<sigh> bad metabolism?

SHBoss1673

SHBoss, Thank you so much for taking the time to write that all out for me. If there is one thing I can do, it is follow a strict plan for a limited amount of time! ; )

I will have to put some time into research, I have never once worried about vitamins and minerals. Carbs, protein, fat...all of that I have counted-controlled-limited-eliminated, but never have I worried about vitamins and minerals. I don't even know how much I need. (Omega 3 and 6 is the only supplement I take) A lot of your "don't" I already "don't" so really I think your plan is pretty doable.

I have a problem with the possibility of gaining but since that is happening anyway, what do I have to lose? teehee

Thanks to everyone for their support. I'll stick around and let you all know how it works out for me. I just know I can beat this, I know I can!

It's my pleasure to help my dear. if you need any specific help, or just want to talk more about it, feel free to personal message me. My wife is constantly amazed that I put the amount of research effort as I do into this, in her words "I'd glaze over after five minutes of the research studies you read every day for hours." Which is funny cuz to me, this stuff is WAY more exciting than what I do for a full time job (trust me, if you think nutritional research is boring, never EVER look into becoming a database administrator, it's far more boring, this is like watching the Kentucky derby by comparison!)
So while I don't have a degree in nutrition or dietetics, I've probably studied as much as most people with a degree, I've read two separate books that are graduate level text books on advanced nutrition and human anatomy, and I've probably read over 1000 studies on various metabolic subjects, so I'm not just guessing (plus I have my ACE personal training certification, my Twist-Sport Conditioning Agility, Quickness, and Reactivity certification, and I'm going for my US Olympic Association Weight lifting level 1 certification in July).

robertf57

your blood numbers tell me that you probably have some deficiencies in your diet, I realize you have thyroid issues to deal with, but the synthroid should correct that. It would be helpful to know your other thyroid numbers though (T3 T4 numbers, TSH isn't all that accurate usually, it's a precursor number, not an actual sign of an under-active thyroid).

It would also help to be able to see your food diary. Right now that's private, tough to see whether you're eating correctly without that. As I'm sure you've been told by your trainer, it's not as much about the exercise as it is about the diet. We lose weight by eating the right amount and right kind of food. Exercise is what we do to become healthy and support our metabolism, but you eat right (by right I mean the right amount of nutrients and the right kinds of nutrients) to drop fat.

Actually TSH is a much more sensitive indication of hypothyroid hypothyroidism than T4 or T3. It reflects the pituitary gland's response to being hypothyroid. You can have a "normal" T4 value and an elevated TSH might be the only indication that you actually have deficient thyroid activity.


If your current plan isn't working, I would try something different. Drop those carbs and increase your protein. Choose one of the myriad lower carbohydrate approaches (Even the much maligned Atkins for a short period of time) and see if it works for you. I would also echo previous comments that you should MEASURE EVERYTHING! No estimates! no guesses! and if you don't have a good heart rate monitor to estimate calories burn, be very conservative in eating those back. (like no more than 1/2 the estimates from here)

Good luck. Remember that the operational definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. ;-)

MartiJJohnston

Lori,
I share your reluctance to "diet" - just thinking about it sets my teeth on edge and makes me think of all the times I've not lost weight. Also it makes me hungry. LOL! I also agree with the thyroid testing - TSH is, as has been mentioned, terribly inaccurate, and I've found very few endocrinologists who will work with you to truly assess your metabolism with a full panel. And most general practitioners don't know how to INTERPRET a full panel if they order it! Its also hard to find a doctor that will take time to listen to your "diet history" - this is a really important part of your medical history, but it often is not even addressed! I'll tell you a secret - I'm a family medicine physician, and MOST residencies in this country give -NO- official training in nutrition and exericise science. Example? ME! I'm overweight and have been for years, and I have very little idea of how to change that besides "decrease calories in, increase calories out". ASK your doctor what training they have had in nutrition, you will be suprised!

I just watched the documentary "Food Matters" and was SHOCKED that our Doctors do not get the proper training on nutrition!! I am in the process of completely transforming my eating habits, not just for weight loss, but to HEAL by toxic body!!

If you haven't seen this documentary yet... I highly recommend it!!

SHBoss1673

Actually TSH is a much more sensitive indication of hypothyroid hypothyroidism than T4 or T3. It reflects the pituitary gland's response to being hypothyroid. You can have a "normal" T4 value and an elevated TSH might be the only indication that you actually have deficient thyroid activity.

TSH is a different mechanism for testing for thyroid issues, but it's not necessarily better.

TSH levels are a more sensitive indication of PITUITARY gland issues, but not more sensitive for thyroid issues. considering that the whole purpose of TSH is to trigger the production and release of T3 and T4 in the thyroid, I'm pretty sure it's not a more SENSITIVE indication of hypothyroidism. All the research I've done, and the two endo's that I talked to about it, both said that the T3 and T4 tests are more accurate indications of the thyroid having an issue. When I asked about TSH, they said (I'm paraphrasing, it's been over a year and I don't remember exact words) "Well yeah, TSH USUALLY gives a pretty good indication, and it's a lot cheaper to test than all 3, so that's usually what we test first, but testing for TSH just means that the right amount of TSH is being sent to the thyroid, not that the thyroid is producing or releasing the right amount of T3 or T4." My colleague has hashimoto's thyroiditis, and his TSH levels are high normal, yet his thyroid is toast and his free T4 levels are off the chart low.

robertf57

Actually TSH is a much more sensitive indication of hypothyroid hypothyroidism than T4 or T3. It reflects the pituitary gland's response to being hypothyroid. You can have a "normal" T4 value and an elevated TSH might be the only indication that you actually have deficient thyroid activity.

TSH is a different mechanism for testing for thyroid issues, but it's not necessarily better.

TSH levels are a more sensitive indication of PITUITARY gland issues, but not more sensitive for thyroid issues. considering that the whole purpose of TSH is to trigger the production and release of T3 and T4 in the thyroid, I'm pretty sure it's not a more SENSITIVE indication of hypothyroidism. All the research I've done, and the two endo's that I talked to about it, both said that the T3 and T4 tests are more accurate indications of the thyroid having an issue. When I asked about TSH, they said (I'm paraphrasing, it's been over a year and I don't remember exact words) "Well yeah, TSH USUALLY gives a pretty good indication, and it's a lot cheaper to test than all 3, so that's usually what we test first, but testing for TSH just means that the right amount of TSH is being sent to the thyroid, not that the thyroid is producing or releasing the right amount of T3 or T4." My colleague has hashimoto's thyroiditis, and his TSH levels are high normal, yet his thyroid is toast and his free T4 levels are off the chart low.

Well, I am not interested in a debate; but ,TSH measurements are THE most sensitive indication of hypothyroid hypothyroidism. Pituitary hypothyroidism leads to low TSH levels. Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is a mixed chronic inflammatory thyroid condition that can have periods of hyperthyroidism but usually leads to hypothyroidism. As such , it will have low T4 and high TSH if the patient is hypothyroid. In dosing thyroid replacement , it is not uncommon to solely measure TSH levels, because of the greater sensitivity in hypothyroid hypothyroidism.

SHBoss1673

Well, I am not interested in a debate; but ,TSH measurements are THE most sensitive indication of hypothyroid hypothyroidism. Pituitary hypothyroidism leads to low TSH levels. Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is a mixed chronic inflammatory thyroid condition that can have periods of hyperthyroidism but usually leads to hypothyroidism. As such , it will have low T4 and high TSH if the patient is hypothyroid. In dosing thyroid replacement , it is not uncommon to solely measure TSH levels, because of the greater sensitivity in hypothyroid hypothyroidism.

Dude, if you're not interested in debate, then why further the debate? Come on now.

So what your saying is that for a very specific condition (one that I wasn't even talking about), it's more sensitive. OK, I'll buy that, but why is this more important than other possible reasons? If there's some specific condition that she's showing symptoms of, then ok, but I didn't see that in her first email describing her conditions. I'll admit straight up, I'm no thyroid expert, I've read up on it, and talked to experts about it, but that's as far as my knowledge goes, so I could very well be missing something obvious, but if I am, just point it out. And please note, what I originally said was that TSH isn't all that accurate for THYROID problems, NOT hypothyroidism.

I mean, it just feels like you were looking for a reason to undercut what I was saying.

LuckyLeprechaun

it is getting ready to turn around for you, Lori. This is how it worked for me....I also yo-yo dieted. I did every unhealthy thing you can imagine (and maybe some you can't) to try to lose the weight. I was sure I had ruined my metabolism forever. But here I am, SO close to my goal...

You can do this! Your metabolism can and WILL recover! Stick to it and make a bunch of friends on MFP to help pull you through the tougher times. Yes YOU CAN!