January 25, 2012
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Rock-Me-Hard Place
This is where I am right now. Except usually when one is between a rock and a hard place it’s because there is a tough decision to be made. I’m not sure there is even a choice here.
Rock – Low Thyroid that makes weight loss difficult. Medicated to bring things back to normal, but my last test showed my thyroid level a little higher than it was previously. Also, being diabetic and insulin resistant, my body is prone to weight gain.
Me – need to lose weight because of diabetes, thyroid, fatty liver disease
Hard Place – The liver is what moves fat out of your body. When it is overworked, fatty deposits can build up in the liver. This is mainly caused by insulin resistance. When this happens, it can lead to things such as fatty liver disease and it has a hard time moving fat out of the body.
Can you see where I am? So, I need to lose weight. I’m having a really difficult time because of my diabetes, thyroid and liver. and ONLY weight lost is going to help any of those three.
I am not eating much now. Breakfast is either egg-beaters veggie omelet with whole grain toast or oatmeal with berries (~300 calories). Lunch (when I remember to eat it) is generally either a peanut butter & Jelly sandwich (~325 calories) or Tuna. Dinner is some kind of meat substitute and veggies (~500 calories).
So right around 1200 calories. My weight dropped five pounds in the beginning and is just sitting there. I’ve tried to increase my activity level, but even that is so freaking difficult to do. When I get up in the morning I can hardly move. If I walk a mile my legs are really sore (the saddest part of this is that I remember being about to walk 10 miles without hardly breaking a sweat.) if I sit more than a half an hour at a time, I am really stiff and have to walk around for a few minutes to get the stiffness out.
I’m turning into a geriatric patient in my 50s!
Comments (6)
I’m right there with you. Weight Watchers has worked for me in the past. I did it without exercise. It always seemed to me that my body shuts down burning calories (defense mode sensing famine) when I restrict calories. Maybe you should bump them up a bit to around 1500? Or alternate several days with an occasional higher day to shock the body out of famine mode. My son-in-law is a body builder and does that when he hits plateaus.
It was explained to me that the joints gel when inactive for a period of time and thus there is stiffness first thing in the morning and after sitting a while. I would love to know if this is just natural progression of aging. My joints like me best when I stay low-key on activity or I pay for several days of immobility.
I’d try bumping up the protein part of the diet and see if you can’t get your body to start burning the fat in the body. It’s so tough to lose weight and being in the menopausal years makes it even more so…marilyn
It sounds so easy to say, but sometimes you just have to keep doing something, even if it doesn’t feel like anything is changing day by day. I was just talking about this with Rick and he was reminding me about yoga. When I started a year and a half ago there’s no way I could have done the pose I posted about yesterday. It took a year and a half, and I can only do it on one side, but I can do it now. Maybe I can do the other side in another year and a half.
It doesn’t sound like you want to restrict calories any more, if anything I would be worried that’s too low. Is there any way you can do that dance program on Xbox that you got every day? I know you love to dance, and maybe doing that for a little while every day might help.
I am with you on the frustration of not being able to lose weight. My diabetes blood sugar has been down to the 90′s since I started walking on the treadmill everyday. The weight hasn’t come off just 2.5 lbs in a month. All I can say to incourage you is what I say to myself every day I get up and don’t want to get on the treadmill, you will feel better and it will make you healthier. Some times it works and sometimes it just sucks!!!!!! Keep at it and I will too.
@thirtythousanddays - Your explanation about joints sounds exactly right. I think I need to move them more!
@maggie70 - Oh yea, I forgot to add menopause – still not quite there yet. If I can make it 4 more months then I’m there lol
@Tyche - I should think about all you have accomplished against the odds. That in itself is enough motivation.
@GoodGuyTheBoss - That first step is always the hardest. I have a treadmill in the basement, as well as enough fitness accessories (ball, bands, dumbbells, etc.) that I should be able to get plenty of exercise here.
Is there somewhere with a pool around you? I’m hoping to start doing water-walking after I move. They said its so much easier on your joints, and maybe you can increase your activity level that way.