Bipolarchic,

Most diets result in a short term weight loss followed by a rebound gain which is often larger than the original loss, so the fact that you lost lbs in the short term does not mean that this is a helpful regimen for you. If you stay at a lower weight for many years, then you can say that you have achieved results. Note that weight fluctuations are very unhealthy by themselves and pose a risk concern, which means that a regimen that is likely to yield weight fluctuations has to be evaluated with heightened scrutiny. Maintaining the same weight over many years, whatever it is, is healthier than going up and down in your weight. In other words, that you have lost 5 lbs is more likely alarming than reassuring.

Caffeine is safe if consumed in moderation, more in the am than pm (one of my pdocs recommended no caffeine after 3pm, but I drink weak black tea fine after it). Caffeine is likely a substance similar to alcohol in that its effects on the body have what is called a U-shaped curve - benefits to the consumer peak at some non-zero level of consumption, and both overindulgence and abstinence are suboptimal. The exact "sweet spot" is debated and is likely individual to a person, due to variations in body mass, metabolism, etc. The parameters to look at in deciding how much caffeine to consume and when are sleeping patterns and heart rate and blood pressure readings. The latter is just for the very curious who want to use scientific measuring devices? If at your current level of caffeine consumption you sleep well and are not jittery, you do not need to measure the pulse and blood pressure. I tend to lower blood pressure so I have a cup of instant coffee in the morning as a ritual and a medicine because I benefit from a little boost in blood pressure. Caffeine is also implicated in headaches in a very complex way. I have migraines and have experimented with varying caffeine consumption from 0 to 3 or even 4 cups a day, and discovered that 1 cup is my optimal dose, plus a lot of tea. It took more than a year of trying things, but now I know what is best for me individually, so I am happy.

Caffeine is a mild antidepressant and has many other protective qualities, notably prevention of Parkinson and even an aid in managing Parkinson. Personally, I would much rather have bipolar than Parkinson. Many psychiatrists who treat bipolar have tunnel vision themselves in that they recommend things that they believe will overinsure against future episodes, such as maintenance antipsychotics for patients with bipolar sans psychosis, and full abstinence from caffeine and alcohol, without considering that wide big long-term picture. It is also obvious from reading this board that many pdocs prefer to overinsure against mania and willing to have patients suffer in unrelenting low grade depression. Recommending abstinence from caffeine to every patient in a blanket statement is consistent with this "conservative" approach.