Cathe, How can I loose Body Fat w/Thyroid disorder?

C

carolyn122162

Cathlete
Cathe,

I was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer several years ago. I have always worked out and have never had weight problem until my thyroid was removed. I workout 4-5 times a week rotating between Cathe's kickboxing, Imax 2, and weights. I can't seen to shed any body fat.
Any suggestions???
 
Hi Carolyn! I'm sorry to hear of your diagnosis and you have obviously been through a lot over the years. I'm thankful to hear that you are continuing to make your health a priority. Good for you.

While I am not an expert in the field of thryroid disorders, I do know that your thryroid (or removal of it) is directly linked to your ability to lose and gain weight.

I do believe that your diet, in addition to your exercise, is critical in being able to stabilize your weight loss or weight gain efforts.

I think you should ask a thyroid specialist your concerns and I'm sure they will be able to offer you very valuable information.

In the meantime, here is a link to a site that you may find very helpful. I wish you continued success with your health and fitness program.

http://thyroid.about.com/cs/dietweightloss/a/center.htm
 
Hi Carolyn,

I just wanted to say that I too have had Thyroid cancer - and total removal of my thyroid, plus two isolation doses of the radioiodine treatments. Was diagnosed in 2001, and am still dealing with it as my levels are not where they should be as of yet.

The worst was having to go hypo to prepare for the treatments - and then the struggle to get back to normal once beginning the meds again. I feel that the treatment protocol for thyca really sends your metabolism in a shock. ie - removal of the gland - then go hypo for the treatment - and then go back on - then a year later go back off for scanning - well - you know what I mean.

I, like you, had a heck of a time losing weight after surgery - and also had a heck of a time getting the correct dose of thyroxine. I had 7 prescription changes before my blood levels stabilized.

Once I was on the correct dose of meds to get my TSH at zero, or non-detectable - I began to feel better - and was able to lose weight.
However the weight didn't come off right away.
I find that I am now - very sensitive to carbs. I eat very little white sugar, white flour or white rice.

The carbs I do chose are those that are very low on the glycemic index - So I eat lots of veggies and fruit - and brown rice, steel cut oats. Low fat proteins like fish and chicken.

When I began to eat this way on a regular basis - I lost 25lbs.
But - this was about 1.5 yrs after my second RAI - and had stabilized my hormone levels with thyroxine.

As well - make sure you take your meds on an empty stomach - and do not take with any other supplements as they can block the absorbtion of your meds.

Best wishes - Yve
 
Hi Yve! Thank you for sharing all of this information. There is nothing better than hearing from somebody who can truly understand what you are going through. I have great respect and admiration for both of you who despite all that you have been through and all the challenges you are continuously presented with, never give up trying to find the best solution. How inspiring:)
 
Thanks Cathe

That is really a nice thing to say.

And I thank you too - for all of your advice and support on this forum - and the newfound confidence and love of fitness that I have found with your workouts.

Have a great day.

Yve
 
RE: Cathe, How can I loose Body Fat w/Thyroid disord...

Hi Yve,

Thanks so much for your input. It has been 5 years since my surgery and still continue to struggle with the right meds. Althouth, the last time I had a whole body scan, I took the injections instead of going off the meds for 6 weeks and then trying to get the hormones back to normal. Seemed to do much better that way..

I am just so frustrated. My family and friends just don't understand. I just want to be back to my pre-surgery body and weight. I was in the best shape of my life before surgery (even after 3 kids!!)
I have tried to cut back on carbs, stopped drinking, not that I drank much to begin with and I workout like a maniac.I also drink tons of water. I do 3-4 cardio workouts a week rotating betweem Kick Max (LOVE IT!!), Imax2, Step, Jump and Pump and Kick, Punch and Crunch. You would think with all the fat burning cardio I would loose at least something in the waist.
I also rotate between many of Cathe's weight workouts. I definitely have muscle somewhere under the flab. Anyway, I will keep working on what I am doing and hope one day the inches and body fat will disappear..
Carolyn
 
RE: Cathe, How can I loose Body Fat w/Thyroid disord...

Hi Carolyn,

I guess the question I would ask is if you are being followed by an endocrinologist specializing in thyroid ? - I know that many tend to specialize in diabetes and other autoimmune disorders - and may not have indepth experience with thyca.

When you have your blood work - Do they test all of the hormones?
Ie - TSH, free t4, t3 and tg? Many doctors test only the TSH and tg.
Sometimes if the body isn't converting t4 to t3 - we get hypo symptoms - and this could happen even if TSH is normal.

I know a few people whose metabolism was this way - and have had success by adding a t3 tablet (cytomel) two or three times per day in addition to their thyroxine. All of a sudden they had energy - the weight began to come off, muscle soreness went away etc.

I know its frustrating - especially when you know that you are doing everything right. Post surgery - my metabolism slowed right down - I can now only eat about 1200 calores without weight gain. This is one of the reasons why I made a conscientious effort to adhere to an exercise program - I couldn't maintain a lifestyle with so few calories.

I would begin by getting a copy of your most recent bloodwork and go from there.

Take care - Yve
 
RE: Cathe, How can I loose Body Fat w/Thyroid disord...

Yve,
I'm just curious as to why you need to eat so few calories if your thyroxine now puts you in the normal zone? I've been taking thyroxine for over a decade now for hypothyroidism and my metabolism is fine. My SIL had radiation which removed a substantial part of her thyroid and she's on thyroxine and also still eats like a horse and maintains a very lean body. Just curious what the difference is. Sounds like the cancer affects more than just the thyroid? Thanks!
-Nancy
 
RE: Cathe, How can I loose Body Fat w/Thyroid disord...

Hi Nancy,

I wish I could tell you the answer. I honestly don't know.

This is why I have been doing some form of cardio almost daily - whether its the aerobic tapes - or just walking etc - so that I would have some leverage with my calories.

When I do a step tape, for example, I will increase my calories to around 1500 calories per day.

I was never diagnosed with the autoimmune disorder - hypothyroidism -I don't have any thyroid anti-bodies - ( or is that anti-thyroid antibodies??? :) ) I had my thyroid removed for the cancer - and this is why I am 'hypo' so to speak.

I will take a guess - and say that - I feel that there has been a fair bit of stress in my life wrt health issues over the last 4 or 5 years - myself and members of my family included - perhaps this has had the effect of increasing my cortisol levels - which then impedes weight loss - As I mentioned above - my thyroglobulin ( a thyroid protein used as a cancer marker) is still quite elevated - meaning that the cancer isnt completely gone. Yet - my scans are coming back clean and we have been unable to find the source of this reading.
So, perhaps the stress of this having this over my head is causing an adrenal response - and hence - the slowed metabolic rate.

When I tell the doctor - she always comes back with - " its not your thyroid" ! I am on a very high does of thyroxine - 0.275 mcg daily - So it is puzzling that my caloric intake needs to be as low as it is. I am hoping that by following the BFFM plan - and working out - I could lose the last 5 or so lbs - and increase my metabolic rate.

Thanks for asking -

Yve
 
RE: Cathe, How can I loose Body Fat w/Thyroid disord...

Hi, Carolyn! I know precisely nothing about thyroid disorders, but lack of knowledge has never shut me up before . . .

Reading your current workout schedule, it seems from what you've listed that you have a relatively limited number of cardio-oriented workouts. I would like to suggest that, as a means to shock your body performance-wise AND energy-expenditure-wise, you consider adding several Cathe upper-margin cardio routines to your current selection. I'd bet a day's pay that, in addition to the chemical rollercoaster your body is on right you, you have almost "outgrown" those four workouts intensity-wise, and could grapple some new and more intense ones.

I'd like to suggest dusting off Ye Olde Credit Card and consider any or all of the following workouts:

Interval Max (on the same DVD as Rhythmic Step and Maximum Intensity Cardio, to other sweatfests)

I-Max 3 (I'd say this is in between Interval Max {most intense} and I-Max 2 {least intense} for cardio challenge)

Circuit Max (on the same DVD as Cardio Kicks; if you're a kickbox fan you'll love CK as well)

The Terminator (the compilation DVD from the Intensity Series; The Gauntlet includes some Boot Camp drills that'll send you to the moon);

Okay, okay, I've spent enough of your money for one day. Again, I'd like to suggest that you're ready for greater cardio challenges, and I've always found that when I bump up the intensity, I skinny up a bit.

HTH -

A-Jock
 
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