Autoimmune, lupus, fibro, hypothyroid, PCOS, Endo, hashimoto & anemia
MarcyTheGreat88
Posts: 20 Member
Looking for some friends who have similar health issues. Losing weight is so hard for me and I would love to have some support and motivation. Please feel free to add me. I am trying to lose over 100 pounds. Even if you're not here to lose weight, and are struggling with something else, like fitness motivation, add me. We are all in this together. I could really use the support right now.
7
Replies
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Hi! Feel free to add me. I have PCOS.2
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Hello. Please also feel free to add me. I also have PCOS and had 100lb to lose. Almost halfway there. We can do it.
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I've got Rhuematoid athritis, possibly fibro, hypothyroidism and am always anaemic. Add in a small child I keep starting and then just not having the energy to continue, or remember to take my thyroxine, but i really need to do this, I've *only* got 16kg but that number keeps going up2
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@MarcyTheGreat88 what exercises are you thinking of trying?0
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mustardnchips wrote: »@MarcyTheGreat88 what exercises are you thinking of trying?
I've been walking and swimming in the ocean mostly, but I did just get a new bicycle! So I'll be adding that in too. I try not to over do it, yet still get some exercise in. My lupus has put me in stage 3 kidney failure recently, so I have completely revamped my eating.
What sort of exercises are you doing? Congrats on only needing 16kg to meet your goal, I have friends with arthritis and I know there are good days and bad days. Have you found that certain foods help with your symptoms?1 -
That’s a lot! I have lupus, hypothyroid, anemia, diabetes type 2 and used to have Cushing’s due to an ovarian tumor. I lost 125 lbs down to normal BMI 4 years ago and have maintained since then within a 5 lb range. You can do this! My first bit of advice is to get your thyroid meds dialed in. If your doctor is conservative and old fashioned about this, try to find one who will be willing to get you under 4 tsh, which is the newer recommendation. Also take your iron supplements. Everything is so much easier with gas in the tank.
Since sometimes the lupus can put me flat on my back in bed (my usual manifestation is vasculitis with heart rate spikes) it helps to have two eating plans, one for days you can exercise and a low calorie one for days you can’t. Try to find some very low calorie foods you adore - mine is good quality very dark chocolate. It also helps to have non-food sources of joy for those days when everything just hurts, even thinking! I found out that birdwatching and painting my fingernails fancy colors work for me. I used to use food as comfort on those days.
The thing about exercise is that the more you do, the more you can do. I found that high intensity exercise did not in fact kill me, but made me feel much better and have fewer flares. These days I alternate running with heavy lifting. When I started, lifting water bottles was a workout for me, and I could barely walk to the mailbox. Now I can squat my own weight and have run an ultra marathon!
Eating lower carb helps some people with PCOS, it’s worth trying if you haven’t tried it before. Personally I don’t eat low carb enough to be keto but do keep my carbs lower than a typical American diet and avoid quick processed carbs.
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@MarcyTheGreat88 I'm mainly sticking with walking and cycling, I recently got a seat for my bike so I can stick my daughter on, so we can get that little bit further and have some variation of pushing the pram. I have two kettle bells I want to start including, or even just strength training using the baby if it comes to it, she's 9.6kg now
I know chocolate makes it worse, but when I've been up 6 times in the night its the first thing a reach for, and I think tomatoes do, but biggest aggravator is the weight gain. I had got down to 71kg, then circumstances beyond my control meant I had a lot of stress, not much sleep over two months and it all went wrong.
I really miss swimming, it just doesn't work with my childcare options0 -
mustardnchips wrote: »@MarcyTheGreat88 I'm mainly sticking with walking and cycling, I recently got a seat for my bike so I can stick my daughter on, so we can get that little bit further and have some variation of pushing the pram. I have two kettle bells I want to start including, or even just strength training using the baby if it comes to it, she's 9.6kg now
I know chocolate makes it worse, but when I've been up 6 times in the night its the first thing a reach for, and I think tomatoes do, but biggest aggravator is the weight gain. I had got down to 71kg, then circumstances beyond my control meant I had a lot of stress, not much sleep over two months and it all went wrong.
I really miss swimming, it just doesn't work with my childcare options
Okay, I had never heard this about chocolate so I just looked it up. According to my quick Dr Google search, REFINED SUGAR has an inflammatory effect, but the phytochemicals in dark chocolate are actually anti-inflammatory and recommended as one of the best foods for arthritis, lupus, and similar autoimmune diseases. It certainly doesn’t make anything worse for me and I put cacao powder in everything. Have you heard something different?0 -
rheddmobile wrote: »That’s a lot! I have lupus, hypothyroid, anemia, diabetes type 2 and used to have Cushing’s due to an ovarian tumor. I lost 125 lbs down to normal BMI 4 years ago and have maintained since then within a 5 lb range. You can do this! My first bit of advice is to get your thyroid meds dialed in. If your doctor is conservative and old fashioned about this, try to find one who will be willing to get you under 4 tsh, which is the newer recommendation. Also take your iron supplements. Everything is so much easier with gas in the tank.
Since sometimes the lupus can put me flat on my back in bed (my usual manifestation is vasculitis with heart rate spikes) it helps to have two eating plans, one for days you can exercise and a low calorie one for days you can’t. Try to find some very low calorie foods you adore - mine is good quality very dark chocolate. It also helps to have non-food sources of joy for those days when everything just hurts, even thinking! I found out that birdwatching and painting my fingernails fancy colors work for me. I used to use food as comfort on those days.
The thing about exercise is that the more you do, the more you can do. I found that high intensity exercise did not in fact kill me, but made me feel much better and have fewer flares. These days I alternate running with heavy lifting. When I started, lifting water bottles was a workout for me, and I could barely walk to the mailbox. Now I can squat my own weight and have run an ultra marathon!
Eating lower carb helps some people with PCOS, it’s worth trying if you haven’t tried it before. Personally I don’t eat low carb enough to be keto but do keep my carbs lower than a typical American diet and avoid quick processed carbs.
You are a very big inspiration!! I too have noticed that I can do more when I am regular with my workout routine, I just have to keep myself on a schedule I've noticed, make sure I eat well and sleep enough, doing so prevents too many flare ups. I try to keep my diet under 100g of carbs a day, like you, low carb but not low enough for keto. Keto can be hard on the kidneys so I have to be careful. I've lost 100 pounds before, with the help of myfitnesspal ofcourse. That was 5 years ago and I lost my log in info lol so I started a new account, which is fitting since this journey is different than my first. 5 years ago I lost 100 pounds felt amazing, but then they found a brain tumor and I had surgery. I had to recover from that, then I started working as a medical admin for the last 4 years, pretty much just sitting on my butt 10 hours a day and lots of stress. Slowly gained the weight back and my health suffered for it. Before the weight came back I had my health issues under control for the most part, but now it's like my body is trying to fail me.
I've quit my job and am focusing on me again. Going to dialysis and losing weight through diet and exercise. I have an appt coming up to see an endocrinologist who is going to focus on my thyroid, fingers crossed he is a good one. Living in hawaii, it's hard to find specialists, so I have to fly to another island to see him. It'll all be worth it though! You are such a great inspiration, thank you for the tips, I will write them down! 😊0 -
mustardnchips wrote: »@MarcyTheGreat88 I'm mainly sticking with walking and cycling, I recently got a seat for my bike so I can stick my daughter on, so we can get that little bit further and have some variation of pushing the pram. I have two kettle bells I want to start including, or even just strength training using the baby if it comes to it, she's 9.6kg now
I know chocolate makes it worse, but when I've been up 6 times in the night its the first thing a reach for, and I think tomatoes do, but biggest aggravator is the weight gain. I had got down to 71kg, then circumstances beyond my control meant I had a lot of stress, not much sleep over two months and it all went wrong.
I really miss swimming, it just doesn't work with my childcare options
You are so right about a sleep schedule and stress! It can really set you back! It's inspiring to hear how to you try to take care of yourself while being a great mom. Life does not stop for autoimmune disease.
I am an emotional eater lol it's hard control eating when I'm stressed. But healthier options do help. It sounds like you're on the right track to meeting your goals! And I am sorry that you can't swim because of your little one. I know what that is like. Thankfully my son is 8 now and can swim with me, but when he was little, it was out of the question. Hang in there mama.0 -
rheddmobile wrote: »mustardnchips wrote: »@MarcyTheGreat88 I'm mainly sticking with walking and cycling, I recently got a seat for my bike so I can stick my daughter on, so we can get that little bit further and have some variation of pushing the pram. I have two kettle bells I want to start including, or even just strength training using the baby if it comes to it, she's 9.6kg now
I know chocolate makes it worse, but when I've been up 6 times in the night its the first thing a reach for, and I think tomatoes do, but biggest aggravator is the weight gain. I had got down to 71kg, then circumstances beyond my control meant I had a lot of stress, not much sleep over two months and it all went wrong.
I really miss swimming, it just doesn't work with my childcare options
Okay, I had never heard this about chocolate so I just looked it up. According to my quick Dr Google search, REFINED SUGAR has an inflammatory effect, but the phytochemicals in dark chocolate are actually anti-inflammatory and recommended as one of the best foods for arthritis, lupus, and similar autoimmune diseases. It certainly doesn’t make anything worse for me and I put cacao powder in everything. Have you heard something different?
It's milk chocolate that I normally crave. Dark chocolate I have heard in moderation is good. Moderation is not my strong point1 -
Oh dear, sorry to hear that! I have found that getting high quality, expensive chocolate and eating it in smaller amounts is more satisfying than huge amounts of inexpensive, flavorless chocolate. It might help. But it’s tough to resist impulses when you aren’t getting good rest.mustardnchips wrote: »rheddmobile wrote: »mustardnchips wrote: »@MarcyTheGreat88 I'm mainly sticking with walking and cycling, I recently got a seat for my bike so I can stick my daughter on, so we can get that little bit further and have some variation of pushing the pram. I have two kettle bells I want to start including, or even just strength training using the baby if it comes to it, she's 9.6kg now
I know chocolate makes it worse, but when I've been up 6 times in the night its the first thing a reach for, and I think tomatoes do, but biggest aggravator is the weight gain. I had got down to 71kg, then circumstances beyond my control meant I had a lot of stress, not much sleep over two months and it all went wrong.
I really miss swimming, it just doesn't work with my childcare options
Okay, I had never heard this about chocolate so I just looked it up. According to my quick Dr Google search, REFINED SUGAR has an inflammatory effect, but the phytochemicals in dark chocolate are actually anti-inflammatory and recommended as one of the best foods for arthritis, lupus, and similar autoimmune diseases. It certainly doesn’t make anything worse for me and I put cacao powder in everything. Have you heard something different?
It's milk chocolate that I normally crave. Dark chocolate I have heard in moderation is good. Moderation is not my strong point
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mustardnchips wrote: »rheddmobile wrote: »mustardnchips wrote: »@MarcyTheGreat88 I'm mainly sticking with walking and cycling, I recently got a seat for my bike so I can stick my daughter on, so we can get that little bit further and have some variation of pushing the pram. I have two kettle bells I want to start including, or even just strength training using the baby if it comes to it, she's 9.6kg now
I know chocolate makes it worse, but when I've been up 6 times in the night its the first thing a reach for, and I think tomatoes do, but biggest aggravator is the weight gain. I had got down to 71kg, then circumstances beyond my control meant I had a lot of stress, not much sleep over two months and it all went wrong.
I really miss swimming, it just doesn't work with my childcare options
Okay, I had never heard this about chocolate so I just looked it up. According to my quick Dr Google search, REFINED SUGAR has an inflammatory effect, but the phytochemicals in dark chocolate are actually anti-inflammatory and recommended as one of the best foods for arthritis, lupus, and similar autoimmune diseases. It certainly doesn’t make anything worse for me and I put cacao powder in everything. Have you heard something different?
It's milk chocolate that I normally crave. Dark chocolate I have heard in moderation is good. Moderation is not my strong point
I can't moderate chocolate *bars.* But I can moderate 50-70 calorie Ghirardelli chocolate *squares* or chocolate chips that I weigh out and eat super slowly, not chewing, letting them dissolve in my mouth. My chocolate itch is completely satisfied by the time I'm done.
Do give dark chocolate a try. If you are craving something in the chocolate, such as magnesium, it could be satisfied sooner with dark. Also consider a magnesium supplement if you are not getting enough in your diet.1 -
rheddmobile wrote: »Oh dear, sorry to hear that! I have found that getting high quality, expensive chocolate and eating it in smaller amounts is more satisfying than huge amounts of inexpensive, flavorless chocolate. It might help. But it’s tough to resist impulses when you aren’t getting good rest.
I think its more the sugar than anything else, and relying on that to get me through the day. There is also an large element of mindless eating. I have acknowledged that I will just sit and put food in my mouth without thinking0 -
I'm struggling too..it's so hard1
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LATINABONITA3 wrote: »I'm struggling too..it's so hard
I'll add you, we can cheer each other on! Ive noticed that new recipes help me keep on track. I'll try to post some more on my account 😊0
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