feeling lost in the world of weight loss

I get my thyroid checked often b/c of a family history and as of my last check up, I was still okay according to the doc.  But I'll be getting another one at my September check up without a doubt.  As far as PCOS, a friend who was recently diagnosed and is starting treatment mentioned that I may want to ask my doctor about that as well.   I don't know much about it at this point but I plan on doing some researching online and asking the doctor about it as well.  And I will ask about the hormone check, I didn't really think about that one.  Thanks for the recommendations. 

enders_shadow - 2008-08-13 10:46 AM Hey there - I don't know about the medical stuff the above poster mentioned, but I totally empathize. I started my weightloss journey and over 8 months lost 40 pounds (by about August 2006). And then I got stuck there for over a year. Finally, in December 2007, something clicked and I started dropping again. I tried lots - logging/not logging, more protein/less protein, eating more/eating less, and I was on the verge of seeing a nutritionist because I felt totally stupid that I couldn't make it move. And then something happened - and I wish I knew what it was, 'cause I would totally put it in a bottle and sell it to you. No advice - just lots of empathy and let you know that these hideously long plateaus aren't just happening to you. Take care!

Thanks Kristen I was also going to ask the doc for a referral to a nutritionist when I go because I haven't gotten much help from the few I've seen that weren't medical. They tell me my diet is decent and should work.  Thanks, pay me, LOL.  Seems like the doctor/nutritionists in the area all need referrals. I'm trying to be patient and know that I'm better today plateauing with tri training and eating healthier vs. 3 years ago where i wasn't much heavier, but eating McDonalds and just working out sporadically. I've tried a lot of different things and I'm hoping eventually my body will realize that that it will be happier with some of this weight off.

I should mention that a recent doctor visit told me that if I gained 50 lbs I would most likely be full blown PCOS.  If I loose the now 49lbs I'm aiming for (although she told me 41) I will likely turn around the hormones that are causing the issue.  Part of the reason is that fat promotes the production of the hormones involved but limit the bodies ability to recognize that it has enough so it just keeps making more, throwing everything out of balance.  Other treatments for PCOS are metformin which is a diabetes drug, birth control pills and a whole grain/good carb diet.  Some are having success with adding in cinnamon to their diets which I think I may try doing just to see if it helps balance the blood sugars.  Some have been able to use metformin while getting things under control and then cut back to just diet control. 

Unfortunately, none of this stuff is a science. Every body is different and what works for you may or may not work for me and vice versa.  It's frustrating.  I work my butt off and eat pretty well but fight the battle every day.  I have people in my life who eat junk daily and do very little exercise and they are stick thin.  I used to want to be stick thin for the looks.  Now, I want to shed the pounds for speed and less stress on my joints while running.  I don't want to be stick thin I want muscles.  I want people to look at me and go "She's ripped!"  It's funny how becoming an athlete changes the way you think.  I started this summer on April 14th at 215lbs.  I weighed in this morning at 196.  It's not been an easy battle and I'm still fighting to find the balance between training fuel and loosing weight. 

Hi Kimmi,

I am right there with you.  I started weight watchers in January 2006 (at 206 lbs) and it took me over a year to lose 30lbs.  I added exercise into the routine in January 2007 and still could not lose any more weight.  In October 2007 I started training for triathlons and lost nothing.   I was diagnosed with runner's knee and sidelined for April and May so no training or even exercise beyond phy therapy which was very limited.  I was also started on glucosamine which I have found makes me gain weight.  In April, I was tested for thyroid problems since it runs in the family (all normal) and tested for PCOS despite not having any symptoms or signs of it, ever.  I saw an edocrinologist who started me on medication for insulin resistance (same used for PCOS).  I could possibly have this but the medication made me so sick.  I did lose about  5lbs - definitely not how I wanted to do it though.  I have since put that weight back on plus another  5lbs. I think this was a combination of not paying attention to what I eating and the lack of exercise.  Once the knee was cleared for exercise again, I was back to training and able to drop about 2 lbs so I am still 8 lbs over where I was at my lowest.  

I finally stopped paying for WW meetings during the winter of 2008.  I was no longer getting the type of support I needed (suggestions for things that I could try since I had tried them all it seems) at the meetings because no one else had struggled like I did and am still struggling and I got tired of being the one to inspire others by my experience.  I know that sounds selfish but I got to a point where I would rather be at the gym exercising than sitting in a room listening to the same things over and over again and trying to cheer others on while I was struggling so much.  I still follow the WW plans (switch between core and flex) and think it is a great plan.  I believe it is a big part of why I can complete a triathlon and why I even thought to try one in the first place.  I have debated lately going back but not sure it would matter very much except I did really like the leader and she sent me a postcard the other day saying they missed me.

That said, I have thought about a nutritionist but my insurance does not cover it and cannot afford it.  Meanwhile, something a personal trainer at the Y pointed out to me is that I might be working out too hard - meaning training at an aerobic level while biking and running/walking rather than at a fat burning level  which could make a difference in the weight loss.  I have yet to explore this but figure it might be worth more research.  I do own a HRM and have to familiarize myself more with zone training which will also help me with my triathlons.

I wish I had the answers to your questions because they are the same questions I have myself.  Just wanted you to know that you are not alone and to keep at the triathlons.  I plan to...just think where you would be without the training.

HI Kim,

I hear ya and sympathize, but also second the advice to get hormonal and insulin check-ups. Like Kristin first mentioned, the plateaus we hit are often mysterious. Everything she had tried, I had tried as well...and the plateau persisted until my body finally gave up in holding on to the excess weight. It wasn't a simple calorie in/out balance. I just wish I could pin-point it and use it to help others. All I can say is keep with it and rule out other possible issues, but never let those other issues keep you out of the game. They are challenges, not excuses. You're not a woman of excuses, and I admire that.

Robyn (COSkiGirl) also gave some great insights on PCOS. That is a condition that women really can experience as metabolic sluggishness. It goes back to the insulin and estrogen connections. You'll need to explore those with your MD. I personally have seen indicators of PCOS in my exams and blood work, but have no symptoms precisely because I've been able to stay on top of my weight. Once the weight is on, however, it's not so easy. You may need to really regulate high glycemic index foods and get into the nitty gritty of tracking sugars and moods to help break that connection.

I just wish you the best and want you to know that you're not alone!

Will you let us know how it goes?

Take care, -Sunny

P.S. You look GREAT in your profile photo.  I see the athlete, the winner at losing...she's right there! 

Oh I so feel your pain it sounds so much like what I have been through, including the approximate weights.  I do have full blow PCOS and have lost 1 & ½ ovaries to it.  I recently go fed up and went to see a reproductive endocrinologist about the secondary symptoms, e.g. weight loss among others.  I just started the metformin treatment I will try to let you know how that goes if you’re interested.  One of the things I asked the Doc when I spoke with him was all of the other Dr.s I spoke with pooh poohed me about the PCOS because my blood sugar was normal.  The Endocrinologist told me of course your blood sugar is normal it’s excess insulin that is the problem not excess blood sugar.

What you can do right now is not give up.  I know there are times when I fee like bagging the whole thing.  If I’m not going to lose any weight and I’m not going to get any better because of the weight I might as well be fat, happy, and eating ding dongs on the couch.  This is self doubt and ding dongs talking, don’t listen.  If your Dr. doesn’t give you an answer that you can live with find another.  Doctors are people too and they sometimes have their own mindset that doesn’t coincide with your needs.  Lastly, Keep the Faith you are not alone.  

thank you all SO much.  seriously.  i've been in a really crappy mood over this and reading what you all have written is giving me encouragement.   i'm not going to give up i started looking up pcos online this afternoon and see that i do have a few of the symptoms.  so who knows, maybe that's it.  if not, then it can't hurt to keep eating right, eh?  either way i will push the doc to get the hormone panel.  i also was planning on printing my food journal and some of my BT logs so she can see what i'm doing for diet/exercise.  i'll let you guys know what happens in the next few months. 

thanks again, seriously. 

my spark range is 1660-1950. i usually hit around 1700ish. days i work out, i hit around 1900ish. i don't know if i'm gluten sensitive or not, i do know that i'm lactose intolerant. i don't have the symptoms you mentioned. i try to limit the breads and pastas anyway though. but i'll do some research on it. thanks!

edit - i should mention that today after work i went to a nutrition place and had a nice long chat.  learned some new things that i didn't know about how to eat.  so i'm going to try to implement what i learned as well as start taking my vitamins tomorrow morning with breakfast. 

If your Doc is going off a blood glucose level leave and see a reproductive endocrinologist. I went through years of "OH no your blood glucose is within normal range that's not the problem". When I asked my reproductive endocrinologist he said that of course my blood glucose levels were fine insulin resistance isn't about high glucose it's about excess insulin. Your body produces an excess of insulin to get the sugar into your cells. Once that is accomplished your glucose levels are fine but your insulin levels are high. The excess insulin then triggers you body to store fat.

I've been trying (and failing) to lose weight for years.  I did something fairly radical and different this year - I went on Medifast (a pre-packaged VERY lo-cal program.)

I've lost 50+ pounds on it from Jan-May which is something I have not been able to do on any other program WW, calories, nutritionist, etc.  I still have another 50 to go, so I need to get back on it 100% through the end of the year.  It was a huge commitment, but so worth it.

My theory was that what I was doing wasn't working, so I might as well try something different, and I'm really glad I did. 

Also, even if you are not losing weight - I just want to say that working out and eating right you will feel better and healthier anyway - so that right there is worth it even if the weight loss isn't where you want it to be. 

Kimmi, I am right there with you.

I thought that when I started training for a tri that I would drop weight like crazy. I mean it IS tons of cardio right? That's what everyone always tells us. But ironically it's completly different from my usual weightloss routine.  I usually lift weights in addition to cardio. So, I started training.

My body did all that cardio for ten weeks and went "hmm. *shrug* that's nice*. Barely a drop. But 4 months prior I had started weightlifting and had literally dropped a size a tons of weights (after the 6 week intro period). So, in this off season, that's exactly what I'm going back to. Weights. Be as unconventional in the endurance world as it may - I have to lift to get to goal. I see that right now. I'm 5'9 and somewhere at 240-238. I'm aiming for 175. Dream world 160. I'll never NOT be athena, and I'm ok with that. Hell. Ive never been skinny my whole life so really who cares.

 So as unconventional as it may sound. I'm going to suggest that you do what I'm doing. Add weights back into your routine. I'm going to train (because I'm new at this) during the off season - specifically work on the run and add my weight routine back to my life.  It may not be PC here - but it's critical if I want to get smaller. And I WANT TO BE SMALLER. I want to be faster, sleeker, cuter etc.

So come along for the ride. Weights - lets give it 4 solid months. And report back. that's Jan 1st. I figured I would make my decision about what to do weight wise then.

I also second the whole not eating enough. I know I don't and I also know that is part of my issue. According to several various calculations that I have done, I need to eat near 1900 calories per day when I exercise 1 -1.5+ hours per day. Go figure. I mean a 30 min run for me burns 767 calories!!

This is awesome advice, resistance training can be as simple as pushups,crunches,one leg squats. Look into simplefit workouts! Building muscle turbocharges weight loss, not bulking up muscle either, just work up a good sweat getting stronger and keep it simple and watch your clothes get baggy!

I know I"m late to the party, but why can't we start our own support group? I've gone to WW only to get dirty looks b/c I'm not "big" enough, yet my own goal is to lose 15 pounds. I know, not the same amount as others, and thats why I stopped going to WW.  It is a lot harder for me to lose that than others just kick starting a program (I loved when they told me I should try exercising.  This after I had done a 4 hour bike ride the day before).

 I have been a nutritionist, for other reasons, and I can't afford it right now...so how about we just make our own little check in online and help each other out?  I'm thinking of checking on each other's weight-lifting (which I'm going to try to up now that tri season is almost over) and training, plus logging. 

And I'm thinking we should all allow ourselves one treat day a week.  

Amy,  I think that is a great idea to start our own group.  Count me in. 

ETA:  One treat day is a good idea!  I am so craving chocolate right now and I don't have any in the house that I am going to the store to buy something now.  (That time of the month pretty much should explain it all!)