viewpoint wars begin.
You do not need to take high doses of vitamin C if you take the correct vitamin
C and you have all the needed amino acids and other vitamins in place. Harvard
Medical School ran a clinical trial showing the results from a people eating 2
kiwi fruit each day. The vitamin C from kiwi fruit is four times higher than
oranges and the kiwi generated vitamin C was shown to assist with maintaining
DNA integrity. Of note, less than 1 kiwi fruit a day was no help and eating more
than 2 kiwi fruit a day did not provide additional help for the body.
With food sensitive’s running out of control in 2008 and a rather large
percentage of the population not being able to consume kiwi due to the
sensitive’s, a different source of natural vitamin C should be used.
For a person to receive the maximum potential gain from the RenewPro, a person
should have ample amount of vitamin C and vitamin E. The master antioxidant
glutathione will freely receive a toxin that has been grabbed by vitamin C and
vitamin E and allow the molecule of vitamin C and vitamin E to go back out and
grab additional toxins. If the glutathione levels are too low in the body, the
vitamin C and vitamin E will keep hold of the toxin, not release the toxin and
become toxic themselves.
It only requires a small amount of the correct vitamin C and vitamin E to be
truly effective as long as your cells have glutathione in abundance.
Vitamin C will help lower inflammation in the body.
If your adrenals are being taxed due
to anxiety,
stress, depression and
fatigue, vitamin C is a must. It is
vitamin C that will make the adrenals begin to function once again. Once the
adrenals begin their healing process it is common for the feelings of anxiety
and stress to lessen greatly.
C From Nature
is the answer for what vitamin C to take. This is an all natural vitamin C and
the only vitamin C recommended other than you eating 2 kiwi fruit each day.
If you feel the need for a meal replacement protein drink,
the
Essential Protein Formula is the thing to use.
Overeating, snacking, and choices made impulsively when we realize we are
“starving” are the primary reason people gain weight, develop physical problems,
and begin losing the battle against fat, low energy, and poor nutrition. When you compare
Essential Protein Formula to the most popular between meal options, you will be
amazed at the superior ingredients Essential Protein Formula
provides 30% isolated whey protein to build lean muscle and provide branched
chain amino acids that increase endurance. This is 95% pure protein and
creates a balanced protein to carbohydrate ratio. Real "complex"
carbohydrates are your primary source of energy. Most products give you
“empty” carbohydrates from sweeteners like fructose and corn syrup. We
provide 30% complex carbohydrates from a patented barley beta glucan, activated
by enzymes that suppress the appetite to provide that full feeling. These
“chains” of complex carbohydrates break down slowly over 2-3 hours providing a
steady supply of calories to the blood and help avoid blood glucose crises. Unlike other products,
we recognize the body’s need for fat. Without good fats in our diet, we
crave the “bad” ones. Essential Protein Formula contains 10% fat from
medium chain triglycerides and wheat germ oil provides energy and endurance.
These friendly fats satisfy your body’s need for lipids and help eliminate the
cravings that lead to that irresistible urge! We also recognize that any
whole food needs bulk or mass in order to move through the body.
Our natural 15% soluble and dietary fiber content helps trap fat and toxins as
they cleanse the body, plus helps give you a full satisfied, “I've got something
in me feeling.” Use
Essential Protein Formula anytime you know you will not be able to eat or not be
able to eat right. You will never go hungry again.
What foods should you eat and what foods should you avoid?
This is where the general drug withdrawal theory comes into play with dieting
and weight loss. If you have ever gone on a diet in the past, you very well know
the instant shock it created on your body and probably on your emotional
well-being as well. Being on any diet like that for an extended period of time
is next to impossible for each of us.
Unexplained Weight Gain With a Good Diet and Low Daily Calories
I well know, not everyone that has experienced a massive unexplained weight gain
has overindulged in food. If this applies to you, you very well understand this.
You might be eating less now than ever but you are still gaining 10 to 20 pounds
every month.
If you already maintain a good diet and eat in proportion to your body size,
there is no need for you to reduce your calorie intake further or begin eating
low glycemic foods, you are there already. You should just begin the supplements
suggested and take them as outlined.
Lower Food Intake and Daily Calories
If you are already a calorie counter, reduce your calorie intake by 10% each
week. Slowly reduce your calorie intake in this manner and you should be able to
comfortably reduce without diet side effects. Notice we have not told you to
stop eating certain foods?
Again, the goal is not to throw your body or you into shock! Just take this part
nice and easy and do not rush it. If speed was going to be the winner, everyone
would have already won with the speed approach and weight loss would not be
biggest concern for most people today.
A 10% calorie reduction per week and no more is what you want to be doing.
Once you are down to a normal calorie input, based on the need of your body, not
some arbitrary guideline, maintain that calorie count per day. We need to face
it, not all of our bodies are the same and not all of us require the same amount
of calories each day to function and be healthy.
One thing you will probably find happening along the way is, your body will
begin telling you it wants a different type of food. Follow that lead! Give your
body what it is now asking! It might very well be more salad, more protein or
less protein etc.
If You Are Not a Calorie Counter
Most of us will not count calories. The process is too time consuming, we are in
a rush or whatever the reason may be, counting calories just will not work. Do
not worry about it!
Just slowly reduce the portion size. Slowly reduce the portion size. The last
sentence was meant to be repeated!
Use the nutritional products recommended to lower the IL-6, continue with life,
slowly lower the food consumption until you feel satisfied after a meal and are
not starving 2 hours later.
Too simple but this is all you need to do.
Other Options
If you have researched much at all regarding weight loss and diet, you have
undoubtedly run across the glycemic index. The glycemic index is a numerical
ranking system of foods where the lower the number equates to less negative
impact on the body.
The foods you will find low on the glycemic index are the foods most would
expect to be there. Vegetables, fruit, chicken etc are low, while red meats,
candy, and sweets will have a high ranking. With a change in your diet, it would
be excellent for you to eat foods with a low glycemic index raking and avoid
foods high on the ranking list.
However, incorporating what we know about tapering off psychiatric medications,
a gradual change is a must.
Again, if you are consuming 4,000 calories a day and you abruptly lower your
calorie intake to 2,000 a day, your body is going to react. To put it bluntly,
you will feel splattered all over the place. Anxiety, depression, fatigue or any
number of feelings will ensue with a sudden reduction in calories.
It takes the human body at least 3 days to have a chance to adjust to changes.
Give your body time to change and heal.
The goal of our weight loss program is more than weight loss. The goal of this
program in order of importance is:
Improving your overall health
– If your overall health were to be improved, the odds are tremendous you will
feel better. If you are overweight and you improve your overall health and feel
better, the odds are tremendous you will also lose weight. If you know your
overall health has been improved, you feel better and you have achieved the
desired weight loss, the odds are tremendous you will keep in place what you
need to in order to stop gaining back all of the weight you have now lost. Doing
what it took to improve your overall health will handle numbers 2, 3 and 4.
The goal of this weight loss program is to lose no more than 2 pounds each week.
It is understandable that you may have a reaction to a weight loss program
recommending you lose no more than 2 pounds each week, but we want you to have
numbers 1-4 and ultimately success. Losing 2 pounds a week and never having
those pounds return again is the goal!
If you are 80 pounds overweight those first 2 pounds may not seem like a big
deal, but 7 days later it will be 4 pounds and then 6 pounds! After 3 weeks of
only losing 2 pounds a week you are already over 7.5% complete. When will you
need to dig into your closet and get out the next smaller size of clothing? For
most people every 15 to 20 pounds of weight loss leads to the old smaller size
in clothing.
More on Speed of Weight Loss
The best example I know of to use here is, what some people go through after
reading how to taper a medication slowly. It is very common for us to receive an
e-mail or telephone call from someone saying, “I do not want to spend 6 months
tapering off my medication.”
Our normal question back is, “How long have you been trying to get off the
medication?” The normal answer is, “Years.”
I have to ask you the same question about weight loss. How long have you been
trying to lose weight? Six months time is going to pass by again and will you
look back and wonder what things might be like now “if” you would have just
taken things slowly and methodically?
Time will continue, how we use that time, what we do or do not do within that
frame of time, will determine what we have or do not have in the future. That is
just life, right? www.TRB Health.com stocks all of the products mentioned here. You can order them on the shopping cart or call TRB Health at 1-866-810-3809.
I suggest you sign up for their weight loss AutoShip program to make it easy to
always have what you will need. This breaks up the cost for you and saves you a
little money in the process.
Your success in life is our goal and improving health of your body is a major
step to achieve that goal for both of us.
There is more to add to the weight loss program and it will be included as soon
as possible. The additions will be a complete description of foods to eat, foods
to avoid and food combinations. Plus extra information never mentioned for
weight loss before. We are not withholding the information from you; it just
needs to be written!
Make sure you sign up for out newsletter to be informed as soon as the
information is available.
Wishing you success!
Jim Harper |
|
Copyright 2006 The Road Back. All rights reserved. No part of this Web Site may
be reprinted or distributed without permission. Lexapro - Lexapro Description - Lexapro Side Effects - Zoloft Withdrawal |
