[drbjaded]

I'm having some trouble with my metabolism I think. How do you know if you have slow metabolism? More important what are some good exercises to boost your metabolism? Thanks!

Julie

[Mel]

If you suspect problems with your metabolism, see your doctor and request a thyroid panel. It's the only definitive diagnosis. Exercise can't raise your basic metabolic rate. Adding muscle will burn more calories, but the rate is determined by your metabolism which is controlled by your hormones.

Mel

[stef]

As Mel said the only way to find out if your metabolism is off is to get a doc to screen you for thyroid problems.

I recently had mine done, no thyroid trouble but I do have pernicious anaemia (I love sayin that out loud in a very B Movie voice). So the tests are worth having done if you are feeling constantly tired and flumped.

As for raising your metabolic rate, again as Mel said, this is one of those diet myths, in as much as you can't actually raise it, as in fix it. Many people who are sure their metabolism is slow simply underestimate their diet intake and over estimate their activity levels.

You need to be fitter and leaner, to have more muscle mass to make your body use more calories in a day. And this means going to the gym, walking more, simply moving more.

[cathyxxx]

just a word of caution - if you are going to have your thyroid checked (and everyone should!!!) please be sure to have the doctor run the correct tests. Most doctors simply want to run the TSH and maybe T3 Uptake and the problem may be missed.

I had a low thyroid problem that has been undiagnosed for more than 20 years, because doctors were simply running the TSH, even tho I kept complaining about almost every physical low thyroid symptom. A lot of people are being told that their thyroid is fine because only the TSH is being run and the problem is being missed.

So I just wanted to say that IT IS MOST IMPORTANT THAT YOU HAVE YOUR THYROID CHECKED BY HAVING ALL OF THE FOLLOWING TESTS RUN:

TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone from the pituitary gland)

FREE T3 (available active thyroid hormone)

FREE T4 (available storage thyroid hormone)

and the anti thyroid antibodies tests would also help
(TPO – Thyroid Peroxidase detects Hashimoto’s autoimmune thyroid disease and Thyroid Antithyroglobulin)

Some doctors are reluctant to run the Free T3 and Free T4 and antibodies tests, and will want to simply run the old thyroid tests. They not sufficient and can be very misleading and completely miss the problem!

Request or beg or demand the Free T3 and Free T4, TSH and the anti thyroid antibodies tests. If you do not want to go thru a doctor or cannot afford to, you can order the tests (Comprehensive Thyroid Panel II and Anti Thyroid Antibodies) yourself at www.healthcheckusa.com It is very easy to do and then they will send you the paperwork in the mail for you to take with you to the nearest lab to draw your blood and you can look up your results online in a few days and also receive them in the mail.

After the correct tests are done, if a low thyroid problem is found, it is most important to be treated with Armour Thyroid, because it contains BOTH T4 AND T3, and the synthetic drugs do not have T3.

Also on the TSH test - the ranges have changed and very few labs or doctors are recognizing the new lab ranges yet. The old TSH ranges were 0.5 to 5.5 and the new ranges have been changed to 0.3 to 3.0, so when you look at your TSH readings, (and I would ALWAYS GET COPIES OF YOUR BLOODWORK) be sure to keep in mind and tell your doctor about the new ranges. It is also very likely that the ranges will be changed soon to 0.3 to 2.0 - because there are those that feel that anything over 2.0 is hypothyroidism.

I am now taking 3 grains of Armour Thyroid a day - good thing I didn't need it huh.

I am here if anyone wants to talk about any of this.

take care & be well,
Cathy

Rethinking the TSH Test – Dr David Derry
www.thyroid-info.com/articles/david-derry.htm

Hypothyroidism and TSH Levels
http://www.altsupportthyroid.org/tsh/tshrefs2.php