Healthy Berries

An important food of the diet I've been using to rid myself of the excess has been berries.  I use strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries at meals and grab a handful as a snack in between meals. I think it is the best fruit I've tried that benefits my health and weight loss.  Great antioxidants!

Now if I were to cover them in chocolate like at berries.com, it wouldn't help my weight loss too much (though moderation is key) but I sure would love it!  I'd get a little sweet with my antioxidants!  Being a chocoholic, that sounds good to me!

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Oops!

Yesterday morning, I was 3.6 pounds away from my goal - then I messed up the day by picking up dinner (weekday evenings are run, run, run) and I'm sure that Steak 'n Cheese Subway sub was NOT on the diet plan. Probably should've bought the turkey sub instead.

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Lost 20 Pounds

I've lost 20 pounds overall so far!  I pulled out a dress my husband bought for me when we were dating and boy is it tiny!  I'm not quite ready for THAT dress yet but a few nice women's dresses might be nice to wear again. A few nice short skirts with boots would be a nice in-between for school functions and stuff.  I can't wait to finish losing all my weight and go shopping for smaller clothes.

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Fairy Godmother Makeover

I need one of these - a fairy godmother.  I want her to wave her magic wand and I'll be skinny again, with great skin and pretty hair. A closet full of clothes from The Buckle would be nice too! She'll just give me a slimming pill and poof! 20 pounds gone!  Oh, well, since it's magic, might as well go for 30 pounds gone!

On Friday, I am getting my hair cut and colored.  I've decided to try dark.  I'm not sure how it is going to look with my skin tone - might look like death warmed over - but I won't know until I try.  I know blond makes me look washed out.  My normal brown is blah boring.  I'm going dark! What the heck, it's only hair.

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Celebrity Weight Gain & Loss

Everybody makes a big deal about celebrity weight gain, like they're not human like the rest of us.  Of course, the rest of us don't have access to personal trainers on a daily basis and fancy diets and their choice of diet pills so they do have some advantages to the weight issue.  Of course, the average person's weight gain isn't splashed across the magazines for the world to see (can you imagine how horrid that would be?) so maybe it's not all that great.

Marie Osmond and Valerie Bertinelli did a great job with losing weight.  They look a lot better than I do and they're years older!

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Mom, your cheeks are squishy.

"Mom, your cheeks are squishy." 

...says my 13-year old daughter.  Wasn't that nice of her?

It's a really good thing that human moms are genetically programmed to love and protect their young and that programming is very strong in me (anybody messes with my kids will deal with me).

So, yes, still struggling with weight loss.  I have struggled to lose more and struggled not to gain back what I lost.  It's not going too well.  I've thought about a diet pill that works but if my thyroid isn't working right, I don't know that there is anything else that can help until my thyroid hormones are right.

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Teenagers with Weight Perception Problems

My 13-year old is complaining that her stomach is big (believe me, it isn't at all...she has an athletic body).  She was also complaining yesterday that her legs were too long and she didn't want long legs. 

Where do kids come up with these things?  Most people love the idea of having long legs and a flat belly.  Why are legs too long and bellies not flat enough? 

If she starts trying to diet or look for natural weight loss products, I will get upset. Hopefully, this is just normal teenage complaining (she's really good at that).

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3rd Grader Talent Show Auditions Next Week

My 3rd grader has a talent show audition next week. She is going to sing The Climb by Miley Cyrus.  The courage it takes to get up on stage and sing in front of the school kids, teachers, and parents is just beyond me.  I could never do it.

My husband seems to think that he'll get me up on stage for mic nights at some local places to play guitar but I know it'll never happen.  Besides looking up lipozene reviews for weight loss help since there's more of me than I like to think about getting on stage, I am not and have never been one to get up on stage to have the attention centered on me playing or singing like that. Now out on a dance floor, that's another story.  I'll leave the stage for my husband and kids. 

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Kids Say the Darndest Things!

Kids are SO honest.  Today when I wouldn't put on a skirt because I want to lose weight first, my four-year-old daughter asked me, "You mean around here?" and she pointed at her waistline. 

Kids say the darndest things, don't they?

I just laughed.  I know where I carry most of the added weight so it's not like she surprised me. I could do with a good belly fat burner. Heck, I could use a mega belly fat burner! Ha! Ha!

I'm glad my husband doesn't care about the added weight at all.  I care though.  It's important to me that I don't feel like a lump.  Ick. 

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Oil Spill in Gulf of Mexico

So far, they've collected 48,000 gallons of oily water from the Gulf off the Louisiana coast.  It hasn't reached shore yet but if the winds shift...

According to what I just read on ABC News, they are still trying to get the leak stopped as well.  What a mess. 

When I think about the environmental impact of it, it's very sad.  I went online to read up about hydroxycut but got sidetracked by this. The effect this has on wildlife...sad.  I hope they get the leak stopped soon. 

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Weight, Thyroid, Diabetes

If you have problems losing weight no matter which diet pills you use, perhaps you need to look at your body chemistry to help those diet pills along. For me, my thyroid hormones being out of whack was the difference between my old self and the bigger me - 30 pounds bigger.  Getting those regulated is helping my weight come off (18.5 pounds so far).  I would have kept adding on the pounds otherwise and my doctors didn't believe me when I said I wasn't overeating.  My family doctor handed me a diet to follow and my endocrinologist told me to cut out pop and lose 25 pounds a year.  From adjusting my thyroid medication, the weight is coming off with no changes in eating habits. 

I read an article yesterday about Leptin as well.  It wouldn't hurt to have a full thyroid panel (TSH, T3, T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, Free T4) and Leptin done to make sure your levels are good.  Also, get a copy of those labs and post anonymously on a natural thyroid forum (yahoo has one) because some doctor's idea of "normal" isn't optimal or they are using old lab standards.  The article (in the Huffington Post entitled "Long Term Weight Loss - More Than Willpower?" by Kent Holtorf) mentioned Leptin and diabetes as well. Definitely something to look into! 

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Away With the Soccer Mom Look

I almost bought black hair dye today to try!  I love black hair but I don't think I would look good with it.  However, my husband wanted me to try it out with one that washes out in 28 shampoos.  I don't think it would work with my lily white skin.  Maybe a chestnut brown would be better.  I love red, but of course, my husband picked out the brightest red hair color he could find.  He's not very subtle.

I am not looking for an anti aging product to change my look so much as just a change. I'm losing weight (and can't wait to get into my smaller clothes) and I want a hair style once I'm out of the size tens. Maybe when I can fit into an eight comfortably, I'll do something.

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Weight Loss Going Again

Woo hoo!  The scale moved again!  I was beginning to think it was going to stay stuck forever but it dipped lower this morning than I've seen it in a few years.  I was so happy that I decided to see if my wedding ring and anniversary band would fit properly again.  They went on without feeling like they were choking my finger! 

I was starting to get discouraged again and was going to look up the best weight loss pill when I went to take a shower and I looked thinner in the mirror. I decided to jump on the scale to see. Sure enough...I went over the hump I was stuck on.

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7 Pounds Gone So Far

Since switching my thyroid medication from a synthetic T4 to a natural T3/T4 combination, I've lost 7 pounds (so far). Hopefully, 20 more will fall off along with the other 7!

Thyroid Hell

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Weight & Thyroid

Well, I got on the scale the other day and was disgusted to find I'd gained two pounds. At a time when I need to LOSE weight, this wasn't good. Nothing has changed so I'm not sure where the extra weight came from.

Thyroid disease can be hard to handle, not just physically but emotionally. I was recently reading that taking iodine (carefully as you can do more harm than good) can help get your thyroid going, as well as something called ashwagandha. I haven't talked to my doctor about any of it yet and I would encourage everybody to discuss these things with a doctor before trying something new. I'm not sure if any of my thyroid is still working at all (living I guess) so I'm not sure if it'd help me at this point. So I've not done either, though I would really like to take diet pills and get this weight off once and for all. However, I have to be careful because my body reacts to medications unusually since my thyroid went wonky. How I react isn't even normal for thyroid disease patients so it's marked in my chart for safety.

I'm not normal - no big surprise there.

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"Plus" Size Model Standards

I saw on TV a few days ago that America's Next Top Model winner (the Tyra Banks show...I don't watch it...I just caught the news on one of the entertainment news shows) is a "plus size" model. She is a size 8-10 and they called her "plus" size. SINCE WHEN DID 8 - 10 BECOME PLUS SIZE? That irritated the you know what out of me. Hollywood is whack! The media is whack!

I used to be a size 2/4. That was before kids. Those skinny days seem like a dream now.

Four kids later, I know I will never see a size 2/4 again and I don't want to! That was just too skinny on my 5'6"-5'7" frame. Now, I would like to lose 18 pounds (to start) and then another 7 if I meet my first goal (which I have to admit isn't going well). What would 18 pounds do for me? It might get me into a size 8 again (and that would still make me "plus size" according to media standards). *sigh* 25 pounds might get me into a size 6 but it's not likely. I've given birth to four kids. These hips aren't like they used to be and are not likely to squeeze into any size 6's ever again;) I'll be happy to see size 8 again.

This "plus" size winner actually looked healthy. She looked normal. She wasn't boney or gaunt. What kind of message does this send to our kids?

My 1st grader the other day changed out of her camo capris into another pair before school started. When I asked her why, my tiny little 1st grader said it was because they made her look fat! She said her butt looked big in them. This is the little girl who is in like the 25th percentile for her weight - she is a wispy little thing. She weighs about what a four year old would weigh right now. If this is any indication, when she was five years old, she squeezed herself into shorts and a top that were for 18 month olds! Tiny!

First graders should not be worried about being "fat" - it's ridiculuous!

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Doc Changed My Thyroid Meds

Well, it's been about a week since my new doctor changed my thyroid medication (at my request so I was happy she was so readily agreeable to hearing me). I am hoping to see some relief from some irritating symptoms.

Previously, I had been on the same thyroid medication for 6.5 years, since I was first diagnosed. I was still having a lot of thyroid symptoms but my previous doctor, an endocrinologist, always brushed my symptoms off. Tired? Oh, you have kids. Stressed beyond belief? Oh, kids and "that" issue (we'll leave the "that" for another post in the blog...maybe). Hair falling out? Stress from kids and "that" issue. Itching? Whatever. Depressed? Can't be your thyroid because your levels are FINE. Symptoms must be related to something else. Irritable? Look at how many kids you have. Brain fog? Mom of four kids...again. Boy, my kids were blamed for almost everything! I'm sorry but if parents had THIS much BS to deal with regularly from their kids (and MY kids are basically good, sweet kids), if it affected them SO badly, I don't think people would continue to have kids. Besides, I had also been to my family doctor and my ob/gyn. Everything else was ruled out.

She was the only Endocrinologist in our area and she was who I went to. Then we moved. There isn't an Endo in our immediate area, but the doctor my husband goes to seemed like a possibility. It is a family and sports medicine practice and she specializes in "women's issues". Off I went to my appointments:)

I asked her at my second appointment if I could change to Armour. I explained that some of the symptoms were only evident since my thyroid disease diagnosis so either 1) the medication was causing it or 2) the medication wasn't enough to take care of the symptoms. She listened to me! It felt good to have a doctor open to hearing what I had to say or how I felt about my health.

I also didn't want synthetic hormones anymore (unless I have to). I won't be stupid and refuse the medication if Armour doesn't work and the other works better but I have to try. I want to try.

So, it's been about a week. My moods were a bit odd the first few days. I was a bit loopy for a couple hours (like an airhead, lol). I was relentlessly teasing with my husband. I'm not sure if that was medication related or just holiday related. He said I was getting annoying, lol. However, he also said if this new medication helped my moods, that'd be good. That must means he's willing to put up with my teasing. Yeah for me because he's fun to tease. After a few hours of being a bit of a ditz, I crashed for a little while. I was SO exhausted. That lasted a couple hours too and then I was back to my regular self. My moods seemed to have stabilized - no more off the wall goofiness or crashing a few hours later. Good!

So, now I wait. In about three weeks, I'll have my hormone levels tested through blood tests. If my doctor needs to adjust medication levels, she'll do so after she gets those test results.

Here's hoping to a noticeable improvement in thyroid symptoms! Cheers!

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I've Lost 4.8 Pounds

Well, it WAS 5.7 pounds but it is the holidays. Give me a break. I lost that in the first four days of my "diet" too but by the fifth day, I couldn't stand it anymore and I cheated. That led to constant cheating. Thus, no more "diet" did I follow. I have managed to keep some of the weight I had lost off though the past few weeks, despite the holidays. Plus, I have to keep hiking up my pants so even that small amount of weight loss did make a small difference.

I have lost 1/4 of what I wanted to lose in total weight though so that isn't too bad. The diet the doctor gave me to follow just included too many foods that I could not eat without gagging (certain vegetables and fish). I think I am going to modify it a bit to include more foods (proteins) that I like with the veggies I like and cut out the foods that I couldn't stand, that discouraged me from this diet. Obviously, it was working (even if some of the foods was making me want to vomit). This diet isn't a "diet" so much as a different way of eating healthier foods, while cutting out oils, butter, and dairy. Definitely not a bad thing.

Here's hoping to more weight loss in my near future!

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I Have Thyroid Disease

Thyroid Information


I have an autoimmune thyroid disease - Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and am hypothyroid. I have been since my 3rd child was born. To give you an idea of what this is like (and to judge whether you are showing symptoms or somebody you love and want answers), here are some of the symptoms as shown at www.hotzehwc.com:

Physical Signs and Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

Fatigue, Weight gain, Cold extremities, Cold intolerance, Decreased sweating, Headaches, Muscle and joint pain, Enlarged thyroid gland, Menstrual irregularities, Infertility, Miscarriages, Loss of libido, Recurrent infections, Allergic disorders, Decreased mental sharpness "brain fog", Depression or mood swings, Hoarseness, Slow speech, Dry skin, Hair loss, Constipation, Fluid retention, Skin pallor, pastiness and puffiness, Enlarged tongue with teeth indentations, Brittle fingernails with ridging, Loss of hair on the outer edge of the eyebrows, Low blood pressure, Slow pulse rate, Low basal body temperature, Tingling and/or numbness in extremities, Elevated cholesterol and triglycerides

I was showing several of these symptoms when I was diagnosed. Almost seven years later, my bloodwork levels are within "normal" range but I am still having too many of these symptoms. That's not right.

I've been on synthetic hormones from the beginning, which I questioned several times but was always brushed off. Everytime I asked my endocrinologist about a natural med for it, I was shoo shoo'd away. It's always bugged me but I figured at the time she knew what she was talking about. Well, we've since moved so I no longer see her and I'm still having a lot of symptoms, I started looking up information. I bought a book Living Well with Hypothyroidism that is proving to be very interesting plus a web site was just recommended to me as having useful information:

http://www.hotzehwc.com/

I've been told that these two web sites below are supposed to be a good source of information and am looking forward to digging into them to find more information (and back up for when I go into my doctor insisting on a medication change):

http://thyroid.about.com

http://www.thyroid-info.com (this web site is the author's web site of the book I mentioned above).

I am going to insist to my new doctor that they switch me to a natural thyroid med to see if it helps. I'd love to get rid of as many of these symptoms that are hanging on that I can. I always attributed those symptoms to other things in life (like age) but I'm 36, not 86 or because of stress. I shouldn't be tired after sleeping all night. I shouldn't be so forgetful when my memory used to be sharp as a tack. I shouldn't still have four nodules sticking out of my thyroid, choking me if I laugh with my head turned the wrong way. That's not normal and it is time to insist on a trial medication change. If my insistence is met with denial, I will find another doctor. I want answers.

Anyway, I know thyroid issues are becoming quite common (like 1 in 8 women now) so I thought I'd put this info out there in case anybody else is showing symptoms that isn't being treated or know you have it and would like more reading material other than just the "synthetic - synthetic - synthetic" treatment some doctors will only use.

If you'd like to test yourself to see if you have symptoms of a problematic thyroid, among other things, try this:

http://www.hotzehwc.com/test/

Good Luck!

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Finding Willpower, Finding Time

OK. I want to get into shape. Lose some lbs. in some places, some more than others, lol. Firm up some places. Again, some more than others. My problem? Well, there's a few of them.

First, I have thyroid disease - Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and Hypothyroidism. Besides having several lovely nodules on my thyroid and the fear of cancer one day, it has slowed my metabolism down to about nothing. So, the days of eating what I want, when I want are over for me.

Second, I have asthma. A few minutes of exercise means puffing away at my rescue inhaler. I have my asthma under control for the most part the rest of the time, but exercise induced asthma gets me everytime.

Third, I have four young children. Where do I find the time to squeeze in exercise in between meal preparation, cleaning, homework, kids' activities, errands, husband activities, etc. etc. etc. Funny how the reason for the extra weight (baby weight that won't leave) is also part of the reason why I don't have time to get rid of it, lol.

Fourth, I have no willpower. Nada. Zilch. I never had to watch my weight before. I was always a size 2/4 no matter how many times I went thru the drive-thru at McDonalds (and believe me, that was OFTEN back when I was single). Yes, I was one of those snotty witches that could eat what I wanted, when I wanted, and never gain an ounce. So, having to figure out how to watch it now is difficult for me - difficult for me to think about and difficult for me to maintain thinking about.

Finally, I can't use "help" in the form of weight loss pills, shakes, etc. Medications tend to react badly with my thyroid meds (as in heart-racing nausea bad reaction feeling like I am going to die scenario). I have no clue how natural remedies would interact with my thyroid meds either so those are out. I can't even pop a cold pill when I get a cold.

I don't eat badly. I mean, there are times that I do. When Bryan brings me home chocolate, which he thoughtfully does because he knows how much I love it, how could I not eat some (he also thoughtfully eats it too, sometimes before I can get to it)? (Did I say he bought it for me? LOL) When I have my mother-in-law's company potatoes in front of me, that is a huge guarantee that I am going to eat too much but that's only a few times a year. Most of the time, I don't have time to eat properly, which is part of my problem. Not eating enough frequently enough slows my metabolism down. Guess I'm screwed everyway I go huh?

Fifth, everytime I try to exercise, a two-year old comes running to hang onto my leg. Mom can't have time to herself according to my two-year-old, lol. That is the way it is with everything though - mom gets on the computer, toddler wants me; mom answers the phone, toddler wants me.

That leaves me with exercise. Boring, asthma-inducing, hateful, muscle aching exercise. Something else about me - I hate to sweat. Hate it. Unless it is sweat induced by a lot of loving, I have NO interest in sweating ever. I hate sweating myself and find nothing sexy about a sweaty man. It stinks!

I took the first step today towards finding some willpower. I did it. I exercised today. I sweated. I increased my heart rate. Then after 14 minutes, I had to break for my inhaler. I did it though. My first step towards losing some lbs. and finding my waistline. It will make me happier about myself, thus better for my family. It will be healthier for me and that's not just better for me but better for my kids. I want to be around to see my grandkids. I am six years younger than my husband and he's in better shape than me. Can't have that! I have to catch up to the old man!

I am hoping this blog will give me some incentive to keep going. If I see it here, it will be a reminder that I have to haul my Turbo Jam DVD out and work my booty off more often and literally. Right? That's my hope anyway.

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