TN Ten Pounds Take-Off

Okay, here is some info:

5-HTP stands for 5-hydroxytryptophan. It's an herbal supplement made from the seeds of a West African plant called griffonia simplicifolia. It has not been evaluated by the FDA, but it is believed to help with depression, sleep disorders and weight problems. It's most commonly found in capsule form.

Function: When tryptophan is in the body, some of it is converted into hydroxytryptophan, which is then converted into serotonin and melatonin. Taking 5-HTP bypasses the first step of this process, which leads to more production of serotonin and melatonin than taking tryptophan alone. Up to 70 percent of 5-HTP will be absorbed by the blood, and it easily passes the blood-brain barrier.

Benefits: One of the major causes of depression is low serotonin levels, so boosting production of serotonin in the body by taking 5-HTP can help alleviate depression. It may work well in combination with some types of medical antidepressants, or it may be used on its own in cases of mild depression. Since it works differently from antidepressants, it may work well for those who are resistant to medications.

Low serotonin levels can bring on cravings for sugar and fats, so 5-HTP may help control appetite and binge eating.

5-HTP also produces melatonin, which is responsible for the body's sleep cycle, so 5-HTP may help promote regular sleeping patterns.

Dosage: The recommended starting dose of 5-HTP is 50 mg a day. It should be taken with food, or shortly before eating, with a full glass of water. If you see no benefit at 50 mg, this can be gradually increased. As with all herbal supplements, discuss dosage with your doctor.

The best time of day to take 5-HTP depends on what benefit you hope to gain from it. As an appetite suppressant, it should be taken about 20 minutes before meals. To regulate sleep, it should be taken about half an hour before bed. If you're taking it for depression, you may see the most benefit by taking smaller doses several times a day.

Warning: 5-HTP may cause sun sensitivity; protect yourself until you know how it affects you. In some people, 5-HTP may cause a rash. It also may cause an upset stomach or constipation.

Some medications(like anti-depressants and chemo) may interact adversely with 5-HTP, so as with any herbal supplement, discuss use with your doctor. In particular, SSRI antidepressants shouldn't be combined with 5-HTP. In addition, some medical conditions, such as an ulcer or liver, kidney or blood-platelet disease, may prohibit your use of 5-HTP. Pregnant or lactating women should not take 5-HTP

132 this morning.  Slowly making progress.

Good morning ladies, 152.7 lbs this morning. Slowly but surely.

Okay, I weighed myself at the dr's today and after our french meal Saturday night after a week of being good--I am back up to 160.  Drats.  I will re-check in the morning to make sure it wasn't just my clothes but that is too much for me to be weighing. 

Well done Titan. I'm still in the not weighing mode as I don't want to acknowledge that not only is my weight not going down, it's actually gone up!

I got up the nerve to weigh myself this morning expecting to have gained because of my Washington & Baltimore trip and was pleasantly surprised to see I didn't gain anything.  I guess all the walking wore off the delicious DC cupcakes in Georgetown!

Oh gilly..you look skinny in your avator..unless yours is old like mine..my pic is over a year old and I weighed about 135 then...

My avatar is just from December Titan. I am 5'4" and my goal is to be under 140 on the onc's scale. On mine I am 145 just now (that's not an official weigh in Heidi!!!) so I think if I can get down to 136-7 that would be good. At my "worst" during chemo I was down to 134 and started the whole cancer journey at about 155. I liked how I looked at 134 - felt really thin. Which is weird as in my twenties I was 120-125 and certainly was not skinny. More muscle perhaps? Now there is a lot of flab which I really need to do something about.

Aw, Heidi! At my skinniest, I was a 4. I have completely come to terms with the fact that... I ain't ever fitting in a 4 again. I'm an 8 now, and I'm okay with that. But I'd like to occasionally pour myyyself into my 6's as well. Sigh.

With that! I weighed myself today just cause... and I'm 148 on the dot. Of course, I had to calculate how much my implants weigh, and they're about 1.5 lbs together (crazy!) sooooo guess whose feeling pretty good about herself then? ME!

MBJ - how tall are you?

I have to share something with you ladies about sizing. I grew up in England, and the sizing there is different but uses the same numbers. In my teens and twenties, my measurements were 34-24-36. I was extremely athletic and a high school PE teacher in my first teaching career. Do you know what my size was with those measurements? A 12!!!!! I got married over here but got my wedding dress in England and it was "only" a size 10. I was thrilled at this tiny size and couldn't understand why nobody seemed to think it was a big deal.

Gilly..I think that MGB is really tall...I think like almost 6"...

At my skinniest..I was a size 6..but that was way too skinny for me..no boobs, no butt...

Voluputious is IN ladies...take comfort in that...don't think that muffin tops are in though.

edited to say that I can't spell voluputious..but you know what I mean

Oh and MGB..is 6' not 6 inches..sorry

gillyone, hah!!! And MBJ issss 6'. Gotta love the tall ladies! (I'm one of the only tall ladies in our family at 5'9" Thank youuuuu, 6'3" Norwegian Great Aunt Agnes!) And that is crazy about the sizing. Although, I've read a lot how our sizing now is so much different then it was back in the day. Our 10 is much smaller than the 10 used to be. I can't imagine what size I would've been in like the 40's/50's! Good God. I'm be like a size 20! Haha.  

Death to thy muffin top! For myself as well!. Ugh!

Titan:  That is strange!  My feet have gotten bigger since chemo.  Add the belly and the but and the trying to be thunder thighs, too.   I think as women, that is just what happens as we age. 

Erica:  If it weren't for the muffin top, I would never know I was getting fatter!  I went to a birthday party last night and ate and drank until 3 am so I know I am going to have to work it off somehow this week.  It sure was fun though.