Frustrated after my doctor visit

courtneyjoella · July 2011

Hey, I'm a 35 year-old female and I have struggled with pudge my whole life. I am 5'4 and weigh 178lbs. The weird part is that at that weight I wear a size 10 and can fit into clothes my 135 lbs mother can wear (and not with a shoehorn either you non-believers). I have weight on my arms and carry the usual junk in my ta-runk.

I had begged my doc to please check my thyroid as I had put on 15 lbs in the last year that I could not get off, among other things like sleeplessness, aversion to cold, foggy brain, etc. all things consistent with thyroid. She got 9 vials of blood and checked every possible thing she could check and only came up with my blood glucose was elevated (106), my A1C was elevated (6.1 and should be lower than 5) and my cholestorol was high (223). I am vitamin D deficient but that is because I am overweight. The only thing she didn't check was my cortizol levels because she said they are tricky to evaluate. She said she wants me to at least lose 15 lbs. Duh. So do I.

I follow the MyFitnessPal formula and only eat below 1200 calories and only drink water. I have a diet soda maybe twice a week if that. I drink a cup of coffee a day and never finish it. I drink gobs of water and find that I retain it and my feet get puffy from time to time. The only thing- and I mean only thing is that I do not exercise regularly. I know that is key. But it really ticked me off when I looked at her - and she is a nice lady - and saw that she was looking at me like I was a fat fatty. It is very frustrating considering that I eat very healthy (no processed foods, only whole wheat pastas and breads, no box foods, barely any dairy, no sugars, no potato chips or french fries). Lots of chicken and fish. Little red meat. Turkey burgers and pork occaisionally. I'm dumbfounded and really annoyed.

I'm going to try an experiment of getting up at 6 and doing KenpoX three times a week and see what happens. I used to Zumba three times a week (my teacher quit) and walk the rest of the week and STILL never dropped the weight. Seriously. This is ridiculous.

I AM FRUSTRATED!!!!! GRRRRRRR!!!!

i_love_vinegar · July 2011

That's very odd! It sounds like you are doing all the right things. Maybe you are eating too few or too many calories though?

KatyRing · July 2011

weird question... but are your cycles normal? Your elevated blood sugar and weight gain made me think of PCOS which is a women disorder where insulin effects your cycle but can also cause unexplained weight gain.. just a though.

marquesajen · July 2011

Hm, strange. How's your sodium intake?
That's good that you're changing up your routine though, that might help. Do you eat alot of vegetables and fruits?

poedunk65 · July 2011

1200 is way to few. I nfact when you work out you need more calories to keep your metab from shutting down.

rtmama · July 2011

I was going to say that too. maybe you need to eat more calories.
No one here can give exact advice about food unless they can see your diary. It's up to you if you want to share, but it does help. Maybe we'll see something that you won't.

talysshade · July 2011

Eat less than 1200 calories a day? That's not a lot at all! Are you sure you're getting all the nutritients you need.. and there's a big chance your body is afraid to let go of weight if you're eating that little.. try bumping it up to 1300-1400 calories a day. I know it might be counter intuitive, but i think it might help, since this is seemingly not working at all.

TheGoktor · July 2011

I follow the MyFitnessPal formula and only eat below 1200 calories

I suspect this may be your answer. 1200 is the minimum your body needs, so you should eat at least that amount. Why not try increasing your cals for a few weeks and see what happens?

kerriknox · July 2011

Have you thought about totally changing things up for a bit? A MFP friend sent me a link to a 30 day challenge that I am planning on starting August 4th if you are interested.

http://whole9life.com/

juliapurpletoes · July 2011

My first thought is that 1200 is too low for you, it creates too much of a deficit and your body is resisting. Your metabolism may be so off at this point that it needs to be stabalized with a good healthy diet and regular exercise before it will start to lose.

Best of Luck !

GreatSetOfBrains · July 2011

I feel for you. Putting yourself under stress is gonna make your blood glucose spike too. You're doing the right things. I would talk to a nutritionist if you can. Maybe you need to eat more calories, or more often in the day.

GreatSetOfBrains · July 2011

Have you thought about totally changing things up for a bit? A MFP friend sent me a link to a 30 day challenge that I am planning on starting August 4th if you are interested.

http://whole9life.com/

What kind of challenge?

slazo · July 2011

Did your Dr. Check your B-12 Levels? Low B-12 can have all the same symptoms as Thyroid.

SpectacuLaura · July 2011

That is insanely frustrating! I don't know much about thyroid issues or blood work, but I do know that what may work for 90% of people still leaves that 10%. I've been on weight loss plans in the past and have done everything right and still not seen much success. Several years ago I followed a very strict diet plan and ran a minimum of 2 miles, 5 times a week and only lost 6 pounds in 4 months! My Mom followed the same plan with much less exercise and lost almost 30 pounds. What this tells me is that whatever genetic makeup my body has, it just doesn't want to let go of weight.

That's not to say it can't be done though! I lost 20 pounds between May and October last year and the one big difference? I exercised my butt off (all different kinds- not just running!) So when I start to get sad and upset that my food intake is awesome and I don't see any results, I have to take a moment to remind myself that I'm not everyone else and I know that I don't exercise enough. It's not fair and it's not fun, but that's life.

So you may just require a different set of foods and/or exercise plan to get the results that other people get by just giving up soda for a month (I have to fight to not roll my eyes at those lucky people haha). Even though it sucks to have to work harder than others, I always try to remember that it's not a competition and whatever means necessary I have to take and do to get to where I want to be, is alright for me.

Just read up on anything and everything you can, try out lots of different fitness and nutrition options, and keep your chin up!

You can do it! Best of luck with the new workout plan!

swordsmith · July 2011

To few calories by far- MFP is a great general guide but everyone is different.

I have a friend who is also on MFP and ate the recommended cals to include eating back exercise cals and she was losing like .2 pounds per week if any. And she was ravenous all the time. Her trainer told her she had most likely lowered her metabolism as the body was a) keeping on all the weight it could and b) wanted more hence the hunger all the time.

She increased her cal intake by 300 and she is now lo longer hungry. Also her weight loss is about 1.5 pounds per week now.

zonah · July 2011

If I were you I'd eat more cals but eat 4-5 mini meals a day to speed up my metabalism.

ilookthetype · July 2011

Hey, I'm a 35 year-old female and I have struggled with pudge my whole life. I am 5'4 and weigh 178lbs. The weird part is that at that weight I wear a size 10 and can fit into clothes my 135 lbs mother can wear (and not with a shoehorn either you non-believers). I have weight on my arms and carry the usual junk in my ta-runk.

I had begged my doc to please check my thyroid as I had put on 15 lbs in the last year that I could not get off, among other things like sleeplessness, aversion to cold, foggy brain, etc. all things consistent with thyroid...I am vitamin D deficient but that is because I am overweight.

It is very frustrating considering that I eat very healthy (no processed foods, only whole wheat pastas and breads, no box foods, barely any dairy, no sugars, no potato chips or french fries). Lots of chicken and fish. Little red meat. Turkey burgers and pork occaisionally. I'm dumbfounded and really annoyed.

I AM FRUSTRATED!!!!! GRRRRRRR!!!!

Any chance you have stomach/gastro issues? You sound a lot like me a year ago. I see you eat whole wheat (which is great, unless you've got a wheat allergy. Try cutting gluten/wheat out of your diet for 1 week. See if you sleep better, if the brain fog is again and if you have more energy. You seriously sound JUST like I did a year ago.

Friend/message me if you have questions. 1 week without gluten and you'll know if your gluten intolerant or not, if you aren't, WIN and thanks your genetics, if you are, a lot of these issues will probably clear up. It would also explain vitamin mal absorbtion.

manorexicmarshmallow · July 2011

I have to disagree with people saying 1200 is too few calories for a 5'4" 178 pound woman. I think 1000 or 1100 might be too few, but 1200 seems like its within the range of reasonableness. It sounds like its a medical or genetic issue of some sort, I think you are right to have your doc check you out.

Monica_has_a_goal · July 2011

1200 is way to few. I nfact when you work out you need more calories to keep your metab from shutting down.

I feel your frustration. I began this journey in June 2011 and I ate about 1600 cal a day and lost 21 pounds in a month. Now that I adjusted my cal intake to 1200 and am exercising practically everyday for an hour, I was in Starvation mode and my body gained instead of lost..
Now as of today i'm back on the right track.. I lost 1.8 pounds in a week .. exercising less.. .30 min a day 5 days a week and eating more.. 1400-1500 calories a day. If you eat less.. and exercise like crazy.. you only STOP your metabolism.. pretty weird since I have a lot to lose but it's working.. and thats what counts

ak_in_ak · July 2011

I would look into PCOS. My doctor gave me Metformin and it has done wonders. try cutting carbs and eating back excersice calories. Do you measure your food? Using a food scale made me realize how much more I was eating and didn't know it.

lauram1153 · July 2011

i'm with the group think you might be eating to few cals. but its worth asking about pcos i suffer from this and i hold my weight round my middle and its alot harder to loose x

heather752 · July 2011

you really need to be eating more calories! You body is likely storing what you eat, it is in starvation mode! And yes...unfortunately..exercise! You said you drink a lot of water...How much water do you drink? You might be drinking to much as well! Which can cause water weight and bloating, just a few ideas and things you can experiment with : ) Best of luck! :flowerforyou:

AlsDonkBoxSquat · July 2011

I follow the MyFitnessPal formula and only eat below 1200 calories and only drink water.

You should not eat below 1200 calories, you should appoximate 1200 calories per day, trying to come as close as possible if you are not exercising. If you are exercising you should eat your 1200 calories net, not gross.

I drink gobs of water and find that I retain it and my feet get puffy from time to time.

I'm reading "my feet get puffy from time to time" and thinking "your issue is probably sodium, not water.

Ge0rgiana · July 2011

I can come up with low T4. That happens. However, my TSH never gets elevated. It doesn't matter if I'm medicated and energetic and losing weight or if I'm sleeping 16 hours a day, swelled like a balloon, and losing half my hair. Thyroid tests suck.

My doctor ruled out other stuff (congestive heart failure, etc.) and then treated me according to symptoms. Once I got on dessicated thyroid, I started getting better. Amazing. It's not perfect, but at least I have far more good days than bad.

With that said, I would address that low D before I jumped to anything else.

Jenscan · July 2011

I have to disagree with people saying 1200 is too few calories for a 5'4" 178 pound woman. I think 1000 or 1100 might be too few, but 1200 seems like its within the range of reasonableness. It sounds like its a medical or genetic issue of some sort, I think you are right to have your doc check you out.

I agree with this.

I'm 5'3", and if I go over 1250 net, I stop losing weight. But, you don't want to really go below 1200 net and it sounds like you might be doing that.

minnie86 · July 2011

Maybe you should ask your doctor whether you might be have some sort of insulin resistance? My friend had that and when she took some meds, she started losing weight. Also, I wonder if there is a test that could check for your response to thryroid hormone. Although the levels might be ok, whether the response to thryroid hormone are effective is completely different thing.
It might be good asking. I've also felt like that when I go to the doctor, Sometines doctors forget that medicine is not simply diagnosing or treating an illness, is about delivering compassionate medical care.
Don't be discouraged. Whatever it is, I'm sure things will work out for you.

annacataldo · July 2011

Always under 1200? You need to shoot for minimum 1200; and any activity you need to eat more (so that your net calories are 1200; not just your food calories). Are your settings at losing 2lbs a week? Set them to lose 1lb a week for awhile and with the increase of calories that that allows you, you will see the weight come off. and dont try it for 2days and think "ok, this isnt working"; it takes weeks, if not longer sometimes, to come out of starvation mode. You can be eating enough to feel full but still go into starvation mode. I could eat under 500 calories a day i feel stuffed if i chose the right foods; but that doesnt make it healthy or right. If you see a slight gain at first; dont be scared, its just your body adjusting and it will go back down quickly.

I lost my first 40lbs without excercise; so i dont believe its "key". I started my excercise routine about 10pounds ago in order to help with loose skin and muscle tone, but other than that, it hasnt helped me lose weight any faster.

you could also try zig zagging calories. one day set your diary at losing .5lbs a week; the next shoot for 1.5lbs a week, next shoot for maintenance, then back to 1lb a week; .5lbs a week, then 2lbs a week....and so on... that works for alot of people when they are unable to loose when their calories are set at 1200 aday. This keeps your body guessing, as well as puts you out of risk of starvation mode with the increase of calories on multiple days a week.

be sure to drink half ur body weight or more a day in water; watch sodium levels (which shouldnt be a rpoblem for you since u eat well), and im alot heavier than you and my vitamin d is fine; so being low vitamin d has nothing to do with being overweight. make sure your getting enough vitamin d; as well as potassium, and other vitamins.

diet coke helps you bloat and its chemicals are far worse for you than regular soda, and coffee depletes water in your system..

Windedhl · July 2011

it sounds like you have simalar issues that i do. always cold, swollen feet/ankles, foggy headed, not really any energy. though i'm not 5'4 i'm 6'1. couple months ago i switched to soy milk and don't eat cheese or ice cream anymore and it seems the puffiness has almost gone away. though most importantly i started taking 5000 IU of D3 a day. my head isn't foggy anymore, i'm more energetic, and i've been in a better mood too. it's possible your vitamin D isn't low because your over weight, but that your over weight because it's low. If nothing else adding viamin D to your diet wouldn't hurt. also watch the water, if you drink too much your sodium and potasium levels could get too low.

fittocycle · July 2011

I was wondering which range your doctor used for the thyroid TSH test. Many doctors still believe that anything over 5.0 is high. However, other doctors use a range with 3.0 as the upper level. Also, did your doctor check your ferritin level (iron stores)? You can have perfectly normal hemoglobin levels and still be anemic. Most doctors rely on hemoglobin or hemocrit to check for anemia. I could pass that screening and donate blood, even though I was anemic. Might be something to ask about.

I wish all the best and I do understand your frustration. Let us know if you find out anything!

AlsDonkBoxSquat · July 2011

I have to disagree with people saying 1200 is too few calories for a 5'4" 178 pound woman. I think 1000 or 1100 might be too few, but 1200 seems like its within the range of reasonableness. It sounds like its a medical or genetic issue of some sort, I think you are right to have your doc check you out.

I agree with this.

I'm 5'3", and if I go over 1250 net, I stop losing weight. But, you don't want to really go below 1200 net and it sounds like you might be doing that.

Goes to show how different everyone's body is, I'm 5'3" and if I didn't exercise and was under 1200 calories I wouldn't lose, and I'd be ravenous. Now, I wouldn't net my 1200 when I exercised, but to be fair I was burning a minimum of 600 calories a day and usually closer to 1000 when I first started this . . .
So . . . she's been under and isn't losing, this would indicate to me that she needs to try something different, like going slightly over.

Qarol · July 2011

Eating less than 1200 calories a day will surely sabotage your efforts. Unless your doctor told you to eat that few, do not do it. What does MFP recommend you eat? I wouldn't recommend more than 1 lb a week deficit, so that's 500 less than your BMR. 2 lbs a week is just not sustainable for most people. No matter how much you want to lose and how fast you want to lose it, you just can't create a huge calorie deficit. Your body will not take kindly to it.

And watch your sodium. Drink lots of water. I'm talking take your weight and divide it in half - that's how many ounces of plain water you should be drinking a day. More if you exercise.

These are all my opinions, of course.

Frustrated after my doctor visit

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