Weight Gain / Best Way to Lose Weight

[E. S.]

Hi.

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes last june at 23 years old. Before diagnosis I always maintained a fairly healthy wieght of around 150 pounds (I'm 5'8") effortlessly. After the onset of the disease I lost the expected 20 pounds, but since starting insulin / returning to my normal weight I have been unable to stop gaining weight!

During the first few months I was under a lot of stress, finishing my thesis / Master's degree and preparing to get married in early september. Because I was severely dehydrated when I was admitted to the hospital, I was more insulin resistant than I would usually have been, so my endocrinologist had me on nearly 3 times the amount of insulin I now need (90U). This led to numerous lows, and days when I would literally eat 100 glucose tablets before the dosage problem was fixed. Now I'm on a pump, which I love, but the wieght that I gained during the adjustment period (30 lbs / total wieght a steady 180) is impossible to lose!

I eat a low-carb diet, pretty much the diabetic diet in all those pamphlets that we're all too familiar with, and excercise a 1/2 hour four times a week. I'm also very slightly hypothyroid, and taking 25mg of Levoxyl per day.

Anyone have any advice on how to lose this weight?

Thank you all for your input on this insightful forum, and I wish you all the best.

E.S.

[gruffygirl]

I am in a similiar situation. I am 23 and diabetic, diagnosed at 19. I am also taking levoxyl for hypothyroid, and I have a little high cholesterol. I have been trying to lose weight for a couple weeks now and haven't lost a pound yet. I weigh 155 pounds. I am eating well, low carb, and exercising almost everyday. I had a baby about a year and a half ago also, but the 15 pounds I want to lose just won't go!! I don't know what I need to do, if it's exercise longer and eat less or something else...I guess I will have to keep at it and see what happens, although I am getting frustrated. I just don't know what else to do at this point. Help!

[E. S.]

Thank you all for your helpful advice. I haven't changed my eating habits at all, as I really do stick to the diabetic diet (recent diagnosis... i'm sure my dilligence won't last forever...) and my doctor reccomended against it, but I DID go out and buy an excercise tape, specifically Cindy Crawford's New Dimensions, which is absolutely wonderful. Don't get me wrong, I am not a fan of excercise tapes and in the past have generally felt a bit bewildered and slow when using them, so I used to avoid them, but I decided that since I was having poor / no results on my own, I had nothing to lose.

It's a tape specifically for new moms, but generally for anyone who has sort of fallen off the excercise bandwagon, so it was great for me, and i really reccomend it for anyone else trying to ease back in to fitness. It had the weight traning my routine was lacking, as well as aerobic. So far, I've lost four pounds, and most importantly, I've lost them in a way that didn't feel too fast (like with pre-diagnosis ketoacidosis) or too hard. So, thank you all again for the advise on varying my routine, etc.

Hope you all are doing well.

E.S.

[JDRF-Team-maw]

E.S.,

Thanks for posting your concerns on the forum.  I am sorry to here your frustration.  I personally am not a diabetic, but the wife of one.  It does seem that you are doing everything right and not getting the desired result.  LRS has given you some of the best information.  

As LRS stated, varying your exercise routine is important.  You will get a better result if you incorporate both weight bearing activities and the cardio excerise.  It is extremely important for any diabetic to check with your doctor before starting a new exercise routine as various activities can effect your blood glucose readings, especially causing lows.  

Her advice on what you are eating when is also an important factor in weight gain.  Each person is different so find what works best for you.

As LRS suggested, it may be a good idea to discuss your concerns with your doctor.  He may have some better advice for you as well.

Good luck and keep us updated.

Thanks.

[JDRF-Team-LRS]

Seems that you're doing the right things and yet not losing the weight you want to.

I've read that varying our exercise routines can help and that, in particular, weight bearing activities do more for increasing our metabolism on a long-term basis than cardio-type exercises.  Be sure to check with your doc before trying new types of exercise.

Another point to consider is the times of day when you eat the most calories.  Many of us eat at night and yet the recommendation is to eat our largest meal at breakfast, somewhat less at lunch, and least at dinner -- since our activity/calorie needs are usually greatest during the day & diminish 'til bedtime.  I don't personally eat according to that recommendation, but I keep it tucked away as a helpful bit of insight that may apply.

If you're a stress-eater, you might try substituting seltzer, celery or some other crunchy, very low calorie food.

Finally, I know that those of us with low thyroid *are* likely also dealing with overall lower metabolism, so it'll take more effort (as you're experiencing already) to get the results you want.  YOu might ask your endo to check your thyroid levels to see if you're dose is correct.

I wish you well and hope you'll post your progress.  I'm sure others'll chime in soon, too.