can anyone help?
 

Hello


Not sure what to do next. I don't really know what the South Beach diet is about. After reading my post perhaps someone can tell me whether this WOE would help me...

I've been trying to follow Atkins for the last 5-6 weeks. I've been eating about 30 - 40 gms carbs/day and lots of fat.

I've only lost 5 lbs.

I've struggled to lose 23 lbs over the last year, tortuously slow.


I'm thinking of reducing the amount of fat I eat and increasing the carbs.

I posted this on the Atkins forum and go shot down.

I have an underactive thryoid that I take medication for. I've read that when we go below 60 gms/carbs a day we decrease our thyroid hormone conversion.

I'm extremely frustrated and confused about what I should be eating to lose and maintain my loss. I'm a very active person, but even when we go on week long kayak trips, I gain weight. I gain about 5 lbs on every holiday then it takes me 2 months to lose it.

I feel doomed.

Do you think I should reduce my fat and eat a few more carbs to increase my available thyroid hormone?

I also don't lose anything if I eat much more than 60 gms a day.

I want off this merry go round and onto something I can do for life.

Can anyone help me??

Thank you!

Maggie

Maggie check out the South Beach Frequently Asked Questions section of 3FC. It will explain the program a little better than I can. Basically it's GOOD carbs & GOOD fats. There are 3 phases and you can eat anything you want that is on the approved lists.

I would first check with my Dr. considering your thyroid condition.

I'd be curious about the thyroid issues you mentioned. I take thyroid meds as well and like to read more about it.

FOr those that are hard core Atkins increasing carbs is not the solution.

DO you keep a food journal? I'd be curious to read what your weekly food consumption is - sometimes there are problems we don't see, but someone else will.

Keep taking to us about the matter, ok?

Thanks you guys!

I belong to another LC forum and was reading a thread about 'tips and stalls' and am now convinced that I was simply eating too many calories.

I got it into my head from doing Atkins that the sky is the limit when it comes to to fat.

I did lose weight last year - 23 lbs, and I sure wasn't hogging out on fat or eating super low carb.

I take desicated thyroid (armour), 4- 60 grain tabs. All my lab work is excellent.

It's much discussed on the about.com thryroid site that under 60 gms causes conversion problems.

The only reason I went low this time was because we're going to Mexico at Christmas, and I was desperate to be thin!! Now it looks like that's going to be unattainable by then.

If I can lose 12 lbs in the next 6 weeks, go on the trip (we're sea kayaking for 2 weeks) eat a low glycemic menu and maintain my weight, I would see that as a great success. The problem with Atkins is every time I go on a holiday I gain at least 5 lbs, because I put carbs back in. Maybe if my body were used to them I'd be ok.

Thanks for the support!

I'll look at the FAQ page. I'm also looking at Sugar Busters, but know from experiene that I need to keep some kind of a lid on the carbs or it doesn't work at all.

Maggie