New Confused and Need help!!!!!!!!

[cathlaur]

Hi I just happened upon this site and already love it. I am hoping I can get some much needed help here.

Here is a quick bio.

I am 38, 5'10 large boned female. I currently weigh 184 and have for a while. I had the right side of my thyroid removed and since then the weight loss has been tough. I workout hard and eat Atkins. I do cardio 30 mins 5 to 6 days a week and lift weights. I benched 105 pounds the other day. I am on my way. I need to know if I am eating wrong. I have become afraid of carbs. Has anyone got any suggestions for me. I want to get buff and lose some weight. I am not afraid of hard work. I am so lucky as I have a great gym at work. I workout every morning from 6:50 to 8:am. Has anyone else had thyroid problems and lost the weight.

Thanks in advance. I am so looking forward to getting to know you all better

Katie

[sillyme]

Hi Katie,

Welcome to the board.

Pretty much most of the folks on this board are very much opposed to the Atkins diet. I did it for awhile, but now instead of counting carbs I am trying what they refer to as the "bodybuilders diet". It consists of six small meals a day with specific proportions of protein, fat and carbs. I do however avoid all refined flours, white rice and refined sugars. I try to keep high glycemic foods to a minimum. But my eating plan probably isn't very valuable because I'm just a newbie - haven't lost any weight yet - and don't have a thyroid problem.

Hopefully someone else can offer you some better advice. Maybe you can post a typical daily diet and your workout routine? That way folks can offer you specific tips and critiques.

[atherjen]

great advice SIllyme.

Katie, Welcome aboard, great place here
how long have you been on the Atkins diet? IMO it is a poor choice of a diet for anyone, especially people that workout. you need carbs for normal bodily functions and energy. and especially since you have thyroid problems, the atkins diet is going to lower TSH levels(thyroid stimulating hormones) , thus slowing your metabolism a bit mote. I would suggest a balance of complex carbs, lean proteins and healthy fats.
have you seen a doctor about thryroid medications?

[laura817]

Great advice Sillyme and Jen!

Katie -- Just a thought you might want to consider. Your muscles like to burn glycogen during intense periods. And insulin is an anabolic hormone. These are the reasons Atkins is a poor choice for athletes.

[Aurora]

Yea the adkins diet isn't a great one.. I mean the guy that died, of obesity and heart problems. They released his autopsie....

Don't be afraid of carbs you need them for fuel. Be afraid of alot of artifical ingrediance, and junk food. the 6 meals a day especially if your going to try to "get buff" would be the way to go, small meals only enough to tied you over till the next one. It won't be hard lol, you will eat more once you start hitting the weights.

as for the thyroid thing, well, talk to your doctor. Because I never had any expernece with that.

[lordxena]

Originally Posted by cathlaur

I workout hard and eat Atkins. I do cardio 30 mins 5 to 6 days a week and lift weights.

If you like going the low carb way, you might want to think about doing a TKD or a CKD. Atkins diet is not for people that workout.

Atkins died of several complications which had nothing to do with the diet but with a fall he had.

1) Dr. Stuart Trager MD, chairman of the Atkins Physicians Council, told
the Wall Street Journal that Atkins' heart disease stemmed from
cardiomyopathy, a condition that was thought to result from a viral
infection. Atkins' weight was due to bloating and water-retention
associated with his condition, and the time he spent in a coma after
his head injury.

[ajarvis]

The Atkins diet is definelty not for someone working out, especially doing cardio 30 mins 5 or 6 days a week. You need fuel for that

[cathlaur]

Thanks for your imput everyone. I appreciate it. I have done tons of searching on the internet and know Atkins is not the way to go. I started eating different today. Man I cannot get off of the toilet yikessssssss.

I have tomorrows menu planned better. I had oatmeal today with blueberries and a little skim milk. It tasted like heaven. Do you all eat a protein with your carb?

Thanks again. I am really hoping to lose some weight. At least to get to 174. My Dr has told me my meds are working and that I should be able to lose the weight. ( I am just happy they got the small piece of Cancer)

I started Curves last year then upped my workout to the real gym with the boys. I love it. What a waste Curves was. So now I am ready to kick it way up. I want the body I deserve and people dont think I can get. I am a very athletic build just to much of it.

I am going to come to this site daily and learn from you all

Thanks

Katie

[atherjen]

Thats the attitude Katie!! you can defintly prove to those others that you CAN do it!!
Im glad to see that your strayed away from the atkins diet.
and yes, try and get some protein in every meal.

[Lady C]

Glad to have you aboard :

Originally Posted by cathlaur

I have tomorrows menu planned better. I had oatmeal today with blueberries and a little skim milk. It tasted like heaven. Do you all eat a protein with your carb?

Yeah, I add soy protein (can't stomach whey) to mine. You can always have some eggs if that sounds better.

[SurfinAmy]

Originally Posted by cathlaur

Has anyone else had thyroid problems and lost the weight.
Katie

Hi Katie,
Nothing as drastic as having part of it removed, but I have hypothyroidism and take a pretty large dose of levoxyl. Also was on prednisone for a couple of years and blew up like a balloon. Weightlifting was the only thing that really got the weight off. It can be done but I would say focus more on weightlifting instead of cardio and so glad you've decided to get off the Atkins diet. Doesn't make sense to deprive yourself of great foods that your body needs! Let me know how it's going for you!
-Amy

[cathlaur]

So far so good. I bought a whey protein drink and so far so good. My body is reacting pretty strongly right now. I hate to be rude but man do I go to the washroom. But I know that will change. It is tough being off of Atkins. Things that were supposed to be bad for me are now my best friend. I am slowly losing tons of inches and know it is my exercise routine. So I refuse to weigh til June. I am a working out fiend though I need to learn so much more and have changed my diet. I also dyed my hair and am looking younger. I was wearing it grey so all in all things are good. I just turned 38 so my goal is to be in KICK ASS SHAPE by 40.

Once again thanks

Do any of you take supplements. Go lean etc

katie

[SurfinAmy]

Katie,
Reading a great new book about healing your metabolism (more than just how quickly we burn calories) and your body!! It's called the Schwarzbein Principle - have you ever heard of it? Well, I'm going to start a thread on it, it's about proper eating and much more. Might want to check it out if you ever feel like it.
-Amy