NEVER ENDING BATTLE - OUR WEIGHT!!!!!

[stella5349]

I don't even have to go into a long drawn out story about this.

WE THYROIDANS WANT TO LOOSE WEIGHT .................RIGHT?

I found a very basic and simple plan that can definately help us combat this nasty problem.

Dr Barry Sears has two wonderful books out - one that I have is "A Week in the ZONE".

Hypo's have two major problems. Controlling insulin in blood sugar and burning carbs. We no longer have the metabolic rate within our bodies to naturally burn these two evils.

Hense we get fat and can develop diabetes. Here is a quick glance of a newsletter I get.

When you eat a carbohydrate, your pancreas secretes insulin to drive down blood sugar back to a normal level. If you eat too many carbohydrates, your pancreas releases so much insulin that it can drive down blood sugar to a level too low to allow your brain to function effectively. This condition of low blood sugar and high insulin can be considered a step away from diabetes.

According to the Zone theory, when you're creating this excess insulin, it also prevents your body from using its stored fat for energy. Hence, your insulin response to excess carbos causes you to gain weight, or you cannot lose weight.


If you are looking for a step by step plan to assist your goals - google seach Dr Barry Sears and read the research he offers for hypothyroid patients.

Since I am trying myself to conquer my 20 pounds of weight gain. I find it very helpful to have the book I am reading to keep referring back to.

If anyone is interested and wants more info - PM me and I will try to answer your questions.

[stella5349]

Oh :0

and continue to keep this post alive and open for discussion -

do not feel you need to only personal message any info.

[jax190]

i have read something similar and that also states that hypo people should eat low carb diet i so want to try but its the bread what will i do without my lunch time sandwich and my toast and my potatoes and   !!!!!!!  (sounds like too many carbs to me!)

[patty1970]

Thanks so much for your information, i was thinking of buying the book, can you tell me if you are familiar with the book from mary j. shomon The thyroid diet?  I have gained about 50 lbs and staring to have back problems am only 5'3" and my anti thyroid weight was always betwen 130-136 and in the laps of a year and half i have put the extra 50lbs am on meds syntoid and been feling ok, but need help with the weight issue any info you can give me i thank you in advance,, have a great weekend! paty.

[kipland]

Thank you for sharing this, stella.  It makes complete sense.  Now I just need to work on my BRAIN and figure out why it's the carbs I crave?!?!?!

[stella5349]

Hypo's crave carbs  and it is a battle for us.

Mary Shomon's diet is a spin off of this. I feel Dr Sears' book is more user friendly than Shomon's view and he seems alot easier to follow.

[AngelaB713]

I have been hypo since I was 16 years old.  I am now 42 and the weight just keeps building.  My cousin (who is thin) said one day, "If you would just think before you eat, and stop your elbow action, you could lose weight."  If she only knew!  When I wake up in the morning, I think, "Well, I can't have bread and I can't have sweets, and I can't have coke."  All I think about is what I can't have.  It's something that I learned to do as a teen with thyroid problems and it has become a part of my daily life.  The problem now is that this is no longer working.  I have gained 20 pounds over the last year and have not changed anything.  I have started an exercise program (cardio to burn fat) but even with that I have gained weight.  Can you feel my pain?

You know you hear about the struggles of people who have diabetes and I am not demeaning the disease, but people with hypothyroidism also have many battles.  Most of these are not known to the general public.  I think we need more education on thyroid disease and how it affects the people who are "cursed" with it.

Angie

[Krissy_Tina]

I feel your pain.  I'm 26 and I have recently been diagnoised with hypothyroidism.  That's not to say it hasn't been a problem for a while now though.  I am still working on getting my levels of my medication right and to add to the frustration of the weight-gain, I also get really bad headaches for about 2 weeks every time my medication changes.  

Even still since taking the medication,  I have still gained weight.  It makes me want to quit trying because I'm a very active person (I do at least an hour of cardio at the gym 2-3 times a week, I play softball twice a week, I swim twice a week, I go for bike rides, and I take walks) and yet I still gain weight.  I'm embarrassed by it and I sit and watch my thin sister's drink ice cappachino's and eat whatever they please without a care and not gain a pound when every time I pick something up to eat, I think about how it will affect me.  I plan my meal times so that I never eat prior to going in public because it makes me feel bloated and fatter than ever.

So yes Angie, I do feel your pain and sometimes I just want to hide alone and cry.

[Rite760]

This is the bit about thyroid disease (together with anti-bodies) that always confuses me. And I really really don't want this to sound awful but I have always been a very thin person, too thin, I hated it. And since I started with this  thyroid stuff, instead of putting on weight like everyone else. I'm losing even more! What am I doing wrong? It's really worrying me. I eat normally and everything so I can't understand it.

[hypogirl80]

Thank you for the information, I found the book at Amazon.com.  There are 48 reviews, average 4.8 out of 5, which means almost every one like the book. some said they did lose weight, 10 pounds, 20 pounds, how nice, haven't heard that for a long time.... .  Sounds a very good news for us. But I do have one question, I did not see thyroid/Hypo was mentioned in those 48 reviews. The question is : is this Zone diet really work for us (people with thyroid problem) ?? Thanks again.  

[stella5349]

Yes and I started the book today.

This Zone diet is specifically designed around hormone adjustments. and due to hypothyroidism - this hormone is mentioned in his diet as a problem for many people.

He explains basically how I get it - a way to kinda trick the hormones into burning the fat instead of storing it. This is where hypo's have problems.

I also found some information when I searched hypothyroid and Dr Sears on about.com

[hypogirl80]

Thanks, I'll go ahead order a copy. only a few dollars, if works, really means a lot to me.

[patty1970]

I just want to thank you so much I will go and by the book tomorrow, I mean if I just loose 1 or 2 lbs and i can learn to control the urge to eat carbs is enoght for me, again THANKS A BUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[redhed87]

I was able to lose weight on weight watchers. I then gained it back because I had to go hypo for my year scan, but have lost almost what I gained right now.  I am working out now but I have to get my eating aligned.  A very good low carb diet is South Beach.  The first phase is tough the first few days, but you get used to it.  It takes away the belly fat first. You can slowly add carbs in the later phases.

[5thave]

This is a never ending battle with thryoid and weight issues. We can still lose it but our bodies don't work the same as everyone else. Unfortunately it takes longer for us and we have to work harder than the average person. I am a personal trainer who has battled this for the first time in life for the last 5 years. After 2 years I am finally successful at getting to my regular size in clothes again. A few tips that worked for me. You can't just do cardio you have to weight train. When weight training you have to lift somewhat heavy to build muscle that we lose each decade.You must do cardio at least 45 minutes 4 days a week and do interval training to push yourself and get heart rate up and then bring it back  down. You will have a longer burning metabolism this way. Eat 6 small mini meals at least a day, with your focus on protein. This is what worked for me after just doing cardio for 8 months with no improvement. We can do it it just requires longer and harder. Sorry but that is the way it is it seems. Good luck to all of you....

[stella5349]

I checked back in on this post and yes - South Beach is similiar to this Zone plan. ..Also 5thave suggestions are extremely close to what I have been reading out of this Zone book too.

Really the forcus needs to be on insulin levels - vs - calories. MAintain 6 small meals a day stablilized the insulin so we do not peek and dump. This allows hypos to maintain energy levels throughout the day and allow us to get the regular exercise we need to burn fat.  But 6 meals!!!! what do we eat all day??

Cortisol is my biggest enemy right now and my belly fat is proof. When insulin levels are high cortisol blocks the usage of insulin and that turns into belly buldge.

In order to maintain proper cortisol levels - the adrenals need to be working good and proper foods need to be eaten. High protein - "good carbs" and it is NOT grain produced foods.

In fact many veggies are actually good carb related - where as most grains are really bad. That was a shocker for me.

BAsically Zone is a plan that is very simple to maintain and the book really walks you through a full week of proper foods to eat.  Prior to me reading the book I thought I was doing a fine job eliminating carbs - but I really wasn't.

[stella5349]

Oh and one more thing. Hypo's have a greater chance of developing diabeties due to this storing of insulin.

The is proof I read here on the forum that many hypo's are Type 2 diabetics in addition to their thyroid problems.

[littlemissRN]

I too have been battling my weight for 3 years with this thyroid junk.  I recently try jay Robb's fruit flush diet and after 3 days went back to my somewhat high protein diet, and I have been loosing ever since.  I also cut out all my gluten, and that has seemed to help tremendously.  I still eat bread ect. but the right carbs (brown rice bread ect.)  Just a little note, if anyone is willing to try it. :) God Bless

[stella5349]

I am not sure where your post is coming from and I do not think anyone is "carried" away when wanting to make changes in their diet.

The Jay Robb diet is a juice fast and then goes to high proteins after the flush. Basically high proteins maintain proper weight - hense insulin.

There is no book sales pitch post here on my post - If your referring to the Zone diet I posted.

If you have any knowledge of hypothyroidism you would know that millions are searching for proper eating to maintain good weight. It is scientific evidence that hypoT patients store carbs in any form and that is their main problem with gaining weight.

The diets mentioned (which are life long changes in eating habits) are designed for diabetes as well as hypothyroidism patients trying to acheive weight loss to live healthier lives.

I think before making such shallow accusations of a sales pitch - you should understand that I have spent numerous years trying improve my situation with hypothyroidism/HASHI. I do alot of research on well being and applying this information to myself as well as share something that works with other members. I do not think I would have been asked to Co Lead on this board IF I was pitching any sales!

I also back up my suggestions -if need be - with the links or books I have read that gave me the success I have had - so if you are interested I will send you hundreds of links and "book" titles to show you where I have been getting my information.

no sales pitch.............. just research!

[HyperT77]

This is what has worked best for me as well.  Actually, the South Beach Diet has helped me in the past to lost weight.  I have struggled this year because of going Hyper T to Hypo T.  Seem to crave the carbs more.  But when I stick to the South Beach diet as well as incorporate mini meals throughout the day so my blood sugar levels stay stabalized, I feel so much better.

[5thave]

I know what you mean about craving carbs. I have been a carb addict my whole life and that is a big problem. I allow myself to have carbs but smaller amounts and of course only after getting enough protein. I need 85 grams of protein to get to my goal weight and I still have 5 lbs to go. I may never get there. It was my weight 10 years ago, maybe i am just wishful thinking. I know we should gain a bit as we get older but that doesn't make it any easier on the mindset.

You are right stabilizing the blood sugar is what it is all about. Not shutting down our metabolism and eating frequently our bodies do not think we are then starving them and will allow us to lose fat. So many people have a hard time getting that through their head. They think diet, don't eat, lose weight and it is actually the opposite within reason. Glad you are feeling so much better.

[Linda1068]

Just read your last comment. You are the master on weight loss? Are you saying you know the secrets and the truth to achieve REAL weight loss? OMG... Please share. We all hate being overweight..fat is probably what we really feel.  

[blksapphire]

Hi Stella,
You don't know how happy I am to see something on weight loss.   Since this issue started for me I have gained about 65 pounds.  Everytime I get on that daggone scale, I wanna cry and then choke the living s&&t out of the scale.

I am going to check out that book.  I have been craving carbs, salty foods and then sweet foods.  Whereas before, I hardly at any sweets or salty foods.

I need and want all the help I can get.  Thanks Stella for posting.  

T
PS... I'm still trying to learn what I can on this doggone illness.  and yes "I'm pouting"

[stella5349]

It IS the carbs !!

When you are hypo your whole metabolism changes and normal fat cells are now much different than they were. It can be compared to something like a calcification. They are harder and are extremely tough to burn.

Yes everything slows down when hypo. You’re GI Track - your basal temp - INSULIN - etc. Diabetes is the #1 autoimmune disease that follows later after a patient develops hypothyroidism. WHY? Carbs turns into sugar - sugar is false energy - but in hypo the transition is stored in fat cells / no energy - hence weight gain. Sugar is also a cancer "feeder" - but that is another story.

It IS possible to trick the metobolic rate of burning calories in your body - IF you follow a life changing diet to stabilize the insulin index.

Eating bad carbs as bread and pasta - and sugar based products - instead of good carbs (like certain veggies) hurt the metabolic rate of burning fat for hypo patients. High protein diets in small meals daily helps stabilize the insulin and gives the body a stable environment to burn fat. NOT muscle - FAT.

Hypo patients can limit calorie intake to 800 calories a day and still gain weight in large numbers. If they are not eating the proper foods to shrink the fat cells and starve the sugar out of their bodies - no diet will be a success or it will be very minimal. You will also find millions of hypo suffers have most of their weight issues concentrated around their middle to lower end of their bellies. The "Pooch" is a common nickname. That is a cortisol imbalance which means a hyperglycemic factor has to be changed.

I have read many articles on vein ego weight builders taking T3 to achieve their "goals "- yet they don't seem to understand  -IF they have NO thyroid problem - they WILL get one if they continue to abuse their hormone intake.  I am on a T4/T3 med and seriously - I agree IF I didn't have the Hypo issues - I probably would drop weight too on the med.

I am sorry you felt the need to start a T3 supplement to "just" lose weight- When you really could have damaged your hormones inside your body. Was that Rx's by a doctor? Did you walk in to your appointment and ask the physician to Rx T3 for weight loss?  If so - shame on that doctor.

If we want to really debate this - take a look at anorexia suffers. Those individuals are even more desperate to achieve a false goal of weight loss - and IF continued abuse on T3 - they will die. PERIOD. I was an anorexia sufferer in my teens and early 20's - so IF I would have known about T3 at that stage of my life - I too could be in worse shoes than I already am. But mentally, having an additional 30 pounds on my body right now and slowly losing it - is very hard each and every day.

You’re very curt in your comment: “what’s so hard? Eat right. Take thyroid meds? No?

I was doing that for 5 years and the scale continued to climb. So that is very exhausting.

I do find your comment as bragging : "I am the master of weight loss."  

I haven't seen any proof on this post on "how" you can help anybody achieve a goal in weight loss. No suggestions - or daily routines - etc. Except to dog me on what has been working for me slowly and naturally.

...... (except you did offer giving the false impression that T3 meds is the answer!) read your post above.

[AngelaB713]

Well, I met with my new doctor last week.  It was the best medical experience I have had in a really long time.  He took the time to listen to me and then he explained the TSH levels and the T3 and T4 levels.  When I told him that my old doctor kept saying not to worry that my TSH was within range, he just shook his head.  He said "within range" didn't mean that it was the best level for me and that we needed to find a level where I felt good and know that this is the level I need to be at.  Wow! Doesn't that make sense? We are all different and so why should we settle for being "within range?"  He asked if I brought my medicine with me and I said yes and showed him the bottle.  He threw it in the garbage.  It was a generic of Synthroid. He wrote me a prescription with name brand only on it and told me to never take the generic again. It's been a week since I've been back on synthroid and I do feel better.  I don't feel bloated and I do have a little more energy.  He had the lab draw 4 vials of blood and ran a full work-up on me.  Yesterday, his nurse called and said that he wanted me to try Cytomel (with my Synthroid) and see what kind of result we get with that.  She said that my T3 needed a boost. The best thing about Dr. Shain is that he told me that it will take a little while to get me straightened out because I had been on the generic for so long.  Once the Synthroid kicks in and the cytomel then I'll go back and have new blood work.  I really hope the cytomel helps boost my energy levels and gets rid of this brain fog I've been in for so long.
If you have a doctor who is not listening, pray the Lord sends you to the right doctor and then actively search for one who will meet your needs.  Think of it this way...The doctor works for you!

[blksapphire]

Bump...... keep this to the forefront

[stella5349]

You dococt has Rx Cytomel for a reason and due to your thyroid condition - he feels T3 may help you with your symptoms.

That is proper medicine and I am happy your doctor is trying that and following up with blodd work after a few weeks.

Still diet is important.  If hypoT patients follow any simple plan elimating sugar and carbs:

1 - They feel "better" in a few weeks
2- Small changes will occur

eating right and moderate exercise (which I need to start soon :) will change us - if we just do thwe right thing and select better diet plans.

[krss60]

     I have done atkins before and lost wt.  But am having a harder time of it now.  On synthroid 50 mcg right now. More blood work due next week i think.  Anyway will try the Zone.  I want to learn more about the glycemic index but cannot find much to explain it in greater detail, or the foods that are on the list.  This info would be of great assistance to me.
     Thanks
Karen

[stella5349]

You can find alot on glycemic index using the word cortisol as your search.

[peggy64]

great, I need to research that. thanks for the info.

[stella5349]

A better search mode would probably be "stored" cortisol.

[DMFischer]

For years they tested my T3-T4 ect and they were always within normal limits.  So no one ever followed it up.  They just told me I was FAT and I needed to eat less.  They didn't listen to me when I told them I was not pigging out.  I believed them and figured that it was all me.  At 12 my mom took me to a doctor that put me on amphetamines.  Yea, insane right?? But that was back in 1965.  I actually ended up going in and having the surgery to lose weight.  OMG.  That was nearly the end of me.  The combined after effects put me through 6 major surgeries to save my life.  I lost 216!!! pounds in ONE YEAR and suffered from malnutrition, anorexic /bulimia. No one actually looked at the thyroid, as in ultrasound, anything.  
Now they say I have at lease 7 noids/goiters in there.  One may be cancer.  
I do not eat huge meals.  But my weight returned slowly over the years and here I am trying to figure out how to have some sort of happy life after 55 yrs of hell.  Diet..I will try anything if it will have a chance of working and does not involve cutting me open.

[AngelaB713]

I totally agree that a good low carb diet is essential is losing weight and feeling better, especially when you suffer from hypo-thyroidism.  But when you are doing these things and exercising (which I had been doing 4 times a week) and the weight doesn't budge or, in my case, goes up, then we know there is a problem that needs to be addressed.  Bottom line, we should never accept the doctor's "pat on the head" when we know our bodies and know there is something wrong.  I was 191 at the doctor's office and now I am 186.  Simply by going back on name brand Synthroid and adding Cytomel has made a huge impact on the quality of my life.  Even my husband, who is working out of town, could tell I felt better just by the tone of my voice over the phone.  I just can't put into words how much better I feel.

[irene393]

This is a great site - - I love the discussions - I have had a weight probelm for my entire lifetime - Currently, I am morbidly obese at 290 - which is down from 327.  Recently I started to exercise and joined a team of "losers" and dropped 37 pounds in 4 months - now I have hit a wall and am losing body fat and the weight is creeping up about 6 pounds in two months - Any suggestions or insight why - -I have been taking the synthroid and such - and watch the carbs, sugars and such  -- I walk 4 miles a day - to and from work -- This whole weirdness is frustrating me -- I will take a look at the Zone - thanks once again.

[krss60]

   You have been walking 4 miles a day.  Putting on muscle.  Muscle weighs more than fat. So as you lose fat, you may be building muscle.  It should start going down soon.
     Good luck
Karen

[anca77]

The generic you are talking about is the Levothyroxin (levothyroxine)?

[graveswoman]

Does the zone work for atypical hyper graves patients as well?

atypical meaning gain weight at onset and no loss since just gaining every week?

GW

[krss60]

     I sure hope so. As i was one with the wt. gain and graves.  Will say while waiting for the Zone to get here. I have been doing Atkins. Have lost 10 lbs already in about 2 weeks.  Ain't easy, But have to lose the 20 that i put on.  
     So like i said sure hope so
Karen

[stella5349]

OMG I totally went into a huge post and my internet quit and wiped the whole thing out ARGH!!!!

OK - I can't answer about the Graves and the Zone. I was Graves but lost weight - not gained.  Then I had RAI. I will say LDL and HDL cholestrol levels are not the same in Grave as Hashi/hypo - so I  tend to lean that you are able to process more carbs than being hypo. I just don't know.

If we are not euthyroid first prior to exercising and trying to achieve weight loss before euthroid - then all the diets and exhausting exercise we do is not going to work. Our thyroids need to be healthy first before weight loss can take place for most of us.

I read many on this post about exercising and not getting slimmer. Are you euthyroid? I have been now for about 3 months and that is now where I see me losing a few pounds here and there are happening.

Euthryoid is basically being at a stable level - FOR YOUR BODY and staying there for a long period - hopefully life. "living healthy"

Along with remaining hypothyroid and not losing weight another member here mentioned nodules. When a person is hypothyroid for a long period and not getting proper treatment - as I was for 5 yrs - many of these possibilities pop up. I also have nodules that are looking at as a high risk of carcimona. Due to the position of the tumor and FNA biopsy is not available. I am on the wait-watch-see and PRAY approach right now with my doctor. Because of RAI for Graves- and remaining hypo for so long this gives me the greater risk of the nodules being cancer - along with the actually findings on the US report I had in January.

I am schedule for another US scan now to see if any changes have occured in the last 6 months. Here is my PRAY mode setting in.

I don't know about Atkins too much. I think it is the no carb / high fat thing right? I tend to stay away from fat too because of my cholestrol levels being over 220 at my last check.

[graveswoman]

stella5349 - nope no euthyroid yet, still in process of normalizing, was only diagnosed at end of May and had to restart meds (allergy to tapazole). doc says ok to exercise now, beta blockers doing the trick for the heart rate. numbers are going up, but not there yet. still gaining, so i thought i better at least try to build up my muscles that have turned to cottage cheese so quickly. good luck with the US scan will be looking for your post, my thoughts are with you. And thanks for the motivation.

krss60 -  congrats on weight loss, I find all those diets zone, atkins too confusing to follow i tend to veer back to weight watchers, nothing to figure out but points no special prep etc... I find thinking about menus is exhausting and since i am a lifetime member i basically know how much things are so not much weighing or calculating. I wish i had less brain fog so i could figure the atkins and zone, many friends have had great success (of course they were not thyroid patients). I am glad for you and hope i can be there some day. I hate the love/hate relationship with the scale. but worse i hate growing a new size. thanks for the hope.

[ChitChatNine]

What may I ask is your thyroid history?  Your thyroid condition?  What brings you to this community to give weight loss info to people who have thyroid conditions for which they need medicine to live a quality of life and some of us need this medicine to LIVE because of cancer and/or surgery which has left us without hormones being produced?  Some of us battle weight as a direct result of replacement hormones for which WE HAVE NO CHOICE if we want to live our lives vs. other alternatives.

I was curious to know your thyroid condition?  Am I presumptious in assuming every poster on this thread is a thyroid patient using thyroid meds for thyroid condtions and not for weight loss?

Be careful with the information you share.  Some information being given out publicly and/or privately may not be in the best interest of these people.  You are not a Dr.  Are you a thyroid patient?  Are you pushing your own wt. loss regime on thyroid patients.

I'm not sure.  But please keep in mind those on this community are thyroid patients with real thyroid issues and being swayed to use meds in a non-conventional manner is not only dangerous, but not advocated here.

ChitChatNine co-CL Thyroid

[Totie]

I guess i have been lucky in never gaining weigh being on Synthroid for 12 years, now for the last two have been on levothyroid 125ncg, I was always warned about the weight gain, but it never came, despite my horrible eating habits.

I have lost weight, but do to other issues. I have just always thought that being clinically hypo (TT) I would always maintain weight or gain. I maintained it pretty well until other issues came up. If i do not eat in say 24 hrs i lose up to two pounds, seriously.

I have been diagnosed with addision's disease just recently, took two years to figure it out. I eat or i should say crave salty foods. chips, saltine crackers, but do not retain the sodium, now i am at a point where i do not even have an appetitie. I most likely have to wait another 6 weeks before my dr. finds a good endo for me.

I do not excersied, but have lost all my body fat.

Back to the subject, i guess everyone immune system is different.