Funding Raising - Please Donate

Hey Guys....

As you know that I regularly post current research on depression in this blog.

I decided that I should raise funds for depression research by seeking donations for the Hope for Depression Research Foundation.... You can read more about the foundation at hopefordepression.org.  My first attempt at fundraising will be to compete in the KidsPeace 5K.  It is the same 5K that I am training for in my 21 day challenge.

If you would like to help out, visit my fundraising page

Thanks Guys.

Day 13 - 21 Day Challenge 5K Prep - Best Run - New Gear - Tell your husband to watch what they eat

Wow, I had my best run today...What made the difference? Was it the days off? Was it the new gear (running tights)? What it the fact that my review isn't due until Dec 1st? Oh Yeah!

New Study just published in Nature reports for the first time that a father's diet can affect female offspring's health.  In the study, scientist fed male mice a chronic high fat diet before breeding which resulted in female offspring that had diabetes (increased body weight, adiposity, impaired glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity).  This was due to epigenetic changes, thus it is the first report in mammals of non-genetic, intergenerational transmission of metabolic sequelae of a HFD from father to offspring.

Nature 467, 963-966 (21 October 2010) | doi:10.1038/nature09491

Data	Distance (Miles)	Time per mile
10/8/10	1.73	11'40"
10/9/10	1.78	11'28"
10/10/10	1.6	10'07"
10/11/10	1.81	10'35"
10/12/10 Morning	1.71	Unknown
10/12/10 Evening	1.71	11'23"
10/13/10 Evening	1.01	14'00"
10/14/10	Rested	Rested
10/15/10 Evening	1.58	10'40"
10/16/10 Evening	1.57	10'29"
10/17/10	Rested	Rested
10/18/10 Morning	0.54	Average pace 9'32"
10/18/10 Evening	~1.95 (Iphone battery died)	~10'
10/19/10 Morning	1.40	12'44"
10/23/10 Evening	2.09	9'09"

Day 9, 10,11 & 12 - 21 Day Challenge - 5K Prep - Friends

Monday, was a very challenging day. I was frustrated and felt as if I was a cartoon character in which steam was coming out my ears and my head was about to explode. I spoke with my best friend and he helped me out a lot. As I look back, I realized that most of my life I have been surrounded by a lot of friends and family that have helped me when I was down. That really is not the case here in Baltimore, no family and very few close friends. I am making a pledge to go out and make new friends... starting next week by going out to a KOS concert...I really can not wait.

Here is an interesting article about negativity. It is well accepted that thinking positive thoughts can reverse a person's negativity. In this study the authors found that when therapy clients were asked to consider someone else in a similar situation, all participants generated and selected significantly more positive interpretations for friends than for themselves, but generated significantly more negative interpretations for hypothetical others than for themselves... This finding is quite useful as it suggest that patients lack emotional attachment to hypothetical figures thus negativity can be easily attached to them and it is more useful to image real people (preferably friends) to generate positivity.  I know that I did not explain that well but i think it is a cool concept.

How is the running going you may ask?

Day 9 was rough but I did it.  I took Day 10 off - The program is starting to get tougher but I will be able to make it.   I ran twice of Day 11, A short run to alleviate some anxiety and a longer run for 5K prep.  Day 12, was the final day of Week 3 in my training program. Due to my days of rest, I am 2 days behind schedule. I will have to make up those days in order to complete the training.

Data	Distance (Miles)	Time per mile
10/8/10	1.73	11'40"
10/9/10	1.78	11'28"
10/10/10	1.6	10'07"
10/11/10	1.81	10'35"
10/12/10 Morning	1.71	Unknown
10/12/10 Evening	1.71	11'23"
10/13/10 Evening	1.01	14'00"
10/14/10	Rested	Rested
10/15/10 Evening	1.58	10'40"
10/16/10 Evening	1.57	10'29"
10/17/10	Rested	Rested
10/18/10 Morning	0.54	Average pace 9'32"
10/18/10 Evening	~1.95 (Iphone battery died)	~10'
10/19/10 Morning	1.40	12'44"

Day 7 & Day 8 - 21 Day challenge - 5k Prep - Partner Support

Did you know that partner support reduces a spouse's pain behavior, functioning, and depression?  Well, data out the of the department of Psychology at Seattle University provides evidence for this and I always believe the data.... Check it out!

Day 7 was my resting day... I really needed it but I still did my morning Yoga.

Day 8 - It was a good day. Kristin had ankle surgery so I took her in this morning then I went to work and spoke with the boss. I explained to my boss that i was starting to feel more ambitious and that I would be working toward the new NIH R01 grant for recent graduates. Even though this is 2 years away but getting the chance to go directly into my own independent laboratory directly out of grad school would be cool.

I am on Week 3 day 1 of my training program. I had to do two repetitions of a 1.5 minute jog then 1.5 minute walk followed by a 3 minute jog the 3 minute walk. Lets hope the new shoes help with my time.

Data	Distance (Miles)	Time per mile
10/8/10	1.73	11'40"
10/9/10	1.78	11'28"
10/10/10	1.6	10'07"
10/11/10	1.81	10'35"
10/12/10 Morning	1.71	Unknown
10/12/10 Evening	1.71	11'23"
10/13/10 Evening	1.01	14'00"
10/14/10	Rested	Rested
10/15/10 Evening	1.58	10'40"

Day 6 - 21 day challenge 5K Prep - Ultimate Frisbee

Yesterday was a good day for me. I began the morning with a 20 minute Yoga session (It was easier this time around). I felt a lot more focus throughout the day. I had a minor triumph, I asked a really good question at our Luncheon with our visiting speaker. It felt good, and it made me feel capable. I began to feel motivated about my own work again. I sat and read a paper. This is a big deal for me!

After work, I ran down to the park to play Ultimate Frisbee. On the way, I passed a shoe store and decided to buy some new shoes. I ended up buying two pair, a pair of red saucony's for running and a pair of Turf Pomo for Ultimate. I threw the pair of shoes I was wearing into the trash.  I played ultimate frisbee for  2hrs so I was very content not to run anymore than the very slow mile I ran to get to the park. 

If you have never played ultimate Frisbee then you are missing out on a treat.  Check it out!!

Well, thanks for visiting.

Data	Distance (Miles)	Time per mile
10/8/10	1.73	11'40"
10/9/10	1.78	11'28"
10/10/10	1.6	10'07"
10/11/10	1.81	10'35"
10/12/10 Morning	1.71	Unknown
10/12/10 Evening	1.71	11'23"
10/13/10 Evening	1.01	14'00"

Day 5 - 21 Day Challenge 5K Prep - I ran twice today

Hey everyone... I wanted to start with educational material.  Today I have linked a video of a speech by Dr. Kay Jamison.  She is a professor of psychiatry at Hopkins.  I checked out 3 of her books from the library and just returned them today.  She has an amazing personal study of her battle with depression.   One of her most popular books is called "Exuberance: the passion for life".  She examines the lives of many enthusiastic people especially scientist.  I hope you guys read and enjoy it.

I have ran for 5 straight days.... This is a big accomplishment for me....Check out this video clip sent to me from Nike.  Since I was feeling so good after my previous evening runs, I decided that I would starting running twice a day, morning and evening. I just repeat the same program for both runs.

Data	Distance (Miles)	Time per mile
10/8/10	1.73	11'40"
10/9/10	1.78	11'28"
10/10/10	1.6	10'07"
10/11/10	1.81	10'35"
10/12/10 Morning	1.71	Unknown
10/12/10 Evening	1.71	11'23"

I have been very busy today.  I found free exercise videos on ExerciseTv.tv so I started my day off with Yoga and Ab exercise.    Even though it is beginners yoga, I had a lot of trouble with downward facing dog or whatever the name of that pose is.  I spent a lot of time in child's pose.  The ab workout was gruesome, talking about feeling the burn but I guess this is what you have to do in order to become like the "Situation".  I just need to work on the Laundry part of GTL, I have the tan part down.

Thanks to everyone that has written me.  Your support is so greatly appreciated.  And for being such great friends in my time of need.. here is a awesome song:  High Time by Brent Berry and Honest Abe

Day 4 - 21 Day Challenge 5K Prep - Very Tough Run for me

Wow, yesterday's run was rough.  But, I was eager to do it.  I think the running is working.  I am starting to feel more energized and confident.  Now, I just have to translate it into productivity.

Data	Distance (Miles)	Time per mile
10/8/10	1.73	11'40"
10/9/10	1.78	11'28"
10/10/10	1.6	10'07"
10/11/10	1.81	10'35"

The program that I am using to prepare for the 5k is called Couch to 5k.  I will be running a modified version in which I will run every day instead of 3 times a weeks.

I first learned of the C25K program from my friend Meghan.  I really miss my friends in Portland.  I understand now that having a strong social support group is important in life.  I have made myself so busy here in Baltimore that I did not take the time to forge many new friendships.  I hope to change that.  I believe that I would be doing much worse if I did not have my beautiful wife to support me each and everyday.  I know that I must a be nuisance to her at times but she wakes every mornings and prays with me.  She is always happy to see me when I arrive hope and every so eager to give me a hug and kiss.   I am really lucky to have her in my life.    A longitudinal study published this year further examined the affect of social capital on depression and concluded that emotional support is important for the alleviation of depression.  Additionally, people with depression may require a secure attachment style to derive the full benefit of their social capital.

If you would like some extra reading, here is article written in 2007 in Runners World about fighting off depression:  Get Some Running Therapy

 

 

Day 3 - 21 Day Challenge 5K Prep - Got New Running Gear

Hey Everyone!  Today was a good day.  I went out and bought some running gear.  I also bought a reflective vest since I have been running in the evening.  I could tell that my wife (Kristin) was starting to get worried about my safety.   Day 3 of the running program went better.  I ran a lot faster than I normally do and I could really feel it by the end.

I have to correct some errors in my running times that I reported earlier (see table below).

Data	Distance (Miles)	Time per mile
10/8/10	1.73	11'40"
10/9/10	1.78	11'28"
10/10/10	1.6	10'07"

      I thought I would share my favorite article that I had posted last week on facebook.  It is a review about treating depression without prescription medication.  They recommended 4 things.


1. Meditation
2. Exercise
3. Tryptophan supplement
4. Light Therapy (Sun Lamp)

Day 2 - 21 Day Challenge 5K Prep

Wow, what a day!  I felt a lot better today but still not motivated enough to tackle some reading for this review that is due at the end of this month.

I ran 1.8 miles again today and my mile was a lot slower 8'30".  But, to my defense I ran a different route with more hills.

I came across a study in the Journal of Affective Disorder in which the authors measured levels of atrial natriurectic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) before and after exercise in major depressive disorder patients (MDD).  The two peptides are important in regulating levels of hormones in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.  The authors think that lower concentrations of ANP and BNP observed during rest and exercise in MDD together with a decreased dynamic response of these peptides to maximal exercise might explain why high HPA system hormones are seen in these patients.  This work opens up the possibility that physical training might increase the levels of these peptides and diminish depressive symptoms.

21 Day Challenge - Getting Ready for the KidsPeace 5K Run October 30 2010

So I began this 21 day Challenge yesterday in which I would run for 30 minutes everyday, in order to prepare for a 5K.  The KidsPeace 5K is for a great cause, it supports the transitioning of older foster kids into independent adult lives.

Since, I have not run in awhile (according to my Nike+, since July 28, 2009, when i ran 1.8 miles) I will employ a quicken version of the couch 2 5k program which normally takes 9 weeks to complete.  I will run everyday and finish it in 21 days.

I did my first run yesterday, ran a total of 1.78 miles.  I did one mile in 7'33''.  It was a good run.  I am excited about running again today.

There are other people that have experienced relief from running...  below is an amazing story about a lady who suffered from life-long depression that was not responsive to drugs or therapy but got relief from running.  Running For My Life

Hello - I'm Larry

Many of you knew me growing up, when I was a shy, weird and geeky kid.  Some of you may have known me as the wild, crazy, and ready to party Frat boy, "Cracker" at Louisiana College.  Others may have knew me when I was jet-setting across the globe for an small start-up, I was pretty cool, calm, and collected in those days.  You  may have known me when I returned to college and really got into science, these are aptly known as my "Early and Mid Rastafarian" days.  Many of you might have first meet me in Grad school at OHSU, the "late Rastafarian" days where you could easily find me at the Jolly Roger singing Reggae with Earl and the Reggae All-stars.  I transitioned in my 2nd year of grad school to a more calm and focused person, who found the love of his life.

During most of those years, I can honestly say that I was never depressed.  I have always been optimistic and excited about life.  I could easily motivate myself about any thing.  I would make the most boring task into the adventure of a life-time.

That has changed for me over the past 6 months.  I have been suffering from depression.  It has been debilitating at times.  Some days I will not leave the home.  What has happen to trigger this?  There could be a myriad of answers...Grad School, Baltimore, diet, lack of exercise etc.....

Well, I wanted all of you to know what I have been going through.  I am seeing a therapist and psychiatrist so don't worry that I am not seeking proper help.  This blog is a way for me to escape the unmotivated state that I have lived in the past few months.   But most importantly, I wanted to give you a first row seat into my experiment.  I plan on alleviating my depression by running regularly.  

Well, come back daily to see how I am progressing!

Cheers,