Posts by dyannem

Don't beat yourself up for days you just don't feel like it.  It seems to me that if I workout for a few days in a row - it is the day off where I feel like I've lost weight.

Your body needs reset days and you need them to keep your attitude good and your committment strong.  Just get back at it tomorrow.

Also, try to do mini-challenges on some days to change up the workouts.  Like do 20 arm circles, 20 leg lifts, 20 crunches, 20 legkicks.   Keep track of these "little" workouts and at least you will feel like you've accomplished something and are making progress even on your off days.  Get a list of these kinds of exercises for your "off" days.

Sabine,

I bought a 15 lb. Turkey and I do what pattikins said.  Rub it down with paprika, salt and pepper or any herbs, seasonings that sound good.  Saute some onion and celery (in olive oil) and place it in the oven bag. Put a couple of tablespoons of flour in the bag as well and then put the turkey in.  I use a Nesco roaster and cook it for 3.5 to 4 hours for the 15 lb. bird or until a meat thermometer register 180 in the thigh.

Oh, and I stuff it with a homemade wild rice stuffing.  I got all these recipes on Allrecipes.com just type in turkey and stuffing to the search.  It is a great resource for all kinds of cooking.

I am going to be home from work tomorrow.  Plan on taking Rocky for a two-mile walk in the neighborhood (weather permitting).  Then, when my husband gets home from work I'll lie and tell him Rocky still needs his walk.  He'll feel guilty and we'll all go to town for our usual evening constitutional and window shopping. 

This way everyone is happy - Rocky is totally happy and exercised,  I am totally happy and exercised, my poor husband will at least be exercised.  His work has been so stressful lately and a lot of nights he gets home late and prefers napping or vegging out in front of the tv.  I don't blame him but he needs some exercise and fresh air - I'm afraid for his health if he doesn't keep moving some.   He never has time for working out and this is all he gets.  A couple of months ago a guy he worked with had a heart attack at work.  It freaks me out!

I noticed that the calorie count on my home treadmill is lower than the estimate on cc.  I like theirs better.  My machine has me burning about 325 calories in 45 minutes with varying inclines and varying speeds (average about 5 miles/hr).  I usually run for a bit and then slow it down and I also adjust the incline and walk briskly on a steep incline for 5 minutes.  It feels like I should be burning more than the 325 that is listed on the machine.  CC plus says more like 600 but I was wondering which was correct as well.  The mileage I usually do is 3 - 3.5 in 45 minutes.  It can be confusing!

Thanks for your reply.  I hadn't considered parathyroid issues - after the surgery they told me my calcium levels were fine and no one has looked into it since.  It could be a problem because I actually had two surgeries- the first a subtotal that left only a tiny bit of gland.  Unfortunately the thing grew back and it was wrapping around my esophagus necessitating a second (much more risky surgery).  It makes sense that something got damaged or nicked up after all of that.

I do take Armour Thyroid 2 grains and also Levothroid (to boost T4).  My last TSH level was 1.31 and I finally feel good after all this time (second surgery in 2000).

I just don't know why I can't seem to budge the scale.  My clothes fit better - due to a lot of working out - but I fight with the same 5-10 lbs. on the scale.  Since I need to lose 100 lbs. I am getting very frustrated and anxious.  My gyn tested me for insulin resistance but that came back negative. 

It does seem likely that some of this could be thyroid related.  I will try to lower the TSH again but too much lower and I also get anxious and heart palps.  I like to keep T3 and T4 in upper range of normal and last test it was there.  Like I said I feel a ton better but after a couple of months on this dose I was hoping for more progress.

I have also heard that if you workout vigorously you will potentially need more thyroid hormone.  I will check back in with doctor after 6 months and see if I need an adjustment as well.

Thanks for the info.  When I was hyperthyroid I lost 60 lbs in a short amount of time but I felt like I was going to die.  After the surgeries I gained 100 pounds and even though I physically feel better now - I know I can look and feel better than this - once I get into my "zone". 

When I was young people told me I looked like Jacqlyn Smith.

Now, I've had perfect strangers tell me I look just like Rosie O'Donnell.

I am desperately trying to get back to Jackie.

I love the idea of taking Rocky on the treadmill.  He is so energetic that he might just go for it - I just wish the belt were longer.  It might be fun to hang a piece of cheese of the front bar and watch him run for it and not get anywhere.  Dogs are so fun to tease!

I have had two thyroid surgeries, the last removed the entire gland (Hashimoto's disease).    It has taken me almost 8 years to really get optimized on the meds and I think I finally have it licked. 

 I don't know which drug you are on but a lot of thyroid patients do not feel as energetic or alert unless they take a drug with T3 as well as T4 in it.  Synthroid and its generics only provide the T4 (which in theory should convert to T3 but in my case my body just didn't do the job).  I take both Armour Thyroid (natural dessicated- which has all the T's) and to boost the T4 I also take Levothroid.  Some people take the Synthroid and then add a T3 only drug (like Cytomel).

  It really is a delicate balance and in my experience you need to keep the TSH down to a lower level as well as having T3 and T4 in the upper range of normal.  This can take a long time and while you are not optimized you can certainly have the weight gain, lethargy, bloating, exercise intolerance, muscle aches and foggy head etc.  It can be hard to find a doctor who will treat you based on symptoms and how YOU feel instead most just go by whether you test in a specific lab range.  The lab range can be as high as 5.5 for TSH .  For most people I have networked with - numbers this high cause them symptoms of hypothyroidism.  I feel the symptoms if I creep higher than 1.  Some people do o.k. up to 3 or 4 but no higher.

Since I brought my TSH down to 1- I finally have the energy and I am finally seeing results on my diet/workout regimen. I found the About.com Thyroid board moderated by Mary Shomon to be a great resource.  There is so much information and you can network with so many other people who have been in this boat.  This board is the only thing that kept me sane for a long time while I fought this disease.  There is a lot of info about diet/weight loss as well.

I am still finding that even with a careful diet and a vigorous workout program it is still hard to budge that scale.  I don't think I am using thyroid as an excuse as the proper functioning of this gland is vital for your metabolism.  That being said it is even more important when you have thyroid issues to be vigilant about your diet and exercise to stay healthy and fit.  When you don't feel well and are tired and achy it is too easy to sit on the couch and eat and sleep.  Good Luck and I will add you as a friend -  we have a lot in common. 

Chasing cats all over your house certainly counts as human-pet exercise.  What naughty things do they do? 

 When my husband lived at home many years ago his brother found a stray cat that they named Fred.  Fred ended up being quite the hussy and she kept getting pregnant.  I remember several litters of these adorable but very naughty kittens. 

The one year there were 7 kittens and they all ran up the Christmas tree and knocked ornaments and light bulbs down.  Finally his mother put an ad in the paper that said "Free to good home - beautiful pregnant cat."  A lady answered the ad and was so happy because she had promised all her friends kittens but did not have a pregnant cat!  It takes all kinds to make the world go round.

Keep chasing the kittys - remember the burn meter!

Chelsea,

Do you live where winters are hard?  We live in Michigan and I am not looking forward to bad weather.  Rocky is very strong and he can be a handful (esp. if he sees another dog).  When the sidewalks are ice covered we don't dare take him on his usual walk for fear of breaking a leg or something else.  Also, the bitter cold and wind takes it toll for months on end.  I try to still get him out  - we will go to a park and walk on the snow but it bums me out when winter really gets its grip.  I was thinking that someone should invent a dog-walking treadmill (like on the Jetsons cartoon) so we could still get our daily exercise in spite of the weather.

I agree with Kairi - if this continues for more than a couple of weeks I would get bloodwork and check for thyroid problems.  Make sure they check TSH, free T3 and T4 and antibodies.  Also adrenal problems and anemia can be indicated with prolonged fatigue. 

 My first indication of thyroid disease was this terrible exhausation along with weight gain.  Not long after this, I couldn't swallow and had the worst anxiety in the world along with the insomnia. Nothing is worse than being so fatigued but you can't sleep!