Dean Pomerleau - Psychological Effects of CR
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[Below is the text of my slides. Sorry the formatting isnt better
and the pictures / diagrams arent included. Im happy to provide
the PowerPoint document Khurram or anyone else who might post it
to the CR Society web page:
"Conquering any difficulty always gives one a secret joy, for it
means pushing back a boundary-line and adding to one's liberty."
- Henri Frederic Amiel
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Introduction
Thesis: CR can have profound psychological effects on its
practitioners. These effects are (or can be):
Independent of health/longevity effects
Positive or negative
Vary from individual to individual - YMMV
Happen whether we recognize them or not
Gradual, and therefore sometimes hard to recognize
Sometimes disguised as "virtues", so hard to accept as potentially harmful
Hard to quantify or "prove", so often ignored by CRonies, who generally
are a hard-nosed science types
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Overview
Topics to be addressed:
CR and obsession - food and otherwise
CR and Appetite
CR, sex and libido
CR and emotions
CR and Spirituality
Topics go from most concrete and scientifically demonstrable, to most
speculative and subjective. Talk not meant to be definitive treatment on
the subjects covered, but starting point for discussion
Caveat - Personal observations from me and other long-term "hard core"
[1] CRonies, with some scientific support - your mileage may vary!
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My CR Pedigree / StyleOverview
3.5 Years on CR
Dropped from 172 to ~120 lbs
Exhibit all the supposed CR markers
Very meticulous, regimented CR style
Same meal, 3/day
Carefully formulated and measured
Family man - minimize CR impact on family
My lifes an open book
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CR and Obsession
CR appears associated with obsessive behavior, but is CR the cause,
or the effect?
Does CR encourage obsessive behavior?
Semi-starvation induced hyperactivity (SIH) in rodents - suggests yes.
Rodents subject to CR and given access to running wheel, will run more
than AL fed rodents, sometimes to the point of death - accepted model
for anorexia [2]
Mediated by hormones and neurotransmitters - Treatment with leptin or
seratonin uptake inhibitors block SIH in rodents, as they do in
anorexic people [2].
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CR and Obsession
Minnesota Starvation Study [3] - suggests a definite yes.
40 physically and psychologically healthy male subjects
Subject to 6 mth of 50% calorie (w/ reasonable nutrition) restriction
Results:
4 dropped out, 3 developed binge-eating, 2 began to steal food, 1 suffered
severe depression, and 2 were admitted to hospital because of symptoms
of psychosis.
Other side effects: hunger, weakness, lack of drive, decreased ability to
feel happiness, osteoporosis, hypoalbuminemia, dependent edema, decreased
muscle mass, alopecia, hypotension, poor wound healing and depression
Variety of food and food-related obsessions - see below
50 years after study, abnormal eating behaviors/attitude remained in all 24
subjects who consented to be interviewed.
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CR and Obsesesion
Are obsessive people drawn to CR?
Mark Cummins Personality poll - influence of self selection in "free living"
CRonies.
CRonies tend to be: Introverted, self-disciplined and persistent
In other words, when we set our minds on something we give it our all and
stick to it.
Can be a prescription for extreme and obsessive behavior
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CR and Obsession
Manifestations of CR Obsession
Food Obsession
"Orthorexia Nervosa" - Obsession with healthful eating [4] - endless diet
tuning, unwillingness to eat "forbidden" foods.
Sight - magazines, Food Network TV - ironic, most dont actually make, let
alone ever taste, featured recipes
Taste - heavy, exotic spices, proclivity for strong tastes (e.g. peppers),
flavor "spritzing", sucralose reliance, toothpaste eating
Food tasting, and even more harmful eating disorders (e.g. bulimia and anorexia).
Perhaps a natural result of scarcity mentality - food is scare, so need to
maximize experience from what one is willing to eat or contemplate eating.
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CR and Obsession
Obsession with Avoiding Waste, Hording
Also observed in Minnesota Starvation study
Similar to food obsession - likely stems from scarcity mentality
Personal examples:
Unwillingness to discard food, even unhealthy food
Collecting food prep equipment/containers, even those not used
Reusing ziplock bags, stockpiling rubber bands, etc.
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CR and Obsession
Obsession w/ conserving energy - esp. personal energy
Partly physical - less energy reserves due to fewer spare cals
Likely stems from scarcity mentality - limited food means limited energy,
so we feel compelled to conserve
Personal examples:
Plan actions carefully to minimize effort - Limiting trips up and down stairs.
Abstain from (or limit effort in) high energy activities - sports,
self-prescribed exercise, active play w/ kids
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CR and Obsession
Advice:
Recognize problem behaviors/attitudes - not easy - denial common
Positive mental attitude - Believe strongly that an unhealthy obsession,
once recognized, can be overcome. Corny, but worked for me.
Cold turkey worked best for me:
Cut out negative activities entirely - food magazines/TV, food tasting,
flavor spritzing, heavy spicing
Force self to engage in positive activities once avoided - find less
self-centered and counterproductive obsession.
Outcome:
With time (in my case a month or so), the obsessions subside.
Reward - Conquering CR-related obsessions brings with it profound sense of
peace and personal mastery.
Conversely, when one feeds CR-related obsessions, it perpetuates attachment
to food, leading to extremes like food tasting, and negative emotions.
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CR and Appetite
Anorexia - "Lacking normal appetite" [4]
By this broad definition, I (and at least some other CRonies) indeed are
anorexics.
Like anorexics, Im virtually never hungry anymore - likely due to increased
gastric emptying time and reduced gastric secretions [5] and/or reduce
leptin [6] seen in anorexics
Extends beyond food - especially to sex for many of us
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CR and Sex / Libido
Reduced libido pretty common in long-term, "hard core" CRonies
Many potential causes:
Evolutionary - Shift of resources from reproduction to maintenance/repair.
Hormonal - testosterone and other androgens reduced
Psychological - CR requires delayed gratification. May lead to focus on
things other than sex.
Social - CRonies (particularly men) dont fit the societal model of physical
beauty - less opportunity - "use it or lose it"
Spiritual - For some people, CRs appeal is partially its ascetic nature
- spiritual benefits to self denial. Spillover to sex?
"A moderate, unspiced, minimally cooked, and quickly prepared meal of simple,
unprocessed food is the dietary basis for brahmacharya
(Hindu vow of celibacy)." Gandhi [7]
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CR and Sex / Libido
Advice:
No real good answer:
Even testosterone therapy (which I would caution against on many other
grounds) didnt increase my libido
Increasing calories would likely help
Bright side - not all CRonies experience reduced libido
Best solution (IMO) - come to terms with it:
Easier than you might think - cessation of desire
May not be possible due to relationship constraints
Many positive aspects!
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CR and Sex / Libido
Benefits of reduced libido:
Frees up time for other more productive pursuits
Eliminated tendency to treat others as objects for personal gratification
- no more "what can they do for me" attitude (not just sex)
Helps one realize the changeable and dependent nature of ones existence. I
still feel like "me", despite libido drop.
Demonstrates possibility of transcending worldly attachments, which can be
quite empowering.
Globally, Gandhi used fasting, simple diet, abstinence and material
comforts to foster/demonstrate personal power and self discipline for
himself, inspire others, and draw attention to his political/social causes
"Fasting and restriction in diet now played a more important part in my
life. Passion in man is generally co-existent with a hankering after the
pleasures of the palate. And so it was with me." Gandhi [7]
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CR and Emotions
Cessation of compelling desires goes beyond food/sex in some "hard core"
CRonies.
Hypotheses (from observations by me and others):
If starting on the heavy side, CR -> Euphoria in short term
If starting on the light side, CR -> irritability and "snappishness"
in short term
CR -> emotional "smoothing" in long term
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CR and Emotions
Potential causes of emotional smoothing:
Hormonal: Reduced androgens = less emotional turmoil/aggression
Social: CR is a solitary activity - may foster isolation, if not egoism,
and result in emotional detachment from others
Behavioral: CR encourage introspection and rational evaluation, thereby
discouraging knee jerk, emotional reactions
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CR and Emotions
Personal Anecdote: 180 ft. bungee jump
No fear
Max HR - 103 BMP
Exhilarating!
[Picture + movie of bungee jump]
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CR and Emotions
Advantages of emotional smoothing:
Detachment - little things arent bothersome anymore
Appreciation - Realize needs are few when it comes to happiness
Equanimity - Less "playing of favorites" with people, compassion
"One should eat not in order to please the palate, but just to keep the
body going. When each organ of sense subserves the body and through the
body the soul, its special relish disappears and then alone does it
begin to function in the way nature intended it to do." - Gandhi [7]
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CR and Emotions
Danger: "smoothing -> "deadening"
Force of will - consciously seek to experience joy
Go out on a limb - face + revel in personal challenge
"Fake it 'til you make it"
Personal example - Promoting family happiness
Apply CR-fostered zeal and self-discipline to build family relationships
Decided to do everything I could to make family happy - and enjoy doing
it! - not just satisficing
Self-fulfilling prophecy
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CR and Spirituality
CR Promotes/Attracts:
Introspection / awareness
Self-discipline / zeal
Cessation of desires
Smoothing of emotions - equanimity
Recognition of cause and effect - interdependence
Realization of impermanence - tough one for CRonies
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CR and Spirituality
Not advocating all CRonies become monks/priests
CR can have profound psychological impact
Needs to be recognized and managed
Best approach (IMO):
find another outlet for our inherent and CR-induced zeal
Use CR as a tool, not an end
[Two Diagrams:
"Sad" Cycle:
Extreme personality + Fear of Death -> CR ->
Psychological changes -> Extreme Personality, repeat
"Happy" Cycle:
Extreme personality + Positive Outlet -> CR ->
Psychological changes -> Extreme Personality, repeat
The "Sad" cycle involves ever tightening circle, in which CR is pursued
as in end in and of itself. In the "Happy" Cycle, CR is used as a tool
to facilitate some other positive outlet - ones "lifes calling".
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CR and Spirituality
CRonies are blessed w/ incredible gifts
Zeal, self-discipline, confidence, creativity, health/longevity
Shame to squander gifts solely on self-centered pursuit of maximizing
personal lifespan
Especially since CR is far from perfect solution:
May not extend lifespan in humans
Even if works, benefits relatively marginal
Can result in sacrificing what we seek to maximize - a fulfilling life
Advice: Find alternative outlet for gifts, let CR be tool
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References
[1] By "hard core" CRonie I refer to degree of calorie restriction,
rather than seriousness of practice.
[2]http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crsociety/message/6994
[3]http://river-centre.org/StarvSympt.html
[4] cancerweb medical dictionary
[5] http://lists.calorierestriction.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0211&L=crsociety&P=R45112
[6] http://lists.calorierestriction.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0209&L=crsociety&P=R57561
[7] Gandhis Body - Sex, Diet and the Politics of Nationalism, Author: Joseph Alter
[8] Gandhi, "All Men Are Brothers", 143
