Hi Calil

I didn't see that episode of Oprah, although I wish I had. I was seriously considering weight loss surgery, but that was just too scary for me and so drastic and somewhat dangerous that I forgot about it. My main goal for losing weight is to be able to get pregnant and have an easier pregnancy and delivery. After 1.5 years of ttc I have come to the conclusion it is solely because I am so much overweight. How much weight do you have to lose? I don't know if your goal is realistic but there is no reason not to try (I might get hit with a brick by those who will say 1-2 lbs a week is the only healthy way to do it...) and I say that because I'm going to be 30 next August and I'm going to work like a dog to get most of what I need to lose off so I can start working on getting me some cute little ones running around.

Take care
:df:

If you try to lose an average of more than 1-2 pounds a week you'll screw your thyroid up even more. If you really want to lose, go to a dietician (registered) and work with her. I did and it was wonderful. She customized the plan to my tastes and I'm eating more than I ever though possible.

As far as the doctor not telling people about what to take with thyroid meds and what not, READ THE PHAMPLET THAT COMES FROM THE PHARMACY it's important you take care of yourself in this regard and also ask the pharmacist. He's the one that can answer these questions.

Hi Kim, I wish you all the healthiness in bringing new life into this world. There's nothing like those little bundles you'll love more than yourself... until they're about 13, then you'll wanna make 'em a gleam in their daddy's eye again :) What's ttc?

I need to lose 170 to put me at my goal weight, between 136 and 142. I've decided to do Richard Simmons' Food Mover, it's more my style. I'll also do various cardio and weight training alternately 6 days a week.

I'll be 51 this month, married, 5 kids, all grown. I retired myself in 2K, and for the most part I wanted to sit home and vegge out for awhile. I didn't think it would take 2 years to catch up. Those early mornings, getting up at 3:30 am had taken its toll. Now I have no excuse not to lose the weight.
Time to get busy and follow my signature! :strong:

Deep inside I still feel like the cheerleader and dancer I use to be, even tho' my body's in denial. :)

I agree with QuilterinVA, when I lost those 63 pounds in 2 months, I had to be slowed down to "We can't find her pulse", speed, I felt like Meryl Streep in the movie, "Death Becomes Her". I had baggy knees and the skin around my ankles were like those scrunch socks.

One day I will see my clavicle and ankle bones again :)
You guys have a good weekend.

Hi All,
Stumbled across this thread and I'm glad I did. Lots of good info. I've been on Synthroid for 9 years now and Hormone Replacement Therapy - I'm 48.

We used to joke that they never set your thyroid meds high enough to make you actually feel good again but I was encouraged by what I've seen here in the posts that maybe I don't have to accept how I feel.

The intolerance to cold gets worse every year. Been sleeping with an electric blanket since Sept. My husband has his on 2 and I've got mine on 10. He said if he rolls too close to me it's like laying right in front of the camp fire. But it's the only way I can keep my ice cube feet and hands warm. Sometimes I get so cold inside I have to sit in the bathtub to warm me up. With winter approaching, I'm not looking forward to another 6 months of cold.

2 things that peaked my interest from what I read here if someone would be kind enough to elaborate....

One was something about calcium supplements - I've been taking calcium tablets for years now and I take them in the morning with my thyroid pill. Can that be interfering with the thyroid medication? I did go to our subscription drug plan's website and looked up Synthroid but didn't see anything about interactions with over the counter meds or supplements. I did get a new doctor this year and she told me not to take the HRT and Synthroid together so I take the Synthroid, vitamins and supplements in the a.m. and the HRT at night.

Also too you talked about low carbs, higher protein. I have been a poster child for failure at WW more than once and have been unable to lose weight for years. This summer I started a new diet plan that is customized for your body type. Basically it reduces sodium intake, processed sugars, fats and does have the balance of complex carbs and protein similar to what you've talked about. Add to that 3 quarts of water a day, a sound exercise plan and for the first time in 15 years, I'm finally able to lose weight. My question has to deal with carbs. On this diet it was very limited - rice, rice noodles (the only type of "pasta" that was allowed), potatos - red, white and yams, squash and oatmeal. Pretty limited and after 6 months sort of boring. Any other recommendations on "good carbs". I know that simple carbs - bread, wheat pasta, etc are no nos.

I will go take a look at about.com's thyroid site but any advice you can provide would be welcome. It was so great to hear that you CAN overcome the problems, if you know what to do. Thanks...

Hi Happy2bme,

I was the one who mentioned taking calcium. My dr. recommended it, but didn't tell me when to take it. I took it every morning for a couple of years with Synthroid, which is what I was taking at the time. I was also taking Furosamide, (blood pressure/diretic), I had no idea it was a diretic too, so everything just kinda went down the toliet. When clinical personnel ask what meds you're taking they should see by the charts and let you know how and when to take them.

After reading several articles like the ones below I decided to take it after dinner. It upset me when I read the articles, because it could have possibly helped me from the symptoms in the beginning. I still have problems, but not like before.

I suggest talking to your Physician and Pharmacist for correct information. I wish this subject matter had been around when I first started. A lot of us are blind with no leads.
Hope this helps...
Take care,
Calil


http://my.webmd.com/content/article/1728.58215

http://www.orthopodsurgeon.com/calciumcitrate.html

http://www.cooperfitness.com/content...asp?DocID=1484 (Go half way down the page for the calcium article.)

Thanks for the helpful info Calil. I'm going to switch out my calcium to the evening. That link on alternative medicines and supplements was also very interesting. Found several supplements I'm taking that may interfere with the estrogen.

Take this, don't that that, sure is alot of conflicting and confusing information. Guess it's best to journal and monitor. I did talk to my doctor earlier about diet and exercise. She is a gyne and prescribed my thyroid medicine based on a review with an endocrinologist collegue on my blood tests. She knew I was taking calcium but didn't mention about interactions. I was thinking of seeing an endocrinologist myself but I admit I was concerned about having the same kind of experiences you were. 10 doctors! Hopefully #10 was the one you found yourself comfortable with.

I have noticed a marked difference when I stick with lots of water and exercise - both cardio and strength training. The exercise seems to have more of an effect than the food although they do go hand in hand.

Thanks again...

just an fyi for more medicine interactions...don't take a multivitamin with your thyroid either. and you should take the thyroid stuff on an empty stomach, and not eat for at least 20 minutes. and no high fiber meals after the dosing...i think for at least an hour or so.

i live in san jose, ca, and if anyone wants to see my dr, i can recommend her. she isn't an endocrinologist, but she knows her stuff, because she's been though this too.

i want to change my hmo doctor (i see the above dr independently, and pay for the visits myself) though. when i went for a physical, she didn't really seem to give a damn, even after i talked about my thyroid issues and family history. her only comment was that i should exercise more (i'm about 165 at 5'9), and did i think i could fast the 12 hours necessary for the bloodwork.

the sad thing, is that my hmo knows she's a bad doctor. all the doctors that i've had who have been qualified and helpful get promoted and get away from actual patient interactions. she's been in her same role for quite a while, so i don't think she's going anywhere.

sorry to rant. i'm just so annoyed at how condescending she was. anyways, off to walk the dog and bake a birthday cake.

Also, wheat pasta is not a simple carb. You need to eat complex carbs. These are the brown rice, whole wheat breads and pasta, whole grain breads like rye, oatmeal. Simple carbs are sugars, white flour and stuff like that. Complex carbs are needed for brain activity...hypos get enough of the foggy brain without adding to it.

Hello Ladies,
Just want to share a success story with you.

Today I had a dr's appt. I mentioned in a post last week that I have a new dr. What I didn't mention is... when I met her in 2001 she looked to be a size 26, brunette, and was on WW. Well, today 18 months later she's more than 120 #'s lighter, blonde and looks all of 130 #'s. I didn't know who she was when she came in the room, she looked great, man was I inspired! At the same time I felt like a failure.

I'm genuinely happy for her and her family. We discussed my plans for weight loss, she agreed it was a good one and to give myself the time I needed... she was very encouraging.
I could see the smiling message in her eyes that it can be done, she'd been there, done that and this was the time for me to get it together, she said, "Your in good health, I'll see you in a year."

I've read the success stories on the forums, but this is the first time I've ever seen it with my own eyes!
I know... a year can make a big difference if I work hard.
:cb:

Half the battle as we all know is what you put in your mouth and how much you move. The mystery and frustrating part is getting the right information to help you along the way. They really need people who are knowlegeable to recognize that everyone is different and we have different needs. There is a tendency in the medical community to just give a "blanket" fix to everything and it doesn't work that way. Also you can get alot of information on the Internet these days but just like having a baby, it gets to the point where one thing conflicts with another and which do you believe?

I have tried for a long long time to lose weight unsucessfully. It wasn't until this year that I started doing more research. Nothing is better than someone who's been there before and is willing to share what helped them. That's why the tips and suggestions you have provided have been so beneficial. I went through the old treads and got a great deal of information I can use to make some changes in my life that will hopefully be more beneficial and get me on a steady road to success.

I must admit that I was amazed by your success Quilter and found much inspiration in what you have accomplished. And it's not like you've done it by going off the deep end. You have limitations to deal with and you have been so successful that it proves to me that with the right plan and the right information, I too can walk in your shoes some day.

That's also great Calil that you could see a success story for yourself. Hopefully the doctor was willing to provide you with some good information also.

Trixiepup sorry to hear about your doctor. That has been my experience with the organized health care now a days. I'm grateful that our plan lets us pick any doctor we want. It's more expensive out of pocket but I am much happier with the quality of care we receive. I am making another appointment with my doctor, this time to focus on diet and I will ask for a referal to an endocrinologist or nutritionist based on what she thinks. She is very interested in overall good health so I don't think there will be a problem. And if I have to go through a few doctors before I find one, then I will do it.

I did try brown rice for the first time today. I don't like wild rice so I was hesitant but it is actually quite good. Has a sort of a nutty flavor to it. Was glad you recommended it Quilter, this will help me expand my complex carbs and add more needed variety to my plan.

Thanks again for the info ladies...

happy2bme, i don't know if you are in a trader joe's area, but they have a wild rice medley that is yummy. it has all the healthy brown rice, with some added texture in the form of wild rice. my mom and dad like it, which is saying a lot, since they are pretty picky.

you might also want to check out some of the asian noodles...some are made from soy, i think, so maybe they might be more of a protein than a carb?

Hi Trixiepup,
Yes we do have a Trader Joe's in the area, we get their monthly flier. To be honest, I haven't mustered the courage to go in there. I love places like that and do have a tendency to go overboard - like a kid in a candy store. Have to decide if I buy Christmas presents or blow it all at Trader Joes :lol:

I thought soy was a bad mix with thyroid meds. Maybe I'm confusing it with something else?

Kim, don't think about the total amount of weight you have to lose. I set my self small goals - "I'm going to lose 20 pounds." and worked toward that. The big number will take care of itself. You know you get great health benefits by losing just 10% of your weight so why not aim for that?

Am learning so much from everyone here. So much more to go. Synthroid seems to be helping but not totally yet (maybe never?). I have just reached the 10% of body weight lost and am going at it one day at a time with five pound mini=goals.

Amazing loss, QinV.

Hi everyone!

Thank you all for you support and advice. I'm sure you've heard it before...but I'm so glad that I am not the only one going through all of this. When I last tested the dr. said I was a 4 which he said was in the normal range...and I have heard that to feel better it's best to be a 1 or a 2, maybe my dr. is old school and hasn't kept up on the research?? I really would like to find someone new but at my size I'd hate to go through the embarassment of first time pap and most of my body exposed cause of the size of that tiny blue gown thing. I have known him so long and it's comfortable (or as comfortable as possible for a man who is so against my size) I keep hoping if I lose weight he'd treat me a little better...fingers crossed anyway.

I'm reading and rereading the Atkins diet book and keep hearing a lot more on the news about the benefits...it sounds very simple. I have somewhat small goals 50lb increments but I think I really would be better off trying to go smaller...my mind is so overwhelmed with the 200+ that I have to go..

Have a good day ladies!!
:df:
Kim