Took a break now I'm back..............can I *really* do this or is this just how it is with aging?

misskitty0816

Hi, everyone - I was on the board about a year ago contemplating whether or not I could employ some of the eat more strategies, if I had a thyroid issue, or was just getting older and had to deal with it. I will give a little summary below and hope that some of you can chime in as to whether or not I really have a shot at making a change or if I am just stuck where I am )

So, my break - I went and had a full check up including thyroid by a specialist. She checked all of the different thyroid levels, not just the TSH. Turns out I DID have a low T-3 (this is the one you want to be high) and a moderately high T4 (this is the one that should be low). After a lot of experimenting, we found a level that helped my constant coldness (I had to wear a coat in the house! In the summer time! Everybody else had on shorts and tanks!) and mild fatigue. It did nothing for the seven pound weight gain that seems to have come on quickly over the last two years.

The rest of the story - I just turned 50 this year. About a year and a half ago I put on about 7 pounds what seemed like overnight. NOTHING changed with my eating or exercising. I had weighed the SAME thing for 48 years (124 pounds give or take one or two, 5 '6", avid exerciser since the 1990's.............worked out with cardio about 4-5 days a week, 30-40 minutes, weigh training 2x a week for 30 min each time............nothing exhaustive). I had went and gotten my metabolism checked with the one they use that you breathe into..................my RMR with no exercise but with daily activity was 1150 - though the calculator said it 'should' have been around 1490, so it was in fact low).

Questions:

1. Is my RMR 'horrible' and beyond repair? Anyone have one LOWER than this and manage to increase it??
2. Does my age make it impossible to see any long and real changes? I don't mind embarking on a new experiment to try and change this (even though I am scared to death of eating more and gaining what might be a lot of weight).

3. I usually show about 1400 calories that I eat every day using the tracker................which means it doesn't match what the RMR shows. If I am eating 1400 and it shows me burning 1150 with no exercise, but with daily activity, I should be gaining, right?

4. Am I making too big of a deal out of seven pounds? I know I am at a good weight, just had gotten really comfortable at what was MY ideal weight for 48 years! Do i need to just let it go? Would still like to be able to eat more than 1400 calories.


Thanks for any insight ) I hope to get some feedback before spending too much time making what will be a HUGE change for me. I am the type that will want to read EVERYTHING on this board before I change A THING, lol. If your comments lead me to believe it won't work, I probably won't invest any more time trying to come up with a new plan.

Thanks in advance!

jerilynconn

Hi there,

I really do think you can increase your rmr/BMR. Do you weight train? Lifting weights not only helps your bones but preserves your muscle mass, which we automatically lose (convert to fat) as we age.

I do think you are making too big of a.deal about the 7 pounds. If you looked only at how you felt and looked (no scale!!!) Could you say you gained 7 pounds? Could you say it negatively affects you?

misskitty0816

Hi, Saranharm - thanks for your reply. Yes, I do weights 30 min. 2 X a week. Nothing too strenuous, but I do 8-12 reps for each set of exercises, and do one-two exercises for each major muscle group. I guess the fact that the 7 pounds do make a difference in how my clothes fit is what is most disturbing. And the fact that I had weighed the same thing ALL of my life. I would like to be able to eat more than 1400 calories a day as well ((

Saelina

When was the last time you had your thyroid levels tested? If you are undermedicated that will lead to a slower metabolism. I am also hypothyroid with hashimotos, and I'm not yet properly medicated so I am dealing with trying to balance calories with a slowed metabolism as well. I found using @Haybales22 spreadsheet got me closer to my actual calorie burn then the other calorie calculators. I still haven't quite found the sweatspot to lose, but at least I stopped gaining. I figure once my medication is increased again which happens every 6 weeks, I might start to see changes. Here's the spreadsheet, you need to save a copy to edit it
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1G7FgNzPq3v5WMjDtH0n93LXSMRY_hjmzNTMJb3aZSxM/edit?pref=2&pli=1#gid=0

misskitty0816

Thank you, Saelina! I had them checked about 3 months ago and the doctor thinks I am finally on track. My TSH is 1.0 exactly, and my T3 and T4 are in the optimal ranges, finally. I am going to try the worksheet. I know it's only 7 pounds, but i would really like to be able to eat more than 1400 calories. I DID for the first 48 years of my life, so it is HARD eating to little and wondering why my scales keep going up when this was never a problem before. I'm glad I like to exercise, or who knows where I would be?!? I appreciate the link - am going to work on it right now!

TerezaToledo

@missykitty0816 I agree with @saranharm that you should not be tied up to that specific number on the scale, but I also understand that feeling your clothes tighter does not help. But the reality is that even if you weighted 7lbs less now, you still would not be looking the same as years ago. As we age, we lose muscle and bone mass which will make us look different (not always in a good way), feel different and have a slower metabolism.

1400 cals is what a small child needs to survive, not a grown-up woman who is active. Maybe that would be be calories your body needs to survive if you were in a coma, just to breath. You need to increase those calories. I'm not sure which tracker you are using, but I am sure the reading is wrong.

To make it simple, try the EM2WL calculator (no need for extensive data collection, honestly 50 cals more or less won't matter) http://eatmore2weighless.com/weight-loss-calculator/ , make sure you pick the right activity level, which will definitely be closer to the higher end. I am not sure of your weight lifting routine, but most likely you are not lifting heavy enough. Your body has become extremely efficient in doing yu workouts and that's why you will not see real improvement by doing the same thing that worked before. And worse than that, is that eventually you could even start gaining by eating so little and increasing cardio, as crazy as it sounds.

Not all is lost, din't worry, all you need is a little change to start seeing results. Keep it simple! Check out Anitra's story, she is amazing! http://eatmore2weighless.com/never-too-old-anitra/

Tereza
Team EM2WL

misskitty0816

Wow, Anitra's story is amazing!! Thank you for sharing that, Tereza. That DOES give me hope - indeed. I absolutely do NOT want to be stuck eating 1400 calories to maintain. I had thought last week about adding more cardio (already doing 4-5 days at 30-40 minutes), but see that is NOT the answer. I need COURAGE to add more calories - I know that is exactly what I need to do - up the calories. I did the calculator and it has me closer to 1800 - eeek! I KNOW I would gain on that! Not sure how to get past the mental part, but that's what I am going to work on. Because I feel like I need to increase my calories as the only way to 'fix' my metabolism. I am sure going to try, but it is mentally hard thinking about doing it. Hoping I will continue to read and find my inspiration to just do it. Thank you for your feedback and sharing!

misskitty0816

Forgot to say...................I do plan on working on the weight training and getting a professional to help me as a first step. I can and have been doing a very basic routine for years. But obviously I need more. I might also get the DVD Anitra mentioned, just want a professional's help to get me going first .

TerezaToledo

@missykitty0816 Anitra is one of our top Team Members and a coach herself. Check out our EM2WL dedicated forum where she's one of the moderators and feel free to ask questions http://forums.eatmore2weighless.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=20
Strenght training is the way to go. There is hope, it's not too late, trust me. The mental part is one of the hardest ones, specially in the begining don't rush, take your time, visist our "New to EM2WL? Start Here" session http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10430416/welcome-to-em2wl-start-here#latest , let the information sink in.

I sent you a friend request. We are here to help!

Tereza
Team EM2WL

misskitty0816

Thank you, Tereza! I just accepted your friend request - thank you! ))) I just want my metabolism to be like a "normal" person..............and am glad there is hope. For someone who has loved working out for YEARS, I have realized that there is always room for improvement and that what used to work, might not be what works anymore )

empressichel

Hi @misskitty0816 You can do this! It is scary to start with but you have all the right info and motivation to get started. there are lots of stories on our website of people who have been able to do this.
http://eatmore2weighless.com/testimonials/
It's a process but it is SO worth it.
We are here for all the help and support you need along the way.
Ichel
EM2WL Ambassador and Moderator

misskitty0816

Thank you, Ichel! Just accepted your friend request. Thank you for that! ) It IS scary eating more after going soooo long eating at this lower level, but I can't keep doing more of the same. I intend on reading, learning, and asking for lots of support and advice ))