just diagnosed....
 

I am trying not to be depressed, but have been diagnosed with elevated thyroid antibodies. My endocrinologist wants to see me again and do even more tests. I am scared to google it to see what they do. My brother does have Hashimoto's and so I guess this will just be another of several endocrine problems I now have.

How does this affect losing weight on Atkin's? Many of you know I have been on plan since the middle of January and have only lost about 5 to 7 pounds.

Are other plans better with this condition?

Thanks!

No. Having hypothyroid means losing weight is going to be very difficult. Just settle in and plan to maintain until your thyroid is properly treated. If you stop dieting you're quite likely to gain weight really fast, so stick to it.

I'm really sorry to hear this, but I hope treatment will soon have you on the right path. I have an appointment with an Endo in mid-May, and am looking forward to a specific diagnosis - and treatment - since without that it's all guesswork.

As to what/how to eat - what is working well for me now is following Kwasneiwski's Optimal Diet (you can Google it), which has seriously upped my fat (and thus calories) a lot, upped my carbs a bit, and seriously lowered my protein intake. This has actually broken a 2-year scale weight loss, while accelerating my body fat loss.

I thought trying to eat so much fat (and so little protein) would be hard, but the truth is after I got the hang of it I felt better than ever - great, in fact, with lots more energy. As if this is the way I should have been eating all along. And who can argue with a diet that lets me snack on butter and eat a cloud of whipped cream every day. :yum:

With a compromised metabolism my body was struggling to process all that protein, but due to my weight training and increased muscle mass, the fat just seems to go there to be used immediately. This leaves my body with a 'deficit' for its other needs, so my stored body fat is being burned up as well. I'm never hungry, but never feel 'stuffed' either. Kind of like Goldilocks; it's finally just right.

Hang in there - it will get better! :bhug:

Lisa

This may not be for everyone, but I recommend trying a yeast-free, gluten-free diet. Both yeast and gluten are often linked to autoimmune diseases.

I feel better on the diet, and I'm losing weight even though that wasn't my goal. I'm actually at a point where I'm afraid I'll end up too thin.

Does increased thyroid antibodies mean a lower thryoid count? I thought at first, you meant you had elevated thyroid, but that doesn't jive with the comments you've received.

If she does have Hashies, it will start out hyper, then go hypo. Such a frustrating disorder for sure!

To the OP, hang in there! It really stinks that you have this problem, my daughter was just diagnosed and she has a 2 year old son and a 6 month old son. She was bummed to get the diagnosis but so relieved to be on the path to getting some relief. She has gleaned so much info from some very educational forums on the web; people who are living it who have all kinds of experience to share, questions to ask doctors, diet, etc.... Very, very helpful.

Good luck! Don't be discouraged, you're not gonna let this stupid disorder kick YOUR butt!! No way!!! :thup:

The antibodies are usually indicative of an autoimmune thyroid disease. The antibodies attack one's thyroid, usually causing hypothyroidism eventually.

Thanks all for your replies! I think I will just hang in there and stick to Atkin's until I start the meds. I have only lost a little, but did lose down to a size 6 and have easily maintained that so I will just live with the few extra pounds for now. I thought about trying South Beach and actually did it for one whole day (signed up and everything) but realized with my reactive hypoglycemia, the menu selections weren't good. I currently have some problems with lactose, wheat, and fructose plus I hate beans and fish. So, IMO, that didn't seem like a good plan for me PLUS I was very hungry without the fat.

The good news is my TSH is still normal, so I am hoping that means we caught this early. I am reading about selenium and wondering if I should start the supplements before my appointment? WHat do ya'll think?

OH YES - AWRITER - I just started reading GCBC. I have to admit it is not exactly a page turner. I have finished chapter one and have had to put it down for a while. Are there any chapters you think are more important or more interesting than others? I've had textbooks that were more engaging! Too bad there isn't a DVD! LOL!

The section starting with Obesity going to the end is much easier reading.

:) Taubes got enough complaints like that to make him start writing a 'simplified' version. Should be out in a year or two.

But - although I admit that getting through the first 4 chapters was tough-going for me and many others - hang in there. The later chapters actually do become page-turners, fueled in part, I'm guessing, by the anger most people feel by page 100 or so.

Lisa