Re: Diet question?

[Patte Rosebank]

Katastrophe, I’ve been there, done that, and bought the T-shirt, for most of my life. I think it has to do with the lack of impulse control that is a symptom of ADHD. Until we fix that, no diet plan in the world is going to work for us.

Have you been formally diagnosed with ADHD, and are you on any sort of medication for it? It may help you with your diet issues, because it seems to be helping me with mine.

I was diagnosed with ADHD in April, started on Ritalin (methylphenidate), then switched to Concerta (the slow-release, long-acting form of methylphenidate) a month ago. I didn’t feel much of an effect with the Ritalin, but the Concerta changed things the very second day I took it. Suddenly, I could focus. Suddenly, clutter bothered me enough to do something about it. And I did. Concerta doesn’t change everything; it just makes it much easier for me to change my behaviours and my way of thinking about everything…including eating.

One of the side effects of Concerta is that it controls the appetite. Since being on it, I find that I’m stopping to wonder WHY I want to eat something, and whether or not I should eat that, or choose something else. And I’m eating veggies at every meal. When I do eat, I eat slowly, savouring every bite. This is new for me. Most of my life, I’ve just snarfed down everything in sight…unless it was vegetables or something healthy. You can imagine what my figure looks like.

I still have a weakness for the high-carb, high-glycemic stuff, especially at night, but now, I’m usually satisfied with just a few bites, or I choose something else entirely, like watermelon or a nectarine. The only exceptions to this are cheesies or popcorn. When I start on them, I can’t stop. Before I started the Concerta, I really craved dill pickles (no, I’m not pregnant!), and would eat several at one sitting. Maybe there’s a medical reason why I’m craving all that salt. I’m seeing an endocrinologist next week, so I’ll find out then.

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