Hi Linden,

The last 3 1/2 years have been a mess for me. Back in 2007,my primary Dr. diagnosed me w/borderline hypothyroidism. My bloodwork comes out normal, but I have characteristics/issues (weight gain, leg cramps, cold feet & hands, hair falling out, low basal temp in the morning, brain fog, etc.) that would diagnose me w/hypothroidism. Over the course of 3 years I was taken cytomel and synthroid. In addition, my Dr. placed me on phentremin to kick start my metabolism. The phentremin was only a temp. thing. After about a year w/ still having difficulty in maintaining my weight, I went to see a specialist who took a holistic approach. Through trial and error, my diagnosis came back with either metabolic syndrome or hypothroidism(they both have similar characteristics). Again my blood work would come back normal but I was still showing charactertistics of Hypothyroidism. This Dr. decided to increase the cyotmel and synthroid and then added the phentremin to the mix. I honestly think it was the combination of drugs that I was placed on. Between the everyday stresses from work, my rollercoaster ride on RX, I started to have anxiety/panic attacks. One night I had a horrible eposide of Heart palipations. This lead me to see a Cardiologist. When I went to the cardiologist and he looked at my history of blood work, he felt that I did not have hypothyroidism and weened me off the pills. He performed an echo and put me through a stress test. All upon which came back normal. He felt that a lot of issues w/weight and stuff had to deal with stress. He recommended to me the South Beach Diet and finding a new job. Since Feb. I have been off of all the meds and have been only taking vitamin and fish oil pills. However, I can not seem to get passed that eposide I had w/ the heart palipations.

One of my family members is a Chiropractor and I went to him for an unrelated issue. We started talking about everything that I have been through and the challenges of losing weight. He recommended that I try this. With the exception of last night, I have been feeling pretty good on the program. I am actually starting to feel better. I noticed an increase in energy and I don't have that brain fog I normally experience.

To showgirlaz - Maybe last night was just a panic attack brought upon the fact that I had insomnia on Friday night.

WOW you have been through a lot. You are right. Having had panic attacks, I know that they can be brought on by odd things. The insomnia may have been a trigger.

Just stay on top of things. Also, since it may help you out knowing what can happen, there have been several discussions about feeling certain things or craving certain things as our body burns fat that may have stored old toxins, chemicals from past hormones, medications, foods, etc. Don't be surprised if you have a reaction that is similar. You might not but, if it happens you know you aren't alone.

Just curious how many lbs you are planning on loosing? I don't see it listed. You of course don't have to answer if you aren't ready. My guess is, if you don't want to share yet, you will after a few weeks and you see how many lbs you have lost.

Thank you Linden, showgirlaz, and Ladyvrod for your comments!! I feel much better..


In terms of how much weight I am looking to lose is between 20-25 lbs. I am 5'3" and currently weigh 155.7. My optimal weight for me is around 125. That is when I feel best all round.

Hello all!
I am eating out tonight and have checked the menu and found many IP friendly meals! what a relief!

Only question...Is cocktail sauce IP friendly???? I'm thinkin no but not quite sure.....

if not...ant suggestions to dress my shrimp???

Much thanks!

Answered this on the duplicate post. No, commercial cocktail sauce normally uses sugar.

Make it at home or just use lemon juice.

Thanks for the response showgirlaz!!!
Lemon sounds good!



jules

these are great ideas, thanks!
this morning i had a pumpkin spice latte:
vanilla drink pre-mixed or vanilla pudding with more water
steamed by espresso maker
1/2 cup coffee
pumpkin pie spice on top

My new favorite breakfast treat!

Choose to Be Well,
Susie

i have been on IP for 3 wks now and am seeing some good results. i love veggies so this really hasn't been as hard as i originally thought - but have realized how much of an emotional eater i am. I wanted to let everyone know to look in the recipe sections. some of the recipes are down right good - esp the Chicken Fried "Rice" made with grated cauliflower. i think i might make it every couple of nights. Good luck to everyone.

Hi Carla,
Wow-good to know! I am 34 days into IP and am having strange nightmares and memories from the past that wake me up early as well as food cravings. I think you are right about the cell memories letting go.

Your posts are very soothing and inspiring and I like to read through them. I'm so glad you are on here!

Question for you: I am super thirsty on this plan-is that a normal experience for everyone?

I am not diabetic, but I do have low thyroid and PCOS. I feel for the "poster" with low thyroid/medical issues. I know how frustrating it is to go from doctor to doctor to get a correct diagnosis. I have not cheated on IP and have never had a restricted food, yet my weight loss is not as rapid as others (most likely due to hormonal issues from PCOS). It's difficult to see others sailing smoothly through the first few months while my loss has been strange (lost 6 pounds first week, 1 second week, 5 pounds third week, 0 fourth week)...I will finally be measured and weighed again on the 2nd of December (I missed my last weigh in due to ice/snow and then the holiday weekend the office was closed). I find a lot of encouragement on here from everyone, so thank you! I'm hanging in there

Best wishes,
Rachelle

Rachelle, I too live in the pacific northwest, bonney lake. I would PM you but that is not yet available for you. If you don't mind my asking where in the pacific northwest? Maybe we could be in contact, support each other. Let me know if you are interested.
have a great day
Kim

Hi Kim,
I live in Portland, close enough to understand how difficult it is to fight cravings and get outside for walks in this damp, cold, grey weather (though you may experience more sunlight where you are)? I could use support and I think it's a great idea to share this journey and have a support system. Count me in

Wow...this is so interesting and comforting to me. I'm not happy that you have had panic attacks and nightmares, but I've been having panic attacks too. My coach thought is was blood sugar, my neurologist thought it was tiny calcium crystals on the hairs of the inner ear, my internist thought I may have a virus in the nerve that leads to the inner ear, and my blood work just came back perfect. So, does anyone have any more concrete stories or studies from their coaches/friends on IP that have "released" cellular memory in this way. I do believe in these things although some folks might think it's a bunch of HooWee. Thanks to anyone who comes forward to share on this subject.

Hi Sunnymae,
I don't have any medical proof, but I too believe that this cannot be a coincidence that a lot of us are experiencing similar symptoms. I experienced the nightmares, old memory dreams, sleep disturbances before when I was dieting on very low calories (under 700/day back in 2000-2001). If I remember correctly, it will pass. But it would be great to hear an explanation (whether it's medical or psychological or metaphysical). I know I am addicted to carbs and sugar, so perhaps it is like an addict getting clean?.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thank you! I am glad I can help whenever that might be.

The thirst is, for many people, very common when you are in ketosis. No real explanation for it. It just is, kind of like some people get a tin or metallic taste in their mouths and other, well, they unfortunately can be very nauseous. It is just a side effect.

For me, I am very thirsty, metallic taste in mouth, very dry skin and lips to the point of cracking/bleeding, and nauseous. I have some headaches too. FOR ME, the majority of those symptoms are from the ketones (until I adjust) and from the excess drinking of water. I both love and hate it in the same moment!

I understand about the hypothyroidism. I am subclinical hypothyroid. We have managed to get it back into the upper 2 range for TSH but, I still fight it. I have lost slower than someone who has a normal thyroid and is eating as restricted as I did. I am sure the slower things are the more reasonable our expectations must be. I always had to goal to just average 1 pound a week. If I could do that, I would lose 52 pounds in a year which was much better than gaining another 29 pounds in 12 weeks which, I had just done!



I don't know anything really about cell memory. Ok, I take that back. I have had exposure to holographic repatterning, quantum medicines, behavioral kinesiology, energy medicine and several other alternative healing modalities and all of them have refered to "cell memory". I even read a book called Feeling Buried Alive Never Die which, suggested that strong feelings and emotion effect our cell structure on a quantum science level and can create disease. I can't explain the theories of how that works.

I find it interesting that so many people experience similar things though. I do know that many people over the past year, and other dieters too, have shared similar experiences when losing large amounts of weight.