Is it all about the timing??

I really have been trying, I mean really trying to watch the amount of food I eat.  I mainly eat a lot of veggies and fruit throughout the day.  I do have a lot of restrictions with my diet due to my food allergies. (milk, soy, egg, corn, wheat, flour)  My current dilemma:  I am not losing any weight... I think I might be gaining!!!  I am thinking my lack of a thyroid might be an issue as well...

Eating 1200 calories a day for me is rough... I barely make it. I am wanting to increase it back to 1500. I changed it to 1200 on Monday.  I thought if  I could make it to 1200 it wouldn't take long to change it back. I haven't started a regular exercise routine.  I am wanting to lose a little more before I start.  I try not to eat after 7 p.m. 

I guess my question is:  Do my food combinations and the timing between meals/snacks make a difference?  I also have about 64 oz of water a day along with 2-8oz drinks(dt. dr. pepper) throughout the day.

I'm not an expert by any means, but everything that I have read leads me to believe that there is NO correlation to food combinations and weight loss.  I also think that the time that one eats doesn't matter too much...as long as the food is spaced out throughout the day.  The one exception to that, I think, is that one doesn't lose weight as easily if one eats a large number of calories at night.  I, too, am trying not to eat after about 7 or 8 p.m.

Good luck to both of us!!

Do you actually have no thyroid? If so, I am assuming you are on medication. If your levels of thyroid hormone are still too low, you may need to work with your doctor to adjust your dosage or pursue additional treatment options. That is the first thing you should be looking at. If your hormone levels are normal, you would need more than 1200 calories/day though.

As to your question about timing, the simple answer is no.

The more complicated answer is that weight loss is primarily about calories in vs. calories out, but food combinations and timing can make the difference between being fine and being miserable. For example, I find that I feel best when I eat 3 main meals and 1 or 2 snacks per day. I also find that eating meals with a lower glycemic index helps to keep me from getting hungry too soon or running out of energy and "crashing."

I am fairly certain the no eating at night thing is a myth, by the way.

Yes, I no longer have my thyroid.  It was taken out 3 years ago due to cancer.  I do take medication.  My TSH is currently kept very low to possibly help with weight loss.  It has been a huge roller coaster ride to get my levels where they are.  MY endo said that has I lost weight and kept it off, my medication could be lowered.

As with the 1200 calories... I eat lots of fruit and veggies.  I also eat chicken, (raw) shrimp.  I add PB to my celery and some olivio butter to my potatoes.  I really haven't found a salad dressing I can have so ...NO salads =(

I would love to up my calorie intake but right now I am trying to learn what I can and can't have.

If sticking to 1200 cals is hard then don't.  It will only make you binge sooner or later.  It's better to eat at 1500 and do some light exercise.  Lots of people find 1200 too restrictive, me included.  I aim for about 1400.  If you don't have access to a gym then at least go for a walk.  Don't wait to excersize.  It's the best thing you can do for your body. 

In that case, your lack of thyroid definitely could be complicating things.

Food allergies can be very tricky, especially since ingredients like soy seem to be in everything, but cooking from scratch can help. Have you considered making your own salad dressing? I usually just mix up some olive oil and red or balsamic vinegar and then add seasonings like sea salt, oregano, basil, pepper, chopped up garlic, etc. It makes a very nice Italian vinnaigrette.

Like chipdog said, don't wait to exercise, either! Strength training, in particular, can help increase your metabolism.

The thyroid does make a difference.

One recommendation I have is to cut out the soda. That's A LOT of caffeine in a day, and cutting it out will make a difference.

With the pop, I only have 1 8oz glass of dt. Dr. Pepper with my dinner.(NOT everyday!)  At lunch, I have an 8oz glass of dt. Lipton green tea. With my breakfast I have either an 8oz glass of apple cider or apple juice.  The rest of the day I am drinking water....