What type of diet is best for me?
Replies
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Wow! I am super impressed with the amount of excuses in that OP! If you put that much effort in a workout everyday...
I'm sorry, I did not include my exercise habits so I guess you already knew that I do not exercise? I was a runner in high school and have continued my habits since then -- I am not a sedentary person. please save your "sarcasm" for someone else as I find it rude and negative.
It would have been more appropriate to simply ask me if I exercise.0 -
My best advice is: Eat the proper amount of food. This amount of food needs to be less than your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure) but more than your BMR (basal metabolic rate).
We don't know if you have tried eating calories in this range, or for a long enough time period to see results.
Now, that said, some people do have hormonal issues or other health issues where they need to cut carbs or tweak their diets some way to get better results. First I would try getting the number of calories right before changing content. If you change too many things at once then you don't really know what is working or not working.
I don't fully understand TDEE and BMR but I TRY to eat 1200. I have MFP set at 1400 but I find that impossible without filling up with junk which is obviously something I don't want to do. On a good day, I have time to stuff myself to nearly 1200. I at least know that I had calculated that I need to eat about 60g protein but I don't have the resources to weigh it- I just try to eat meat more than once a day.
as far as I know thyroid affects hormonal balance so you have a good point.0 -
Not sure how many of the responses you're getting are from people who actually are hypothryroid, because some of the advice is from left field.
First of all, it's great that you've already been diagnosed and are on treatment although I'd have to say that your endocrinologist sounds like a real treat...with advice like that you might as well pick your info from random pages on the internet.
In my own case, I spent my 20's starvation dieting to try and maintain my weight (which didn't always work) while trying to figure out why I was always cold, had no concentration and a number of other fun symptoms (like severe depression) to deal with while finishing an engineering degree. I was finally diagnosed when I was 30, and only because I went to see a gynecologist because of severe menorhaggia. He sent me to an endocrinologist who diagnosed me and started me on 115 micrograms of levothyroxine. Currently I'm on 137 and that seems to be the sweet spot for me. So yes, I have been there, done that and have a few different editions of the T-shirt.
I'm 5'4 and losing (slowly but steadily) averaging just over 1800 calories/day. I work out 4 times a week, just over an hour counting my walks to and from the gym.
So, what do I eat? Generally I try to keep to around 1 g of protein/lb of lean body mass, but tend to go over most days, a bit less than half a gram of fat /lb of weight and do the balance as carbs. For the most part, I keep my carbs to vegetables and fruits, but I haven't banished grains (breads, rice) or starchy vegetables (potatoes, corn) - just have them in moderation. I have chocolate pretty much every night and I drink milk. I am a sushi fiend and usually have it once a week.
I generally stay away from soy in any form, but have a weakness for soy sauce (which is a fermented soy product) or edamame. I eat them in limited quantities because of the isoflavinoids (genistein in particular) which block the action of thyroid peroxidase. I avoid eating cruciferous vegetables raw. If they are well cooked, it breaks down the substance which affects your thyroid (isothiocyanates), so if you really want to have broccoli, brocolini, cauliflower, cabbage (of any sort), Brussels sprouts, or turnips be sure to cook them well. Winter squash, spinach (can be used in smoothies if you don't like the taste of it), carrots, sweet potatoes, potatoes and dark leafy greens (except mustard greens) can be your friends. Iodine rich vegetables are also good unless you have Hashimoto's, in which case you should limit them.
I use full fat cream, cheese, butter and regular eggs because most of the cholesterol in your blood stream is produced by your body and not as a result of the foods you eat. You are right, however, to keep an eye on your cholesterol levels, though, because a change in your cholesterol levels can be an indicator that your dose of levothyroxine is not adequate. Before you let anyone put you on cholesterol meds, have your T3 and T4 levels checked and see about getting your dose adjusted, and also make sure that you know where you're sitting in the acceptable range for these. This again is from experience - my doctor had noted that my cholesterol had gone up and wanted to put me on Lipitor or something like it. Since I keep on top of the literature and was aware of a linkage between thyroid function and cholesterol levels, I asked him where I was sitting in terms of my t3/t4 and was told it was in the acceptable range. Unfortunately, what is considered to be the acceptable range is far too wide in my opinion - when I pressed for an answer I was told it was at the lower end. I asked him to raise my dose and to check things again in 2 months. Surprise! My cholesterol levels were back to the lower end of normal (score 1 for knowledge).
Sorry to have gone on for so long, but having been there, I just wanted you to know that you don't have to starve, don't have to live on steamed fish and salad greens, and can have some latitude in your diet.
Good luck on your journey.
thank you SO much -- and you know, your story of how you got diagnosed matches mine very well. I know I'm lucky to have caught it so fast but I think it happened because I was very persistent and despondent -- and when they tried to treat me for "low estrogen" before finding the real issue, I kept pressing because it didn't make sense -- why would I randomly get low estrogen at 18?? why would I suddenly put on crapload of weight without changing my exercise or eating habits? they lectured me about being in college and eating their cafeteria food and the beer/liquor etc. -- I didn't eat anything cooked from college because it all disgusted me! I never touched alcohol, not even soda! I only ate "uncooked" college food like sandwiches, bagels, salad bar fruits and veggies, etc. yes I slept 10+ hours a night but I was going to bed on an empty stomach too tired to eat.
I will see if I can find out how specific my range is, if it is too low in the normal. I do notice doctors do things like that. When my blood pressure is much different than I last remember it they try to shoo it off saying "oh it's fine it's healthy just different numbers". I had my one doctor who scrutinized everything (the one who disagnosed me) and he was in residency so he left me! sigh0 -
If you're being treated for hypothyroidism, your doctor will tell you if you need to avoid certain foods, or make sure to consume certain other foods. That's a medical thing.
Now, if you want to lose weight, it's pretty simple arithmetic. If you're on thyroid medication, your body should function relatively normally, should it not? In any case, there is no circumstance whereby the tried and true eat-fewer-calories-than-you-expend method won't work. Eat fewer calories than you expend. It doesn't have to be a super dramatic amount, just make sure it's less. Over time, you'll lose weight. It really is that simple. As to what you should eat within your calorie limits—it doesn't matter from a weight loss standpoint. Eat whatever is best for your other health concerns. Just watch the numbers.
It really is that simple.0 -
I think that diet and health (regardless of all the specifics) is a continuum...we are all on the learning curve. Look at what you are doing well today and try to build on it with small changes that are a stretch but not crazy. Making small changes will add up - and you can decide what you want to tackle first.
Consult with doctor / nutritionist. Log your food so you have an accurate reflection of what you are doing . Go slow and keep adding "better choices" that you can live with. :bigsmile:
thanks for your advice. this is what I am trying to learn, baby steps -- but when my weight goes up suddenly, it really frustrates me! and sometimes its for something annoying like when its too hot/humid out I retain water like a sponge! then when the weather calms down I get okay. who does that. lol0 -
If you're being treated for hypothyroidism, your doctor will tell you if you need to avoid certain foods, or make sure to consume certain other foods. That's a medical thing.
Now, if you want to lose weight, it's pretty simple arithmetic. If you're on thyroid medication, your body should function relatively normally, should it not? In any case, there is no circumstance whereby the tried and true eat-fewer-calories-than-you-expend method won't work. Eat fewer calories than you expend. It doesn't have to be a super dramatic amount, just make sure it's less. Over time, you'll lose weight. It really is that simple. As to what you should eat within your calorie limits—it doesn't matter from a weight loss standpoint. Eat whatever is best for your other health concerns. Just watch the numbers.
It really is that simple.
okay, but do you have advice for me if this has not worked? my levels are normal and I do not eat more calories than I use, even if I were to not exercise.0 -
Make sure your being *properly* medicated ... About.com's thyroid pages and stopthetyroidmadness.com are good recourses ... Most people on levo-only are under-medicated ...0
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If you're being treated for hypothyroidism, your doctor will tell you if you need to avoid certain foods, or make sure to consume certain other foods. That's a medical thing.
Now, if you want to lose weight, it's pretty simple arithmetic. If you're on thyroid medication, your body should function relatively normally, should it not? In any case, there is no circumstance whereby the tried and true eat-fewer-calories-than-you-expend method won't work. Eat fewer calories than you expend. It doesn't have to be a super dramatic amount, just make sure it's less. Over time, you'll lose weight. It really is that simple. As to what you should eat within your calorie limits—it doesn't matter from a weight loss standpoint. Eat whatever is best for your other health concerns. Just watch the numbers.
It really is that simple.
okay, but do you have advice for me if this has not worked? my levels are normal and I do not eat more calories than I use, even if I were to not exercise.
What levels are "normal"? ... The TSH is a notoriously unreliable test ...0 -
If you're being treated for hypothyroidism, your doctor will tell you if you need to avoid certain foods, or make sure to consume certain other foods. That's a medical thing.
Now, if you want to lose weight, it's pretty simple arithmetic. If you're on thyroid medication, your body should function relatively normally, should it not? In any case, there is no circumstance whereby the tried and true eat-fewer-calories-than-you-expend method won't work. Eat fewer calories than you expend. It doesn't have to be a super dramatic amount, just make sure it's less. Over time, you'll lose weight. It really is that simple. As to what you should eat within your calorie limits—it doesn't matter from a weight loss standpoint. Eat whatever is best for your other health concerns. Just watch the numbers.
It really is that simple.
okay, but do you have advice for me if this has not worked? my levels are normal and I do not eat more calories than I use, even if I were to not exercise.
Sure, you're probably not accurate enough in your record keeping. You have to keep a food diary, and make sure you're tracking your food ACCURATELY. You're consuming more calories than you realize. It could be a mistake of as few as 100-200 calories a day. But that small bookkeeping error can keep you from losing weight. Maybe you're overestimating how many calories your body expends in a day, in any case, you're eating at maintenance levels, not weight loss levels. Start being VERY strict about your record-keeping, and then make sure you're in a consistent calorie deficit EVERY DAY. No "cheat" days. Lots of people starve themselves with absurdly low calorie levels for days on end, then binge on the weekends. Guess what? That just wiped out the effects of all that starving. Instead of starving yourself a lot, then cheating, just starve yourself a tiny bit each day, until you lose the weight.
And don't forget that you have to redo your math as you lose weight. You can't have the same calorie goal if you weigh less than you did when you started. Find your numbers, and then stick to them. No cheating. If you want to have a "cheat meal", that's fine, but make sure you don't go over your daily calorie total. What you eat isn't as important as your total calories for the day.0 -
If you're being treated for hypothyroidism, your doctor will tell you if you need to avoid certain foods, or make sure to consume certain other foods. That's a medical thing.
Now, if you want to lose weight, it's pretty simple arithmetic. If you're on thyroid medication, your body should function relatively normally, should it not? In any case, there is no circumstance whereby the tried and true eat-fewer-calories-than-you-expend method won't work. Eat fewer calories than you expend. It doesn't have to be a super dramatic amount, just make sure it's less. Over time, you'll lose weight. It really is that simple. As to what you should eat within your calorie limits—it doesn't matter from a weight loss standpoint. Eat whatever is best for your other health concerns. Just watch the numbers.
It really is that simple.
okay, but do you have advice for me if this has not worked? my levels are normal and I do not eat more calories than I use, even if I were to not exercise.
What levels are "normal"? ... The TSH is a notoriously unreliable test ...
is it really??? this is what the doctor kept telling me. I asked her if there are any other tests to look at she said no.0 -
Make sure your being *properly* medicated ... About.com's thyroid pages and stopthetyroidmadness.com are good recourses ... Most people on levo-only are under-medicated ...
i've read here on MFP that there is a difference between levo and synthroid.. but I simply can't afford $35/month. that's grocery money. I hope that's not my issue too =/0 -
If you're being treated for hypothyroidism, your doctor will tell you if you need to avoid certain foods, or make sure to consume certain other foods. That's a medical thing.
Now, if you want to lose weight, it's pretty simple arithmetic. If you're on thyroid medication, your body should function relatively normally, should it not? In any case, there is no circumstance whereby the tried and true eat-fewer-calories-than-you-expend method won't work. Eat fewer calories than you expend. It doesn't have to be a super dramatic amount, just make sure it's less. Over time, you'll lose weight. It really is that simple. As to what you should eat within your calorie limits—it doesn't matter from a weight loss standpoint. Eat whatever is best for your other health concerns. Just watch the numbers.
It really is that simple.
okay, but do you have advice for me if this has not worked? my levels are normal and I do not eat more calories than I use, even if I were to not exercise.
Sure, you're probably not accurate enough in your record keeping. You have to keep a food diary, and make sure you're tracking your food ACCURATELY. You're consuming more calories than you realize. It could be a mistake of as few as 100-200 calories a day. But that small bookkeeping error can keep you from losing weight. Maybe you're overestimating how many calories your body expends in a day, in any case, you're eating at maintenance levels, not weight loss levels. Start being VERY strict about your record-keeping, and then make sure you're in a consistent calorie deficit EVERY DAY. No "cheat" days. Lots of people starve themselves with absurdly low calorie levels for days on end, then binge on the weekends. Guess what? That just wiped out the effects of all that starving. Instead of starving yourself a lot, then cheating, just starve yourself a tiny bit each day, until you lose the weight.
And don't forget that you have to redo your math as you lose weight. You can't have the same calorie goal if you weigh less than you did when you started. Find your numbers, and then stick to them. No cheating. If you want to have a "cheat meal", that's fine, but make sure you don't go over your daily calorie total. What you eat isn't as important as your total calories for the day.
I definitely make sure I record my food when I cheat. but cheating is usually buying vs making coffee or something easy to track like a bagel (i specifically log where I got it from, too). I try to overstate my food when I am unsure or don't finish every bite of food. The days I don't track are the days I am too busy to eat during the day ( I can know in my head what I eat in one meal) or I just don't have an appetite at all. Today was one of those days, I worked after school 2 days so today I stayed in bed, I had 2 pieces of fish (the junky battered kind you heat and eat from the freezer section) and a swiss miss hot chocolate. I shouldn't eat those things but I do occasionally.
eta: i know about redoing math but I stoppedd bothering because my weight goes up and then back down rather than down and then back up but I have no idea what causes it to go back down unforunately0 -
If you're being treated for hypothyroidism, your doctor will tell you if you need to avoid certain foods, or make sure to consume certain other foods. That's a medical thing.
Now, if you want to lose weight, it's pretty simple arithmetic. If you're on thyroid medication, your body should function relatively normally, should it not? In any case, there is no circumstance whereby the tried and true eat-fewer-calories-than-you-expend method won't work. Eat fewer calories than you expend. It doesn't have to be a super dramatic amount, just make sure it's less. Over time, you'll lose weight. It really is that simple. As to what you should eat within your calorie limits—it doesn't matter from a weight loss standpoint. Eat whatever is best for your other health concerns. Just watch the numbers.
It really is that simple.
okay, but do you have advice for me if this has not worked? my levels are normal and I do not eat more calories than I use, even if I were to not exercise.
Sure, you're probably not accurate enough in your record keeping. You have to keep a food diary, and make sure you're tracking your food ACCURATELY. You're consuming more calories than you realize. It could be a mistake of as few as 100-200 calories a day. But that small bookkeeping error can keep you from losing weight. Maybe you're overestimating how many calories your body expends in a day, in any case, you're eating at maintenance levels, not weight loss levels. Start being VERY strict about your record-keeping, and then make sure you're in a consistent calorie deficit EVERY DAY. No "cheat" days. Lots of people starve themselves with absurdly low calorie levels for days on end, then binge on the weekends. Guess what? That just wiped out the effects of all that starving. Instead of starving yourself a lot, then cheating, just starve yourself a tiny bit each day, until you lose the weight.
And don't forget that you have to redo your math as you lose weight. You can't have the same calorie goal if you weigh less than you did when you started. Find your numbers, and then stick to them. No cheating. If you want to have a "cheat meal", that's fine, but make sure you don't go over your daily calorie total. What you eat isn't as important as your total calories for the day.
I definitely make sure I record my food when I cheat. but cheating is usually buying vs making coffee or something easy to track like a bagel (i specifically log where I got it from, too). I try to overstate my food when I am unsure or don't finish every bite of food. The days I don't track are the days I am too busy to eat during the day ( I can know in my head what I eat in one meal) or I just don't have an appetite at all. Today was one of those days, I worked after school 2 days so today I stayed in bed, I had 2 pieces of fish (the junky battered kind you heat and eat from the freezer section) and a swiss miss hot chocolate. I shouldn't eat those things but I do occasionally.
And what about beverages? How do you track your food? Do you keep a diary, or just a "running total" in your head?0 -
If you're being treated for hypothyroidism, your doctor will tell you if you need to avoid certain foods, or make sure to consume certain other foods. That's a medical thing.
Now, if you want to lose weight, it's pretty simple arithmetic. If you're on thyroid medication, your body should function relatively normally, should it not? In any case, there is no circumstance whereby the tried and true eat-fewer-calories-than-you-expend method won't work. Eat fewer calories than you expend. It doesn't have to be a super dramatic amount, just make sure it's less. Over time, you'll lose weight. It really is that simple. As to what you should eat within your calorie limits—it doesn't matter from a weight loss standpoint. Eat whatever is best for your other health concerns. Just watch the numbers.
It really is that simple.
okay, but do you have advice for me if this has not worked? my levels are normal and I do not eat more calories than I use, even if I were to not exercise.
Sure, you're probably not accurate enough in your record keeping. You have to keep a food diary, and make sure you're tracking your food ACCURATELY. You're consuming more calories than you realize. It could be a mistake of as few as 100-200 calories a day. But that small bookkeeping error can keep you from losing weight. Maybe you're overestimating how many calories your body expends in a day, in any case, you're eating at maintenance levels, not weight loss levels. Start being VERY strict about your record-keeping, and then make sure you're in a consistent calorie deficit EVERY DAY. No "cheat" days. Lots of people starve themselves with absurdly low calorie levels for days on end, then binge on the weekends. Guess what? That just wiped out the effects of all that starving. Instead of starving yourself a lot, then cheating, just starve yourself a tiny bit each day, until you lose the weight.
And don't forget that you have to redo your math as you lose weight. You can't have the same calorie goal if you weigh less than you did when you started. Find your numbers, and then stick to them. No cheating. If you want to have a "cheat meal", that's fine, but make sure you don't go over your daily calorie total. What you eat isn't as important as your total calories for the day.
I definitely make sure I record my food when I cheat. but cheating is usually buying vs making coffee or something easy to track like a bagel (i specifically log where I got it from, too). I try to overstate my food when I am unsure or don't finish every bite of food. The days I don't track are the days I am too busy to eat during the day ( I can know in my head what I eat in one meal) or I just don't have an appetite at all. Today was one of those days, I worked after school 2 days so today I stayed in bed, I had 2 pieces of fish (the junky battered kind you heat and eat from the freezer section) and a swiss miss hot chocolate. I shouldn't eat those things but I do occasionally.
And what about beverages? How do you track your food? Do you keep a diary, or just a "running total" in your head?
To me non-water is 'food' and besides coffee or hot cocoa I don't drink juice or soda type stuff.. I always add them even the little things like salt I add to make water boil and stuff like that but if I hadn't eaten all day I don't formally put my one sitting into mfp.. I can't keep anything in my head as I go I have to write everything down0
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