Putting food in its place

[Chris55]

I didn't start gaining weight until my 40's, so I'm grateful that I don't have that kind weight as part of my psyche experience. But I know many people who do and have struggled all their lives. I don't know if you can ever truly get over that, but you can focus on how healthy you feel when you eat right and exercise. That's where I am right now, trying to focus on my veggies and getting out for walks every day that I can. I feel better even though I've only lost about 3 lb. My energy is better, I'm in a much better mood most of the time, and I don't feel bloated. That said, I'm still checking the scale way too often. Maybe you should put yours in the closet for a while until your meds are stable.

[amalfi_girl]

Thanks, Chris.

I just wanted to post because I started TurboFire yesterday and loved it SO much. I loved the feeling I used to get teaching aerobics, and also just being at weight loss camp when I was a kid, being in a group with other people who are just happy to be moving around and getting healthier, who aren't looking at you and thinking "Was that a jiggle?" And I didn't think a video would be able to re-create that feeling, but TurboFire definitely does. I'm thrilled because it is really expensive, and I didn't want all that money to go down the drain by watching it and finding out it wasn't for me, but that didn't happen. Lisa (Beaching It), cover your ears: I like it better than ZUMBA!!! I know, who'd of thought.

DH said that even if doing an intense workout program does not cause me to lose weight, which is something I really can't control right now, it is GUARANTEED to improve my cardiovascular system. He wants me to focus on health rather than weight, which is entirely rational (yet still pretty hard). It's not that I'm shallow, PLEASE!! It's just that I've been focused on weight for SO LONG, even after cancer it feels a little phony to say I don't care about it any more, all I care about is health. I care about my health, trust me, but I also care about enjoying the look and feel of my body. I miss that feeling of "slipping on" my favorite Size 14 jeans. The feeling of looking through my closet and knowing I'll like the way I look in anything I pluck off the hangers. I know it's in my future somewhere, I'm just an impatient person. So in the meantime, it's good to be able to focus on the fact that I actually LOVE working out this way and that I'll do it 6 days a week. That WILL make me healthier, and it WILL give me more muscle.

[Chris55]

It's great that you've found a workout you love!! That's tremendous! Wish I could do that, lol! My first goal when I get a PAID job is to join a Y and work my butt off, literally

It is frustrating for the weight to stall or come off soooo painfully slowly. But your husband is right (me, too!) that you need to concentrate on your health. Getting your cardiovascular system in shape is really key, and your class sounds perfect for that. You'll eventually lose a bit and tone your muscles. Instead of focusing on the scale, focus on how your stamina is being built - you can chart that as well as your weight! You can also take your measurements - we all know it shows up there before it shows up on the scale. I'm sure your husband won't mind an extra inch or two to hug while he's celebrating that you're surviving cancer!

[amalfi_girl]

That's exactly his point, Chris--that he's just so relieved I'm still here, and he can't believe I can stress about anything in the face of that!

I've been talking to some other thyroid-issue people on the Atkins Diet bulletin board, and they recommend going a bit higher carb (i.e. 50g/day rather than 25g/day) especially with the increased exercise, so I'm going to eat more of my favorite high carb veggies like artichoke hearts, pumpkin, squash, onions and tomatoes, and also add things like raspberries and blueberries (yum!). I do NOT have a problem with that. Especially since these are such healthy foods--how can you worry you're doing something wrong when eating veggies and berries seems so right? I'll see how that feels and then I'll think about adding greek yogurt, too, or potentially legumes (I love hummus and miss it pretty bad). I'll let you know how that goes!

[Chris55]

I don't think you should be staying away from the hummus/legumes or the greek yogurt anyway since they're both P1 friendly. The beans will definitely help with your energy level, and the yogurt is so yummy. Even the ff greek yogurt is rich and delicious!

[amalfi_girl]

For about 11 mo. I've been doing Atkins instead of South Beach--main difference in my actual daily eating is just full fat dairy instead of LF/FF, and no legumes. It's a higher fat, even lower carb WOE. It is pretty easy to stick to, as was SB, but because of the thyroid issues I haven't gotten very far (went from 238 to 223, since the thyroid surgery I'm back up to 227 and holding there). I'll have to wait another 3-9 weeks before the thyroid meds kick in and I can really tell if this WOE is working for me still or if I should go back to SB and try that. Some posters on other (thyroid-driven) sites have said that a more SB-esque WOE works better for them than Atkins, so I'll have to get my meds right before I can test that out.

[Chris55]

I'm on a small dose (75mcg) of thyroid meds, was just increased in January after testing. I've been finding lately that cutting back on the protein and increasing the veggies is the only thing that's working for me. I usually have hummus and veggies for at least one snack, and am cutting back on nuts, cheese, and having smaller protein portions since they're much more caloric. I'm also trying to have tea or water when I think I'm hungry and find that I wasn't really hungry, just thirsty. The weight is coming off very slowly, but at least it's coming off!

[amalfi_girl]

I've tried a bunch of different things to try and get myself off of this awful plateau I've been on for a year. Basically just been stuck between 223 and 228 since last July. I've added weight lifting, kept up the cardio, tried HIIT cardio, stuck with Atkins through the thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine treatment, went to a "clean eating" fitness model type diet (6 small meals a day, whey protein powder, egg whites, lean protein, less fat and more high fiber carbs), and now I am thinking of just going back to South Beach. I honestly don't know what to do anymore and South Beach has always seemed like the healthiest diet that I've tried, so I feel like if I just eat healthy even if I never lose another pound at least I'll be doing my body a favor.

I honestly don't even remember how to "do" south beach now that it has been so long, I think I'll have to go back to the Phase 1 threads and re-learn.

How is low carb, low sugar whey protein powder treated? (I tend to use a powder with 27g protein and <3g sugar/carbs)

[Chris55]

Welcome back, again! Sorry you're having such a tough time with the thyroid and weight, but you're right. SB is one of the healthiest eating programs out there and even if you lose painfully slowly at least you're eating a healthy diet and not doing any more harm to your body.

I'm pretty sure either Kimborini or Ami or one of the veterans here has used whey protein. You might want to post a question on one of the other boards about it.

[amalfi_girl]

Thanks, Chris! I did a search for "whey" and read some threads about it. It seems that pure whey is definitely allowed, but that most recommend "real" protein (i.e., cottage cheese, chicken, shrimp, etc.) over whey powder. So I read that as a preference thing where, because I prefer whey protein (for instance in my "sweet treat" by mixing it with unsweetened almond milk and unsweetened cocoa powder) it is fine for me to eat it.