Right now I'm doing the Richard Simmon's Food Mover and do to my weight, I'm starting at 2000 calories and will cut down as I lose. Problem is I can't eat that many calories in a day, it's a battle. I love water, I have a gallon container, something I got at a gas station, it has a handle and a nifty straw. I get a lot of compliments on it. :lol: Some days it takes all day for me to finish it, other times I just can’t drink it all, I don't care how much I love it. It can be hard choking down all the liquid. Did you guys read the article on CNN, some pros don't think we need 8 glasses a day? http://www.cnn.com/2002/HEALTH/diet....en.water.otsc/

Being Hypo... my skin is so dry I really need the water, and a good moisturizer, but when my TSH is out of range nothing helps until the meds kick in. Since my thyroid gland was eradicated through radiation Iodine, I depend solely on the medication.

When I'm completely on plan I'm doing 100 oz of water - 3 of the large 1 liter bottles of water. I'm finding it a little tougher to get all this water in during the winter and it does make for a middle of the night potty run which I don't like either.

One of the other ladies on this forum posted a wonderful article on water - if you like, I'll copy it in here. I knew water was good for weight loss but this really opened my eyes to many other ways your body needs and uses the water and why you have to get in as much as you can. I was slacking off and after I read it, I got back on the bandwagon again.

I realize that for some people getting enough water is just as hard as portion control or giving up favorite fatty foods, but it's so important to get in as much as you can. I recently read an article in Reader's Digest where one study was questioning whether you really did need 64 oz of water. All I can say is that I notice a huge difference when I'm not taking in as much as I should.

Since hypothyroidism lends itself to dry skin, constipation and a general feeling of being tired - getting your water in will greatly help in alleviating these symptoms.

So as to your question, 64 oz minimum, more if you can get it down. One trick I heard of was to drink with a straw from your water bottle - you take in more liquid when using a straw. Or start out at 48 oz and each day increase your intake little by little to work you way up to 64 oz.

I'm a purist - I buy bottled water and drink it plain or occasionally with a slice of lemon, lime or orange in it. Liquids with caffine (coffee, tea) don't count towards your water goal - I think because caffine is a diuretic, but I've heard that herbal teas, Crystal Lite or low sugar flavored waters are ok if you can't deal with the plain stuff - tho make sure you get some of that in too.

Good luck, let me know if you want to see the water articles.

I'd love to read it. I'm the same way, I'll get away from it until someone or something put a little fire under my feet and then I'm gong ho again. I'm finding out as I grow older that I'm becoming a visionary and need to have all sighted messages where I can see them to stay focused.

I agree with you water is essential for our chemical makeup, I spruce mine up with citrus fruits every now and again also, a simple change can make it so refreshing. Sometimes I slip in a teaspoon of 100 % Fruit Juice, but my favorite is just plain old ice. Sometimes I put small pieces of fruit (citrus slices, marachino cherries, pineapple tidbits) in a couple of ice cube trays and use that.

I want water more at night than I do the daytime hours, which means I'm running all day and night because of the blood pressure med I have to take because of the weight I've gained from being HYPO... aaaaargh! :lol: Ahhhh... that felt good. Guess that explains why I like water, I can't keep it, unless I over do the sodium.

May I ask how you all got your Dr. to listen to you. And what test can they do if the first blood test comes back normal. But your gland is enlarged everytime you go to the Dr. I have had the first blood work done many times and it always comes back normal and my glands are still enlarged.

Mellisa, all I can say from my own experience and what my niece had was if your doctor is not listening to you, find another doctor that will. As for my niece, she did alot of calling to various hospital physician referal services asking specifically for a doctor who specialized in pregnancy related thyroid issues, it took her months to find a good program. She lives in Wisconsin and at first had to travel to the south suburbs of Illinois to get in a program, now she's found another doctor closer to her home. She seems to go in spurts, will get stabilized and feel better for a while, then it fluxuates and she goes back to get checked.

I went to my gyne this week. She originally prescribed my Synthroid. When I told her that I went to see an endocrynologist last week she gave me the hairy eyeball and started asking why I did that and all sorts of questions. She was rather stern but I just chalked it off to having the last appt of the day and figured it was a bad day for her because usually she's quite nice. I stuck to my guns tho about my decision. Since I switched to the Armour brand I feel incredibly better - I still get cold/frigid but not as often during the day, I'm sleeping better, I feel more energetic, my skin is not quite as dry and I just feel a big difference. I figure after 9 years on Synthroid, I should be the one to judge so I think for me, getting another opinion and different meds was crucial.

Here's both of the water articles
 

Copied from Mooz49's post. Thanks Mooz!!! Here is some information on water. Hope you find it useful.

.The importance of water in your diet.

Incredible as it may seem, water is quite possibly the single most important catalyst in losing weight and keeping it off. Although most of us take it for granted, water may be the only true "magic potion" for permanent weight loss! Water suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits. Here's why: The kidneys can't function properly without enough water. When the kidneys don't work to capacity, some of their load is dumped onto the liver. One of the liver's primary functions is to metabolize stored fat into usable energy for the body. If the liver has to do some of the kidney's work, it can't operate at full throttle. As a result, it metabolizes less fat, more fat remains stored in the body, and weight loss stops.
Drinking enough water is the best treatment for fluid retention. When the body gets less water, it perceives this as a threat to survival and begins to hold on to every drop. Water is stored in extra cellular spaces (outside the cells). This shows up as swollen feet, legs and hands. Diuretics offer a temporary solution at best. They force out stored water along with some essential nutrients. Again, the body perceives a threat and will replace the lost water at the first opportunity. Thus, the condition quickly returns. The best way to overcome the problem of water retention is to give the body what it needs…PLENTY OF WATER. Only then will the stored water be released.
If you have a constant problem with water retention, excess salt may be to blame. Your body will tolerate sodium only in a certain concentration. The more salt you eat, the more water your system retains to dilute it. But getting rid of un-needed salt is easy - just drink more water. As it's forced through the kidneys, it takes away excess sodium. The overweight person needs more water than the thin one! Larger people have larger metabolic loads. Since we know that water is the key to fat metabolism, it follows that the overweight person needs more water.
Water helps maintain proper muscle tone by giving muscles their natural ability to contract and by preventing dehydration. It also helps to prevent the sagging skin that usually follows weight loss - shrinking cells are buoyed by water, which plumps the skin and leaves it clear, healthy, and resilient. Water helps rid the body of waste. During weight loss, the body has a lot more waste to get rid of - all the metabolized fat must be shed. Again, adequate water helps flush out the waste. Water can help relieve constipation. When the body gets too little water, it siphons what it needs from internal sources. The colon is one primary source. Result? Constipation. But, when a person gets enough water, normal bowel functions returns.
So far, we've discovered some remarkable truths about water and weight loss:
The body will not function properly without enough water and can't metabolize stored fat efficiently.
Retained water shows up as excess weight.
To get rid of excess water you must drink more water.
Drinking water is essential to weight loss. How much water is enough??
On the average, a person should drink eight 8-ounce glasses every day. That's about 2 quarts. However, the overweight person needs one additional glass for every 25 pounds of excess weight. The amount you drink also should be increased if you exercise briskly or if the weather is hot and dry. Water should preferably be cold - it's absorbed into the system more quickly than warm water. And some evidence suggests that drinking cold water can actually help burn calories. When the body gets the water it needs to function optimally, its fluids are perfectly balanced. Once this happens you have reached the "breakthrough point". What does this mean?

- Endocrine-gland function improves.
- Fluid retention is alleviated as stored water is lost.
- More fat is used as fuel because the liver is free to metabolize stored fat.
- Natural thirst returns.
- There is loss of hunger almost overnight.
If you stop drinking enough water, your body fluids will be thrown out of balance again, and you may experience fluid retention, unexplained weight gain and loss of thirst. To remedy the situation you'll have to go back and force another "breakthrough". By Donald S. Robertson, M.D., M. Sc.

Sometimes drinking our eight glasses of water a day can be a real challenge Here are 20 tips to help you accomplish that feat! .
1. Make a bet with a co-worker to see who can drink more water in the course of a day.
2. Have a big glass of water at every transitional point of the day: when you first get up, just before leaving the house, when you sit down to work, etc.
3. Make it convenient - keep a big, plastic, insulated water bottle full on your desk and reach for it all day.
4. When you have juice (apple, grape, or orange) fill half the glass with water.
5. When you have a junk-food craving, down a glass of water immediately. You feel full quickly and avoid the calories, and it lets time pass till the craving fades.
6. Have one glass every hour on the hour while at work. When the work day is done your water quota is met.
7. Substitute a cup of hot water with a drop of honey for tea or coffee.
8. While at work, get a 20 ounce cup of ice and keep filling it up from the office water cooler. The key is drinking with a straw - you take bigger gulps and drink much more.
9. Freeze little bits of peeled lemons, limes, and oranges and use them in place of ice cubes - it's refreshing and helps get in a serving or two of fruit.
10. After each trip to the restroom, guzzle an eight-ounce glass to replenish your system.
11. Don't allow yourself a diet soda until you've had two to four glasses of water. You will find that you won't want the soda anymore or that just half a can is enough.
12. Let ounces of water double grams of fat: When eating something containing 10 grams of fat, I drink 20 ounces of water.
13. Drink two full glasses at each meal, one before and one after. Also, drink one glass before each snack so you don't eat as much.
14. Carry a small refillable water bottle at all times and drink during downtime; while waiting in a bank line, sitting on the train, etc.
15. Use a beautiful gold-rimmed glass and fill it with cold water from the tap.
16. Drink two glasses of water immediately after waking up.
17. Bring a two-liter bottle of water to work and try to drink it all before you leave work. If you don't finish, drink it in traffic on the way home - it's like a race.
18. Always keep a 24-ounce bottle of water handy while watching TV, doing laundry, making dinner, etc.
19. Add drinking two glasses of water to your daily skincare regimen. Drink, cleanse, moisturize, etc., then drink again.
20. Drink your water out of a big Pyrex measuring cup - it's a good way to keep track of how much water you are drinking

Thanks for the information on the water--Maybe I'm just not being truthful to myself. I've been in denial for some time now about these yo-yo pounds. I will increase the water intake. So for tomorrow I'll pledge half my weight in water which will be around 80 oz. Then I'll increase.

Need to do some laundry before bed time.

Till tomorrow.:wave:
Bye for now.

Melissa in NC and Happy2bme
 

Hi Melissa,
When I noticed a change in myself, the only symptoms I had were rapid weight gain and I was tired to the bone. I'd just given birth, after several months I spoke to my OB about it, he told me to eat less and exercise more, I was never so insulted. I knew it was more than that... we certainly know our bodies better than anyone.

I found another GYN (surgeon) who kept an eye on my thyroids, it was years before it showed up. He caught it within a 6-month period, I was checked in June, notta, in Dec. it was off the charts. He referred me to an Endocrinologist, he didn't know personally, but was suppose to be one of the best. I guess that's why he had such a cocky attitude. I wouldn't take my dog to him today, if I had a dog. At that time my gland and neck had swollen, I had a nodule on my gland and I was afraid I had throat cancer, my voice had become raspy and I was losing weight like crazy. It's odd, as sick as I was, I was so glad I was finally losing the weight that the sickness had become secondary.

Unfortunately the one Dr. that took time to listen to me and found my problem passed away a year after he found my problem and I had to find another Doctor. Since then I have been to 13 Endocrinologist and 2 GYNs. The last female Endo said that since I have no thyroid function, it would be in my favor to have my Thyroid Profile done by my GP and get this… “It would be less costly.” If they made a kit for us to check ourselves and adjust our dosage I would rather do that than mess with another Dr.

Thanks Happy2bme for the water article! :)

The saddest thing is all the examples of poor quality of care and attitude that people have had to deal with related to this. Why???? I know that as doctors have to negotiate fees for health care and as the insurance cuts more and more, in many cases doctors are rushing quality for quantity but in my case, I have a traditional plan, pick my own doctors and pay a higher out of pocket fee. I think it's worth it in the long run, have gotten much better care than when I was in a PPO or HMO. But still, the whole medical field has gone to pot... I'm really glad this thread is here.

Good luck Mellisa. And you're welcome for the water articles. I thought they were good and worth passing along.

I agree 100% on ppo's and hmo's I hate it. Went to my gyn and found out that he is not listed--They didn't pay one penny--Was I upset.

As far as doctor's go-- I guess I'm lucky--I trust him and know him personnally--used to work for him. Thyroid disease runs in my family history--except my uncles have hyperthyroid problems--
My doctor got upset with himself over the fact that he gave me a Rx for a year of synthyroid .112 but before the year was up that dosage quit working--I was just beyond going!!! He gave me a higher dosage and to come back with in 3 months for another test. Now he wants me in every 6 months or earlier if I feel the symptoms coming back.

I didn't get all the water in today--but I tried. Will work on it again tomorrow.

Hi everybody,
I haven't been here for awhile, Sorry I haveen't been doing very well. I give up too easly I think. I have been having little flares from my Lupus joint pain and stuff, Feel sorry for myself then eat. Pretty bad eh.
I am starting out fresh again today, I know I can do it. I've done it before along time ago. On WW I lost 50lbs. But I fined then soooo expensive now. I am trying a low carb one now! Any suggestions???
Anagram your family are in my prays. Please take care of yourself.

thanks for the advice.. I went to the Oncoloigest (sp?) the one that took my ovary out when I was 5 mo. preg. 4 months after I had David and she commented on my glands being so big but did nothing about it.
I just do not understand dr.s.. I had on PA to say that she would deal with the gland issue after she had my gallbladder sucked out. I did not go back to her because That is no way to talk to someone who is going to have to have surgery. and they did not catch that I was preg. at the time so they do not check things as good as they should.

the drs in the hmo i go to are okay. i have my hmo for when things go wrong, and for basic maint. however, for my thyroid, i will continue to see my other doctor. i pay for her services on my own, but she is wonderful and she listens to me. a lot of drs get so caught up in the test results that they don't listen to how the patiend feels. blood values are easier to justify in patient records, and i think it is a cya policy.

what is difficult is when there is a conflict between the 2 doctors points of view. my mom is at that point now. she finally feels normal and alive, and her hmo dr is telling her to cut her dose 2/3. she'd be taking what i'm taking, and she was at 9.5 i think last year. thankfully she'll run the test results by her other doctor before changing things.

on the upside, i weighed in yesterday, and lost 1.8 lbs. yay! i should get the flu more often. i skipped the ww meeting though. they are so boring and don't help me much right now. it's really helped to just eat less overall. maybe i'll market the flu diet and make millions....

sample day:
breakfast - wake up and feel queasy. drink herbal tea with a spoonful of sugar and a few saltines to dip in the tea.
lunch - still feel sick. have some cream of chicken soup with a slice of french bread.
dinner - glass of orange juice and some foccacia bread that has been toasted in the oven.
snack - realize you are somewhat hungry, but because you can't smell things well, and moving is such an effort you go to bed.

Calil, I take Levoxyl 3.00 and my reading was 22 when I was switched from Synthroid. It's like everything, nothing works for everyone so you have to find the one that is right for you. I'm doing much better now, down to 3 now that the dosage has been increased.

QuilterInVA, does it normally take more than a couple of months for you to feel better once your dosage has been increased?