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I needed a few days away from being in front of the computer, and now I'm back. I got the results back from my blood work. My thyroid test came back "normal" but close the the numbers that would make it abnormal. Close enough, in fact, that my doctor decided to put me on a low dose of thyroid medicine.
But beyond that, he said that while my weight loss has made me no longer "pre-diabetic", I am STILL Insulin Resistant.
Now I just need to read up on that and see what it means, though according to my doctor's 5 second explanation, "Carbs are not your friend. They get stored immediately as fat because your body cannot process them like a normal person."
Great. This would explain how I gained a ton of weight from just a few days of eating "normally" and why I feel so sluggish and almost hung over after eating anything with carbs.
The problem I have with a low-carb lifestyle, however, is that eventually, I may want to eat a potato or a bowl of cereal, and then what - balloon up like the Goodyear Blimp? I have to educate myself on exactly what all this means, but the bottom line is, this explains why simply eating low calories wasn't/isn't cutting it for me on weight loss. If the carbs are not turning into usable blood sugar and just getting stored, then I'm doomed to a life of frustration if I keep eating like this.
Carbs are everywhere. Campbell's Tomato Soup -- who knew? I will become an expert and start reading books and articles and see what this Insulin Resistance means in terms of my weight loss plan. I really don't like Atkins or South Beach, so I hope it doesn't mean that, but we shall see.
Thanks to all for the support. At least now I have some answers and somewhere to start.
P.S. The blood work shows that I'm not menopausal, either. Thank God for small favors. One thing at a time!
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21 to 40 of 45
 Comments
**the** big 3, I meant, lol.
18 Aug 14 by member: gilliansings
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GOOD DAY!
I have been battleing years of thyroid and weight issues, for me personally the low carb is the ONLY way i have lost any signifigant weight... aside from that eating a gluten free diet is another option... in working with my current Dr's (even in those not gluten intolerant, celiac etc...I personally have none of these) those with thyroid problems the gluten acts like an inhibitor to the T4 so your body produces to much of one and not of the other... there is actually scientific stuff out there to read... but look into it (google gluten and thyroid problems) but I have found I have a hard time not eating fruit so totally low carb is hard for that reason but i am attempting to eat basically whole foods which tend to be low carb and gluten free... i am just learning all this stuff so I like you am a work in progress.
18 Aug 14 by member: lovies10
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After a full day of research, I've decided to try Atkins. I never liked it because I believed it to be too extreme in its reduction of carbs, but it turns out there are plenty of carbs, just not a lot of net carbs. Again, it's about education. I won't do anything crazy, people, I promise. And when I get crazy comments, it makes me recall why I don't always post here what I plan to do - it sometimes opens the floodgates to extreme responses. Those who know me know I won't do anything harmful or nutty. All I know is that after 90 days of well balanced dieting, this can't hurt.
18 Aug 14 by member: mrsmole
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I started doing low carb a few weeks ago and was shocked at how many things have carbs. I eat a lot of meat and good fats (avocado, cook things in butter, heavy whipping cream in my coffee) and get my carbs from veggies. I try to stay under 20 net carbs a day. There's lots of resources out there so read everything you can :) If you're looking for recipes, search things like "low carb ___" or "keto ____". I really do enjoy getting to eat cheesecake for dessert every now and then (almond flour crust). Good luck with the new way of eating!
18 Aug 14 by member: WenFamMomma
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PS. After a few weeks, you probably won't miss potatoes, or cereal. The carb flu (that awful feeling you have for a few days after you go low carb) will go away, I promise! Just hang in there!!
18 Aug 14 by member: WenFamMomma
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About the crazy comments - I get them, too. And I delete them. Virtually no one on this site knows the full story of my health. They can't make a decision or form a valid opinion about what is right for me. Feel free to delete this if it doesn't serve you Mrsmole... it won't hurt my feelings in the least. But I wanted you to know I support your decision (even if it might or might not be the same one I'd make). Take care of YOU!
18 Aug 14 by member: Sweet Ce
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I will support you also, see if it works for you, if it does you've found your plan. It is a WOE that works great for many. I don't do low carb because it actually makes me constantly sick to my stomach. I've tried it.
18 Aug 14 by member: wholefoodnut
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I am also insulin resistant. And it means exactly what the Dr. said about carbs. Our insulin does not do the job it was intended to do. For me, that is due to years of abusing my body with excess food- primarily carbs and sugar. I do eat natural fruit, but not gobs. Love bread but now buy low carb and low carb wraps and use them sparingly. When I slip and gave something I feel like I am just fading and could lay down and sleep! Interestingly enough, it was learning about what happened to me every time I ate a simple carb (in regards to the insulin) that woke me up. It wasn't about just losing weight any more . I will support you on your journey.
18 Aug 14 by member: learning coach
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Sweet, thanks for your remark. You weren't the one I was referring to, and yes, I did delete the one that I didn't believe added to the discussion. Yours did, and I thank you for it. I'm amazed to see how many people here are insulin resistant. I thought it was a small club and it's not! I have no way of knowing how long this has been the case, but it wouldn't surprise me if it's been a while because of the incredible ease with which I can gain weight and how hard it is for me to lose. Yesterday was Day 1 of Atkins with under 20g of net cards. It's not that different from the way I have been eating. I will simply skip my english muffin at breakfast. LOL.
19 Aug 14 by member: mrsmole
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I just had a conversation with a coworker about eating "normally". We have this internal struggle that our current eating habits aren't right, yet the new habits work for us. The foods, portions, and combinations that we have been raised to eat are slowly killing us (ie. pre-diabetes). So, normal is what you make it. You will figure out the bad carbs, and will get used to and enjoy the good ones. You can do it.
19 Aug 14 by member: sngglebnny
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We're all different and have to figure out what works for us. I can't add anything to what's been already said but wish you well on your journey and doing low carb. I am sure you'll find what works for you.
19 Aug 14 by member: jmb3450
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You might try looking at gluten free diets too. Sometimes it's a SPECIFIC carb (like wheat) that does a body in.
19 Aug 14 by member: akaladybug
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I'm not surprised by the Campbell's Tomato Soup carbs. Got some serious stomach distress last time I ate it. Read the label afterward and was surprised by the ingredients. NOT the Campbells Tomato Soup I recall as a child. I'm also very glad to hear that your Dr. acknowledges that "borderline normal" may not be quite the right place for your thyroid. I'll be interested to hear if the thyroid adjustment impacts your weightloss and other system issues. And a vote of support of your new dietary choice! There are many sane, rational plans out there. Different ones work for different bodies. We all learn a lot from other's journeys even when it's not a plan that feels like a fit for us. Fingers crossed that you see and feel the results that you want from this.
19 Aug 14 by member: Vickie 5966
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If you get enough Fat in your daily intake it will curb the cravings...High Fat/low carb and protein..is what you want...this works well for me...Nothing processed.
19 Aug 14 by member: Re-energize
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Re-energize, interestingly, I don't have any cravings! All I crave is to get back to losing weight in exchange for eating well, something I've been doing for 3 months with almost zero return (see 90 days worth of journals if you have no life, haha). Akaladybug, I have been nearly gluten free for nearly a year and it did very little for me. I do not believe I have a gluten sensitivity, but thank you for the thought. Sngglebnny, you are so right about "normal". I grew up thinking "normal" was what I saw on TV - breakfast lunch and dinner. That's great if you're an Amish farmer raising a barn and burning 5500 calories a day! Not so much for sitting on your ass all day in front of a PC like I do. It's the new normal.
19 Aug 14 by member: mrsmole
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2nd ingredient in Campbell's tomato soup is high fructose corn syrup. most canned soups are also loaded with sodium.
19 Aug 14 by member: wholefoodnut
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I say just cut back on your carbs to 40g a day and see if that helps. You just have to choose your carbs wisely and leave the high carb atkins bars alone and get the nutritional carbs from fruits and veggies.
19 Aug 14 by member: toppy24564
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I think what I am trying to say, is you have to find your "critical carb intake level" where you can have that potato without it making you gain weight. You might not can have a whole potato, maybe half, but at least you still ate what you wanted. Eating is hard work for sure. We have to tweak it everyday to try and get it right.
19 Aug 14 by member: toppy24564
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You are going to be hard pressed to find many foods with no carbs if you buy packaged/processed food. "Low fat" foods will have sugar because the taste has to come from somewhere. I am soon to "carb down" myself but all I really have to do is drop or change my morning and lunch meal replacement shakes. I already buy most of my food at the local store that specializes in organic and if you choose to, gluten free (Far too many people think gluten free is low calorie or overall healthier - if you don't have celiac disease there is no need to drop gluten. Many will say they feel better being gluten, but almost all of them "feel better" because they THINK they feel better.), but even that doesn't necessarily cut carbs. Sounds like Google is going to be your best friend as you research foods lowest in carbs. You really can't get to 0, but you can get down there. I don't get how people can consume 20 grams a day when one typical meal has more than that, but whatever.
19 Aug 14 by member: eddie1261
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some people have to do what they have to do for their health. It's a do or die situation, especially if you have health problems. Besides the body doesn't really need carbs to function, one can run its body off of "glucose" or "ketones." Ketones burns slow and energy stays with you longer than glucose, which is a fast burner, that is why you feel good after you eat it, and then an hour later, need to take a nap, as you get a big drop in blood sugar. Ketones doesn't give you that type of rollercoaster ride. It's steady all the way through until your next meal.
19 Aug 14 by member: toppy24564
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