Starvation Mode is Real, and ugly

DeeDeeLHF

Marla, you CAN'T quit! There are too many people on here who care about you and your success!!! We need you to succeed so that we know that we can also do it!

D

Marla64

Marla, you CAN'T quit! There are too many people on here who care about you and your success!!! We need you to succeed so that we know that we can also do it!

D

Nah-- I'm no quitter. I let the wind get out of my sails the past couple weeks-- family crap going on, to boot-- but, it's all good.

I'm down 10 pounds since taking my pill two nights ago-- that can't be good for the kidneys. But, I'm happy it's gone.

197 this morning.

PJilly

Stress sure doesn't help, and family crap going on when you're already down just compounds it. But you *will* get through this, and you will feel lighter (figuratively and literally) and happier again. I just know it. It's funny. I don't know you, but I think about you often. I think a lot of people are pulling for you. There's power in numbers.

Marla64

Stress sure doesn't help, and family crap going on when you're already down just compounds it. But you *will* get through this, and you will feel lighter (figuratively and literally) and happier again. I just know it. It's funny. I don't know you, but I think about you often. I think a lot of people are pulling for you. There's power in numbers.

Thank you, Jill--

And hello, I'm Marla !!

There, now you know me! I hang out in the black team thread-- best bunch of people on the planet. Feel free to visit and get to know us-- bunch of hard working, non-excuse making people.

PJilly

Stress sure doesn't help, and family crap going on when you're already down just compounds it. But you *will* get through this, and you will feel lighter (figuratively and literally) and happier again. I just know it. It's funny. I don't know you, but I think about you often. I think a lot of people are pulling for you. There's power in numbers.

Thank you, Jill--

And hello, I'm Marla !!

There, now you know me! I hang out in the black team thread-- best bunch of people on the planet. Feel free to visit and get to know us-- bunch of hard working, non-excuse making people.

Nice to meet you, Marla. :happy:

I think I will stop by and visit. Sounds like my kind of people!

Marla64

Good morning-- well, another week, another stagnated weight. If I've learned anything in this past year, I know it could be worse! So, I'll take it. At least I've stopped gaining.

I have slowly reduced caloric intake, but truthfully hadn't exercised the past 2 weeks. I began back up with classic P90x three days ago, so we'll see how we do going forward with 1970 calories and exercise. See if this ol' metabolism is adjusting yet.

Additionally, doctor called with some blood work results-- low serum calcium in the blood. I have to go back for more tests for that-- not sure what that's all about, and she was rather vague about what she'd be worried about. So back I go today for more paperwork for more blood work.

I don't know if the calcium issue would be left over from the malnutrition, or from the diuretics, blah, blah, blah-- so much to research, so little time. So I'll wait and see what that's all about.

Any input to add, lay it on me.

Have a great day--

ladyhawk00

Glad to see at least you're holding steady.

If you didn't catch it (or haven't already seen it elsewhere) this article might be helpful.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/208407-how-to-repair-a-damaged-metabolism-stavation-mode

Marla64

Yes, thanks, I have read the article. Thanks very much!

TeresaSavage

Bump!

Marla64

thanks, Teresa--

Haven't posted here in a while, because things are status quo-- working through medicine issues with the Hashimoto's-- I think I may be onto something, but I'm waiting for the medicines to arrive-- if it all works, I'll fill everybody in.

I was very pleasantly surprised to see how strong and fit I am, despite all physical evidence to the contrary-- I'm big as a freaking house, but I played Frisbee football with the family yesterday, and kept up speed wise with my 11yo soccer player. I haven't been that fast in years-- no breaking sound barriers or anything like that, mind you-- but speed and agility, and stamina-- good stuff.

Trying to remember that exercise is for health NOT just appearance has been very hard. I've had a lot of down days, moping around in depression over the fitness that's been lost-- and then I have a lovely reminder like yesterday, that tells me my fitness isn't lost-- my size and weight is screwy right now.

Soooo-- for now, I'm pressing on. My husband bought me a gym membership, knowing I need a shot in the arm-- running around the neighborhood embarrasses me, especially in lieu of my weight this time last year-- nearly 40 pounds lighter. The shame of "putting all her weight back on" in the eyes of my neighbors, and then still running has been more than I can bear right now--

Silly vanity, I know-- but, it is what it is.

Still eating my calories-- still trying to determine what foods are bothering me, and then faithfully avoiding them-- that's been the biggie. But, all in all-- I'm still hanging in.

jcl1981

i am so glad you posted this as i am thinking that i am heading in a similar direction. I have been eating 1200 calories a day for over 4 months and exercising off 500 cals a day., my weight has come to a dead halt, i dont feel tired or irritable but i do feel alot more emotional, i have recently upped my cals to 1550 but am having a hard time forcing myself to eat. Thanks for letting me know i am not alone.

DeeDeeLHF

Marla, how are things going???

D

hush7hush

Wow! Point taken.

ditto.

Black_Swan

Your story only confirmed that I am doing the right thing by trying to always have 1200 net, no matter what. I think this has helped me not to pack on weight back as soon as I had 3 weeks of ice cream-spaghetti-chicken nuggets period. I got back only 2lb of weight and lost 1lb of that in a moment. So... everyone should think of health first!

Fernandomike

That post should be required reading for everyone trying to lose weight.

DeeDeeLHF

That post should be required reading for everyone trying to lose weight.

I completely agree!

Marla64

Marla, how are things going???

D

Hi !! thanks for asking...

Things are actually going very well. My husband, bless his heart, has been tireless in surfing the 'net trying to find some answers, since the doctors are clueless.

He found a website on "Reverse T3." Layman's terms, since I'm such a dope and can't explain my way out of a paper bag-- T4 (Synthroid) is supposed to convert to T3 in your body. T3 is responsible primarily for metabolism.

In many thyroid patients, the T4 removes the wrong molecule in its conversion, and reverts to "Reverse T3." However, since there are still the correct number of molecules, it still fits into the T3 receptors in your body....

following me?

Sooo-- when this occurs, your body thinks it's fine because the T3 receptors are all nicely filled...your body will test fine for T3, but there will be no improvement in symptoms.

A very, very few doctors will realize this and put their patients on a T3 supplement, (Cytomel).

My husband found a website detailing all of this-- I ordered T3 online, stopped taking my Synthroid and I'm down 5 pounds. I'd gained 5 after stopping the Synthroid, so it was obviously doing SOMETHING. It had finally stopped the gaining, eventually. But, it wasn't helping me lose.

The T3 seems to be the ticket. I'm increasing the dosage every couple weeks as I gauge how I feel, check my body temperatures and all that jazz. If I have heart palps or jitteriness, I know to back off. My energy is 1000% better. I don't pass out the second I hit the pillow at night. I'm bounding up stairs that a month ago I labored up. I'm hoping to see some improvement in the hair area-- I'd lost a bunch of hair-- hope it grows back. It fell out in the worst stinking spot-- on my bang line....blech. So I've had to change my part....worse things could happen, I know-- I'm considering it a blessing that that's all that's happened. And I'm also going to be interested to see at the end of the day if I have any improvement in my psoriasis and arthritis.

I'm eating 1800 calories, working out five days a week and am presently on 62.5 mg of Cytomel, taken in two doses throughout the day. It's been about two weeks, so I'm actually going to increase today to 75 mg and see how I feel.

Emotionally, my spring is back-- I'd given up, and was tired of fighting. In the weeks before the T3 arrived, I had stopped working out and begun to accept as my new reality my obesity. To say I was depressed would be an understatement. That's really why I'd stopped updating here-- I was whupped.

I'm hopeful again for the first time in over a year.

Thanks again so much for caring-- really means a lot.

lovetowrite73

I hope the T3 supplement works! And I'm really happy that it has put the spring back in your step. :happy:

ladyhawk00

Glad to hear you're feeling better, and I hope you can make some good progress with the T3. :flowerforyou:

sarahcowley1

THANKS FOR WRITING THIS HUN GOOD LUCK AND I HOPE YOU GET BK TO NORMAL SOON XX

DeeDeeLHF

HOORAY!!!:flowerforyou: :drinker: :happy: :flowerforyou: I hope that this continues to work!!! What great news!!! I really needed it today, too. I have had an emotionally exhausting day with kid #2!!

Thanks for the update!!

Donna

Marla64

HOORAY!!!:flowerforyou: :drinker: :happy: :flowerforyou: I hope that this continues to work!!! What great news!!! I really needed it today, too. I have had an emotionally exhausting day with kid #2!!

Thanks for the update!!

Donna

Totally feeling the kid #2 pains, Donna..... why did we have 'em in the first place?

SallyCC

Marla,
Thank you for your courage in posting and keeping us updated on your progress. I think a lot of us can relate to really damaging our metabolism by the diets we subjected our bodies to. You are a wonderful guide in sharing your story of your process...Thank you!

Marla64

Marla,
Thank you for your courage in posting and keeping us updated on your progress. I think a lot of us can relate to really damaging our metabolism by the diets we subjected our bodies to. You are a wonderful guide in sharing your story of your process...Thank you!

thank you, Sally-- the things we do to our bodies....it's horrible.

And yet, I still get the urge to drop down to 1200 calories to try and speed it all along. It's such a part of my psyche that 1000-1200 calories is what you eat when you want to drop weight-- stupid, stupid, stupid.

I really hope I'm on the right path, and that the weight keeps coming off...slowly, on a healthy caloric number--

What a journey it's been-- holy Hannah!

Black_Swan

I am so happy for you, I really hoped you will find some solution. I hope this totally works for you, fingers crossed!

Marla64

I am so happy for you, I really hoped you will find some solution. I hope this totally works for you, fingers crossed!

Thank you!

I'm beginning to see MY face again in the mirror-- I'd been so blown up I looked like my 350 lb brother for months now....blech.

Spirits are soaring...which is half the battle, as we know....yes?

Susay2942

OMG... I am so happy to find someone else that is experiencing the Reverse T3 issue! My dr put me on a very low dose 5mcg T3 once a day and for three hours out of my entire day I feel human! I asked to have it increased and she refused... some excuse about my tests were fine and she didn't want to push it. After another three months of gaining weight and feeling like XX*&^^% I decided to double my dose anyway. I took it twice a day.. and started feeling even better! I am still taking the synthroid at 5:30 am. I am going to start taking the 5mcg every three hours... Im just scared of doing this without the Dr;s approval. I am not having jitters or heart palps at all... just feeling sooooo much better when I take the T3.

wolf23

Marla,

I had been following this thread, but had not seen it in a while although I had searched for it. I am relieved that you are doing better with the T3. Wishing you health and happiness!

Marla64

OMG... I am so happy to find someone else that is experiencing the Reverse T3 issue! My dr put me on a very low dose 5mcg T3 once a day and for three hours out of my entire day I feel human! I asked to have it increased and she refused... some excuse about my tests were fine and she didn't want to push it. After another three months of gaining weight and feeling like XX*&^^% I decided to double my dose anyway. I took it twice a day.. and started feeling even better! I am still taking the synthroid at 5:30 am. I am going to start taking the 5mcg every three hours... Im just scared of doing this without the Dr;s approval. I am not having jitters or heart palps at all... just feeling sooooo much better when I take the T3.

Susay-- the website I sent you actually encourages you to go off Synthroid all together. According to them, the T4 you're adding to your body with the Synthroid is doing nothing more than converting to RT3-- food for thought.

I'm back under 200 again as of this morning-- only 30 more pounds to go..... :ohwell:

Happy it's moving in the right direction. I get very discouraged especially now that summer's here-- nothing fits me. Last summer, I'd already begun growing and my cute summer clothes from 2009 didn't fit-- you just can't imagine the frustration. I was training for a half marathon last spring and early summer, eating 1400 calories and growing out of my clothes. Doctors were clueless. Maddening!!

So happy it seems to be behind me. I know I have a long road ahead, too, and I need to keep my wits about me and stay smart-- I'm on an 1800 calorie base right now, and that's the lowest I can go at my present weight.

I also bought an old-lady pill reminder for my supplements.... I NEVER could remember to take these blasted things. Fiber, multi-vite, vitamin B, vitamin D, acidophilus, and my BP pill-- I haven't missed a day in over 3 weeks since buying it. Something to be said for old-lady reminder tools.....

Thanks to everybody for their support-- I read the starvation mode threads out there very sporadically. It irks me that there is such folly on these boards, and people don't realize "metabolic damage" is possible. I'm living it. It sucks.

But, the very few times I tried to share the story to open a few eyes on other threads, it was shot down with every excuse out there for why they shouldn't eat back their exercise calories, how every body is different, blah, blah, blah-- yeah, okay, whatever-- Lord willing, you won't suffer as I have in my ignorance.

Must skedaddle-- thanks again, everyone.

Russellb97

That is awesome news Marla!
:happy: