Day 2: 155

Well, it is really too early yet to see any difference in my weight, but I'm still at 155 this morning.

I think I will post morning weight every day, and do a weekly average as the deciding factor on whether a particular diet is "working," or not. I'm not sure if it is possible to post a chart here, but I suppose it is... I'll have to do a little research on that.

It's a tricky thing, to discover the level of calories that will lead to weight loss, but will not push one's body into starvation/preserve-every-calorie mode. I have actually gained weight in the past when I lowered my calorie intake beneath 1000 calories, and then when I said scre* it, and had three slices of pizza, I'd lose 5 pounds the next day. Dieting isn't just about eating less; I know that from experience, and if you are reading this, you know it, too.

Which leads me to the subject of supplements, today's research topic.

Chapter 6 of the Shomon book, The Thyroid Diet: Manage Your Metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss, is "Drugs, Supplements, and Herbs."

Some highlights from the chapter:

1. Drugs. I have always been wary of pharmaceuticals, and the only thing I've ever taken regularly was oral contraceptives, which happens to be number four on the list for "drugs that may contribute to weight gain" (116).  However, I'm not taking them now. I do wonder if perhaps an IUD that I used about eight years ago for five years may have contributed to the change in my metabolism that I have definitely experienced. I have found many patient claims on the internet that that particular IUD did cause them to become hypothyroid, but my OB/GYN dismisses them and claims that any change in my metabolism is due to age, not the IUD. Of course, there's no way that could be proven or disproven. See? I'm right to be wary of pharmaceuticals.
2. How cruel is it that antidepressant drugs are also on that list, since depression is one of the major symptoms of a hypothyroid condition? So women have to choose between being depressed or being fat? For many of us, being fat and feeling unhealthy contributes to depression... It's cruel, and with the cost of doctor visits and many more Americans out of health insurance, there is no "finding the right balance" for many of us. We have to find some kind of balance ourselves. I don't suggest that anyone should stop taking prescription medication, but there seems to be ZERO follow-up possible with physicians with our current system. Family relationships with doctors? That is a thing of the past.
3. Supplements. The section on supplements in Shomon's book is basically a list of the various types of products that are touted to aid in weight loss, description of what it is supposed to do, and then a qualifier by Shomon saying, Well, you could try this, but discontinue it if you feel any negative effects. With four possible exceptions. CALCIUM is listed as having a connection with weight loss, and so I will do some research and publish what I find soon; and CONJUGATED LINOLINEIC ACID (CLA) is given the following endorsement: "Studies have shown that 3 to 4 grams per day of CLA can help with muscle mass, and 6 grams a day can help with insulin levels. One double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study found that CLA reduces fat and preserves muscle tissue." Now THAT sounds promising. I'm definitely doing some research on that one, and will report back what I find with links to any studies. SELENIUM and ZINC: "Supplementation with selenium and zinc may be tried with lower-calorie diets to prevent decline of the thyroid homone T3. You shouldn't take more than 400 mcg of selenium a day. A daily dose of 15 mg of zinc is helpful." (130) Since I am initially trying to control my mildly hypothyroid condition with diet and exercise without the addition of thyroid hormone, synthetic or otherwise, I think I might try adding selenium and zinc if I can find research to support this.
4. A multi-vitamin supplement. Shomon and just about everybody in the world agrees that a good multi-vitamin supplement to take regularly when dieting. No arguments here. I'm taking the One a Day "Women's 50+ Advantage" multivitamin, which I note has 405 mg of calcium, 22.5 mg of zinc and 20 mcg of selenium.

If you have expertise in the area of supplements for hypothyroid conditions, please do contribute them.