What would you suggest?

[Locarb4me]

To a person who has been low carbing for one year and hasn't lost more than 12 lbs total? And all of that weight was lost in the first 4 months.

[dointhis4me]

First I'd ask if you can give a sample menu, do you exercise, how much water do you drink, do you have any medical conditions. How long have you been off Kimkins and on Atkins?

[lisabinil]

It's time for medical testing especially if you had been following Kimkins. I only lost 29 in less than a year regained 10 with clean eating and Induction level carbs. On my checkup my doc found thyroid nodules and the resulting hypothyroidism. Also I have a severe Vitamin D deficiency and am in perimenopause. Better to be safe than sorry.

[Locarb4me]

Originally Posted by dointhis4me

First I'd ask if you can give a sample menu, do you exercise, how much water do you drink, do you have any medical conditions. How long have you been off Kimkins and on Atkins?

Sample menu:

B: coffee (sweetened with stevia and heavy cream, 1 oz), 4 strips of bacon with cheese and sour cream
L: 2 baked chicken thighs from Kroger
Sn: pork rinds, 1 serving
D: Buffalo strip steak

Breakfast: coffee and two beef sticks (on the run)
Lunch: snapper and chard sauteed in olive oil and garlic
Afternoon Snack: 1 cup crabmeat with melted butter and Old Bay seasoning
Dinner: Loaded Bacon (cheese melted over bacon with sour cream)

B: Coffee as usual. Made 3 scrambled eggs with butter...could not eat them. Ate one.
L: 2 baked Kroger chicken thighs
12 oz brewed Ginger-Lemon tea w. stevia
D: chicken fajitas (mine with melted cheese, salsa and sour cream, no tortilla)

I get moderate but not consistent exercise. Probably 1-2 short walks a week, babysit a baby and toddler 3 x a week, work outside in the garden (weeding, watering etc). Some Wii games on weekend.

I'm guessing I average about 3-4 16 oz glasses of water a day.
Medical: treated hypothyroid (90 mg Armour) Hashimoto's.
Metabolic Syndrome, taking 500 mg Metformin ER daily.
I take lots of supplements such as fish oil, flax oil, milk thistle, acetyl-L carnitine, ALA, Co Q10, pyconogenol, Vitamin D if I'm inside too much, Digestive enzymes with probiotics, calc/mag/zinc tabs, Vit C, chromium.

I quit Kimkins last August and began slowly increasing my protein and fat consumption over the winter. I was still eating about 1000-1400 calories a day til about Dec. Then I stopped keeping Fitday and stopped weighing except about once or twice a month. I stopped counting calories and worked on getting my fat intake up a bit more. I didn't really lose or gain. I just held steady until last month when I just said heck with it a couple weekends in a row and had burritos, ice cream a couple times, buttered popcorn at a movie once, some bread at a restaurant, stuff like that. More or less minor cheats, no binges.

I started feeling fatter and sure enough, I stepped on the scale a couple weekends ago and was back to 192. That's why I decided to induct again. Wash out what carbs I had ingested and get back on track seriously.

[Locarb4me]

Originally Posted by lisabinil

It's time for medical testing especially if you had been following Kimkins. I only lost 29 in less than a year regained 10 with clean eating and Induction level carbs. On my checkup my doc found thyroid nodules and the resulting hypothyroidism. Also I have a severe Vitamin D deficiency and am in perimenopause. Better to be safe than sorry.

I wish I had a doctor that would see something amiss with my labs besides my cholesterol and triglycerides. I have to hope that those will be improved when I see her next otherwise I am going to get the lecture of the century. She's convinced I'm killing myself because I won't take statins anymore.

I have Hashimoto's as posted above. I don't know about a vitamin D deficiency but I was diagnosed anemic last fall after Kimkins. I'm 7 years post surgical menopause, myself.

[fawn]

You have a lot going against you to begin with. Cases like yours are always a slow consistent struggle. don't give up though.

How long has this been a regular menu? Of course after the 2 weekend binge I will have to save comment for seeing how you adjust to 1. the ramifications of the binge 2. another 2 weeks of consistency. Why no veggies? Have you entered this into a program like fitday to see what your macros look like? You may need to back up on the dairy a bit and add some vegetables.

You might also try eating mini meals.

My body got stuck on induction level carbs.

[Kris T.]

I agree with the above posters, and I would recommend more strenous, consistent exercise if you are able. I know that when I slack off on the exercise the weight comes on. Maybe your body could use a kickstart? Just a thought if you've exhausted (no pun intended) your other ideas.

[Locarb4me]

HI Fawn,
I've been eating veggies, but hit or miss. I started back keeping Fitday the day I began this induction, Aug. 25.

B: coffee with cream, stevia, 2 HB eggs with mayo
L: 4 oz steak and fresh collards
D: 4 oz steak and one serving roast almonds (before I re-read induction rules!)

B: coffee with cream, stevia
L: chicken thigh and leg, baked and 2 cups fresh collards
D: 4 slices bacon, melted cheddar and sour cream, 1 small fresh tomato with basil & garlic salt.

B: coffee w/ cream, 2 HB eggs with mayo
L: Low Carb meatloaf with shredded zucchini strips. parmesan & butter
D: More meatloaf (no veggies)

These are taken from Fitday. I sometimes eat an additional couple cherry tomatoes or slices of cucumber because our garden is in major production and DH usually has something on the cutting board throughout the day.

This is fairly typical of my long term menu except that for many months now, I have been enjoying one or two Wasabrod Fiber crackers with butter on them because I found that keeps me regular which is nice

Currently my nutritional profile since Aug 24th looks like this: (avg per day)

Calories 1,154
Fat 90.6 804 70%
Carbohydrate 14.3 53 5%
Dietary Fiber 3.5
Protein 70.4 296 26%
Alcohol 0.0 0 0%

[dointhis4me]

^^^^I'd listen to the ladies above, they all know their stuff, much better then I do but I wonder if you're not eating enough...I'd starve on 1,100 cals a day myself.

[Houston Heather]

I've noticed that the weight comes off easier the more veggie carbs I eat.

Especially since I found sugar snap peas at the grocery store. Mmmm.

I eat between 2,000 to 3,000 calories a day myself.

[Charski]

Are you TRYING to do Atkins? I say "trying" because if you are trying - you're NOT getting there! You really need to eat at least 2 cups of salad veggies A DAY along with 1 other cup of either more salad veggies or another "listed" veggie.

You might want to cut back on cheese and sour cream, and even processed meats, and see if THAT helps. Please follow the program of your choice AS WRITTEN - you'll probably be pleasantly surprised by your results!

[Antigone]

Me too I have this problem. I havent been losing weight. Could it be that I'm overdoing veggies?

[nonstickpam107]

90mg. is only 1.5 grains. Do you have recent tests? (T4, T3?). Sometimes just a half grain nudge up does wonders!! And when are you taking that cal/mag in relation to taking the Armour? Are you splitting that Armour so that the T3 in it isn't all used up four hours after you take it? (Just trying to see if I can help you get a little more out of your metabolism). You need to put that Armour four hours away from any calcium before or after you take it, it will bind the Armour right up.

Maybe you could try making that menu a bit 'cleaner' for just three, four weeks see what happens. We hashi's folks don't do well on little veggies. Maybe up the veggies and lower the dairy too. Your supplement list looks good!

Last, but not least, you are pretty close to 'goal' too (we all know that we lose it well when we're 100 lbs. from goal, but have to really keep it clean and work at it when we are 40 lbs. or so from goal). How tall are you?

Pam

[Locarb4me]

Originally Posted by nonstickpam107

90mg. is only 1.5 grains. Do you have recent tests? (T4, T3?). Sometimes just a half grain nudge up does wonders!! And when are you taking that cal/mag in relation to taking the Armour? Are you splitting that Armour so that the T3 in it isn't all used up four hours after you take it? (Just trying to see if I can help you get a little more out of your metabolism). You need to put that Armour four hours away from any calcium before or after you take it, it will bind the Armour right up.

I'm due for a bunch of tests now. I will call them next week. I take the whole Armour tablet at bedtime. I remember you saying no calcium with the thyroid, so I take my cal/mag in the mornings. It never occurred to me to split my Armour dose. Maybe I can try that!

Uh oh, I just thought of something. Many times right before bed, after I take the Armour, I take Gaviscon antacid, if my GERD's acting up. Duh....that has calcium in it.

Maybe you could try making that menu a bit 'cleaner' for just three, four weeks see what happens. We hashi's folks don't do well on little veggies. Maybe up the veggies and lower the dairy too. Your supplement list looks good!

*Cleaner* as in - what? I read DNDR and most of it (with exception of the almonds which I had the first day only) is from his allowed list, DNDR pages 124 - 127. I have had a feeling I would benefit from increasing vegetables and luckily we have an entire garden full right outside.

Please feel free to make some suggestions, as I admit I have concentrated my menu on things I LOVE, but not including many things I could probably add for variety.

Last, but not least, you are pretty close to 'goal' too (we all know that we lose it well when we're 100 lbs. from goal, but have to really keep it clean and work at it when we are 40 lbs. or so from goal). How tall are you?

I'm 5'5" and my goal is 145-150. I feel so far from goal it's not funny [

Pam

[Locarb4me]

Originally Posted by Charski

Are you TRYING to do Atkins? I say "trying" because if you are trying - you're NOT getting there! You really need to eat at least 2 cups of salad veggies A DAY along with 1 other cup of either more salad veggies or another "listed" veggie.

You might want to cut back on cheese and sour cream, and even processed meats, and see if THAT helps. Please follow the program of your choice AS WRITTEN - you'll probably be pleasantly surprised by your results!

Well, I thought I was following induction rules from DNDR 2002.

[retroworx]

Originally Posted by Locarb4me

[b]I take the whole Armour tablet at bedtime.

I'm gonna chime in here until Pam does, cause I'm sure no expert, but I have been rereading her thyroid thread over the past few days and I suspect she will tell you that you are not getting any of the energy boost from the T3 in your Armour cause you're sleeping thru it! Apparently the T3 has a short life of 4 hours only, so you're getting "boosted" while sleeping instead of while you're awake to enjoy it Seems that most folks take their first dose in the A.M and the other in the afternoon as the first dose wears off and energy levels deplete. Not sure if the difference in dosing hours would diminish the metabolic impact, tho.

HTH,

[Locarb4me]

Retroworx, that's an interesting idea. I started taking my thyroid at bedtime because I got tired of having to wait 2 hrs in the morning before I could eat or drink my coffee. I'm not crazy about using it sublingually, but it's ok, mildly sweet and I can live with doing it that way again.

Perhaps I will do that again and see if I notice a difference. I could sure use a mid-day boost, watching a 5 month old and a 3 year old during the week Thank you.

[Locarb4me]

Originally Posted by Houston Heather

I've noticed that the weight comes off easier the more veggie carbs I eat.

Especially since I found sugar snap peas at the grocery store. Mmmm.

I eat between 2,000 to 3,000 calories a day myself.

Oh, I adore sugar snaps but they are very carby!

If I ate that amount of calories I'd be gaining, not losing. But you have a physically demanding job, don't you?

I think part of my problem is my hit-or-miss activity level. 3 days a week I watch my grandkids. Those days are reasonably active and we often take a walk with both of them around the block. When I don't have the babies, and I'm working my "normal job" I'm at the computer or at my work table sculpting or painting. That doesn't burn many calories

Weekends we play Wii or get out to the arboretum for walks and all summer we've been swimming in the pool or gardening. But with winter coming up, the outdoor stuff will go away too.


Pam: I forgot to add I also take 200mcg Selenium with my thyroid each day.

[lisabinil]

Originally Posted by retroworx

I'm gonna chime in here until Pam does, cause I'm sure no expert, but I have been rereading her thyroid thread over the past few days and I suspect she will tell you that you are not getting any of the energy boost from the T3 in your Armour cause you're sleeping thru it! Apparently the T3 has a short life of 4 hours only, so you're getting "boosted" while sleeping instead of while you're awake to enjoy it Seems that most folks take their first dose in the A.M and the other in the afternoon as the first dose wears off and energy levels deplete. Not sure if the difference in dosing hours would diminish the metabolic impact, tho.

HTH,

Retro is right-only taking Synthroid at night is beneficial per a study done-not the natural meds.

When Should You Take Your Thyroid Medication?

[Locarb4me]

Well ok, that does it! I'm going to split my dosage to morning and mid-day and use it sublingually again.

And btw, when I asked my doctor how to take it back when I first switched from Synthroid to Armour, she said - follow the instructions on the pharmacy package. Most people take it in the morning.

Who knew it could be this complicated Even my doctor didn't suspect.

[nonstickpam107]

Originally Posted by retroworx

I'm gonna chime in here until Pam does, cause I'm sure no expert, but I have been rereading her thyroid thread over the past few days and I suspect she will tell you that you are not getting any of the energy boost from the T3 in your Armour cause you're sleeping thru it! Apparently the T3 has a short life of 4 hours only, so you're getting "boosted" while sleeping instead of while you're awake to enjoy it Seems that most folks take their first dose in the A.M and the other in the afternoon as the first dose wears off and energy levels deplete. Not sure if the difference in dosing hours would diminish the metabolic impact, tho.

HTH,

WAHOO!!! Someone understands my thread!!@! LOL Yes, that is PRECISELY correct!!!!

Pam

[nonstickpam107]

Originally Posted by Locarb4me

Well ok, that does it! I'm going to split my dosage to morning and mid-day and use it sublingually again.

And btw, when I asked my doctor how to take it back when I first switched from Synthroid to Armour, she said - follow the instructions on the pharmacy package. Most people take it in the morning.

Who knew it could be this complicated Even my doctor didn't suspect.

Yep, sublingually will help with the calcium, etc...you'll be able to take that calcium in an hour after (yep, STILL wait an hour..take the Armour subling, eat, take calcium).

What I was referring to as 'clean' is ..you have a lot of sodium there. You have your fats, etc. but your veggies are lacking...and as far as being inside in the winter...that's when I began my exercise plan. I had a couple of dumbells (adjustable, with 2.5 and 3 lb. plates, cheap at most dept. stores) and a coffee table (it's hideous! And I'm NOT parting with it, it keeps me honest in front of the TV..my workout bench is in the back room where I 'could' ignore it). I didn't allow myself to watch tv unless I was using the table and weights.

If it would help you, here's a sample of my diet when I was losing (and I still think you'll need more Armour than that...would love to see your FT4, FT3's when they come back).

B: two or three whole eggs, cooked in a little butter, three to four strips bacon (and I would put a little green pepper/onion with the eggs, maybe a little cheese some mornings). 20 ounces water (cup coffee, 1 tsp. cream)
Snack: 1/4 to 1/2 cup of egg or chicken salad on celery sticks, 20 ounces water
L: two to three cups greens (romaine, baby spinach, lettuce, etc.) a little chopped tomato, protein (chicken, ham, whatever), minced boiled egg salad...w/ranch or Italian dressing, pork rinds for croutons. 20 ounces water
D: 8 ounces any protein, one cup green beans, spinach, etc. cooked veg. 20 ounces water.

Bedtime snack: Protein ice cream (ice cubes crushed, scoop protein powder, couple strawberries, OR cocoa, tblsp. peanut butter for a Reeses flavor...put in blender with couple tablespoons of heavy cream..if you want it less 'soft' put in freezer..mine never makes it to the freezer

Pam

[retroworx]

Originally Posted by nonstickpam107

WAHOO!!! Someone understands my thread!!@! LOL Yes, that is PRECISELY correct!!!!

Pam

I am sooo proud of myself!

I hope this in some small way demonstrates for you, Pam, how much your hard work and persistence and patience with us really does pay off.

Thank you again for helping me educate myself about my thyroid issues and making me an informed (and wary!) healthcare consumer.