The Thyroid connected to everything bone.. or maybe I should say body.

This week I had my appointment with my endocrinologist.   These appointments always make me nervous, only because I never know what is going to pop up next.     The doctors office  I go is really awesome in the sense that before you go in for you appointment they have pretty much emailed you lab results from your previous visit.     The previous lab results indicate that my TSH was right on  target, my PTH still wacky and high, every else normal.. except ..............   My A1C level was on the high side of normal.    What is A1C well it is a blood test the measures your blood glucose level over the past 2-3 months.     The last time I went to the endocrinologist he told me that he was going to be monitoring my sugar levels.   Why,  I asked??? Well because apparently people with thyroid disorders and people without thyroid are have increased risk of developing diabetes.  Ugh, one more thing to freak out about.     Well at the appointment I had this week, I asked him what does that mean my A1c is normal but high and that I am at risk for developing diabetes.  He said, I didn't have diabetes, nor pre-diabetes but that I really need to monitor my carb intake and make sure I am exercising.    I told him exercise is typically not a problem except for now that my ankle is sprained, but watching carbs.. oh  I love carbs and that is so hard for me to do.     He informed me of a one day class they were having on weight management and  I told him I was interested in going.  The nutritionist gave us some useful information, nothing I haven't heard before but it doesn't hurt to hear it again and again and again.    Then because I have decided that I really want to prevent this from happening and that I really need to get very and I mean very serious I went back to weight watchers and had them weigh me in.  I hadn't been since early feb. and luckily I haven't gained, or lost which I think is pretty good considering I hadn't gone is such a long time.      I hadn't been able to go because my bank account got hacked into, so weight watchers had closed my account with them,unfortunately I hadn't had a chance to re-activate it.       Of course, now that I have been forced into seeing that this could be a real health concern if I don't try to do something about it.       I can't say that I have been completely perfect in terms of eating since finding out this information, but I can say that now every time I think about pizza, and pasta and break I find myself thinking about how  I need to limit myself and how these food items could end up causing me some real problems in the future.       
Of course, I am still sitting on edge waiting to find out what this next set of lab results reveal,my endocrinologist did say that he would be running to test again since he is going to be monitoring it.    I am hoping that since I have cut out fast food eating, that maybe I will have a better result.     One thing for sure I learned this week is that prevention is key and that I need to beat this before it beats me.  So on  that note, I am of to do some crunches, and some leg lifts and some arm weights.   

Oh and here are some little facts for those of us out there trying to lose weight.
>>>Cutting back 3,500 calories a weeks can lead to 1 lb of weight loss
>>Exercising at least  240 minutes a week is key to weight loss
>>>Make sure you eat  3 meals a day, no skipping
>>>>>>>For those of us with thyroid issues:  the nutritionist did tell me that she often find that many of us try to skimp on calories to promote weight loss, and this is not good because you end up not eating enough and your body just holds onto fat.   So make sure you get in anywhere from 1,200-1,500 calories a day for women. For men 1,600-2,000
>>> Eat, not -starchy veggies
>>>document everything you put in your mouth.

40 days and no fast food!!

Since having my thyroid removed, I have tried to become better about the things I am eating and putting on body, unfortunatly work, and life just get me sidetracked and then I feel guilty, and then I just keep on going into bad habits.    This year, I have to admit that I have taken the lazy track when it comes to bringing my lunch to work.    I think part of the problem is that I am typically shoved into a small little office or closet type space with no windows, so lunch-time is my time to go outside and get some fresh air!!!    Unfortunatly, this has caused me to resort to eating tons of fast food!!  In my mission to get fresh air, I don't pack my lunch and I run somewhere quick so I can see something other then four walls, but eating all this fast food has done nothing but make me gain weight, put bad things into my body, and make me spend more and more money.    
 Typically during lent, I try to do something good vs giving up something.    This year I decided I needed to do something good and give up something.   I decided to give up fast food!!!    Believe me, while this may not some like a sacrafice to a lot of people it is for me, because now I will have to take the time to pack a lunch. and a breakfast, and find another way to get outside during the work day so I don't feel like I am in a cave.   I decided that I can go to a sit down resteraunt and eat, but that I would do my best to find something healthy on the menu, however I am not allowed to go to fast food chains.        Fast food has become my life savor this past months, but in the end it is harming my health and my wallet!!!       This is going to be a challenge for me, but I think it will be a good challenge for me!!!       So here I go on my no fast food adventure!!!!    I am happy about my adventure to try to stop the fast food madness and in the process I hope the end result is a happier healthier me!!

Maintaince is better then a gain!!!!

Well although I didn't lose weight this week, I am pretty happy that I maintained my weight.  So yippee!!!! Jump for joy, despite my over indulgence on my birthday and a couple times here and there I guess I could say I had a good weight watchers weigh in today!!!!!!     I still haven't been able to get back to boot camp, due to this cough but soon.  I do have to admit that I am getting pretty antsy I really want to go back to boot camp!!!!!!!!      As torturous as it is, I actually miss it.       I am also excited because I really like the group of women that are in the weight watcher's group on Wednesday evenings.   I don't know what it is about them but they all just seem so nice and pleasurable.  I haven't had a chance to really talk with them, but I did notice them after the meeting standing around and talking, I really wanted to join in but I  couldn't because I had to get going.  So, hopefully next time I will get a chance to socialize.    I found it interesting because today the weight watcher leader asked us what the last straw us.. what made us join weight watchers... and to my surprise I had actually forgotten.    I did remember though, and when I remembered I just felt that sense of motivation again!!!   I even spoke up and told the group that for me it was looking at pictures of myself and seeing how much weight I have gained, and also the fact that when I went back to work I had no clothes that would fit.  I told them that I did not enjoy having to go shopping for a bigger size.    I am so glad that she brought this topic up, because I did feel myself veering off a little.  So here is to another week of weight watchers, and renewed motivation.   I can do this, and so can you!!!!!!

A little food happy this week

This wednesday is my Birthday, and for some reason I got it into my head that since this week is my birthday that I can eat whatever I want.    I know my thinking is off, so I am going to do my best to eat healthy for as many meals as possible with the exception of my birthday dinner meal on wednesday.    I also plan on getting myself to bootcamp on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday of this week.   Unfortunatly, I won't be able to go to my weight watchers meeting because I plan on celebrating my birthday on Wednesday evening which is when I have been going to the meetings.     I think that is another reason why I got it into my head that I could eat whatever I want because I know I am not going to the meeting.     So, I need to just rethink my food happiness and remember that the more I eat, the more I gain, and then when I do go back to weight watchers I will be mad because I let myself get so off track.   I need to figure out a way to keep myself motivated this week.   Any suggestions????  Maybe I should stick a reminder to my mirror or to my phone or something that says..  Remember if you eat bad you will suffer the consequences?? Ha Ha  

Hungry week

It would happen to me this week, this week that I started weight watchers that I have been super duper hungry.  I have been eating through my points like nothing.     I think it's hormones this week that have me eating through everything.   Those stupid hormones also have me craving and eating all kinds of bad food .  Ha Ha, I wonder what they will tell me at the weight watchers meeting if I show a gain??   I was thinking about not going, but I think that would just get me off on the wrong foot.  So, I am going to go, and  be honest with them and say that it was just a hungry week for me.  
  I was really hoping to go work out today because I am supposed to weigh in on Wednesday, but I didn't have a chance to rest this weekend, and it caught up to me because today I am low on energy.    I had convinced myself to go to Zumba, but then I realized that my workout clothes needed to be washed.   So, I think I am going to try and take a walk a little bit later.   Things at work are still crazy, but I am going to just do my best and just go with the flow!!!  I am so ready for a vacation ha ha.     I also am hoping that maye this weekend I will get a chance to get some running in.  I haven't had time to run, because I have been going out of town to watch college football.   This weekend, the Longhorns are playing out of state so hopefully that will give me a chance to get some miles in.  

Weight Watchers here I come again ha ha

Well it has been a while since I have attempted to do weight watchers.  I would say it's been over a year for me.  So I decided to give it a try, I think I needed to get excited about trying something new, so I am hoping this will excite me!!!!    I went today to my first meetings (well technically not my first because I have tried WW before) but it was my first meetings using the new system.    I have heard that weight loss is slow with this new program, but I hoping that this will help me with accountablity issues.    I am still planning on using myfitness pal as a back up if I need to figure out calories and of course to track my weight.    I am also hoping that I can have patience and give weight watchers a chance, I tend to get bored easily with counting calories, points, or whatever so I am hoping that this time I can stick with this for a little while.     It is going to be hard for me to juggle my schedule between work, working out, and going out of town for football games so  I am just going to do my best and give this a try!    

Yipeee I lost!!!!

After having a rough week again at work, I wasn't sure if weighing myself today would be such a good idea, but I went ahead and did it anyway.     I am happy to report that since my last weigh in last weekend I was down 2 lbs!!! Now that is an accomplishment in my book!! Now if only I can keep myself from celebrating with food.  I have a bad habit sometimes of rewarding myself with food after I lose weight.    So, I am going to come up with a plan of action.  My plan today is to: 1) eat a healthy breakfast, 2) fit in some exercise this weekend, I decided not to go running this morning b/c I have to move some stuff out of one of my schools at work. 3)move stuff out of work, like I said I have been having a rough time at one of my work sites so I am going to be moving to another site, but I am on mission impossible to move out when no one is there. I hope it's open!!, 4) eat a healthy lunch, and dinner, 5) have some fun this weekend, but not food fun.. I do have a benefit to go to tomorrow so that may be my one splurge. Today I am supposed to go to Dave and Busters but I am going to see if I can look at menu in advance and figure out what to eat.   

My goal:   On monday when he weighs us at Bootcamp to show a loss from when the last time he weighed me!!!!! 

Counting calories and traveling isn't easy..

Well I have to say I have really enjoyed Colorado,and I have tried to count my calories but I am having a hard time sticking to it. One thing is for sure, I have been drinking a lot and I mean a lot of water!!! It has also been a little hard for me to exercise due to the higher elevation, but I did get to walk yesterday and today just by touring some of the sites. At first, I was hoping I could got back with a weight loss of at least mantain my weight but know I am not so sure. So, I have decided to keep doing my best and when I get back I will get back to a routine. Unfortunately, when I get back I will also be going back work, but I know once I can figure out a workout schedule things will be okay!!!! I refuse to let being on vacation keep me from my long term goals! I hope to upload some pictures soon of some of the sites I have seen! Right now I am blogging from my moms IPAD, so it's a little hard.

Gettting off track during the weekend

I was thinking today about how it always seems so hard on the weekends to stay on track.   I usually like to think of my weekends as break time, but I think it's causing me a bit of a problem.   I am taking my break time to the extreme. At first it was, only giving myself Saturday's off, but lately it has become a let me just take the whole weekend off.    This morning after jumping on the scale and then immediatly off,  thanks to a weight gain I thought "now how could I have possible gained weight, after  my numerous attempts at exercising and counting calories this week."  Of course this also, caused me to go into a panic.  Then I thought about all the bad things I ate on Saturday and Friday, and how I tend to over do it, so a little light bulb went off and I started thinking that maybe I shouldn't be giving myself so much freedom on the weekends.   I know it is important to take little breaks because we all need them and it helps us from getting bored and frustred, but I think I need to monitor my breaks a little more.  I also noticed how hard it is to come off my break, and it made me realize that maybe what is happening is that even though I am working so hard during the week, whatever calories I have burned off, I have just added them back into my diet when I take my day off.   So, although I don't want to; I think I need a new plan of action.  I don't exactly know what that new plan of actions is so here are some options: 1) I could not give myself a day off and count calories all the time no matter what, 2) give myself a little day off but watch my portions and not just pig out, 3) only give myself one "off" meal on the weekends, but keep the rest of the meals healthy."         I think part of what is hard for me on the weekends is that my weekends usually involve hanging out with friends and family so I never know what exactly I may be eating, but there has to be a way for me to control this a little better.   ANY SUGGESTIONS?????    

Ugh so easy to gain so hard to lose

I weighed myself  today, and I gained .7 lbs . Not the kind of weigh in I wanted to have, but at the same time I wasn't surprised.  I had a little bit of an off week,and went over my calories on Monday, and Tuesday.  I was hoping that I would somehow burn off the extra calories.     Some people may say, well .7lbs isn't to much of a gain, but for a thyroidless girl it is a lot. It takes a lot of exercising and strict calorie counting to lose a lb.    I am trying to stay positive and continue on my path, but it is so frustrating when you work out pretty hard and have a little calorie slip up and bam, the scale moves in the wrong direction.    Well, I guess I can't cry over spilt milk.  I started the day off right; I went to bootcamp, and ate yogurt with banana and granola for breakfast.  I am a little worried because I am supposed to go to a concert tonight and have dinner before, but as soon as I find out where we are going to eat I am going to try and do my best and plan ahead.  So here is an age old question that I think many of use have a hard time answering. Why is it so easy to gain, and so hard to lose????

Step up to the challenge!!!

I was so excited that I lost 1.8 lbs last week!!! Now the hard part is keeping motivated and challenging myself this week to workout and eat as healthy as I can, so that I can have another weight loss this week. One thing I learned last week, was that I tend to do better when I set a challenge for myself. I initially gave myself a challenge that I am not allowed to buy new clothes for myself until I lost some weight. Well, to my surpise I lost weight this past week so does that mean I get to run out and go buy some new clothes??? Technically yes, but I thought about it, and realized that I needed to figure out how much do I have to lose before I can buy new clothes. Right now I am on summer break, I start back at work on August 15th. So, if I want new clothes for work that gives me four weeks. Typically I am lucky if I lose 1 lb in a week, so I am going to give myself the challenge of saying that I can buy something new for work if I have lost 4-6 lbs by August 15th. So with that it's time for me to step up to the challenge.

Yeah 1.8 lbs lost

Well after one week of hitting it hard with exercise and calorie counting. I was happily surprosed to see that I had lost 1.8 lbs this week. It isn't much when you take into account how much I exercised this week, but for a thyroidless girl that is a major accomplishment!!!! One thing I decided to do for myself so that I don't get frustrated is to try and give myself one day off a week so that I can have a "free" day and not worry about calorie counting. So today is that day for me, I don't know if it will mess up my weight loss, but I also feel it's important to allow yourself a day off so that you don't get so wrapped up in feeling like you are limited yourself. I did still go walking this morning though.

No new clothes for me. Time to Track!!!!!

After a weekend of trying on different clothes and realizing that not only did I feel like a rolly polly I looked like a rolly polly..  I decided to start tracking calories.. I told myself that I am not allowed to buy new clothes until I lose some weight.     Here is the problem..
1) I don't have a thyroid and it takes me 2-3x the amount of exercise then a "normal" person to lose a lb.
2) I just started a new dosage of synthroid and I hope it's enough to get me through a workout.
3) Counting calories is just not fun for anyone.. 

So my solution:   sign up for myfitnesspal.com and track away track away track away all...

Oh and I don't know how long the not buying clothes until I lose weight adventure will last so far I have done pretty good.