I would just post this in supplements, however, honestly your the one who knows what they are talking about.
I read the rules to you forum, and this is supposed to be about research papers, and journal articles, and this has nothing to do with that.
I'm gonna ask and you can choose to answer or not, no hard feelings, your a busy guy.
Ok, for the past several years, I have been exhausted, flat out, just all done. I could and have slept the whole weekend through and woken up Monday morning, so tired I would almost cry. My concentration was lacking, I had no desire to do anything, really. I would make plans with friends I hadn't seen in awhile (and ones I like and everything), and would cancel last minute, because I just didn't have the energy, or if I did go I wouldn't be particularly engaged or enjoy myself, just wanted to get home to go to bed. My joints ached, I was sore form working out all the time (I don't lift or train all that hard, and have been regular at working out 6 days a week for just about 3 years now). Depressed and moody, as well, but that was always a part of who I am.
Now I caulked it up to several things, I am displeased at work, I let my real work slide away (fine artist, working a stupid and more stressful than it was supposed to be day job), sometimes crazy hours, I smoke and smoke pot (I know that inhibits REM sleep), however I certainly go for extended periods with out the later, and my sleep never got any better. Oh and I never dreamed, save a work stress dream maybe once every month or two.
Now during this period I had a cancer scare (like a year ago, I think), and I had a litney of tests done, they all came back, I am in great shape (minus the smoking), I mean just green lights on everything. Lyme's disease no, (and that one was looming in the back of my head as well), all sorts of chronic, deadly and frightening diseases tested for... zip. I eat well, whole food, lean proteins, good fats, carbs in their unrefined splendor, I barley even drink.
So, anyway a couple weeks ago, after hearing how ZMA (yeah can you believe it is boiling down to this stupid question, sorry) can help people sleep just a little better (for a while I had been hearing that, understanding the incredible anabolic properties touted by the makers are basically lies, like most products), I thought to myself, yo know what, I'll give it a shot, what it's zinc Magnesium and some b-6 if it's nonsense, 1 I'll know soon enough and 2 I'll just pee out the excess, and there goes $30, worth a shot.
Weird since I only take a multi, glucosomine and chondrodin and some BCAA's and I am not even super regular with those.
Well let me tell you, it's like I found a magic pill, I really did. I dream every night, I wake up refreshed, I don't mind going to work. I have spent time with friends I have neglected. The bags under my eyes, which have been there for years, and have just gotten worse (I figured I am just aging really badly), are GONE, my joints don't hurt, I am not sore. Blackheads that I have had on my nose for 6 years are going away. I'm not depressed, my job is still crap, but I have been leaps and bounds more effective in the last few weeks. Dumb stuff easy dumb stuff that I know I would have put off before , I just get done now.
SO, my question is does that sound right to you. I looked up Zinc and magnesium deficiencies, and noticed that I do have a lot of the symptoms of both magnesium and zinc deficiencies, even down to the white spots on my nail, many of the things I listed previously.
if that is correct and this stupid little supplement is helping me how do I find the proper dosage although what I have been doing seems okey dokey by me. I am afraid to stop taking it at this point, I don't want to go a couple days with out to get a blood test done, I am assuming that is how I would find out if I truly was deficient.
Besides limiting copper absorbtion (if the zinc is taken in to high a quantity), is there anything else I should be worried about. And to not take it with calcium containing foods.
Everybody has noticed the difference, and I am not generally suggestible, I would find it highly improbably that I am dreaming because of a placebo factor. Especially since the first night I took it, I said" I CAN'T BELIEVE I SPENT GOOD MONEY ON THIS CRAP!!!". I felt better immediately upon waking up the next day.
So, what do yo think about that, I know it's long, but i figured I would give you all the info, about me and my ZMA experiance, so far.
<message edited by danmirage on Monday, August 18, 2008 3:15 PM>