2 lbs in 30 days
jadesign19
Posts: 512 Member
I am seriously stressed. I've been doing 1200 calories per day. Taking my medicine religiously and working out at least 6 days a week for at least 45 minutes. I just don't seem to be making any progress. I'm feeling defeated.
My diary is open so if anyone wants to give any "constructive!!" criticism I would greatly appreciate it.
Does anyone suffer with just 2 lbs in 30 days!
My diary is open so if anyone wants to give any "constructive!!" criticism I would greatly appreciate it.
Does anyone suffer with just 2 lbs in 30 days!
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Replies
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I am in a very similar situation. I have been running just about every day for over a year with zero pounds lost. I just started tracking my calories last week and am keeping it under 1200 and saw a 3lb drop in the first few days. Next weigh in is the end of this week. Are you taking a hormone replacement and if so have you had blood work recently?0
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I was in the same boat and was tired of not seeing results.....I had tried increasing calories,working out longer,but did some research on Insulin resistance and hypothyroidism and found the Primal diet, I dont think it is for everyone but I am not going to lie, I have never felt better...I have energy all day and in the first 14 days I lost 6 lbs, I have another weigh in on friday and think I am leveling off so it should be 1 lb maybe a little change.....My husband started it and in 1 week had to adjust his blood sugar meds because his blood sugar is almost normalizing on its own. Like I said, I dont think its for everyone but for me its amazing!0
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I am in a very similar situation. I have been running just about every day for over a year with zero pounds lost. I just started tracking my calories last week and am keeping it under 1200 and saw a 3lb drop in the first few days. Next weigh in is the end of this week. Are you taking a hormone replacement and if so have you had blood work recently?
Yes I'm on levothyroxine 137 mcgs. Blood work was in normal range in January.0 -
Jadedesign - I feel your pain. I have been eating 1200 calories or less, working out 5-6 days a week and have lost absolutely NOTHING in the past 8 weeks. So, I would be very happy losing 1/2 pound a week... but that's me! I'm 60 years old and been diagnosed with hypo for 15 years -- but probably had it since my 20's. I'm so used to not losing weight!
I did look at your diary and please forgive me, but I think you are counting your exercise as too many calories burned. It's very rare for someone with hypothroidism to be able to burn more than 500 calories in a one hour workout. If you are using the calorie count that MFP gives you, it's way too high. If you are working out with a Heart Rate Monitor, it will give you a truer picture of what you are eating. In general, you can could one hour of cardio at maybe 350-400 calories. One hour of strength training would be maybe 250 calories.
I also think you may be eating too many carbs. If you cut the gluten (anything with wheat or oats) from your diet, you may see some movement on your weight. And make sure your carbs come mostly from green veggies.
You may want to get your carbs down to about 60-80 grams a day and get your protein up higher.
Just some thoughts for you to consider -- but I don't think anyone with hypo can lose weight eating 240 grams of carbs a day. Our bodies take carbs and convert them to fat and put them on our middle -- then it slows down our metabolism and tells your muscles not to burn fat, but to burn glucose -- since you have so many carbs in your diet you are giving it lots of glucose and your body doesn't need to burn fat.
This is an over-simplification of how it works -- but something to think about!! Hope I didn't offend anyone!!
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Jadedesign - I feel your pain. I have been eating 1200 calories or less, working out 5-6 days a week and have lost absolutely NOTHING in the past 8 weeks. So, I would be very happy losing 1/2 pound a week... but that's me! I'm 60 years old and been diagnosed with hypo for 15 years -- but probably had it since my 20's. I'm so used to not losing weight!
I did look at your diary and please forgive me, but I think you are counting your exercise as too many calories burned. It's very rare for someone with hypothroidism to be able to burn more than 500 calories in a one hour workout. If you are using the calorie count that MFP gives you, it's way too high. If you are working out with a Heart Rate Monitor, it will give you a truer picture of what you are eating. In general, you can could one hour of cardio at maybe 350-400 calories. One hour of strength training would be maybe 250 calories.
I also think you may be eating too many carbs. If you cut the gluten (anything with wheat or oats) from your diet, you may see some movement on your weight. And make sure your carbs come mostly from green veggies.
You may want to get your carbs down to about 60-80 grams a day and get your protein up higher.
Just some thoughts for you to consider -- but I don't think anyone with hypo can lose weight eating 240 grams of carbs a day. Our bodies take carbs and convert them to fat and put them on our middle -- then it slows down our metabolism and tells your muscles not to burn fat, but to burn glucose -- since you have so many carbs in your diet you are giving it lots of glucose and your body doesn't need to burn fat.
This is an over-simplification of how it works -- but something to think about!! Hope I didn't offend anyone!!
This,
Just something I need to watch and you might consider. When I looked at your diary, I checked 3 days and noticed that your sodium is very high. Your water intake also could be higher. Sodium as you probably know can make you retain water which shows up on the scales. I'm reading all these threads trying to get with the thyroid health stuff so I know how you feel. When I drink my water and watch the sodium it does help with the weight. Not a lot but some. Hang in there. You'll make it. We are all trying to work hard at it. Hope I didn't offend anyone. Not my intention. :flowerforyou:
Ginny0 -
Tecallahan,
I know there is gluten in oats but I seem to tolerate oats well, whereas I get terrible IBS with wheat. So I don't eat wheat, but I eat oats instead.
And I don't consume milk because I think it makes me bloated, and I no longer eat yogurts either, so I drink oatmilk instead.
Oh and as a treat, instead of a chocolate bar, I'll have a hot mug of chocolate oat drink... not every day, mind!
Can I have your thoughts on this oat intake? I eat oat thins at lunchtime too... (I'm going to grow donkey's ears soon!!). Gosh I didn't realise until writing it that I do eat of LOT of the stuff.
I value your opinion, I have read many of your posts.
What say you on oats? Maybe I should try to go back on full fat milk (don't scream at the calories content, it's good for your AND contains much less lactose that skimmed).
I also wanted to touch on the other subject you mentioned, about not being able to burn more than 500 cals in a one hour workout.
Well I use Endomondo, I have a turbo trainer (where you place your own racing bike and do your best impression of a hamster in the wheel) and I measure based on my height, weight, distance and time, just over 600 cals in 1 hours and 10 mins.
I think it is possible.
Or is it not?
Is the machine calculating the expected calorie burn of a normal person of my height and weight as opposed to a hypo person of my height and weight? then again, I'm on T3 and T4 so I'm not feeling very hypo at all, though my T4 was a bit low but that's another story.
Sorry for the long post!
Ama.0 -
Everyone is different and what works for me may be a disaster for you.
My point of view is what I was doing before did not work so I need to change things and figure out what works by trial and error.
Here are the changes I have implemented in the last month which seem to be working for me:
1.) I eat breakfast every morning that is predominately protein, (if I eat carbs I am ravenous a couple hours later), I was not a breakfast eater but I read that it jump starts your metabolism
2.) I have greatly reduced (I'd say by 95%) my intake of food with gluten (the protein in wheat) and casein (the protein in dairy), I have always eaten clean (no processed foods) and as much organic as possible.
3.) I have increased my caloric intake. I have proved to myself over and over that eating 1200 calories a day shuts down my metabolism *but* I am exercising a lot and eating back some of those exercise calories. Some days I eat 1400-1500 calories other days 1600-1700 (but not often, or more than once a week). This seems to be working as I have lost the following since i started increasing calories which was very scarey at first because I did not want to gain back weight.
week 1 - 2#
week 2 - 2#
week 3 - 1# that was my weigh in this Monday and I weighed again this morning and I am down another pound!
4.) I weigh and measure my food to make sure my caloric intake is as accurate as possible.
5.) I bought a heart rate monitor to better calculate calories burned.
6.) My workouts have been strictly cardio for the last 6 weeks, will start strength training shortly.
7.) I watch my sodium intake.
8.) I drink lots of water.
Good luck in finding what works best for you - hope something I have shared is helpful!
Donna0 -
Very helpful indeed Dona, thank you! I need to bounce ideas from other people's food regime (better word than diet, hey?!) to find what works for me. So yes, thank you.
So what do you eat then? What's a typical day? No milk (so no coffee, no tea, no cereals) no yogurt, no cheese (so no dessert)!
What do you snack on? (I am unfortunately intolerant to nuts).
I skip breakfast because a) I don't know what to eat that is gluten free and dairy free and b) I take care of the kids
Sometimes I'll have oatibix with oatmilk.
I haven't exercised in two weeks and I am *soon* going to resume (shame, shame on me!)0 -
I did look at your diary and please forgive me, but I think you are counting your exercise as too many calories burned. It's very rare for someone with hypothroidism to be able to burn more than 500 calories in a one hour workout. If you are using the calorie count that MFP gives you, it's way too high. If you are working out with a Heart Rate Monitor, it will give you a truer picture of what you are eating. In general, you can could one hour of cardio at maybe 350-400 calories. One hour of strength training would be maybe 250 calories.
I also think you may be eating too many carbs. If you cut the gluten (anything with wheat or oats) from your diet, you may see some movement on your weight. And make sure your carbs come mostly from green veggies.
You may want to get your carbs down to about 60-80 grams a day and get your protein up higher.
Just some thoughts for you to consider -- but I don't think anyone with hypo can lose weight eating 240 grams of carbs a day. Our bodies take carbs and convert them to fat and put them on our middle -- then it slows down our metabolism and tells your muscles not to burn fat, but to burn glucose -- since you have so many carbs in your diet you are giving it lots of glucose and your body doesn't need to burn fat.
This is an over-simplification of how it works -- but something to think about!! Hope I didn't offend anyone!!
Thank you so much!! I do own a HRM and only put the calories burned that my HRM shows. I learned that the hard way with MFP last year. Plus it pushes me to work harder knowing I need to burn more calories.
Oh I know your right with the carbs. That's the hardest thing for me. It's my addiction. I did Atkins and South Beach and found I was grumpy and irritable. Plus with the kids and husband, it was extremely difficult. (I'd be doing good and he'll want a pizza or spaghetti).
I'm going to be more focused on lowering the carbs.0 -
I just tried Blue diamond Almond coconut milk.
Has anyone else tried this to supplement dairy?
I know now that I shouldn't have it with cheerios, but one step at a time.
I tried it with coffee - not a fan.0 -
Couple of questions out there -- GLUTEN in general should be avoided. If you read the label and it has Gluten, I don't think it's a good idea to eat it. For me, I have antibodies in my blood for wheat and oats - so I have to avoid both.
I do drink coconut milk -- "So Delicious" is the best brand.. and they have a coconut mile Coffee Creamer that's very good. I could put Coconut milk in Gluten-Free cereal (Trader Joes' has some great ones!), but then it's like 100% carbs and goes straight to my middle -- does not pass Go or collect $200!!!
I am not the perfect eater, but any means!! I crave foods sometimes that I shouldn't have -- I try not to give in, but when I do it's usually BAD!! I ate a whole snickers bar yesterday and then was so mad at myself!!
There's even more foods that my doctor wants me to avoid, but dairy, gluten and eggs really kicked my butt!!0 -
I found this article about fat sensitive/carb sensitive http://dietsrating.com/which-is-better-low-carb-or-low-fat.php (why some diets don't work)..Does anyone find this to be true? What if you are "in between" ?0
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I thought about this for a day and realized that you are not eating any of your exercise calories. Your body metabolism is slowing down as your calorie intake is to low for the amount of exercise you are doing. Eat 5 small meals a day. Eat back most of your exercise calories. Don't try and rush the weight loss, this is a new way of eating and starving yourself and exercising will not last forever. This is a forever trip.....take it slow and steady. I am loosing a pound a week and eat all of my exercise calories---I only walk as I can not to more due to other health issues. Also, remember that muscle weighs more then fat. You are gaining muscle I suspect.0
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I thought about this for a day and realized that you are not eating any of your exercise calories. Your body metabolism is slowing down as your calorie intake is to low for the amount of exercise you are doing. Eat 5 small meals a day. Eat back most of your exercise calories. Don't try and rush the weight loss, this is a new way of eating and starving yourself and exercising will not last forever. This is a forever trip.....take it slow and steady. I am loosing a pound a week and eat all of my exercise calories---I only walk as I can not to more due to other health issues. Also, remember that muscle weighs more then fat. You are gaining muscle I suspect.
Not sure who's not eating back all their exercise calories -- I certainly try not to -- been there, done that and GAINED weight when I eat back. I can imagine that it really works for some people, but with Reverse T3, the more you eat, the more you gain -- and it doesn't matter if you are exercising or not. Most people don't even know if they have RT3... so just sayin :frown:0 -
I don't eat back all of my exercise calories but I do eat back some of them because I am not a person who is fun to live with on 1200 calories.
But I don't have reverse t3 issues to deal with.
Everyone's thyroid issues are unique to them - it would be so much easier if there was a one size all treatment plan. Many doc's employ this kind of strategy but we know our bodies best and when we feel well we know it!
Hopefully, your doctor can get this under control soon Terri so you can enjoy the full benefits of armour and feel good! Until then I applaud you for working as hard as you do to hold the line and not gain any weight. I am sure this is very frustrating for you working out as hard as you do and not getting the benefit for your efforts. Hang in there!!0 -
How do you find out if you have reverse T3?
Is it a test you need to nag your endo about?
How does it work please, the RT3 thingy?
x0 -
How do you find out if you have reverse T3?
Is it a test you need to nag your endo about?
How does it work please, the RT3 thingy?
x
I went to a Naturopath -- gave up on the endos - they are pretty useless. He tested my RT3 via a blood test- he suspected it was high because of some of my symptoms and the fact that I exercise so much and cannot lose weight. Anyway, here's how he explained it...
if a lion was chasing you and you ran up a tree and the lion stayed down there for a week hoping to eat you, your body would release a bunch of Reverse T3... it's a "blank" of T3 and it plugs up the T3 receptors in your cells. What then happens is that your metabolism slows down to a crawl - the RT3 is protecting you from burning any calories so you can survive up in that tree until the lion goes away!!
The only way to get rid of RT3 is to reduce your T4 intake -- which obviously is painful. I'm on a very low dose of Armour right now and he's hoping to flush out the RT3 -- it takes about 12 weeks. He told me today, that I need to back off of intense exercise - stick to strength training, yoga, Pilates and walking. So, the treadmill intervals and intense cardio that increase your heart rate, also increase cortisol and stress levels and.... Reverse T3 also!!0 -
How do you find out if you have reverse T3?
Is it a test you need to nag your endo about?
How does it work please, the RT3 thingy?
x
I went to a Naturopath -- gave up on the endos - they are pretty useless. He tested my RT3 via a blood test- he suspected it was high because of some of my symptoms and the fact that I exercise so much and cannot lose weight. Anyway, here's how he explained it...
if a lion was chasing you and you ran up a tree and the lion stayed down there for a week hoping to eat you, your body would release a bunch of Reverse T3... it's a "blank" of T3 and it plugs up the T3 receptors in your cells. What then happens is that your metabolism slows down to a crawl - the RT3 is protecting you from burning any calories so you can survive up in that tree until the lion goes away!!
The only way to get rid of RT3 is to reduce your T4 intake -- which obviously is painful. I'm on a very low dose of Armour right now and he's hoping to flush out the RT3 -- it takes about 12 weeks. He told me today, that I need to back off of intense exercise - stick to strength training, yoga, Pilates and walking. So, the treadmill intervals and intense cardio that increase your heart rate, also increase cortisol and stress levels and.... Reverse T3 also!!
So what happens after you "flush out the RT3"? What kind of meds will you be on then? What were your symtoms? So, walking is fine....treadmill walking? How fast is too fast? Sorry for all the questions..I have just been feeling so blah lately and trying to figure out as much as I can before I am able to get into my doc.
Thanks 0 -
This has been a very interesting thread to read. Thanks to everyone who has participated. 0
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<<The only way to get rid of RT3 is to reduce your T4 intake -- which obviously is painful. I'm on a very low dose of Armour right now and he's hoping to flush out the RT3 -- it takes about 12 weeks. He told me today, that I need to back off of intense exercise - stick to strength training, yoga, Pilates and walking. So, the treadmill intervals and intense cardio that increase your heart rate, also increase cortisol and stress levels and.... Reverse T3 also!! >>
Interesting on the increase in cortisol/stress. I have been doing all cardio and not getting a bang for my buck so to speak. I think perhaps another tweak is in order. More walking & strength training and less cardio. Maybe a better mix of exercise would be better than I have been doing. I thought the cardio would jump start the metabolism but if at the same time it's increasing cortisol levels its self defeating. Trial/error!
p.s. - I found a place to have my resting metabolic rate tested, going next Tuesday.
Donna0 -
OK -- so when we flush out the RT3, I will still be hypothyroid... that ain't gonna go away! But, I'll be able to increase my Armour dosage to something higher, and I *should* be able to start losing weight.
Stress does play a part in hypothyroidism -- we are so intense about trying to lose weight and we stress ourselves out when we can't -- at least I know I do!! That's why doctors are always trying to give us Zanex and Paxil!
So, he wants me to double my intake of Natural Calm-- not only does it help with stress, it also helps with constipation!! He also said I can take 5-HTP as a mood elevator.
I meditate in the evenings - I bought a guided meditation CD and it is amazing how relaxing it is.
He also recommended saunas - not steam room. Saunas are a gentler way of detoxing.
Finally, and I know this one is way out there -- he said to avoid chlorine!! I have been swimming in the gym pool for a few months now. I come out of there absolutely reeking of chlorine -- and chlorine is terrible for our thyroid. He says some people put filters on their showerhead that remove the chlorine. But I'm a soak-in-the-tub girl, so not sure what I'm going to do about that!!
<<sigh>> why can't we just have normal freaking thyroids???? :sad:0 -
Hey Tecallahan (sorry I read your real name somewhere but it's escaped me!)
A MEGA HUGE THANK YOU, that is probably one of the most interesting read I've had in a looong time since trying to understand that ****, sorry, *illness"!
How fascinating. I will be sure to copy/paste and print and bring it to my endo whom I am due to see in a couple of weeks.
About the chlorine: I noticed a long time ago I don't like it and it doesn't like me. For me to really really treat the kids, is to take them to the pool for an hour. I get totally lethargic and often fall asleep in the car (hubby driving of course!). I don't know what it does to me but I know I don't like it.
About the lower T4 - again, VERY interesting to read you.
I have lowered my T4 some months ago to go on T3 (synthetic) and I feel better on a 50mcg T4 than on 75mcg.
However my levels got low and the GP recommended I went back on 75, which I did, but only for a week because I started to get symptomatic again.
About the stress - totally with you on that one. I know I cause myself unecessary stress but less now than a few years ago.
Though it's weird : when I get angry (the cat has just puked his dinner on the carpet) I seem to get into such a fury I could just skin the poor thing alive! My heart beats so fast and I feel like a demon! It's unpleasant, sure, but it's just cat puke, not like I've got a burglar in my house. Totally unreasonable response!
About Natural Calm - good idea. I will get myself some. Can't do any wrong anyway it's herbal.
About 5-HTP - I tried it, didn't like it. There is another alternative, can't remember the name sorry, tried it too and didn't like it.
Sadly, I find a glass of wine does me wonders at the end of the day to unwind, I know that's wrong though.
What a fabulous person you seem to be!
Thank you!0 -
<<The only way to get rid of RT3 is to reduce your T4 intake -- which obviously is painful. I'm on a very low dose of Armour right now and he's hoping to flush out the RT3 -- it takes about 12 weeks. He told me today, that I need to back off of intense exercise - stick to strength training, yoga, Pilates and walking. So, the treadmill intervals and intense cardio that increase your heart rate, also increase cortisol and stress levels and.... Reverse T3 also!! >>
Interesting on the increase in cortisol/stress. I have been doing all cardio and not getting a bang for my buck so to speak. I think perhaps another tweak is in order. More walking & strength training and less cardio. Maybe a better mix of exercise would be better than I have been doing. I thought the cardio would jump start the metabolism but if at the same time it's increasing cortisol levels its self defeating. Trial/error!
Hello Donna,
I have been doing a lot of high intensity cardio for a long time and not getting very far (hahahah literally as it's a stationary bike!!) and some running, dropping a bit and putting on some more and yo-yo...
As I've mentioned before, I haven't done exercise in the past two weeks (I should be on the stationary bike right now but this is by far more interesting). I am a little lighter, at the moment. Hoping to get to my goal (but it's maintaining it that is hard).
Perhaps yes, what we need is to stop hammering ourselves like sado-masochists and just concentrate on eating well (what we can), being cool chilled and calm (within reason!) and exercising gently.
My hubby raves about interval training, but he's got a normal body and a normal thyroid.
I think we get swayed to exercise this way and that way and what to do, from what we read and watch on telly, which most of is relevant to people with a normal thyroid and a normal metabolism.
I will, I WILL get back to exercise next week and I will try to do only 30mins a day, no more, and fairly gently. Plus walking.
Reporting back to you soon! LOL0 -
I know there was talk about swimming, but ingesting chlorine (just like flouride) can't be good either . So basically if I need to avoid chlorine and flouride, then I need to invest in a water purifier for the tap water I drink or start buying bottled. Correct?0
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I know there was talk about swimming, but ingesting chlorine (just like flouride) can't be good either . So basically if I need to avoid chlorine and flouride, then I need to invest in a water purifier for the tap water I drink or start buying bottled. Correct?
That's what my doc wants me to do. He says there are inexpensive filters for shower heads - it is what we drink, but also what we bathe in as you can absorb chlorine through your cells. Some water also has flouride in it and it's not good for your thyroid either.
Hypo is also connected to iodine somehow, but that's kinda scary ground -- so I am not supplementing iodine. 3rd world countries don't get enough in their diet, but I'm pretty sure we do. If not, I'll find out about iodine after I get rid of the Reverse T3!!0
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