Tired of not losing weight and feeling fat and more overweight than I want to be, I've decided to try a new meal plan. I started this yesterday.
It's based on what I see bodybuilder and fitness-types doing, i.e. those who do weight lifting, which is what I do for exercise.
I thought my low carb would keep working but it hasn't. Any time I've tried to drop my carbs too low, I feel awful for several weeks even after brining my carbs up too much. My theory is that my thyroid doesn't like this low of carbs and keeps down-regulating everytime I do this, especially since I have so much muscle-stuff going on.
Thus, my new meal plan is different. Instead of 3 meals + snack a day as I had been doing with about 50% fat, 30% protein, 25-30% carbs, the new plan is 5-6 meals a day, about 30% fat, 30% protein, 30-40% carbs. Most of the heavier carbs will be in the morning and then PWO.
I felt okay on Day 1, despite having to make some adjustments due to scheduling and food options, as I have had to on Day 2 here, too. I'm trying to use up some of the foods I still have before I buy much more, but the subsitutions have been pretty close.
Oddly enough, the scale was down 2 lbs today after Day 1. I know this is way too early to have any effect, but it is rather encouraging that I did not gain. We'll see how it goes.
Tuesday I have an appointment with the new doctor who did all kinds of blood work tests on me. I'm looking forward to the results and what they mean, hoping we have some indciations of what has been going on with me. I'm hoping for at least T3 supplementation since I've been only on T4.
Overall, I've been feeling pretty good, much better than I was when I dropped my carbs too low. I've been around 60-100g of carbs mostly. My thyroid symptoms have been less, though my temperature has dipped low after a lower carb day. For example, I had about 40g of carbs one day and the next morning, my temperature was 95.9! Next day, I ate more and my temp went back up to 97.1 where it typically sits. Coincidentally, this morning it was 97.5, and this was after Day1 of the new plan. That's the highest it's been in the morning so far (except when I was sick).
My theory is that more carbs will be good for me and my thyroid. It's my prayer that my body will get the picture that it's healthy enough eating this way that it can lose this extra weight I've gained. That and perhaps some medications and suggestions from the new doctor.
Meanwhile, I've been working out good still, 3 days a week and had an awesome metabolic circuit yesterday. Love it! I'm so much stronger than I ever was and am finding that this has helped with some of my loose skin issues too.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Low carb and athletic performance
Robb Wolf talks about low carb and athletic performance today:
My Thoughts on Low Carb and Paleo, Part Deux
This article really hits home for me as last year (around March/April) when I attempted to "up my exercise" to lose more weight, specifically by doing more demanding weight lifting, I started to feel awful. My hypothyroid symptoms returned, including dry skin, cold hands and feet, senstitivity to cold, thinning hair, fatigue, problems sleeping, brain fog and more.
My theory has been that I pushed the limit of low carb, that my body was demanding more carbs, and when I upped my carbs, I did feel better. I didn't lose any more weight, but my thyroid symptoms and fatigue improved. It took several weeks however.
Yes, I did see my doctor and have my thyroid checked but the "standard" thyroid tests weren't too unusual, not enough to match how awful I was feeling.
Which led me to believe it was how I was eating. Especially because I was still doing weight lifting and felt like I had more muscle mass.
What Robb Wolf talks about is something I have been investigating, which is that too low of carb where you are very physically active is not good long term. The theory is that "high output glycolytic" requires more carbs and I personally have found this to be true.
When I tried to cut back again in September, 2012, to try and lose more weight, my fatigue and thyroid symptoms returned, so I added back carbs again. Again, it took me several weeks to start feeling better.
I don't believe this is as simple as needing more carbs, but eating more did help me feel better. Unfortunately, it has not helped the weight loss either. I think it's more complex than this. I think alot goes into this, including body fat%, homrones such as thyroid, adrenals, and female ones, how long I was overweight and messed up my metabolism, and more.
I'm still figuring this out, but when even the low-carb and paleo advocates recognize that ketosis isn't the 100% answer for everyone, it backs up what I have been personally finding to be true.
My Thoughts on Low Carb and Paleo, Part Deux
This article really hits home for me as last year (around March/April) when I attempted to "up my exercise" to lose more weight, specifically by doing more demanding weight lifting, I started to feel awful. My hypothyroid symptoms returned, including dry skin, cold hands and feet, senstitivity to cold, thinning hair, fatigue, problems sleeping, brain fog and more.
My theory has been that I pushed the limit of low carb, that my body was demanding more carbs, and when I upped my carbs, I did feel better. I didn't lose any more weight, but my thyroid symptoms and fatigue improved. It took several weeks however.
Yes, I did see my doctor and have my thyroid checked but the "standard" thyroid tests weren't too unusual, not enough to match how awful I was feeling.
Which led me to believe it was how I was eating. Especially because I was still doing weight lifting and felt like I had more muscle mass.
What Robb Wolf talks about is something I have been investigating, which is that too low of carb where you are very physically active is not good long term. The theory is that "high output glycolytic" requires more carbs and I personally have found this to be true.
When I tried to cut back again in September, 2012, to try and lose more weight, my fatigue and thyroid symptoms returned, so I added back carbs again. Again, it took me several weeks to start feeling better.
I don't believe this is as simple as needing more carbs, but eating more did help me feel better. Unfortunately, it has not helped the weight loss either. I think it's more complex than this. I think alot goes into this, including body fat%, homrones such as thyroid, adrenals, and female ones, how long I was overweight and messed up my metabolism, and more.
I'm still figuring this out, but when even the low-carb and paleo advocates recognize that ketosis isn't the 100% answer for everyone, it backs up what I have been personally finding to be true.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Happy New Year!
Welcome to 2013!
It's the New Year and time when many people commit to FINALLY losing weight, eating better, exercising more, quitting bad habits, etc. etc.
I'm so glad I did that already. Still have a ways to go yet but I am so much better for having done this years ago. It really has transformed my life. Positive changes have become healthy habit and I love it.
Case en pointe, despite sleeping in from New Years Festivities running late and pouring rain, I still made it to the gym. Not out of guilt but because Tuesday is my UBWO (Upper Body Workout) day. It felt darn good to workout too.
So, New Years resolution for me? Hmmm.... am already eating well, exercising, don't smoke, maybe cut down on the drinking a bit (it was a little more than usual over the holidays).
Well, one big one is to live life better. What I mean by this is more vacations and me time, visiting with friends and family more, A friend of mine past away recently who inspired this. He lived life well and I want to learn from his example.
Next, I need to get my remaining health issues figured out and see if I can lose some more weight, in a healthy manner.
Another goal is to finish decluttering and decorating my home, including furnishing a guest room so I can actually have guests stay with me.
Oh and to blog and share my story more.
Happy New Year all. May this be the year you achieve a happier, healthier you!
It's the New Year and time when many people commit to FINALLY losing weight, eating better, exercising more, quitting bad habits, etc. etc.
I'm so glad I did that already. Still have a ways to go yet but I am so much better for having done this years ago. It really has transformed my life. Positive changes have become healthy habit and I love it.
Case en pointe, despite sleeping in from New Years Festivities running late and pouring rain, I still made it to the gym. Not out of guilt but because Tuesday is my UBWO (Upper Body Workout) day. It felt darn good to workout too.
So, New Years resolution for me? Hmmm.... am already eating well, exercising, don't smoke, maybe cut down on the drinking a bit (it was a little more than usual over the holidays).
Well, one big one is to live life better. What I mean by this is more vacations and me time, visiting with friends and family more, A friend of mine past away recently who inspired this. He lived life well and I want to learn from his example.
Next, I need to get my remaining health issues figured out and see if I can lose some more weight, in a healthy manner.
Another goal is to finish decluttering and decorating my home, including furnishing a guest room so I can actually have guests stay with me.
Oh and to blog and share my story more.
Happy New Year all. May this be the year you achieve a happier, healthier you!
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