Starvation Mode is Real, and ugly

Marla64

That is awesome news Marla!
:happy:

Thanks, Russell-- slow and steady wins the race, right?

Happy to be moving the right way, finally--

DeeDeeLHF

Marla, I use two (AM and PM) of the jumbo size old lady pill holders! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: Even with these, I still forget!

D

Marla64

Hey everybody--

Checking in-- down another 1/2 pound-- totally, totally stoked. 1/2 pound a week will certainly take me forever to get the 30 pounds back off, but at least I'm doing it right and healthy this time--

The T3 ccertainly seems to have been the answer-- it's the only thing that's changed, so I can only credit it to that.

1800 calories, and working out 4 times a week on average-- doing a lovely machine at the gym -- "ascent trainer." Anybody hear of this animal? Part stairs, part elliptical-- really, really love it-- works my butt off...literally.

I'm seeing a touch of definition return as the watery floof is leaving. My upper arms had literally begun to pucker in the back from the water and fat I was holding-- I'm slowly beginning to see some definition return. Same in my calves. They were positively ripped before this all began-- there wasn't an ounce of fat on them. They then ballooned to tree trunks-- you couldn't find a muscle. Slowwwwly, I'm beginning to see the muscles again--

I know I still have a long road to travel, but the journey is sooo much more bearable knowing that it's not in vain anymore-- there is light now at the end of this tunnel. You all have helped me to bear it, too, with your support-- thank you all so much.

Also, positively-- I've noticed an improvement in my hair-- go figure. Even with no conditioner, it is smooth and shiny-- I haven't had smooth, shiny hair in God knows how many moons-- and the super crusty parts that had really taken a hit from the thyroid issues are beginning to grow out from the scalp smooth again-- I'm weepy with joy.

As of now, I think I'm down a full 7 pounds from my zenith through this nightmare. I'm back to 199, which is where I was when I went off Synthroid. I was at 195 beginning Synthroid. Went up to 199. Went off Synthroid and blew up to 206 before the T3 arrived, and I began to take it.

I've increased my dose about every two weeks-- I'm now taking 50 mg in the morning, and 37.5 in the afternoon. I took 50 in the afternoon the other day, and my heart rate was a bit elevated-- so, I backed off-- as long as I'm losing, even slowly, I'm happy. Everything else seems like it may be falling into place.

I'm much weaker at this current weight than I was when I first started my weight loss journey, and previously weighed 199 in 2008. However, yes, I'm 3 years older-- and I know my body totally devoured my muscles as I starved it-- so, I have a long road to regain my strength-- but I'll get there.

Running is nearly impossible right now-- I just don't have the strength to keep it up. But, I plan to get it going again once I lose at least another 10 pounds-- perhaps sooner if I feel stronger.

I have a goal to run a half marathon-- my first-- for my 50th birthday in 2014-- so I have lots of time to get ready--

Have a great day everyone-- thanks again for all your encouragement-- you're the best.

cmriverside

Such great progress, M. :flowerforyou:

3babybeans

WOO HOO!! Positive things going on!!! I'll train for that half with you, my friend. *hugs* So happy for you!

Jenlynphi

Thanks for sharing your experience and I'm hoping that things get better for you. I have plateaued for weeks now and did up my calories to 1400 with eating my exercise calories back. I gained two pounds so now I'm back down to my 1200 with eating my exercise calories back. I'm so confused that I don't know what to do.

90poundsoflard

So glad I found this thread - how have I been missing it? Took me awhile - but I read all 13 pages. A lot to think about. I've always been told, "If you had more self control, you would lose weight." "The only reason people are fat is because they eat too much." Thanks for getting this message out there. I know my metabolism is pretty messed up from 25+ years of dieting. I didn't even lose any weight on the cabbage soup diet! and I ate nothing but cabbage soup for 3 weeks! I have started losing weight now, but hit a plateau a couple months ago. I've been tempted to cut my calories, but I think I'll increase them instead.

ChristyP0303

Bump

arewethereyet

Hey darlin! Your doing great. I cannot wait for you to see I can also do it right! 1/2 pound a week it is! :drinker:

tgh1914

What awesome news Marla! Really happy for you.

Marla64

Hey darlin! Your doing great. I cannot wait for you to see I can also do it right! 1/2 pound a week it is! :drinker:

Jeannie, I know you can-- so do you-- you got this. One day at a time--

Marla64

What awesome news Marla! Really happy for you.

Thanks, so much--

Marla64

So glad I found this thread - how have I been missing it? Took me awhile - but I read all 13 pages. A lot to think about. I've always been told, "If you had more self control, you would lose weight." "The only reason people are fat is because they eat too much." Thanks for getting this message out there. I know my metabolism is pretty messed up from 25+ years of dieting. I didn't even lose any weight on the cabbage soup diet! and I ate nothing but cabbage soup for 3 weeks! I have started losing weight now, but hit a plateau a couple months ago. I've been tempted to cut my calories, but I think I'll increase them instead.

It has changed how I view "fat" ladies-- I have worked my butt off, and it kept getting bigger-- so, truly it has changed my perceptions on people-- things aren't always as they seem.

Marla64

WOO HOO!! Positive things going on!!! I'll train for that half with you, my friend. *hugs* So happy for you!

That's a deal, woman-- I'm gonna hold you to it.

Marla64

Such great progress, M. :flowerforyou:

thank you, sweet lady!!

mamalissa

Very eye-opening thread. Thanks for sharing. Glad to hear you're doing much better.

~melissa

Marla64

Another pound back off-- woo-hooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

198 this morning--

Only 30 more to go!!!!!!!

DeeDeeLHF

Marla, I am absolutely thrilled that things are working out! So proud that you persevered and never really gave up! What a lesson learned concerning doctors as well.

Great job!

It took me 6 years to lose 63 pounds, so be happy with the 1/2 pound per week! It was slow but I think I did it the right way and I on Thursday I celebrate 150 days of maintaining!

You are the best!!

D

ozycat

Wow, what a journey you've been on. Hope it carries on going from strength to strength!

arewethereyet

Another pound back off-- woo-hooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

198 this morning--

Only 30 more to go!!!!!!!

WOO HOO

Russellb97

Another pound back off-- woo-hooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

198 this morning--

Only 30 more to go!!!!!!!

Yay!!!
:happy:

vdavis_89

Wow! I knew you could put yourself into starvation mode but I never thought it could get THAT serious!!! I also have hypothyroidism and began taking meds for it about 3 years ago... about a month ago I went and had blood work done and it showed the meds were not working so my doc upped my dosage... eventually I think my thyroid will hav eto be partially or completely removed... my mother's was removed about 6 years ago so i kinda know its coming. Before MFP I never knew anyone with this problem and now I am "meeting" more and more people that are working through their medical issues and getting in shape! Thank you for sharing you story

kaylah_x

Thanks for sharing your story. Glad things are working out for you again. Good Luck

k8edge

Thank you for sharing! I believe in the "starvation mode" as well... I know that you can turn things around for yourself. I am sure that you have already gone... But do you see a nutritionist? They may be able to tweak your diet and help you jump start into loosing again.

You will get back on track and don't be too hard on yourself. You look absolutely wonderful!

Online Hugs

Marla64

Another pound back off-- woo-hooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

198 this morning--

Only 30 more to go!!!!!!!

Yay!!!
:happy:

:bigsmile:

Thanks, Russell-- still enjoying my spike days!!

Marla64

Wow! I knew you could put yourself into starvation mode but I never thought it could get THAT serious!!! I also have hypothyroidism and began taking meds for it about 3 years ago... about a month ago I went and had blood work done and it showed the meds were not working so my doc upped my dosage... eventually I think my thyroid will hav eto be partially or completely removed... my mother's was removed about 6 years ago so i kinda know its coming. Before MFP I never knew anyone with this problem and now I am "meeting" more and more people that are working through their medical issues and getting in shape! Thank you for sharing you story

Do not rely on the doctors only-- they suck-- pardon the vulgarity. Make sure you do your own research, and be your own advocate. They'll pat you on the head, up your dosage, and let you continue to suffer.

Marla64

Marla, I am absolutely thrilled that things are working out! So proud that you persevered and never really gave up! What a lesson learned concerning doctors as well.

Great job!

It took me 6 years to lose 63 pounds, so be happy with the 1/2 pound per week! It was slow but I think I did it the right way and I on Thursday I celebrate 150 days of maintaining!

You are the best!!

D

Thanks, Donna-- I was close to giving up-- very, very close-- I'd tried what I thought was "everything," and kept gaining. I was defeated, and very, very depressed. Thank God for my husband and his perseverance-- he's the one that stumbled onto the T3 online--

150 days of maintenance is awesome. I'm really hopeful that as I do this now the wise way-- eating enough calories-- I'll some day get it all back off and be able to maintain.

It's going slowly-- but, I know I have to be patient. As long as I'm seeing the numbers go down, I'm thrilled.

Thanks for your encouragement-- hope the graduation ceremonies went well.

Marla64

Very eye-opening thread. Thanks for sharing. Glad to hear you're doing much better.

~melissa

Thank you, Melissa.

Marla64

Wow, what a journey you've been on. Hope it carries on going from strength to strength!

It's been a road-- holy Hannah-- thank you so much.

Marla64

Thank you for sharing! I believe in the "starvation mode" as well... I know that you can turn things around for yourself. I am sure that you have already gone... But do you see a nutritionist? They may be able to tweak your diet and help you jump start into loosing again.

You will get back on track and don't be too hard on yourself. You look absolutely wonderful!

Online Hugs

I have a lead on one-- and that may be something I entertain if things slow down-- I don't want to spend any more money right now. The T3 online is costing me close to $90 per month. I'm hoping to take the results into my doctor in the next month or so, and see if she'll agree to prescribe it for me, if I can show her results, so I can get it through my insurance.

Thank you for the encouragement-- really appreciate it.