No, I don't plan to do an analysis of EVERY day, but since this was my first day on the new Free Form diet recommended by Mary Shomon, let's see how I did.
CALORIES
AM:
Breakfast: Coffee plus 1 T of sugarfree French vanilla creamer, 30 calories
1 medium banana, 80 calories (2 g fiber)
1 scrambled egg, 60 calories
1 T shredded cheddar cheese, 20 calories
Total Breakfast calories: 190 calories
PM:
Lunch: Sandwich with 2 slices pumpernickel bread, 160 calories (2 g fiber); 5 thin shaved slices of processed ham, 150 calories, lettuce leaf, 5 calories?, 1 teaspoon of honey mustard, 10 calories; 1 slice of provolone sandwich cheese, 70 calories. Total sandwich, 395 calories
4 celery stalks, 40 calories (8 g fiber) with 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, 200 calories (2 g fiber)
Total Lunch calories: 635 calories (ouch, more than I thought; I felt very full after that lunch -- lesson learned: use only one slice of bread and only 1 tablespoon of peanut butter)
Dinner: 1 cup of homemade lentil stew (using recipe in previous post), 250 calories, (16 g fiber)
5 large shrimp (appetizer, no cocktail sauce, lean protein serving), 100 calories
About 1 cup of cut, raw vegetables (incl baby carrots, celery, yellow zucchini, and grape tomatoes), 75 calories (5 g fiber?)
4 fl. ounces of dry red wine, 80 calories
Total Dinner calories: 505 calories
So, TOTAL calories for the day = 1330 calories, 35 grams of fiber
Not terrible, but not great, either. It felt like a more or less average day. I wasn't hungry at all, and in fact after lunch I felt very full. Where could I have done better? Cut down the sandwich to a half sandwich using only one slice of bread, and substituting a higher fiber, whole grain bread, and cutting the peanut butter that I smeared on celery slices in half.
I drank what seemed like an ocean of water, but was really only 6 large tumblers full (maybe 60 fl oz?)
I drank a little red wine tonight; it was New Year's Eve. I measured it and I sipped it while also drinking a tumbler of lemon-flavored water.
The fiber count: 35 grams was over the target of 25 grams for the diet, so OK there. Thanks to the lentil soup/stew. I think I'll have to include some kind of beans or lentils, at least a half cup, every day to meet the fiber target.
Protein? Yes, there was at least a small serving of protein with each meal.
Yes, there was some fat in the diet today, but not excessive. I cut out the airpopped popcorn after lunch; I was so full I didn't want it.
So, that's what a day on the Mary Shomon diet looks like. It was fairly easy to do.
AS for exercise:
I biked 2 miles roundtrip with the kids to the beach today, and we walked around at the beach.
I also self-enforced the "5 minutes of exercise before sitting at the computer" 3 times today. Should have been more like 6 times. Will do better tomorrow.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Suspicions about mercenary motivations on sites
Call me paranoid. Does anyone else review the information out there on websites and think, what is this? Is this just a ploy to have me click on a request for an ebook, or some kind of supplement, or what?
I've just spent hours doing research on the net, and I've got to say that there is so much conflicting information out there that it is very frustrating to find specific information for dieting with a hypothyroid condition.
I don't know.
I've seen lists of foods to avoid that are just unbelievable. If I avoided every food that was listed on a supposedly expert thyroid site, I'd never eat again.
Common sense says limit caloric intake, and limit high-glycemic (high sugar) foods. Common sense suggests that carbs should be mixed with protein, and "bad carbs" (white bread, junk food, sweets, white potatoes) should be eliminated altogether.
Hypothyroid individuals generally suffer from constipation; a common sense remedy is to increase one's daily fiber intake. However, the study to the right finds that a fiber-enriched diet interferes with the bioavailability of levothyroxine (Synthroid) (J of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 1996).
Some sites say a glass of red wine is OK once in a while (2-3 x per week?), others say no, alcohol interferes with thyroid function.
I'm reading that calcium (even skim milk?) cannot be taken within 4 hours of thyroid medication. Really?
I'm reading that thyroid meds should be taken on an empty stomach for better absorption (well, that makes sense), and supplements taken at night. OK. It sounds reasonable. Only one problem: a recent double blind, placebo controlled study showed NO THERAPEUTIC BENEFIT between morning vs. bedtime intake of levothyroxine (see linked study at right from the Archives of Internal Medicine, dated 12/2010).
I'm reading that yoga will have a better impact on weight loss than cardiovascular exercise (since when?), because yoga focuses one's mind on breathing... (I'm serious)
Some people seem to think that coconuts, in all its forms, are the solution to curing hypothyroidism, but don't offer a shred of evidence for that claim. There was apparently a rash of products some years ago related to this claim.
I've read on many sites today that soy, in all its forms, should be avoided by hypothyroid patients. Not true, according to the journal, Thyroid (2006). They say, "hypothyroid adults need not avoid soy foods," and
"it is important for soy food consumers to make sure their intake of iodine is adequate." (see study at right)
I don't know about you, my readers, but this is really tough to sort through.
I'm going to have to think carefully about how to present info here. I guess I will have to give a few diets a month each (including Mrs. Shomon's Free Form program), and see what results I get.
It looks to me like I will have to find another doctor; one who is very experienced with hypothyroidism. Sigh. I don't want to waste time; as I said, I am determined to find a solution that works for me.
Wish me luck...
I've just spent hours doing research on the net, and I've got to say that there is so much conflicting information out there that it is very frustrating to find specific information for dieting with a hypothyroid condition.
I don't know.
I've seen lists of foods to avoid that are just unbelievable. If I avoided every food that was listed on a supposedly expert thyroid site, I'd never eat again.
Common sense says limit caloric intake, and limit high-glycemic (high sugar) foods. Common sense suggests that carbs should be mixed with protein, and "bad carbs" (white bread, junk food, sweets, white potatoes) should be eliminated altogether.
Hypothyroid individuals generally suffer from constipation; a common sense remedy is to increase one's daily fiber intake. However, the study to the right finds that a fiber-enriched diet interferes with the bioavailability of levothyroxine (Synthroid) (J of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 1996).
Some sites say a glass of red wine is OK once in a while (2-3 x per week?), others say no, alcohol interferes with thyroid function.
I'm reading that calcium (even skim milk?) cannot be taken within 4 hours of thyroid medication. Really?
I'm reading that thyroid meds should be taken on an empty stomach for better absorption (well, that makes sense), and supplements taken at night. OK. It sounds reasonable. Only one problem: a recent double blind, placebo controlled study showed NO THERAPEUTIC BENEFIT between morning vs. bedtime intake of levothyroxine (see linked study at right from the Archives of Internal Medicine, dated 12/2010).
I'm reading that yoga will have a better impact on weight loss than cardiovascular exercise (since when?), because yoga focuses one's mind on breathing... (I'm serious)
Some people seem to think that coconuts, in all its forms, are the solution to curing hypothyroidism, but don't offer a shred of evidence for that claim. There was apparently a rash of products some years ago related to this claim.
I've read on many sites today that soy, in all its forms, should be avoided by hypothyroid patients. Not true, according to the journal, Thyroid (2006). They say, "hypothyroid adults need not avoid soy foods," and
"it is important for soy food consumers to make sure their intake of iodine is adequate." (see study at right)
I don't know about you, my readers, but this is really tough to sort through.
I'm going to have to think carefully about how to present info here. I guess I will have to give a few diets a month each (including Mrs. Shomon's Free Form program), and see what results I get.
It looks to me like I will have to find another doctor; one who is very experienced with hypothyroidism. Sigh. I don't want to waste time; as I said, I am determined to find a solution that works for me.
Wish me luck...
Grocery shopping for the hypothyroid diet
After reading some diet advice on the internet today regarding dieting with hypothyroidism, here is my initial shopping list for the next several days.
Breakfast will be coffee, a cup of Go Lean cereal with 1% milk OR a sliced apple with a T smear of peanut butter OR 1/2 cup of cottage cheese with lemon OR an Activia yogurt
Lunch will be a whole grain sandwich (I think I'll use only one slice; I was stuffed today at lunch with two slices of pumpernickel bread) with the lean, unprocessed turkey, a thin slice of swiss, some lettuce, and a teaspoon of honey mustard), some celery, a few olives, a few baby carrots, and maybe a couple of cups of my airpopped popcorn
Dinner will be 1) a cup of lentil stew (see recipe below), or 2) a bowl of Greek salad (see recipe below), or 3) broiled chicken breast (see recipe below).... plus, as much celery/cucumbers or cooked edamame (steam them in a saucepan until tender, then toss with a tablespoon of Chinese 5 spice powder) as I want.
A few recipes:
- Lemons & limes (I can only stand to drink 2 or 3 glasses of water without some kind of flavoring, and these are great for flavoring on salads, veges, fruits, bean dishes, etc.)
- Packaged dry lentils (homemade lentil soup/stew takes only a couple of hours in a Crockpot and will last several days for easy high protein/high fiber meals on the go)
- Celery (Crunchy, can be made tasty with a thin smear of peanut butter for protein, potassium, and a good fat mixture, 80% unsaturated fat, and I need it for lentil stew)
- Unprocessed turkey sandwich meat from the deli counter
- Eggs (or Egg Beaters, in a carton)
- The highest fiber soft, whole-grain bread I can find on the grocer's shelf
- 1% milk (I'm just not a fan of skim milk, yuck)
- High fiber, low calorie boxed cereal (I'm going with Kashi GoLean Protein & High Fiber Cereal) for mornings when I'm rushing to work
- Salad greens (luckily, I like salads). Learned today: stay away from raw spinach or cabbage, since it's bad for a hypothyroid diet; stick with the dark lettuce leaves
- A few varieties of olives (yes, but it's the good fat!) Great on salads (Greek salad! yum!) and a healthy little snack
- Purple onions (a few sprinkled on a salad)
- Tomatoes
- Apples
- Frozen blueberries (to add to a little yogurt for a treat)
- Cheese (thin sliced swiss cheese for sandwiches and feta cheese for sprinkling a couple of tablespoons on a Greek salad, plus Breakstone's lowfat cottage cheese, great with a squeeze of lemon) Look, I may be dieting but I love cheese.
- Popcorn (NO, not microwave popcorn; I have a fantastic air popper (Presto PopLite hot air popper) that I LOVE on the counter. Bagged popcorn is cheaper and much healthier for a snack, and I can make as much or as little as I want at a time. No eating a whole bag of MW popcorn. Great alternative to butter and salt: Land o Lakes Butter or Cheddar seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon is only 5 calories and gives a bit of flavor, found next to spices/seasonings; 2 cups of airpopped popcorn = 4 grams of fiber)
- Chicken breasts for broiling (see recipe below)
- Diced ham for the lentil stew
- Reduced fat, low-sodium chicken stock for the lentil stew
- Yellow onions (for the lentil stew)
- Activia yogurts (probiotic yogurt, yum, and really works for constipation if you use it several days in a row)
- frozen edamame (honestly, though, there are a couple of sites out there that caution ANY soy product since it may interfere with thyroid function, so I'm still researching this)
- (Chinese five spice powder (for the edamame)
Breakfast will be coffee, a cup of Go Lean cereal with 1% milk OR a sliced apple with a T smear of peanut butter OR 1/2 cup of cottage cheese with lemon OR an Activia yogurt
Lunch will be a whole grain sandwich (I think I'll use only one slice; I was stuffed today at lunch with two slices of pumpernickel bread) with the lean, unprocessed turkey, a thin slice of swiss, some lettuce, and a teaspoon of honey mustard), some celery, a few olives, a few baby carrots, and maybe a couple of cups of my airpopped popcorn
Dinner will be 1) a cup of lentil stew (see recipe below), or 2) a bowl of Greek salad (see recipe below), or 3) broiled chicken breast (see recipe below).... plus, as much celery/cucumbers or cooked edamame (steam them in a saucepan until tender, then toss with a tablespoon of Chinese 5 spice powder) as I want.
A few recipes:
Homemade Lentil Stew
1 bag (16 oz) uncooked lentil beans
About 1 cup of diced ham
About 1/2 cup of diced yellow onions
About 1 cup of diced celery
About 1 tablespoon of butter or margarine
About 4 cups of reduced fat, low-sodium chicken broth
Salt (I like kosher, but it's not iodized -- subject of a future post)
Lemon for seasoning
About 2 tablespoons of tomato paste (gives a bit of a tang, yum)
In the Crockpot, pour in the 4 cups of chicken broth plus another 4 cups of water (you could use all chicken broth, but I find 50/50 is OK taste-wise) plus the lentils. Place heat on the high setting.
Saute the onions and celery in a small pan in the butter or margarine (you could also use something like a couple of tablespoons of peanut or canola oil). When they start to get tender, add them to the lentils in the pot along with 2 tablespoons of tomato paste and the diced ham.
Let it simmer for about an hour and a half. Check lentils for doneness. When they are soft, add the juice of half a lemon and salt to taste. Cook an additional 20 minutes or so. Stores well in the refrigerator for several days.
The Easiest Greek Salad Ever
Romaine lettuce (or red leaf lettuce)
Olives, sliced (whatever types you enjoy; the olives in oil with feta flavor this enough I skip dressing)
Feta cheese
Tomatoes, cut into wedges
Purple onions, sliced into thin strips
You know what to do. The olives and feta cheese make this a yummy salad.
Easy, Delicious Broiled Chicken Breast
Skinless & boneless chicken breasts
Feta cheese
Sun dried tomatoes, julienned (sliced in slivers)
Lemon & cracked pepper, sea salt or kosher salt
Thyme
Season the chicken breasts with cracked pepper & thyme. Arrange them in a glass oven pan, and broil them about 10" away from the broiler. Keep the oven door cracked to allow some heat to escape, and Don't Walk Away while broiling! Keep an eye on them; in about 5-7 minutes (depending on how large they are), flip them over and continue to broil. If you use a meat thermometer, they are done at 160 degrees F.
When they are ALMOST done, remove from heat, sprinkle on the sun dried tomatoes, feta cheese, and drizzle lemon on top and place back under the broiler for just a minute or two to allow the cheese and tomatoes to soften and warm up to the meat. You can use sea salt or kosher salt to taste, if you want, though I like it fine without.
Day 1: 155. What kind of diet?
Ok, so this morning I'm 155 according to my bathroom digital scale. That's not unusual for me; my weight usually varies a couple of pounds between morning and evening. Last night I read Part 1 of the book The Thyroid Diet by Mary Shomon. Here are some highlights:
"Recent studies have conservatively estimated that as many as 20 million people have a thyroid problem, the majority of them undiagnosed." (3)
"One study found that as many as 40% of overweight people had evidence of a dysfunctional thyroid." (4)
Causes and Risk Factors
In addition to what I listed in my previous post, here are a few more:
There is a lot of information about various thyroid hormone levels, which I will leave to a future post.
For now, the real question upon wakening on Day 1, is What kind of diet?
Skipping ahead to Chapter 9 of the book, I learn that Shomon recommends one of three plans:
The Free-Form Plan
Calorie-Sensitive Plan
This one is a little complicated, so bear with me. The aim of the plan is to "stay within your calorie target, getting approximately 35% of your calories from lean protein, 20% from low-glycemic veges, 15% from low-glycemic fruits and starches, and 30% from good fats." My observation: I hate it already; I don't have a PDA to carry around to keep track of everything, and it's not realistic to carry around a notebook to do a good job of this, I know from experience. But let me at least present her formula for how to compute the number of calories allowed (I am limiting the formula to women):
BMR (basal metabolic rate), per Harris-Benedict equation:
BMR = 655 + (9.6 x weight in kilograms) + (1.8 x height in centimeters) - (4.7 x age in years)
Gag. Here goes.
1. Weight in kilograms. Divide weight in pounds by 2.2, so my weight in kg would be 155/2.2, or 70.5.
2. Height in centimeters. Multiply height in inches by 2.54, so my height in cm would be 61x2.54, or 155.
= 655 + (9.6 x 70.5) + (1.8 x 155) - (4.7 x 50)
= 655 + 676.8 + 279 - 235
= 1,846 calories
Hmm. I think 1800 calories is way too much for me, given past dieting experience. True, I haven't carefully allocated calories as Shomon describes into the categories of protein, fruits/starches, etc. But I am being realistic here: this diet sounds harder to follow due to all the record-keeping. I pass.
So, it's between the Free Form Plan and the Carb-Sensitive Plan. I just think it's hard to get enough fiber with an especially low-carb diet unless one is sprinkling fiber on one's salad, so I think I'm going to give the Free Form Plan a trial.
OK, so some meal planning is in order:
Breakfast:
1 cup of coffee plus 1 T sugar-free French vanilla creamer
1 scrambled egg with 1 T shredded cheddar cheese (according to the pkg, 1/4 cup of shredded cheese is 1 oz, which is one serving, so this is a little less than a serving)
1 medium banana
Lunch:
Sandwich with 2 slices of pumpernickel bread (= 2 servings of low-glycemic starch, but I'm biking with my kids to the beach today and we are bringing a picnic), 2 oz. of processed lunchmeat (brown sugar ham, not a great choice, but I haven't been to the store yet to buy lean, unprocessed turkey), 1 slice of cheddar cheese, a leaf of lettuce, and a T of honey mustard.
4 celery stalks with about 2 T of smooth peanut butter smeared sparingly
About 1/2 cup of baby carrots, raw
Afternoon snack:
2 cups of air-popped popcorn with light sprinkle of Land-o-Lakes Sharp Cheddar seasoning (5 calories, according to label, but mostly salt.)
Dinner:
Not sure yet. Doing some research in the book, and then off to the store. I definitely need to buy a small scale to weigh portions. I need more low-glycemic veges & fruits for the fridge. I need lean, unprocessed turkey.
Well, there's my start. The other thing is, that I spend a lot of time on my computer, writing and researching. So from now on, here's my rule: Every time I sit down to the computer, I have to do 5 minutes of exercises (situps, leg lifts, stretches, etc.) FIRST. I am interrupted a lot (kids), so I should be able to get in some exercise that way!
"Recent studies have conservatively estimated that as many as 20 million people have a thyroid problem, the majority of them undiagnosed." (3)
"One study found that as many as 40% of overweight people had evidence of a dysfunctional thyroid." (4)
Causes and Risk Factors
- family history of thyroid problems
- smoking
- history of stomach infection or food poisoning
- allergies or sensitivity to gluten
- exposure to radiation (??)
- iodine deficiency
- exposure to metals, such as mercury or other toxins
- use of fluoridated water/dental fluoride treatments
- eating "goitrogenic" foods -- brussels sprouts, rutabagas, turnips, kohlabi, radishes, cauliflower, African cassava, millet, cabbage, and kale
- age over 60
- female
- hormonal variance such as perimenopause, menopause, pregnancy, or postpartum
- serious trauma to the neck
- past diagnosis with a variety of conditions
In addition to what I listed in my previous post, here are a few more:
- sensitive to cold
- muscle and/or joint pain
- carpal tunnel syndrome or tendonitis
- painful soles of feet
- face, eyes, arms, or legs are abnormally swollen or puffy
- menstrual period is heavier than normal, longer than it used to be, or comes more frequently
- fuzzy thinking (haha, I thought that was age)
- "a full or sensitive feeling in the neck"
- raspy/hoarse voice
- periodic heart palpitations
- high cholesterol
- allergies have gotten worse
- regular infections (such as yeast or sinus infections)
- shortness of breath
There is a lot of information about various thyroid hormone levels, which I will leave to a future post.
For now, the real question upon wakening on Day 1, is What kind of diet?
Skipping ahead to Chapter 9 of the book, I learn that Shomon recommends one of three plans:
The Free-Form Plan
- eat 3 meals a day
- protein -- each meal should include 1-2 portions of lean protein
- low-glycemic veges (eat all you want, at least 6 servings per day)
- low-glycemic fruits (1-2 servings max per day)
- low-glycemic starches (2-3 servings max)
- good fat -- small serving with each meal/snack
- snacks -- 1-2 per day if needed (but avoid eating after 8 pm)
- treats -- very sparingly (1-2 per week max)
- water -- 64 oz min
- supplements (subject of a future post)
- fiber -- 25 grams min.
- 3 meals per day
- protein -- 1-2 portions in each meal
- low-glycemic veges (eat all you want, at least 6 servings per day)
- low-glycemic fruits (1 serving max per day)
- low-glycemic starches (1-2 servings max)
- good fat -- small serving with each meal/snack
- snacks -- 1-2 per day if needed (but avoid eating after 8 pm)
- treats -- very sparingly (1-2 per week max, avoid carbohydrate snacks)
- water -- 64 oz min
- supplements (subject of a future post)
- fiber -- 30 grams min.
Calorie-Sensitive Plan
This one is a little complicated, so bear with me. The aim of the plan is to "stay within your calorie target, getting approximately 35% of your calories from lean protein, 20% from low-glycemic veges, 15% from low-glycemic fruits and starches, and 30% from good fats." My observation: I hate it already; I don't have a PDA to carry around to keep track of everything, and it's not realistic to carry around a notebook to do a good job of this, I know from experience. But let me at least present her formula for how to compute the number of calories allowed (I am limiting the formula to women):
BMR (basal metabolic rate), per Harris-Benedict equation:
BMR = 655 + (9.6 x weight in kilograms) + (1.8 x height in centimeters) - (4.7 x age in years)
Gag. Here goes.
1. Weight in kilograms. Divide weight in pounds by 2.2, so my weight in kg would be 155/2.2, or 70.5.
2. Height in centimeters. Multiply height in inches by 2.54, so my height in cm would be 61x2.54, or 155.
= 655 + (9.6 x 70.5) + (1.8 x 155) - (4.7 x 50)
= 655 + 676.8 + 279 - 235
= 1,846 calories
Hmm. I think 1800 calories is way too much for me, given past dieting experience. True, I haven't carefully allocated calories as Shomon describes into the categories of protein, fruits/starches, etc. But I am being realistic here: this diet sounds harder to follow due to all the record-keeping. I pass.
So, it's between the Free Form Plan and the Carb-Sensitive Plan. I just think it's hard to get enough fiber with an especially low-carb diet unless one is sprinkling fiber on one's salad, so I think I'm going to give the Free Form Plan a trial.
OK, so some meal planning is in order:
Breakfast:
1 cup of coffee plus 1 T sugar-free French vanilla creamer
1 scrambled egg with 1 T shredded cheddar cheese (according to the pkg, 1/4 cup of shredded cheese is 1 oz, which is one serving, so this is a little less than a serving)
1 medium banana
Lunch:
Sandwich with 2 slices of pumpernickel bread (= 2 servings of low-glycemic starch, but I'm biking with my kids to the beach today and we are bringing a picnic), 2 oz. of processed lunchmeat (brown sugar ham, not a great choice, but I haven't been to the store yet to buy lean, unprocessed turkey), 1 slice of cheddar cheese, a leaf of lettuce, and a T of honey mustard.
4 celery stalks with about 2 T of smooth peanut butter smeared sparingly
About 1/2 cup of baby carrots, raw
Afternoon snack:
2 cups of air-popped popcorn with light sprinkle of Land-o-Lakes Sharp Cheddar seasoning (5 calories, according to label, but mostly salt.)
Dinner:
Not sure yet. Doing some research in the book, and then off to the store. I definitely need to buy a small scale to weigh portions. I need more low-glycemic veges & fruits for the fridge. I need lean, unprocessed turkey.
Well, there's my start. The other thing is, that I spend a lot of time on my computer, writing and researching. So from now on, here's my rule: Every time I sit down to the computer, I have to do 5 minutes of exercises (situps, leg lifts, stretches, etc.) FIRST. I am interrupted a lot (kids), so I should be able to get in some exercise that way!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Resolved, that I will lose 35 pounds and start to feel human again
Hi. I'm Mary, a 50-year-old mother of two terrific daughters (ages 11 & 15), and wife of 16 years to the same handsome husband. I'm also a high school English teacher and part-time freelance writer.
The truth is that I never really had a weight problem until about eight years ago. Oh sure, I'd gain five or ten pounds now and then, but in the past when I dieted and exercised, it came off again.
I'm not sure exactly what happened to change my metabolism, but of course hitting my 40s didn't help. Also, I started teaching about eight years ago; I think that the added stress of teaching high school students may have had something to do with it.
It wasn't until mid-2009, when I read an article in a woman's magazine, that I realized my thyroid might be underactive. I have minimal HMO insurance, but I scheduled an appointment with my primary care doctor and he agreed to send me for some labwork.
It showed that I had high cholesterol, was anemic, and mildly hypothyroid (Free T4 = 1.0, TSH = 3.12), with low calcium and vitamin D levels.
At those levels, my doctor said I had normal thyroid function.
But I had/have other symptoms:
My hair has been falling out for years, and is thin and fine.
My nails are brittle and thin.
I pretend like I have energy, but the truth is I slog through every day like I am swimming upstream. My perfect vacation would be a week alone in a hotel room.
Sex drive? Go away.
Depression? Yes, it's a constant companion. Some days... well. I'm a mom; I have to keep up appearances.
Constipation. I am embarrassed to reveal that I go for a week at a time between movements.
Weight gain? After the birth of my second daughter (I was 39), I got back down to 115-117 and I was comfortable there. But in the last eight years, I've gradually increased 5 pounds here, 5 pounds there, until at that time, in mid-2009, I was 144 pounds, one gross.
But I wasn't convinced that my doctor was correct about my "normal thyroid". I went on the internet and I discovered Mary Shomon's website. I learned that a TSH of 3.12 is actually slightly high, and according to standards that were updated in the spring of 2003, could be an indicator of low thyroid function.
So, I made another appointment with my doctor to ask him to consider thyroid medication.
I listed my symptoms. He agreed that I might be mildly hypothyroid. I had read about Armour thyroid medication, and although my doctor initially wanted to prescribe Synthroid, I begged him to let me try Armour. He finally agreed to prescribe it.
I took it for about a week and didn't notice any difference. The, one morning I woke up feeling strange. I started cleaning. Then, I put on some music and I started dancing with my girls. And I realized that there WAS something different: I felt happy, and I felt an upwelling of energy that is hard to describe. When I suddenly realized that it was probably due to Armour, I cried. You have no idea what a relief I felt; I felt that just maybe, I was on a track to a better life. For two amazing weeks, I felt good. And, what was more, my constipation improved and I lost a couple of pounds.
Then, we took a one-week family vacation, and I made a mistake: I forgot to bring the Armour. We were only gone for a week, but it was long enough for me to notice a significant difference in my energy. Constipation hit. But I was certain, then, that it was Armour that had given me such relief. It was validating.
When my 90-day prescription was up (in the fall of 2009), I had to go in for more blood tests. I asked for a refill on the Armour, which my doctor gave me.
I took it straight to the pharmacist, only to be told that Armour was temporarily unavailable. They told me to check back in a few days, which I did -- still unavailable. I did some research on the internet to try to find an alternative source, and I discovered that the makers of Armour were reformulating the product.
I was chagrined, but I read that other hypothyroid patients had experienced good results with Wes-throid or Nature-throid. I called my physician and had him e-mail a prescription for Wes-throid to my pharmacist. Unfortunately, when I arrived to pick up this prescription, the pharmacist told me that Wes-throid was also now unavailable because the backorder on Armour had caused increasing demand for Wes-throid. He said it might be months before he could get it.
I cried; I went to bed in the middle of a Saturday afternoon and I cried in frustration and helplessness. Then I went on the internet and discovered a source in the U.K. where I could order Nature-throid. There was no prescription required; I ordered a six month supply.
When it finally came, I started taking it, of course, even though the label looked different than the Nature-throid product I saw on the internet. But after two weeks with no discernable relief from symptoms, I knew something was wrong. It was different; it was clearly not the same as Armour. I took it for a month, with no help. My pharmacist called and said that he had received some Armour. I again got my doctor to forward a prescription for Armour to the pharmacy, and I eagerly began taking it again.
But something was different. Research showed that Armour had, in fact, been reformulated.
Finally, I gave up and called my doctor and requested Synthroid. It is a much more expensive drug, but at this point I was completely convinced that hypothyroidism was responsible for my misery, and I was desperate.
I used the 90 day supply of Synthroid, and frankly, I saw little if any benefit from the product. I felt depressed and defeated. The truth is that I still feel depressed and defeated. I could go back to my doctor and get another prescription for Synthroid, but I don't believe it will do any good.
So, for the last four months, I haven't been treating myself for hypothyroidism. Oh, I've been eating plenty of salads and I haven't been eating more than about 1400 calories per day; sometimes only 1000 calories per day. But I've been in a funk, have had no energy and haven't been exercising much at all, and I've gained about 15 pounds in the last six months. It seems I am also perimenopausal.
I weighed myself today, and I tip the scales at 157 pounds.
I cannot live this way. I continue to gain weight. I am miserable. I must do something.
So, this is the beginning of my blog: Hypothyroid Dieting.
I plan to record my weight, food/calories consumed, daily exercise. I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. I will post links to any research that I find about the subject of treating hypothyroidism with diet and exercise. I welcome suggestions, advice, and words of encouragement.
I am starting with a book that I've just purchased: The Thyroid Diet: Manage Your Metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss, by Mary Shomon.
My life is literally on the line with this program. It must succeed, not only for my own sake, but for my family.
Resolved: I will lose 35 pounds during 2011, and I will become a human being again.
The truth is that I never really had a weight problem until about eight years ago. Oh sure, I'd gain five or ten pounds now and then, but in the past when I dieted and exercised, it came off again.
I'm not sure exactly what happened to change my metabolism, but of course hitting my 40s didn't help. Also, I started teaching about eight years ago; I think that the added stress of teaching high school students may have had something to do with it.
It wasn't until mid-2009, when I read an article in a woman's magazine, that I realized my thyroid might be underactive. I have minimal HMO insurance, but I scheduled an appointment with my primary care doctor and he agreed to send me for some labwork.
It showed that I had high cholesterol, was anemic, and mildly hypothyroid (Free T4 = 1.0, TSH = 3.12), with low calcium and vitamin D levels.
At those levels, my doctor said I had normal thyroid function.
But I had/have other symptoms:
My hair has been falling out for years, and is thin and fine.
My nails are brittle and thin.
I pretend like I have energy, but the truth is I slog through every day like I am swimming upstream. My perfect vacation would be a week alone in a hotel room.
Sex drive? Go away.
Depression? Yes, it's a constant companion. Some days... well. I'm a mom; I have to keep up appearances.
Constipation. I am embarrassed to reveal that I go for a week at a time between movements.
Weight gain? After the birth of my second daughter (I was 39), I got back down to 115-117 and I was comfortable there. But in the last eight years, I've gradually increased 5 pounds here, 5 pounds there, until at that time, in mid-2009, I was 144 pounds, one gross.
But I wasn't convinced that my doctor was correct about my "normal thyroid". I went on the internet and I discovered Mary Shomon's website. I learned that a TSH of 3.12 is actually slightly high, and according to standards that were updated in the spring of 2003, could be an indicator of low thyroid function.
So, I made another appointment with my doctor to ask him to consider thyroid medication.
I listed my symptoms. He agreed that I might be mildly hypothyroid. I had read about Armour thyroid medication, and although my doctor initially wanted to prescribe Synthroid, I begged him to let me try Armour. He finally agreed to prescribe it.
I took it for about a week and didn't notice any difference. The, one morning I woke up feeling strange. I started cleaning. Then, I put on some music and I started dancing with my girls. And I realized that there WAS something different: I felt happy, and I felt an upwelling of energy that is hard to describe. When I suddenly realized that it was probably due to Armour, I cried. You have no idea what a relief I felt; I felt that just maybe, I was on a track to a better life. For two amazing weeks, I felt good. And, what was more, my constipation improved and I lost a couple of pounds.
Then, we took a one-week family vacation, and I made a mistake: I forgot to bring the Armour. We were only gone for a week, but it was long enough for me to notice a significant difference in my energy. Constipation hit. But I was certain, then, that it was Armour that had given me such relief. It was validating.
When my 90-day prescription was up (in the fall of 2009), I had to go in for more blood tests. I asked for a refill on the Armour, which my doctor gave me.
I took it straight to the pharmacist, only to be told that Armour was temporarily unavailable. They told me to check back in a few days, which I did -- still unavailable. I did some research on the internet to try to find an alternative source, and I discovered that the makers of Armour were reformulating the product.
I was chagrined, but I read that other hypothyroid patients had experienced good results with Wes-throid or Nature-throid. I called my physician and had him e-mail a prescription for Wes-throid to my pharmacist. Unfortunately, when I arrived to pick up this prescription, the pharmacist told me that Wes-throid was also now unavailable because the backorder on Armour had caused increasing demand for Wes-throid. He said it might be months before he could get it.
I cried; I went to bed in the middle of a Saturday afternoon and I cried in frustration and helplessness. Then I went on the internet and discovered a source in the U.K. where I could order Nature-throid. There was no prescription required; I ordered a six month supply.
When it finally came, I started taking it, of course, even though the label looked different than the Nature-throid product I saw on the internet. But after two weeks with no discernable relief from symptoms, I knew something was wrong. It was different; it was clearly not the same as Armour. I took it for a month, with no help. My pharmacist called and said that he had received some Armour. I again got my doctor to forward a prescription for Armour to the pharmacy, and I eagerly began taking it again.
But something was different. Research showed that Armour had, in fact, been reformulated.
Finally, I gave up and called my doctor and requested Synthroid. It is a much more expensive drug, but at this point I was completely convinced that hypothyroidism was responsible for my misery, and I was desperate.
I used the 90 day supply of Synthroid, and frankly, I saw little if any benefit from the product. I felt depressed and defeated. The truth is that I still feel depressed and defeated. I could go back to my doctor and get another prescription for Synthroid, but I don't believe it will do any good.
So, for the last four months, I haven't been treating myself for hypothyroidism. Oh, I've been eating plenty of salads and I haven't been eating more than about 1400 calories per day; sometimes only 1000 calories per day. But I've been in a funk, have had no energy and haven't been exercising much at all, and I've gained about 15 pounds in the last six months. It seems I am also perimenopausal.
I weighed myself today, and I tip the scales at 157 pounds.
I cannot live this way. I continue to gain weight. I am miserable. I must do something.
So, this is the beginning of my blog: Hypothyroid Dieting.
I plan to record my weight, food/calories consumed, daily exercise. I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. I will post links to any research that I find about the subject of treating hypothyroidism with diet and exercise. I welcome suggestions, advice, and words of encouragement.
I am starting with a book that I've just purchased: The Thyroid Diet: Manage Your Metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss, by Mary Shomon.
My life is literally on the line with this program. It must succeed, not only for my own sake, but for my family.
Resolved: I will lose 35 pounds during 2011, and I will become a human being again.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)