Hello Alvin,
By the way I love your blog. Gets a lot of my questions answered. SO I have hypothyroidism which its just slow metabolism due to my thyroid gland and I take medication for it, I also just had my baby girl 5 moths ago. I been having a hard time loosing weight. I lose 2 pounds and gain them right back. So my question is what is you personal opinion on the HCG diet, whether its the shots or pills. And what would you suggest in my case?
Thanks...
Hello Jem,
Thank you for the compliments and support of the blog. That is exactly why I've built it, to get a lot of your questions answered (insert happy face here)! I am a firm believer that with a proper nutritionally balanced lifestyle and healthy physical activity there is nothing we can not heal or do. I do not necessarily agree with weight loss pills, excessive diets or anything of the like but at the same time I do understand we are not all built the same. Some of us will have some conditions that are unique and must be treated as such. With that being said, lets see if I can help you out.
First lets analyze what Hypothyroidism is. Hypothyroidism is a deficiency of the thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormones act to increase metabolic rate, affect protein synthesis, help regulate long bone growth, neuronal maturation and increase the body's sensitivity to catecholamines (such as adrenaline) by permissiveness. A lack of this hormone will most certainly affect your fat reserves Jem, by slowing down your metabolism and affecting overall protein synthesis. This could be a factor as to why your weight fluctuates but before we isolate this as the root cause I am going to take back some steps and simplify this.
Unfortunately losing 2 pounds is not a major physiological change (not to burst your bubble). It's exciting but shouldn't be the sole motivator for you. Weight can fluctuate based on time of day, foods eaten, water levels and even the weather. WEIGHT SHOULD NOT BE WHAT YOU BASE SUCCESS ON! Take a second to let that sink in. It sounds crazy but weight is not entirely reliable (specially in women and the "time of the month"). A better indication of success is body fat. If your body fat continulously decreases regardless of weight, you're on the right track...and honestly the very best method of measurement of success is YOUR CLOTHES! You lost a few inches and need to drop a clothing size or two? NOW WE'RE TALKING!
I would say you should probably be concerned if in a week you lose 5 pounds and next week you gain 7. That should be alarming, but two pounds isn't a big deal. In the mornings I am usually 3-5 pounds lighter than I am at night, even after working out. It's how the body works. Also, I do not know what your nutrition looks like but I do hope you're eating right ALL THE TIME. If one week you eat right, workout and lose 2-3 pounds that's awesome, but if over the weekend you didn't eat right, had a few drinks, went out to a restaurant, didn't eat 6 times a day, etc. and gained 4 pounds then yeah, it's not a matter of condition but nutrition and exercise.
Before we go attacking your condition and making you spend money on company/brand focused diets I suggest you start working on your nutrition and exercising. For the next 30 days eat right and workout 5-6 days a week. If you are able to return here and say "I did not lose weight at all" then yeah, you may need to see a doctor and see what they recommend but in all honesty A LOT can be accomplished with a clean/proper nutrition and physical activity.
- For a decent list of healthy foods and eating schedules check out "The Foods You Should be Eating".
- For a sample meal plan of about 2,300 calories (you should consume about 1,800-2,000) check out my fitness journal post:
http://alvinpereirafitness.wordpress.com/2011/06/21/62111-sample-meal-plan/
- And last but not least, if you have no idea what an exercise plan looks like I've been posting my daily workouts on my fitness journal as well:
http://alvinpereirafitness.wordpress.com/
Also...if you're in the local Orlando/Kissimmee area I plan to start my Saturday bootcamps again at the end of July or beginning of August. I better see you there! =)
Again, rule out the basics before jumping into the deep end of the ocean Jem!
I was doing great on the bovine thyroid, but then my pharmacy couldn't get a reliable supply of my dosage, so now I'm ordering the Canadian equivalent, Erfa. Seems to work just as well.
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