Posts: 734
8/26/09 9:45 P

How did you make your diet nutrient rich? I know about the glycemic load and I am quite interested in the Eating Clean info. I have discovered that I have to stay away from sweets or they send me off on a binge. I have tried to make Dr. Oz's green drink at least once a day.

Posts: 11,488
8/19/09 10:22 A

Been there, done that Sue Jen. My thyroid is dead so I am totally dependent on HRT for thyroid function. It took several months to get to the right dossage and then several mor months before symptoms improved. I still have metabolic damage and always will. Now the good news is, that even within those constraints, you can compensate and adjust your diet and exercise to match your metabolic rate. For those like us, nutrient dense eating is even more important because we need to get the nutrition we need on even fewer calories.

Here is what worked for me when I was at the point you are now. Debilitating fatigue was my worst symptom, so exercising was extremely tough for me. But it was like priming a pump. I had to expend what precious little energy I had in order to gain more. So exercise as hard and as much as your fatigue will allow and over time it will result in an energy gain.

I maintained a 1200 calorie/day diet for over 2 years. But it was a very nutrient dense diet which allowed me to feel satisfied on those 1200 calories and get the nutrition I needed. Even on that, I didn't lose any weight for several months, but I didn't continue gaining (the second worst symptom of my thyroid disease). Eventually I did start losing and lost about 150 pounds in 18 months.

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Posts: 734
8/18/09 9:01 P

My low thyroid creates havoc when trying to boost my metabolism with exercise and diet. My TSH has been rising regularly since Jan. resulting in two dose changes. It is so frustrating to find a balance that allows for weight loss.

Posts: 11,488
7/30/09 3:49 P

Another aspect of nutritional imbalance that tends to get hyped by various diet "gurus" is the notion that carbs get stored as body fat more easily than proteins. The truth is, excess calories will be stored as adipose fat regardless of whether they go in as carbs, protein, or fats.

While it is true that there is a difference in calorie expenditure to digest different macronutrients, that difference is very slight in terms of calories used. Since carbs on average are digested more quickly than proteins, it may take a few extra calories to to digest those proteins....but we are talking a difference of maybe 1/2 an apple here in terms of daily calories....certainly not worth screwing up your health for.

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Posts: 6,051
7/30/09 3:25 P

There is a plethora of "diets”,” supplements" and "fat loss food combinations" which are all trading off on the "obesity epidemic" which is the current health new flavour of the month. This is not saying there is not an obesity problem however in the final analysis without some form of underlying medical problem obesity is caused by eating more calories than we use.

The food we eat breaks down into three macro nutrients, carbohydrates, proteins and fats all of which have a role in ensuring we stay health. To over simplify a bit carbohydrates = energy, proteins = muscle and tissue building and fats = hormones. In actuality all contribute and interact to provide body fuel but for the moment accept the simplification. Diet programmes range from high carbohydrate (Pritikin) to no carbohydrate (Atkins and South Beach) to nothing vegetable (PaleoDiet) and no fat (Jared and Subway). All tend to reflect an imbalance of some sort excluding or restricting one or more of the macro nutrients. Excluding or dramatically restricting any one of the macro nutrients will degrade the body metabolism.

The Zone Diet which was developed for Type II diabetics is based on the following percentages 40% carbohydrates, 30% protein and 30% fats. While the research findings vary by the researcher on balance the percentages seem to balance well for most individuals who are active. There are numerous colleges which use them for their training tables as does the US Olympic Centre.

Paying attention to the form of carbohydrates (lower glycemic index) proteins (lower fat meats and vegetable) and fats (poly unsaturated and mono saturated) and the total number of calories consumed versus those used is the best way to control weight and modify body composition. Eating more frequently and eating smaller portions will also help to suppress appetite and keep the metabolism charged. The rational approach to a weight loss regimen is to go 90/10, 90% strict and 10% semi strict with regard to calorie monitoring.

The only dietary regimen which will work in the long run is one which is rational and can be followed without a sense of deprivation.


Edited by: SERGEANTMAJOR at: 7/31/2009 (14:25)