Q: I'm a 44-year-old female, weigh around 150 pounds, am 5'5" and cannot seem to lose a pound. I had Hodgkin’s lymphoma 20 years ago, and my thyroid was radiated. I've been taking Sythroid since that time and am currently taking 0.88 mcg. My problem is that about five years ago I had several PSVTs and then an ablation to stop that problem, but I still have occasional sinus tachys. Cardiologist has put me on 25 mg Atenolol - not for high blood pressure - but for racing heart. I'm also on 20 mg Paxil (generic brand) and am trying to wean myself off of it. I have followed the Zone Diet for almost six months and exercise/weight-train regularly. Could you give me a little insight about getting off the meds with the OmegaRx?
A: The beta blocker and the anti-depressant are the reasons for your difficulty in losing weight. The beta blocker increases insulin levels. Therefore, a strict Zone Diet would reverse that side-effect. High-dose fish oil (7.5 grams of EPA and DHA per day) would decrease the need for the anti-depressant.