Stopped losing, starting to gain!

[embeccamom]

Hi all! I've posted this in the Thyroid thread, but thought I might get more feedback here, since it sees more traffic:

I'm wondering if I need to have my thyroid function tested.

I started Atkins on January 9th. I had a fair amount of success on Induction - lost about four pounds the first week, another 2-3 the second week. I decided to stay at Induction levels a little longer, since I have about 70 lbs to lose overall, and didn't want to slow too much more. Besides, I am happy with the food at induction levels, not bored yet.

Overall, I got to about 8 lbs down, then started gaining. I'm back up about 5 lbs over the last week, for an overall loss of only 3 lbs since starting.

I've had absolutely no cheats. According to Fitday, my averages for the month of January are: 65% fat, 29% protein, 6% carb, 1255 calories.

Anyway, I am always FREEZING. Especially hands and feet. My husband is sitting next to me in short sleeves, while I have a fleece on, two pairs of socks on my feet and a blanket on my lap! Started taking my temp several times a day as suggested by Dr. Atkins - averaging below 98. Once or twice only 96-something! As to other symptoms dry skin, dry hair, brittle nails - somewhat, I guess. Haven't noticed anything major, but at 46, I am probably chalking things up to getting older & being overweight.

I did add L-carnitine, chromium and CoQ10 to my daily multi-vitamin and calcium supplement in my third week, as suggested in DANDR for those who may be metabolically resistant. I have seen some opinions that the carnitine can make the thyroid slower if you are already low or borderline low. I may drop it for a few days and see if the weight gain will stop. Starting these additional supplements does seem to correspond with the gain.

I guess I am hesitant because I anticipate getting the reaction from a doctor: Oh, here's another overweight, middle-aged woman who wants to blame her weight gain/difficulty in losing on a slow thyroid. On top of overcoming that is getting them to run the proper tests.

Advice? Opinions? Thanks!

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Stopped losing, starting to gain!

>>1255 calories.>>

Not surprised you've gained! That's pretty serious undereating calorie wise. A good rule of thumb is to eat 10-12 times your current body weight in calories.

If you would like to make your Fitday public, we can take a look at what you're eating.

[liv]

Re: Stopped losing, starting to gain!

You should NEVER put things that you think other MAY think over your own health and well being never. OF course you should go and see your doctor. And if he or she is a good doctor he should have checked your thyroid at least every two years. Do it now if you worry. Today.

[sweet lady]

whats wrong

hi! im new here but not new to the atkins diet. im going threw the same thi ng i havent had any cheats and overall only lost a total of 5 pounds this month and i kmow the weight loss is much more successful then that but im not getting discouraged just its motivating me more to see what im doing wrong and have a more successful month come feburary.

[embeccamom]

Re: Stopped losing, starting to gain!

Well, I wasn't really focusing on total calories, just eating to satisfaction. Can't imagine how I could add a huge amount of additional calories without feeling uncomfortable. What total calorie level is recommended?

A typical menu would be:
Breakfast: 2 or 3 eggs, scrambled, cooked in about a tsp of butter. A tsp of heavy cream. Sometimes I've added some leftover mushrooms or spinach, no more than 1/4 cup. Sometimes a half oz of cheese (cheddar or gruyere). 3 or 4 slices bacon.

Lunch: 2 cups salad (romaine/spinach/arugula/cucumber) with either some chicken breast, ham or hard boiled egg added. If I use commercial ranch or caesar dressing, no more than 2 Tbsp. OR shrimp salad, tuna salad or chicken salad (homemade, mayo only) in half an avocado

Dinner: Whatever protein I am cooking for the family - could be chicken breast or thighs, beef, pork, fish. A normal to generous portion (6 oz cooked, sometimes more depending on appetite) I cook with liberal amounts of olive oil or butter. I don't always measure the quanities of fat used, but I don't scrimp. One cup of induction veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, mushrooms, green beans). If I didn't have a salad at lunch, I'll add one here.

Along with that, I may have a snack in the afternoon or evening: Sometimes leftover protein, sometime an ounce or so of cheese, a few slices of pepperoni, though I try to limit the processed meat to occasionally. Sometimes cucumber or zucchini or pepper slices with some ranch dressing to dip in. Or some shrimp, dipped in mayo with a bit of dijon mustard added.

I'm getting plenty of water - 100 oz or so daily. I might have one mug of decaf coffee daily, with a Tbsp of heavy cream and one Splenda packet. Some days it's tea (Lipton), minus the cream. A cup of herbal tea, unsweetened in the afternoon, especially when I am feeling cold!

[embeccamom]

Re: Stopped losing, starting to gain!

You should NEVER put things that you think other MAY think over your own health and well being never. OF course you should go and see your doctor. And if he or she is a good doctor he should have checked your thyroid at least every two years. Do it now if you worry. Today.

Thank you! And of course I know that.

I had a health issue some years ago that to this day remains undiagnosed (though I'm pretty sure that it was/is related to the Rheumatic Fever I had as a child), because it does not show up in test results, doctors refuse to take the symptoms seriously, are unfamiliar with the disease, and really HATE to be given suggestions by a patient who has done internet research. And, yes, I did go to several doctors. One even told me, "Well, it won't kill you" Oh really? How do you know that if you don't know what it is.

So, I know what kind of road I am facing. It's frustrating & expensive (I'm going on a year of unemployment).

[guekjian]

Re: Stopped losing, starting to gain!

Too weird! I am sitting here in my long sleeve shirt topped by a Nike fleece hoodie and I am FREEZING! I have been diagnosed low thyroid and take a supplement daily (synthroid) but I tell you, it has made NO difference whatsoever in my case. My skin is still hyper dry, actually hurts sometimes, my hands and feet are frozen, my hair brittle, I wear fake nails because mine won't grow...My weight loss is slow too, I haven't gained, but am losing VERY slowly. Don't give up...go see your doctor and get tested...

[guekjian]

Re: Stopped losing, starting to gain!

P.S. Just took my temp and it is 96.6...

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Stopped losing, starting to gain!

>>What total calorie level is recommended?>>

A good rule of thumb is 10-12 times your current body weight.

[bizzlekitty]

Re: Stopped losing, starting to gain!

Checking your thyroid levels is a good things to get checked out, regardless of your weight. If your doctor makes you feel uncomfortable asking about this test, you need to find a new doctor! Problems with weight/weight loss is just one of the complications of not being treated.

Thyroid issues are alot more common than most people realize, especially in the last 5-10 years when they have been changing the guidelines in the test results used for diagnosing and treating an underactive thyroid.

Make sure to get a copy of your test results from the doctor and that they are going by the latest guideline ranges. For TSH, it's .3 to 3.0 as of January 2003. Some labs still list the old range in test results. And more doctors are delving into using T3 and T4 for additional monitoring and diagnosis. Endocrinologists are typically better at dealing with this that primary doctors.

I have still lost weight while my TSH was old of bounds, but being treated with medication helps alot. Weight loss might still be slow however and require sticking strictly to Atkins.

I don't have alot of the usual physical symptoms other than lower temperature, cold feet and hands, dry skin, and slow weight loss.

[2big4mysize]

Re: Stopped losing, starting to gain!

if you are hypothyroid your doc should not be using the TSH number to determine your treatment as TSH measure a hormone for your pituatary gland not your thyrois. Levles of free T4 and T3 should be checked and if they are not doing good then a full panel should be run to see if you have antibodies and autoimmune hypothyroid or which of the 4 types of hypothyroid you have cause if you have secondary or terciary and are treated for primary you will still be hypo and getting worse and worse.

Thank you! And of course I know that.

I had a health issue some years ago that to this day remains undiagnosed (though I'm pretty sure that it was/is related to the Rheumatic Fever I had as a child), because it does not show up in test results, doctors refuse to take the symptoms seriously, are unfamiliar with the disease, and really HATE to be given suggestions by a patient who has done internet research. And, yes, I did go to several doctors. One even told me, "Well, it won't kill you" Oh really? How do you know that if you don't know what it is.

So, I know what kind of road I am facing. It's frustrating & expensive (I'm going on a year of unemployment).

Your doctor is uneducated as low thyroid can and does kill people.