quest for a friend

Question
Hi
I posted a previous question for myself. Now I am posting  one for my best friend. She is approximately 60 - 70 lbs overweight and has tried losing to no avail. She is hypoglycemic and finds it difficult to diet, because she needs to eat small meals frequently in order to keep her sugar levels up.  I know that she tries very hard to limit her calories, fats, and carbs, but it is difficult to do so with her condition. I've advised her to seek a nutritionist for professional help, but I beleive she is discouraged and depressed. What advice would you give  her at this point? Thanks in advance for your help.

Answer
HI Kelly

The first thing that your friend needs to do is to treat the depression. Many people respond to stress or depression by eating excessively. Sources of stress may not always be apparent, but may still affect eating habits and cause weight gain.

Your friend needs to get some help with overcoming the depression. There are some great medications available now or your friend can use one of the herbal alternatives. She can't do anything with her life until she is feeling better about herself and her situation and this comes through different therapies.

You can't talk yourself out of depression, but you can stop talking yourself deeper into it. Cognitive therapy -- also called cognitive restructuring -- instructs patients to identify and correct depressive thinking. It attempt to make people more forgiving and understanding of their shortcomings without falling into the depressive trips of ascribing incompetence and failure.?
  
A tremendous amount of research shows that exercise -- particularly strenuous aerobic exercise -- elevates mood, relieves anxiety, improves appetite, sleep, sexual interest and functioning, and self-esteem. Also, it has been demonstrated that aerobic exercise normalizes chemical imbalances.    
     
Several medicinal herbs have antidepressant effects. The most powerful is St. John's wort, a natural SSRI and weak MAO inhibitor. In addition ginkgo and caffeine can also help.
  
Dietary supplements. Certain vitamin deficiencies -- notably B-6, B-12, C, folic acid, thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, biotin, and pantothenic acid -- can cause depression. Examining diet to determine balance and taking good chelated multivitamins can help address this issue.?      
Acupuncture, aromatherapy, and other alternative treatments. The United Nations World Health Organization recognizes acupuncture as effective for mild-to-moderate depression. Other helpful treatments include aromatherapy, massage therapy, music therapy, and meditation.   

If you need more information--let me know.


Take Care
Jackie

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