You mentioned being low thyroid -- are you being adequately treated for it?? A lot of folks are chronically UNDERtreated for this condition, because the doctors only look at the blood level of one specific thyroid hormone, and don't consider that the body may not be responding to it properly. There's some really good and up-to-date information at About.com Thyroid site Untreated and undertreated hypothyroidism will definitely slow your weight loss efforts.

The constipation problem may be a combination of things. Definitely more fiber, from vegetables and a fiber suppelement such as Wa'il and Lorraine suggested, psyllium or ground fresh flax seeds. Also, more WATER. However, chronic constipation is a frequent symptom of hypothyroidism. Whether or not there's adequate fiber and bulk in the diet, the low thyroid state causes slowed metabolism and a sluggish bowel... . What happens then is that water gets reabsorbed from the colon, and things become, um, hard as a rock. Laxatives are not a good idea, maybe for occasional use only ... even the "natural herbal" types -- senna leaf and cascara sagrada -- these work by irritating the bowel lining, causing it to spasm and ... well ... hmmm ... Anyway, it would do no harm to add a stool softener such as Docusate (Colace) ... it's not absorbed at all; it helps the stool hold onto water. It's often given to heart patients, to help preven straining, and to new Moms .. ... You may only need to take it for a few weeks or a month ... by then, your body will have adjusted to the fiber and extra fluid you're consuming.

Take care, and congrats on the 6 lbs lost so far. That's excellent!

Doreen