I am hopelessly in need of some of your help :)
lajohnson1959
Posts: 22 Member
I am 54 years old. I am 5’8” tall and weigh 187 pounds. I have tried every “diet” and “diet pill” that is manufactured. I need to change my lifestyle.
I am hypothyroid and it has been extremely difficult for me to lose weight. I don’t eat a lot of food and maybe that is the problem. I don’t eat white potatoes, rice or bread. I don’t eat sweets unless I have made it and it contains less sugars and fats.
One month ago today I started Armour and got off of synthroid. I also started on a HRT program because I had a complete hysterectomy back in 1990 and have been taking premarin since.
I live in the country and do a lot of walking in the woods, horseback riding, gardening, mowing the lawn and doing exercise videos like Kettleworx and P90x. So I don’t just sit around.
I HAVE to weigh a set amount because I am in the military. On my last weigh in on November 4th, 2013 I was 171 pounds. On January 1st, I was up to 190 pounds. I know it was over the holidays, but I don’t indulge in the goodies like I would like to be able to do.
My next weigh in is May 17th where if I don’t get back to my weight of 171, I am flagged. In my entire military career (over 22 years) I have never been taped to pass the weight limits.
I need a lot of help and I have been reading almost every community message board that pertains to my situation. I love how you all work as a family to help everyone out and that is why I am asking for your help.
My BMR is 1497 and I haven't been eating back my exercise calories...
My diary is open……
I am hypothyroid and it has been extremely difficult for me to lose weight. I don’t eat a lot of food and maybe that is the problem. I don’t eat white potatoes, rice or bread. I don’t eat sweets unless I have made it and it contains less sugars and fats.
One month ago today I started Armour and got off of synthroid. I also started on a HRT program because I had a complete hysterectomy back in 1990 and have been taking premarin since.
I live in the country and do a lot of walking in the woods, horseback riding, gardening, mowing the lawn and doing exercise videos like Kettleworx and P90x. So I don’t just sit around.
I HAVE to weigh a set amount because I am in the military. On my last weigh in on November 4th, 2013 I was 171 pounds. On January 1st, I was up to 190 pounds. I know it was over the holidays, but I don’t indulge in the goodies like I would like to be able to do.
My next weigh in is May 17th where if I don’t get back to my weight of 171, I am flagged. In my entire military career (over 22 years) I have never been taped to pass the weight limits.
I need a lot of help and I have been reading almost every community message board that pertains to my situation. I love how you all work as a family to help everyone out and that is why I am asking for your help.
My BMR is 1497 and I haven't been eating back my exercise calories...
My diary is open……
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Replies
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I'm just starting on my weight loss, but here are a few ideas.
Are you drinking enough water through out the day? Also look into uping your dosage for your thryoid meds and check on your hormone balances check. Some of the hormone replacements used after a hysterectomy can cause weight gain in some women. Birth control does the same thing. Also look into changing up your work outs because your body will adjust to burn the minimum about of caloires during the day. If you take one path while walking, reverse it. Also add different strength training exerciese.0 -
thanks for the reply. Yes, I drink three to four 24 oz bottles of water each day at work and that doesn't include what I drink at night. I will have my blood work tested again next friday, the 28th and they will check my thyroid levels since I didn't start armour until the 12th of February.
I do different work out videos because they get boring after awhile, and the walks I take include some pretty steep hills as well. I haven't really added in weight training except for the kettle bells but will try incorporating those as well.0 -
Well I took a look at your diary and part of the problem is your logging accuracy.
In order to know you are in a calorie deficet you need to get a kitchen scale and weigh your solids and measure you liquids.
That way you know if you are really eating 4oz of hamburger...and it's better to use grams.
The other thing I see is your choice of entries...generic - chinese food 1/4 serving 144calories...hmmm
Now with all the issues ie thyroid I understand it does make it harder so you have to be more diligent and based on my understanding watch your carbs??? someone correct me if I am wrong.
Now keep in mind 22lbs to lose typically means it's healthy to do it at a 1/2lb a week...you don't have 44 weeks...you don't have 22 weeks...so be prepared you may get "tagged".
Good luck and don't get to down...it all comes with time.0 -
Thank you for your reply. I usually am taking the total weight of a package of pre shaped hamburgers and dividing it up. I did just get a scale so I will weigh. The weight that I put was before cooking as well. Don't know if that makes a difference or not.
Does it look like I am eating enough calories for the day if indeed after I measure in grams it stays approximately the same? I haven't been eating my calories back - I am using a Body Media armband and that info goes directly into MFP.0 -
pre cooked vs post cooked does matter as it loses mass as it cooks...If you can weigh raw do that.
I weigh 98.5% of my food...the entry may say 11 pieces but it was 40 grams of chocolate eggs..
I even weigh prepackaged items such as crackers...even went and checked my yogurt to make sure it was 100g...I know anal....ex military here...:drinker:
And actually you will be surprised at the differences ...1/2c (125g) of cottage cheese...is a serving size...125g is more...but crackers/chips typically is less...shredded cheese 30g is not 1/4c...well not my 1/4c..it's a lot less.
As well be careful with entries look for those that don't start with generic or homemade or an asterik (*) as they are user entered and could be wrong. If you can't find an entry google calories in___________ and it will pop up with USDA information and you can click and go directly to the USDA site.
To be frank if you are doing as much exercise as you say ...no...I eat 1700 a day and lose 0.66lbs a week...I weight lift 3x a week (heavy weights) and do some sort of other exercise 2x a week...(usually HIIT from fitness blender or a walk)
again tho with the thyroid issue and hormone replacement (which doesn't increase weight but appetite) you have to be diligent about intake and watch carbs (if I understand correctly)0 -
Hey! If I could make a suggestion, it looks to me like you are eating too few calories.
As much as MFP might imply different, calories arent the enemy entirely. There are days where I eat 2400 calories, but it is all clean natural food and my body responds really well to that!
My second and possibly more important suggestion is to stay away from anything out of the freezer, a box or package. They are all stuffed with fillers. Add more veggies as they fill you up and have nothing bad in them! If you are going to have a burger make them and then you are in control of the fillers if you even feel as though you need them!
Good luck! Keep up the good work!0 -
Be sure and have a COMPLETE Thyroid panel done and NOT just TSH. You'll want a Free T4 and T3 done in addition to TSH. Just because your TSH in within "normal" range doesn't mean your T4, FT4 & T3 are within acceptable limits. "The T3 test is not useful in DIAGNOSING hypothyroidism because levels are not reduced until the hypothyroidism is SEVERE". Just make sure it's ALL in sync.
&I am 54 years old. I am 5’8” tall and weigh 187 pounds. I have tried every “diet” and “diet pill” that is manufactured. I need to change my lifestyle.
I am hypothyroid and it has been extremely difficult for me to lose weight. I don’t eat a lot of food and maybe that is the problem. I don’t eat white potatoes, rice or bread. I don’t eat sweets unless I have made it and it contains less sugars and fats.
One month ago today I started Armour and got off of synthroid. I also started on a HRT program because I had a complete hysterectomy back in 1990 and have been taking premarin since.
I live in the country and do a lot of walking in the woods, horseback riding, gardening, mowing the lawn and doing exercise videos like Kettleworx and P90x. So I don’t just sit around.
I HAVE to weigh a set amount because I am in the military. On my last weigh in on November 4th, 2013 I was 171 pounds. On January 1st, I was up to 190 pounds. I know it was over the holidays, but I don’t indulge in the goodies like I would like to be able to do.
My next weigh in is May 17th where if I don’t get back to my weight of 171, I am flagged. In my entire military career (over 22 years) I have never been taped to pass the weight limits.
I need a lot of help and I have been reading almost every community message board that pertains to my situation. I love how you all work as a family to help everyone out and that is why I am asking for your help.
My BMR is 1497 and I haven't been eating back my exercise calories...
My diary is open……0 -
I have very similar statistics as you. I'm 5'9" and 183 (was recently 192) and was recently diagnosed as both hypothyroid (Hashi's) and having insulin resistance. It was a very long path to find the right thyroid diagnosis -- I saw several docs, including two endos that said things were "fine" for years. I too am on natural dessicated thyroid -- though Nature-throid rather than Armor. This is what I found worked for me to make me lose weight/fat like a "normal" person:
(1) Do you know if you have any other issues other than hypo? When I finally found my thyroid specialist, he looked at a whole host of things beyond just thyroid -- glucose, insulin, adrenal issues, liver issues, vitamin deficiencies. My adrenals and liver were good, but he did find that I have insulin resistance, which he says he commonly finds with hypothyroid patients who have been untreated or undertreated. He also found some vitamin deficiencies -- D and magnesium in particular (I was find with idodine and the others). So, if you haven't had those checked, it may not be a bad idea as there could be something else other than the thyroid, like insulin resistance, making the weight loss difficult.
(2) I started eating a Primal diet -- this was prior to the diagnosis and the only thing that helped with my bouts of extreme fatigue I was experiencing. My doc thinks it's likely because something was triggering the hypo of Hashi's as Hashi's is auto-immune related and once I started not having that in my diet, the fatigue was less pronounced and as often. He suspects it was gluten as I did work dairy back into my diet (other common suspects are casein and lactose in dairy and lectins). Since it was discovered that I had insulin resistance, I watch my carbs. I keep them at 50-80 per day (total, not net). I also diligently weigh everything, so I'm really confident in my caloric intake. If you're not doing this yet, I'd highly recommend it. The combination of Primal with low-ish carbs has really worked for me and I feel awesome! If you want more info on Primal, check out marksdailyapple.com -- lots of good, free info there.
(3) Protein -- I take in 130 g of protein each day (which is 0.7 g per lb body weight). I've read that this and lifting heavy helps you maintain or minimize the loss of muscle when in a caloric deficit -- so you'll lose a higher percentage of fat. Taking this in with the Primal diet, this means I eat 1650-1750 cals each day, burn 2400-2700 on average with my exercise (see below), and carbs end up being about 10-15%, protein is 30-35% and fat is 50-60%.
(4) Meds -- as I said earlier, I started taking Nature-throid for the thyroid issues and I also take metformin for the insulin resistance. My doc says that after I take off the weight, I may not need the metformin anymore as I may have reveresed the insulin resistance -- it's not a guarantee, but it's a possibility. We'll see when I get there and have the glucose and insulin levels checked again.
(4) Exercise. I lift heavy -- 3x5 work out (i.e. Starting Strength) twice a week, as well as do weekly sprint sessions. I also walk/hike a lot -- 15-25 miles per week. As I said, I burn between 2400-2700 on average and I track this with a bodymedia armband -- I like to see all the numbers and have found its numbers to be in line with other calculations I've found online an other apps on my phone (I use smooth running to track miles/distance/calories on walks and hikes and their calorie burn is in line with what the armband says).
(5) Results. I was doing all of this before the diagnosis and meds and although I was feeling better over all, I still had some hypo symptoms and couldn't lose weight. I was eating/exercising at a daily 700 calorie deficit and took off 2.2 lbs over 3 months! Once I got dosed up for the thyroid and metformin, I lost 7+ lbs in the first month (previously, this would have taken me over 6 months before) -- I was finally losing like a "normal" person according to my deficits.
So, that's what has worked for me. Feel free to PM me if you want to discuss more details. Best of luck to you!0 -
Thanks for all of your suggestions! I really appreciate your comments and will start being more diligent about weighing and logging.0
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Be sure and have a COMPLETE Thyroid panel done and NOT just TSH. You'll want a Free T4 and T3 done in addition to TSH. Just because your TSH in within "normal" range doesn't mean your T4, FT4 & T3 are within acceptable limits. "The T3 test is not useful in DIAGNOSING hypothyroidism because levels are not reduced until the hypothyroidism is SEVERE". Just make sure it's ALL in sync.
I totally agree with this as this was my exact experience as well! Though i'd also throw in antibodies if it's auto-immune related (like Hashi's).0 -
Thank you. Ever since I have been on synthroid the doc would say "you are normal". And she WOULDN"T run the Free T4 and T3 even after I asked. She said it wasn't necessary. That is why I am so glad I found someone to prescribe Armour. I have been on it for a month - can't really see much difference - so I hope after my bloodwork next week they will tell me the results and then maybe increase the dosage.0
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Exactly! You need the COMPLETE thyroid picture...not just one facet of it.
(dx w/Hashimoto's in 1995)Be sure and have a COMPLETE Thyroid panel done and NOT just TSH. You'll want a Free T4 and T3 done in addition to TSH. Just because your TSH in within "normal" range doesn't mean your T4, FT4 & T3 are within acceptable limits. "The T3 test is not useful in DIAGNOSING hypothyroidism because levels are not reduced until the hypothyroidism is SEVERE". Just make sure it's ALL in sync.
I totally agree with this as this was my exact experience as well!0 -
I took a look at your diary and you are definitely not eating enough food on a daily basis. You are not giving your body enough fuel to burn calories. Your body has probably kicked into starvation mode and is now storing the little bit of foods you do eat which is not what you want. My advice to anyone with health issues or on medication is to discuss this with your doctor and requested an appointment with a nutritionist? They can help you select foods and activities best for people in your situation.0
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Thank you. Ever since I have been on synthroid the doc would say "you are normal". And she WOULDN"T run the Free T4 and T3 even after I asked. She said it wasn't necessary. That is why I am so glad I found someone to prescribe Armour. I have been on it for a month - can't really see much difference - so I hope after my bloodwork next week they will tell me the results and then maybe increase the dosage.
That was what happened with me too -- sooo frustrating! My doc looks at the whole picture -- blood tests as well as clinical symptoms. After all, he says, what's the point if you're "in range" and feeling poorly? Then, obviously, that's not the range for YOU (provided other things have been looked at). So, he not only looks for what is "in range" but what is optimal, an it's made all the difference for me.0 -
Hey! If I could make a suggestion, it looks to me like you are eating too few calories.
As much as MFP might imply different, calories arent the enemy entirely. There are days where I eat 2400 calories, but it is all clean natural food and my body responds really well to that!
My second and possibly more important suggestion is to stay away from anything out of the freezer, a box or package. They are all stuffed with fillers. Add more veggies as they fill you up and have nothing bad in them! If you are going to have a burger make them and then you are in control of the fillers if you even feel as though you need them!
Good luck! Keep up the good work!
Eating too few calories is not the answer to not losing weight. Generally doesn't matter what you eat, except when it comes to medical conditions.
OP, look at your logging habits and learn how to weigh everything you eat. It sounds like you are already addressing you thyroid issues.0 -
Soapfan777 - I don't know how to "quote" to respond to a specific person yet - I am learning
I will see if I can get into a nutritionist - I definitely don't need to add MORE fat to my frame. As I get more proficient in measuring and weighing I will move my calorie intake up to my BMR and see how that goes.
Thanks.0 -
Exactly!!! You are MORE THAN A PIECE OF PAPER (lab test) and should be treated based on your symptoms, tests, and everything you're experiencing, as a WHOLE. I too, am fortunate enough to have a provider who believes that just because your tests may come back "within normal limits" that Ole Hashi just might be up to something.Thank you. Ever since I have been on synthroid the doc would say "you are normal". And she WOULDN"T run the Free T4 and T3 even after I asked. She said it wasn't necessary. That is why I am so glad I found someone to prescribe Armour. I have been on it for a month - can't really see much difference - so I hope after my bloodwork next week they will tell me the results and then maybe increase the dosage.
That was what happened with me too -- sooo frustrating! My doc looks at the whole picture -- blood tests as well as clinical symptoms. After all, he says, what's the point if you're "in range" and feeling poorly? Then, obviously, that's not the range for YOU (provided other things have been looked at). So, he not only looks for what is "in range" but what is optimal, an it's made all the difference for me.0 -
I use Map My Fitness to log my exercise and food diary so I'm not really good at reading the MFP diaries just yet, but to me it seems like you are just not eating enough food (some days you have 600 calorie deficits)...erratic on the protein (many times not enough)...and I'm not seeing a commitment to serious exercise. I'm almost 53, been hypo-thyroid for 20 years (take 112 mcg Levothyroxin every day) and never could lose weight--mostly because I didn't try hard enough and blamed it on my thyroid. I sat on my butt almost the entire day for work--and I worked nights too, on my butt.
Roll back to late September when I finally woke up and quit blaming everything but me. I kicked myself in the butt and got a Planet Fitness membership, nixed diet soda and committed myself to a new way of living. No pills; no gimmicks. It's been almost 6 months and I've dropped 25 pounds (2 months of that I couldn't work out due to bronchitis and caring for my ill father in law).
If you need to lose 22 pounds in less than 60 days, don't worry about May 17. Worry about one day at a time and how you're going to meet that days' challenges for intake and exercise. You have already shown that you have good self control in your food diary. Now just get the support you need here and go for it full throttle.0 -
I use Map My Fitness to log my exercise and food diary so I'm not really good at reading the MFP diaries just yet, but to me it seems like you are just not eating enough food (some days you have 600 calorie deficits)...erratic on the protein (many times not enough)...and I'm not seeing a commitment to serious exercise. I'm almost 53, been hypo-thyroid for 20 years (take 112 mcg Levothyroxin every day) and never could lose weight--mostly because I didn't try hard enough and blamed it on my thyroid. I sat on my butt almost the entire day for work--and I worked nights too, on my butt.
Roll back to late September when I finally woke up and quit blaming everything but me. I kicked myself in the butt and got a Planet Fitness membership, nixed diet soda and committed myself to a new way of living. No pills; no gimmicks. It's been almost 6 months and I've dropped 25 pounds (2 months of that I couldn't work out due to bronchitis and caring for my ill father in law).
If you need to lose 22 pounds in less than 60 days, don't sweat May 17. Use it as a goal but don't let it undermine your attitude and work ethic if time slips away and you still have several pounds to lose. Worry about one day at a time and how you're going to meet that days' challenges for intake and exercise. You have already shown that you have good self control in your food diary. Now just get the support you need here and go for it full throttle.0 -
diet venus grandes resultados mi esposa bajo 20 kilos en 3 meses aqui re dejo el link
more info.: http://tinyurl.com/kyrlp680 -
As another poster has already said, TS4, TS3 and rTS3 levels don't always directly correlate with TSH, and TS4, TS3, and rTS3 are really what determine your metabolic rate. This would be my prime suspect. There are many cases where TSH can be elevated significantly while TS4 and TS3 remain deficient and your TS3:rTS3 ratio remains below healthy values, as in the case of sustained very-low-carb dieting.
Ooookay, so what to do about it? I'm a little conflicted here, but it seems like there's a lot of anecdotal evidence saying that intermittent fasting can improve thyroidal function, while there is a study out there that seems to indicate that thyroid production is down-regulated during fasting. It's important to note that the study did not take into account people who take thyroid in supplemental form, and the improvements found in these folks could be more to do with the body's use and conversion of TS4 and TS3 while fasted rather than endogenous production rates. Ultimately I do not know for sure, but I would definitely try intermittent fasting out. Here are the links.
Pro fasting:
http://perfecthealthdiet.com/2010/12/intermittent-fasting-as-a-therapy-for-hypothyroidism/
http://voices.yahoo.com/how-fasting-impacts-hypothyroidism-12116831.html?cat=5
http://thyroid.about.com/u/reviews/loseweightsuccessfully/Thyroid-Diet-Weight-Loss-Programs/Intermittent-Fasting.htm
http://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/fasting-with-an-under-active-thyroid/ (See post 2)
Against fasting:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/182259750 -
I too am trying to adjust to MFP and I started wearing a Body Media armband that just says calories burned and not anything more specific. I didn't log my exercises when I first started and wished that I had.
I do Kettle Worx workout videos four days a week - at work. I am walking almost every evening over 1.5 miles. I ride horse and will be gardening this spring and summer. I am not my best advocate, but my husband sees how active I am and how I am struggling with my weight.
I haven't figured out the percentages on protein, fat and carbs. But I will increase my protein intakes and cut back on carbs. I have never been good at figuring out a days menu until at the moment and that needs to change as well.
Thank you so much for your insight.0 -
What I do is aim to get my protein in (130 g for me -- based on 0.7 g per lb body weight) and keep my carbs below 80 g. I don't worry about the percentages per se, but it ends up being 10-15% carbs, protein is 30-35% and fat is 50-60% as result.
As for how I do Primal, this is what it usually looks like for me:
It usually means a couple of eggs, sausage, piece of cheese (my version of an Egg McMuffin without the bread/biscuit) and half a grapefruit for breakfast, big old salad with protein (usually chicken, sometimes steak) with full fat dressing for lunch, then protein and veggie for dinner (steak and artichoke like last night, sometimes pork with an apple ginger chutney I make and asparagus, duck with sweet potato, etc.). I love sweet potatoes and would eat them more often if I wasn't looking to restrict carbs -- so I only eat them sometimes. I find it to be very similar to French cooking if you eliminate the bread -- great, rich sauces go great with protein and veggies. The two things I struggled with missing were my penne alla vodka and panang curry because the first is served with pasta and the second with rice. Then, I was introduced to spaghetti squash and it's an awesome sauce delivery vehicle, so I have it with both my vodka sauce and my panang curry. And I don't feel all bloated afterwards or have a major sugar crash later as I would have had with the pasta or rice (I do envy those that can eat high glycemic carbs easily!).
I'll throw in the occasional extra piece of fruit or sweet from time to time (usually, dark chocolate or something like creme brule or panna cotta). My dairy tends to be mostly butter, cream and cheese (usually for sauces or cooking veggies) and occasional whole milk (though usually as part of a recovery drink after lifting with some extra protein powder). I tend to snack on things like deviled eggs and nuts. I also tend to eat 1650-1750 calories per day, though I burn 2400-2700 on average. I'm also 183 lbs and looking to get down to somewhere around 160 or so, or I think that will be a good goal weight now.
For me, this way of eating is totally fulfilling and easily sustainable. Once you get used to it, it becomes second nature and the planning aspect isn't so bothersome. And if I want an occasional cookie or cupcake, I have it. But, I've found over time, them not to be as appealing as they used to be.0 -
All of you are fantastic! I am going to take all of the things you mentioned and put it on a sheet of paper - it will be like studying for an exam.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you0
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