Weight loss

[ZippyAppletush]

Hello!

While I’m waiting on blood results for a previous post I keep checking in on here to read the posts.

I’ve seen lots of posts on weight issues with thyroid health and would like to say I’m hypothyroid, 56 years, on Eltroxin previously, Levothyroxine in past 30 years at least. I’ve tried probably every diet from A to Z, lost and gained, and gained! A few years ago I decided I was getting off the diet-go-round and finding a way of life. Enter 5:2, and while it’s not been great amounts of weight lost, or fast, it has been lost. In my first six months I lost half a stone. Slow and steady, no feeling of despair if I missed a fast day due to an appointment or the chance to visit an old friend. I’d just do it another day in the week. It was do-able, it wasn’t stressful, and I still lost weight!

In 2009 my meds started being messed about and as the meds went down my weight went up. Even with 5:2, but as I knew it was because of my meds and not that 5:2 was failing me, I kept going. I believe this stopped me gaining even more weight during the four years before I decided (after a bad fall and no support from consultant in UK) that I needed help elsewhere. At this point I weighed about 15 stone. Being overseas I sought help there and got myself back to my happy and healthy place. In the time from 2014 to mid 2017 I kept up a relaxed 5:2 and was pleasantly surprised to find I had gone down to 13.5 stone!

Unfortunately I am at the start of my meds being lowered again but this time I have found this amazing place in here and for the first time feel that I can look out for myself if the doctors aren’t going to. I haven’t been weighed again recently but by my jeans I can tell I’ve gained some, but it will go again, so I’m not obsessing as I have in the past.

I’m not saying 5:2 will work for all, just that it’s become my ‘way of life’ even in recent bad times and I just wondered if it might help others despite being hypothyroid?

Cheers!

[MissFG]

It’s great you’ve shared your experience! Keto I’ve found is great for losing weight and heavily supports fasting also.

I’ve managed my weight throughout and not put weight on just by being on a low carb diet which I’ve been on for years as if I look at a carb I gain a stone lol. I find Keto is good for a week or two but I feel better with some carbs if only a small amount.

Being gluten free also makes it easier to eat clean and healthy avoiding processed foods and many carbs other than vegetables.

It’s definitely a lifestyle choice to be healthy and not a diet so I’m glad you’ve found what works for you 😊

[Petriz in reply to MissFG]

Hello missFG,

I was just wondering if you could share more of what sort of carbs you eat?

I’m currently eating a low GI diet, but the amount of carbohydrates allowed seems to differ. I am trying to stay below 50/day. Do you count or just try to cut down in general?

I might say I’m not trying to loose a lot, and my general idea is that it is more importent to regulate the meds and vitamins

[MissFG in reply to Petriz]

I used to use an app called stupid simple Keto. It’s not exact measurements but gives you an idea and shows you want you should and shouldn’t eat.

Now I try to just eat clean unprocessed fruit (berries) veg meat fish and good fats. Carbs are in veg and especially fruit. I’ve found being on a low carb better as I need some glucose.

I went gluten and grain free but after 2 months reintroduced rice and potatoes maybe once or twice a week. Occasionally when eating out I’ll have some gluten free bread.

I juice and do smoothies a lot to get as many vitamins in as possible naturally. I don’t have much of an appetite so drinking vegetable juice or a smoothie is an easy way for me otherwise I tend to have one meal a day.

[ZippyAppletush in reply to MissFG]

Thanks for your reply MissFG.

I’m afraid I’m not strict enough to adhere to a continued diet, unless it really was life or death and someone was cracking the proverbial whip, lol!

Keto was mentioned when my daughter was going through a bad epilepsy phase but her doctor changed her meds and she settled down again. I have read that it can help severe epileptics control, and in some cases eliminate, seizures.

Cheers!

[MissFG in reply to ZippyAppletush]

I see it as a lifestyle change as I was just so sick so I’ve been desperate to do all I can to get back to good health!

Keto has many benefits and can reverse diabetes too. Long term though it’s not good for hypothyroidism as the thyroid needs some glucose to function.

I think everything should be balanced and in moderation. I basically do a cross between Keto and paleo. Paleo allows more fruit and Keto allows red wine an coffee my two indulges 😉

[ZippyAppletush in reply to MissFG]

It really is a matter of finding what works for you, your health and your peace of mind.

One reason I thought 5:2 would be do-able for me was that I’d get through a day and realise I hadn’t eaten and wasn’t feeling hungry either, but knowing I needed to have something at least. I figured I could fast if I was already doing it anyway! I’m a creature of habit so I’d set up a menu for the week and it worked for me. If I needed to swap out days I could do, but still keep to the format.

I’m not bothered by coffee so much these days, but with you on the red wine, lol!

Thanks for this, MissFG. I’ll pass on the Keto/diabetes mention; hubby is termed pre-diabetic and we’re looking for a weight-loss option for him.

Cheers!

[MissFG in reply to ZippyAppletush]

Ooh yes definitely research Keto and it’s affects on diabetes. There was a tv series recently on ITV on its effects which were all successful in reversing it and weight loss.

[Loulabellespencer]

Hi,

I have recently had my meds increased at my request as I had put on approximately 2 stone.

I have now managed to lose a stone by reducing my portion size and doing half an hour exercise per day.

I have much more energy and I have actually started running and enjoying life a bit more.

Family doctors are not experts on this condition and I think they are reluctant to listen to patients sometimes.

Good luck with your weight loss!

[ZippyAppletush in reply to Loulabellespencer]

Hello Loulabellespencer and thanks for your reply.

Congratulations on your weight loss and so pleased to hear you’re feeling much better.

I’m pleased to hear you got your meds raised too; hard enough to do for most of us on here without going it alone and looking out for ourselves. Well done!

I have mobility issues through dodgy knees and spinal stenosis but when my hubby said I should be ‘doing more’ I donned a wrist band and showed him just in one day I had done around 8,000 steps. He said my gadget was wrong! (Men!!!) I am primary carer for our 27 y/o daughter with physical and learning issues and live in a house with stairs. If 8,000 steps isn’t some exercise I don’t know what is! Granted it’s not every day but I figure if I’m doing at least 5,000 it’s better than nothing, and besides...I’m the one losing weight, lol!

Cheers!