Posts by anneemish

Oh yes.  I used to be just like that.  I'd wait until everyone went to bed and then I'd have a binge-fest.  It's because no one is watching and there's no one to critisize you. 

I got over it - it took a couple years!   Drink a full 8 oz of water and then eat protein.  It will fill you up but, just in case, have lots of fresh fruit, low-fat yogurt, nuts, etc. on hand.   Just tell yourself that you're going to allow yourself to eat but your head is in charge of choosing what you eat. 

cellophane_star pretty much said it all.

I joined Curves last September and I absolutely love it.  It's a no-brainer for me - I don't have to worry or remember or figure out a work-out - I just do the circuit.  In December of last year, my Curves installed the Smart program and it has really stepped up the work-outs.  I'm working harder and harder and the computer and trainer urges me on and after each work-out I can see exactly what I progress I have made (or didn't make!). 

Since September 2008, I have lost 35.5 pounds and 38 inches.  Curves works for me.

Since you were only diagnosed a year ago, your medications may still be adjusting.  It took me about 18 months before my TSH stayed at a steady level.  I would not be alarmed but do keep an eye on it. 

You may want to ask your doctor to test your B-12 levels when you next get your bloodwork done.  Just to be sure it's OK.  Sometimes a slow thyroid can affect your B-12 levels.  It's easy enough to do since you'll already be at the lab having blood drawn.

Hi there.

I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis about 8 years ago.  I gained about 35 lb before I was accurately diagnosed.  Getting it off and keeping it off is a struggle.

I've done a lot of reading and surfing regarding Hashi's.  What finally has worked for me to maintain my weight is a high protein, low carb diet eaten in about 6 small meals per day.  I don't eat soy products and I sparingly eat anything in the cabbage group of foods (brocolli, cabbage, etc.)  You will have to experiment and find what works for you best. Eating more meals per day (each about 300 cal) keeps the metabolism digesting and deters it from hanging onto every calorie you eat. 

I cannot stress enough the importance of having your blood checked regularly.  Since you are newly diagnosed, insist on having your TSH, T4 and T3 calculated at least every 3 months.  After a couple years, if everything is stable, you can stretch that out to about 6 months but never longer than about 8 months.   Recently, I have realized that your cholesterol will go up if your thyroid TSH is high.  Keeping your TSH in the acceptable range is mandatory.

Even though your blood tests may result in numbers all within the "acceptable" range, you may still feel many effects of the disease:  fatique, "foggy" brain, poor memory, hair loss/dry skin, fertility problems, etc.  If this occurs, advise your doctor.  I warn you though, some doctors will listen and others will not.  Some doctors will see you to be cured if your blood tests are normal and will not want to address any lingering symptoms.  This is where you must persevere and strive to get answers. 

After all this is said, you don't need to be fearful.  Hashi's can be controlled but it is not something that can ever be ignored.  Creating a good dialogue with your physician will be immensely helpful and you will also need to self-educate yourself a lot in the process but it will be worth it.

Good luck with this.  I have added you to my list of friends cause I discuss my thyroid issues periodically in my journal.  I hope you'll reciprocate and I look forward to chatting with you!

How frustrating is that!  I'm no expert by far - BUT, I was stuck on a plateau for over 3 months until just this past Monday when I went to a weight management class and they advised that I double my protein intake.  All I did was (a) double my protein to about 50-55g per day, (b) reduced my carbs (the only real Carb's I've been eating is my morning oatmeal and what I get in fruits and veggies) and (c) changed my larger meal to noon instead of 6 p.m.  I try to not eat anything past 8 p.m. but if I have to, I eat a piece of fruit (peach, grapes, melon).  I eat all the veggies I want and I usually have at least one daily protein shake made with 2% milk ,yogurt and whey protein.  That's it.  And I've lost 6 lb since Monday. 

Prior to doing this, I was eating well balanced, nutritional foods totalling about 1450 calories per day and exercising at Curves 6 days per week where I was burning off about 550 calories per workout.  I am still doing the Curves circuit and am amazed at the progress I've made this week.  On Monday, I will be increasing my daily calories to about 1500 by adding more proteins and the plan is to stick to that level for about 3 weeks and then increase calories again up to about 2000 per day for 2 weeks.  Then, I will start all over until I reach my goal weight.

Sometimes, although we do everything "right" we still need to find the magic combination.  Furthermore, the "magic combination" changes from time to time which forever keeps us on our toes.

I hope you find your magic combination.  Whatever you do, don't stop.  Perseverence always pays out in the end.  Good Luck!

My mother-in-law taught me this one:  in almost any recipe that calls for sour cream, you can substitute an equal amount of cottage cheese - just blend it in the blender or processor.  In some recipes, I find that adding just a quarter tsp of vinegar is necessary but, otherwise, it really does work most of the time!

Hi there.  I'm hypothyroid as well.  I strongly suggest you get some of the books by Mary Shomon.  If you go to the "Advice" tag here on cc and type in hypothyroid you will get good information and a link to Shomon's site.

There are foods that, although healthy, aggravate your hypothyroidism.  One that comes to mind is soy products - I do not eat any whatsoever.  Also, many of the foods in the cabbage family can cause difficulties for hypothyroid people. I can't stress how important it is for you to experiment with your foods and find which foods are your "triggers" - I am OK with a bit of sugar but any fats seem to stall any weight loss whatsoever.  I currently try to stick to high protein, low carb but I am able to have a few jelly beans or chocolate now and again.

Take your pills each and every day - don't skip even one - and have your blood checked at least every 3 months.  Although you won't feel like it, exercise - make an exercise schedule and stick to it - every day.  Some days, it will be terribly hard to commit to your exercise goals but you must do it.  Muscle burns more calories than fat and hypothyroids need all the help they can get.   Oh yes, don't forget to drink tons of water. 

I've been struggling with hypothyroidism for about 10 years now.  I won't lie to you - it is a constant struggle and you will need to consider your hypothyroid needs for the rest of your life.  It will be difficult - especially when you see others just breezing through life and weight issues.

Good Luck!  lornajean

Hi there Debi and Welcome! 

I've been around here on CC for a couple years now.  I'm not much older than you - 49 - with the big 50 looming in April of this year.  I'm currently weighing in at just over 200 lb with my goal being 165. 

After reading the above, I went to read your profile and I think that we are very similar in our likes and dislikes and certainly about our outlook on life.  I'm an incurable optimist who avoids negative people and I never condone negative words or actions.  I love animals and have 3 children of my own - daughter 27 and two sons aged 17 and 15.

I'd like to chat with you more so I've added you to my list of friends.  Please feel free to drop into my journal anytime.

"... always wonder what the parents think of their children that behave this way.  I don't want to blame the parents and the upbringing but I also don't want to think that there is a possibility of my future children turning out like that despite how I bring them up."

Go ahead - blame the parents.  It is in the home that manners are taught, or not taught, in the first 5 years of life.  After that, it is simply reinforced.

And yes, there used to be a class on manners - it was called a woodshed.

A little wooden angel that my daughter made for me when she was in Grade 2.  It still hangs on the Christmas Tree - 20 years later.  I also have an old Mistletoe Bell that belonged to my Grandmother.  It has hung from the ceiling, just inside the front door, for every Christmas of my life (all 49 of them).

Hi there.  I worked as a real estate legal secretary for many years.  Firstly, I think it's wonderful that you recognize home ownership as a great investment because, despite the current market, it still is just that.  The important thing, though, is to not become a "slave" to your house meaning that you don't want to be living so close to the edge (money-wise) that even a slight emergency may send you into a tailspin.  Too often, I've seen banks and lenders more than happy to lend 100% of the purchase price to the borrower only to see the home in foreclosure when the mortgage comes due and the rate has increased by as little as 1%.  I always looked at paying rent as throwing money down into a black hole but it is a good way to teach yourself the demands of home ownership and the expense to be incurred. 

For now, I would suggest that you "pretend" that your monthly rent is $1200.00; pay the rent of $612.00 and put the rest into savings.  This will acclimatize you to the true expense of home ownership which includes not only a mortgage payment but taxes, maintenance/repair, insurance, hydro, water, gas, telephone, cable, etc. payments on top of your current expenses of food, clothing, car expenses, etc.   Also, when you are ready to start looking for your new home, look for one with rentable space (maybe a basement apartment) for extra income to help you pay down the mortgage as fast as you can.

One thing I noticed that I thought was sad was that few young people actually believe that they will ever be mortgage-free.  This is nonsense.  With good planning and determination, a mortgage-free home is viable - but you have to live within your means and be prepared to forego many luxuries (for example, vacations) for the first few years. 

Finally, be aware that the purchase price of the home is not the only purchasing expense.  Depending where you live, there will be some form of Land Transfer Tax and numerous other closing costs and legal fees.  Do not sign an agreement of purchase and sale without first consulting your lawyer.  Before you buy, you will want a preliminary title search and possibly a home inspection.  Prior to doing your home search, have yourself pre-approved for your mortgage - this will ensure that you keep within your budget.  When you choose your perfect home, inquire about home insurance before you complete the purchase - perhaps even make it a condition of the purchase that  the sale is conditional upon you being able to secure satisfactory insurance.  This way, you won't get yourself stuck with an uninsurable home or one that is very costly insurance wise.

Good luck on this adventure.  Ask many, many, many questions along the way and, remember:  if the deal sounds too good to be true, it very may well be.

It's appears to be a good way for the Washington D.C.'s buslines to incite a riot.  I do find the ad offensive and I am quite surprised at the apparent lack of forethought that went into the plan.  I feel sorry for all the parents who are going to have to try to explain that ad to their 5 or 6 year old children.

Hello! 

I think you will really like this site and come to rely on all the tools, information and friendly advice in here.  There are lots of great people here willing to help, encourage, chastise, ego-boost, make you laugh or provide you with any information you can want.  Good luck in your future efforts!

It does cook very well in the oven - put it in whole but make sure you've stabbed it a few times with a BBQ fork and place it in a dish with about 1 cup of water in the bottom.  Cover with foil and bake - usually at least 1 hour.

You should be able to find spagetti squash in just about any grocery produce department or find a local fresh veggie market.

I found a new trick recently that staves off the munchies for me.  When I find myself nosing around the kitchen looking for forbidden tidbits, I mix myself a glass of 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar in water and drink that.  For me, it works as a great appetite suppressant - much better than water alone.  You might want to give it a try.