stumped and frustrated

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wanderinghorn
wanderinghorn Posts: 25
in Health and Weight Loss
Though I realize I am perimenopausal (at 39) I was eating the recommended 1700 cal a day and exercising every day. I GAINED weight. Ended up at 228 for my 5'10" frame (I grew up as a 115 lb-128 lb skinny) I cut it to 1400 cal a day and MAINTAINED my weight. Now I am trying 1000 or less and I am finally losing weight slowly. My hair is falling out, I am cranky beyond belief, I have no energy but the scale is FINALLY moving very slowly. I'm 224 now after 3 weeks! This is insane! I am hypothryroid but am medicated for it. I have never tried this hard to lose weight and not been able to. I am miserable every second of my non existent life. People say (and I used to, as well) "it's simple math-eat less and exercise more." That is just BS. That may work for some people but something is broken within me.Obviously there is more to it. Perhaps I simply cannot metabolize carbs? I am very frustrated. Has anyone had similar problems and beaten it or figured it out?

Replies

  • ivyjbres
    ivyjbres Posts: 612 Member
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    OK- If your hair's falling out, something is WRONG! If you've only been under 1000 for 3 weeks, you shouldn't be at that point of malnurishment yet. (Believe me, I ate 800 calories a day while working out 4-8 hours a day in college and it took me 3 months to loose half a pound, and my hair never fell out). Go see your doctor ASAP, cause you are mega short on something and its not just calories.
  • sallyLunn
    sallyLunn Posts: 381
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    I was having a similar rant to a friend of mine who has been through this. She says, you are 45, your progesterone is tanked and then she suggested that I get this stuff from the health food store called Pro Gest.

    I haven't used it yet, but she swears by it. I guess what I'm saying is you have a hormone imbalance and you'll be a lot happier once you address it. You can friend me if you want. We are in the same boat pretty much.
  • SharonsJetSet
    SharonsJetSet Posts: 159
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    youre eating WAY too few calories. Why did you choose 1000?

    My recommendation is find out what your BMR is:
    http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/

    Then take it from there. Not sure why your hair is falling out. I'm definitely not a doctor but I have been diagnosed with a hashimoto's disease (slow to no thyroid function). One of the symptoms of hypothyroidism is dry skin and hair falling out.

    make an appointment with your GP
  • MzBug
    MzBug Posts: 2,173 Member
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    It can be difficult losing weight with a thyroid issue, even on medication. Talk to your doctor, something is off! You should not be going that low on calories. Ask your doctor to refer you to a nutritionist or dietician to help you come up with a workable plan. Hair loss can be an indicator to many issues, as well as indicating an imbalance of thyroid medication! One of my girlfriends went through that a couple years ago and it took nearly 6 months to get her medication straightened out. She also got on a good liveable nutrition plan and lost weight. As she loses weight her doctor monitors her medications very close and does slight adjustments as needed.
  • wanderinghorn
    wanderinghorn Posts: 25
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    I tried it ( progesterone)before and actually gained weight...I've been to my GP a hundred times. My husband is military and you get extremely basic care. The only way they will help me lose weight is if my BMI is 35-oh then it is a treat. Then you get gastric bypass surgery, tummy tucks, excess skin removed. No, my GP hasn't helped at all. I have very thick hair so losing it isn't really a problem but this is ridiculous. I am hypothyroid and take meds. I just had it checked and it is -2.89. EVERY single ounce of weight is in my middle. I feel crazy.
  • wanderinghorn
    wanderinghorn Posts: 25
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    I chose 1000 because I tried everything above that and gained.
  • SHBoss1673
    SHBoss1673 Posts: 7,161 Member
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    normally I'm a big proponent of eating enough, but the fact that you have thyorid issues is a HUGE tell IMHO. If I had to guess, I'd say either they didn't do extensive enough testing, or the medication they gave you is having unforeseen side effects, I'd probably go back to your endo and have some more workups done, maybe have them do an indirect calorimetry test done to find out your TDEE actual.

    One thing I can say for certain is that given your age, your height, and your hormone issues, you need specialized help, far more than what MFP can offer. At the least I'd probably look into a Registered Dietitian that has significant experience with thyroid patients (your endo should have people to recommend you to).
  • wanderinghorn
    wanderinghorn Posts: 25
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    thank you for the advice, but there is no such thing as help from military docs. Unless you are extremely lucky, you will get a standard run of the mill GP and that is it. I have BEGGED to see an endo and was denied. I go to the nutritionists and they give me the exact same requirement that are on this sight and say "if you eat less than you exercise you will lose." I was ACTAULLY given a food pyramid-no kidding.There is no help from my medical facility at all. None. That is why I am desperately trying to find help here. Perhaps someone who has had the benefit of having been to a real doctor and has has similar problems could steer me int he right direction. I know 1000 cal is too little. I am not bragging, I am desperately seeking help.
  • sallyLunn
    sallyLunn Posts: 381
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    I don't know what to say. I think its a combo of hormones and your thyroid but I'm an Interior Designer, not a doctor. That's got to suck. I hope you find the help that you need.
  • wanderinghorn
    wanderinghorn Posts: 25
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    lol..thanks. An interior designer has more respect from me than the docs I have seen lately! I may try the progesterone cream again and see what I can get accomplished. Maybe I was so out of whack before that the cream had nothing to do with my weight gain. I do appreciate the support. I am just so frustrated.
  • SHBoss1673
    SHBoss1673 Posts: 7,161 Member
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    wait, are you saying that you have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, but they won't allow you to see a specialist? That's insane. You need a specialist. GP doctors don't have the expertise or the resources to deal with endocrine issues. How were you diagnosed? Did they just give you the TSH results?

    FYI, if I were you, I'd write to your congressman, make the story as sappy as you can (without actually lying about your situation). You know, things like, you're the wife of a dedicated, patriotic, military man, who can't get the medical care she needs and has no way to do so. Congressmen have resources and could probably help you if you were forceful (without being to annoying). There may also be other resources out there as well. Contact local clinics and see if they have any programs going on for endocrine doctors, or if they know anyone to contact that may do pro bono work with military (I'm sure there's something). I'd also check with the Vetrans Administration, you may be eligible for certain things through them, they don't always advertise or make it easy to find out if specialists are available. You may not get the BEST endo in the world, but even a mediocre endo will still be leaps and bounds better than a general practitioner with regards to hypothyroid disease.

    Bottom line is, don't stop at "NO". There's always a way, keep digging. If someone says they can't help you, your response should be a smile and another question like "OK, that's fine, I completely understand, but can you direct me to who CAN help me?"
  • LotusF1ower
    LotusF1ower Posts: 1,259 Member
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    Though I realize I am perimenopausal (at 39) I was eating the recommended 1700 cal a day and exercising every day. I GAINED weight. Ended up at 228 for my 5'10" frame (I grew up as a 115 lb-128 lb skinny) I cut it to 1400 cal a day and MAINTAINED my weight. Now I am trying 1000 or less and I am finally losing weight slowly. My hair is falling out, I am cranky beyond belief, I have no energy but the scale is FINALLY moving very slowly. I'm 224 now after 3 weeks! This is insane! I am hypothryroid but am medicated for it. I have never tried this hard to lose weight and not been able to. I am miserable every second of my non existent life. People say (and I used to, as well) "it's simple math-eat less and exercise more." That is just BS. That may work for some people but something is broken within me.Obviously there is more to it. Perhaps I simply cannot metabolize carbs? I am very frustrated. Has anyone had similar problems and beaten it or figured it out?

    Many people do not give enough credit to just how damn difficult it can be to lose weight when you are about to, or going through the menopause - to say it is hard is a bit of an understatement.

    One of the side-effects of the menopause is the waist becoming thicker, therefore when you try, consciously to lose the weight you not only have the fat itself to lose but you are fighting against your own body as it naturally tries to put on some inches around your middle.

    There is light at the end of the tunnel - promise, the weight does eventually shift, but you need to have the utmost patience and be kind to yourself. Do not expect speedy weightloss. (I remember just 3 ounces shifting per week in the not too distant past, frustration was at an all-time high!)

    Remember one thing, if it is the one thing you remember in this weightloss - soldier on, do NOT give up, ever. If you do, you will have that much more weight to lose when you have eventually gone through that menopause. By continuing now, persevering and accepting that this will be a slow process for a while, you will be at much more of an advantage (even though it does not feel that way at the moment) once you are through that change.

    Raise your calories to 1200 per day, exercise three or four times per week. If you can walk instead of taking the car opr using public transport, do so. Every single little thing counts. If you can use the stairs instead of taking the lift/elevator, do so.

    Cut out all sweets and crap foods, they are empty calories, they make you crave more of the same and by eating those (which are high in calories anyway), you will have to forego nutritious food. Make sure you eat lots of protein, this will make you feel full and curb your cravings for extra carbs. Eat fruit and veg.

    Your hair falling out is your body's way of warning you that you are not getting certain vitamins, minerals and other nutrition.

    Finally, make sure your medication for your hypothyroidism is correct for you. Get a second opinion if you feel, in any way at all, that something is not quite right.

    Just don't give up xxx
  • carfam07
    carfam07 Posts: 39 Member
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    Hi, I'm hypothryroid too. Like so many have already said, I am definitely not a doctor. But, I can share with you what I have been doing that is slowly taking off pounds for me. I have never lost this much weight before in my life-I have lost 17 pounds up to now I try to eat atleast 1600 calories a day. I make sure I take my synthroid very early in the morning. Since starting MFP, I am now also taking a multivitamin-half in the late a.m. (11:00 a.m. and the other half in the late evening-4:00.) I started the Couch to 5K program in August too. It is basically a running program from very low ability (I couldn't run a minute when I started!) to now I can run 31 minutes without stopping. I think the combo of meds, vitamins, and the couch to 5K program may have helped me. I don't know what meds you take for your thyroid but I take synthroid. I run three times a week and on the other two days I walk for 30 minutes. I try to log into MFP for my food tracking and I need to be better at this. I really can empathize with you about the thyroid issues and hair loss too. I find that in different seasons my hair wants to fall out or if I get really stressed out. I really believe the multivitamin might be helping me with this as I haven't noticed it as much lately. I hope I helped you. Good luck, stick with it.
  • rtmama
    rtmama Posts: 403 Member
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    I was just googling and it appears that hair loss is a side affect for levothyroxine meds.

    I lost a bunch more weight since my last test, and recently seem to be losing more hair than usual in the shower, so I am having another test done next week.

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