1st time on Atkins...have hypothyroidism

[Becker]

I started last Thursday, so I am on day 6 today. I have hypothyroidism and have gained 50lbs in the past 2 1/2 years because my meds weren't right. I started with an Endo. a few months ago, and I am finally starting to feel better as far as my symptoms go. I am extremely depressed about the way I look so I am 100% committed to trying this diet. I have read the posts from others with hypothyroidism. I was doing excellent....yesterday I weighed and I had lost 8 lbs (2lbs a day!) so this morning I was excited to see that I had reached the -10lbs point. I weighed and had gained 4lbs back. I also only have a period about 3 times a year and started this morning, so I am sure that has something to do with my 4lbs of water gain. Has anyone heard of this diet causing irregular menstral cycles? I am also a migraine sufferer, so day 3~5 were miserable for me. No headache yet today thank goodness....hoping that is behind me!! I haven't read the book yet, but I know it is a must. Buying it today. I have just been eating eggs, meat, cheese, and a salad with ranch for lunch. I printed off the induction phase list of acceptable foods. If anyone has any suggestions for me, I would love the help! This is my first time ever on low carb...first time ever posting on anything...complete newby here!

[liv]

Re: 1st time on Atkins...have hypothyroidism

Welcome Becker.
There is a first thing for everything - and here you are with several first. Congratulations on starting.
Do you have a different period schedule because of age - peri menopause perhaps.
Anyways very normal that the cycle is affected by the diet. When I go on induction I usually get my period even if it is not scheduled. And others report similar things. So you are normal there
And yes that up on the scale is probably water retention as the hormones are working up with the period.

My advice for you would be to spread your 3 cups of veggies around throughout all your meals if possible. And drink plenty of water. And avoid sweetners

[Becker]

Re: 1st time on Atkins...have hypothyroidism

I use Nuvaring as my birth control and they have me on a 20 day cycle so I don't have periods. If my thyroid is completely out of control, I will have one....or every so often I allow it to happen. I will be 35 in 2 days, so I don't have any menopause issues yet. I was one of the lucky people that could eat truck loads of food and never exercise and I was thin and had defined muscles. I had almost lost my baby weight after child number 3 and my thyroid started failing. I have gained weight in quick spurts ever since....like 10-12lbs in a month and then stay that weight for MONTHS. It just keeps creeping up on me. Being exhausted all the time with hypothyroidism, I had no desire to exercise or to even be awake for that matter. I am on .150 of Levoxyl now and I am starting to be able to stay awake for an entire day....it has been a pitiful, miserable 2 1/2 years. I can't live like that anymore so I went to a specialist and now I am HERE to get try something new. My regular doctor gives me Adderall XR 30mg. I do not have ADD...AT ALL!!!....but she gives it to me for the energy because sleeping all day with a toddler running around wasn't safe....now I have the script to use. I have not taken it while on this diet because it kills my appetite and dehydrates me bad and I didn't know what effect that would have on my efforts since this is my first time ever. If anyone has taken Adderall or phentermine (effects me the same way) while on Atkins I would love some imput. Thanks!

[atkinsgal08]

Re: 1st time on Atkins...have hypothyroidism

>>Has anyone heard of this diet causing irregular menstral cycles?>>

Yes, but to be fair ... any diet can cause that. Estrogen is stored in your fat cells ... so as you loose fat, your estrogen can get "messed up". Also, it's important to make sure you're eating calories so that your luteinizing hormones don't get too disrupted. Generally a woman's period stabilizes in a few months.

>>I have just been eating eggs, meat, cheese, and a salad with ranch for lunch.>>

You need more vegetables that just a salad.

Please do buy the book ... and read it! Since you're already started, read Chapter 11 FIRST and then go back to the beginning. It's really important to know exactly what Atkins is, so that you can do the best for yourself.

The media thinks Atkins is "meat, eggs, and cheese" but the reality is it's a whole lot more!

[Becker]

Re: 1st time on Atkins...have hypothyroidism

The salad I was eating for lunch was about 2 cups of lettuce with mushrooms, green peppers, real bacon bits, cheese, a boiled egg, some grilled chicken or steak chunks, and ranch dressing. I measured everything and used the carb counter I got from here and it was about 11.2 grams of carbs. If I need to spread the veggies out over the day, that is no big deal...since I haven't read the book, I really don't know what to do. I was just picking up the food suggestions from here and making sure I was sticking to proportions for the day and not going over. I am so dedicated to giving this a try. Since my hypo., I cannot lose any weight unless I go on a starvation/Adderall binge...which is just begging for more health problems and I was only losing 2-3lbs which was gained back as soon as I took a bite of anything. Not a healthy way to live. If anyone has tips, sample menu, etc., please....I would love any help! I really want to give this a fair chance.....NOTHING has helped me lose and I am currently the weight I was the day before I delivered my 3rd child. I am miserable!

[imagood1]

Re: 1st time on Atkins...have hypothyroidism

Hi and welcome Becker --
Probably the people on the thyroid forum would be more helpful in meal planning but so far it sounds like you are doing pretty well.

Make sure you drink a minimum of 64 ounces of pure water (nothing added), exercise starting today and take a multi-vitamin. Many of the challenges will be starting the first of the month, look around to see if there are any that interest you.

Eat ONLY the foods on the acceptable food list. If a food isn't on the acceptable food list you shouldn't be eating it until you are on that Rung of the plan. (What foods can be eaten on Induction?)http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-low-carb-dieting-faqs/6781-what-foods-can-eaten-induction.html . You'll find wonderful recipes here: just make sure you use Induction Recipes to begin with.

http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/menus.html (Linda’s)
(Never ending induction recipes)(Never ending induction recipes)(Never ending induction recipes)(Never ending induction recipes)(Never ending induction recipes)http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-diet-14-day-induction/58513-never-ending-induction-recipes.html (Induction recipes)
(Induction Recipe Basics--More recipes added)(Induction Recipe Basics--More recipes added)(Induction Recipe Basics--More recipes added)(Induction Recipe Basics--More recipes added)(Induction Recipe Basics--More recipes added)http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-diet-14-day-induction/6807-induction-recipe-basics-more-recipes-added.html (Induction Recipe Basics).

Vary your meals so you don't get tired of eating the same thing over and over -- we have too many choices for that to happen. Many of us use www.Fitday.com to track our food so we know what our carb totals are for the day. It's important you know what you are eating and how many carbs you are taking in each day.

If you need anything we’re here to help you!! Good luck to you!

[atkinsgal08]

Re: 1st time on Atkins...have hypothyroidism

>>The salad I was eating for lunch was about 2 cups of lettuce with mushrooms, green peppers, real bacon bits, cheese, a boiled egg, some grilled chicken or steak chunks, and ranch dressing. I measured everything and used the carb counter I got from here and it was about 11.2 grams of carbs.>>

Net carbs?

Using Fitday, 2 cups of romaine is 1.1 net carbs, 1 cup of white (regular) mushrooms is 1.6 net carbs, one egg (large) is .39 net carbs, and 1/2 cup of chopped green pepper is 2.2 net carbs. That's 5.29 net carbs. Assuming some trace carbs in the bacon bits, that leaves a lot of carbs for the salad dressing?

[ErinB]

Re: 1st time on Atkins...have hypothyroidism

I have hypothyroidism and have gained 50lbs in the past 2 1/2 years because my meds weren't right. I started with an Endo. a few months ago, and I am finally starting to feel better as far as my symptoms go.

You are getting a lot of good advice, but I just wanted to say kudos to you for keeping tabs on the thyroid issue, seeing a doc who will help you stay leveled on your meds. It sounds like your thyroid may still be flailing, in its death throes, not dead yet, so it is really important to raise a flag when symptoms indicate it isn't doing the job and the med level isn't high enough to compensate.

When that is corrected, as you have seen, you can lose and keep weight off as well as a person with a normally functioning thyroid. So many don't seem to understand that, keep insisting their doctors switch meds (which throws off the titration process) instead of going through the process of gradually increasing the dose until the level is right for their individual bodies.