Fats that Strip Fat from Your Body

It seems common sense that in order to lose fat, reducing oils and butter and so forth in one's diet is the first step. This is true in regards to the consumption of some types of fats, but not all.

You need certain types of fat in order to lose weight.

Stress Eating: My Experience

My daughter is going to need major dental work. She is not even three, but her baby teeth are in bad shape. She eats healthy foods and gets a good teeth brushing every night, but she was not blessed with strong baby teeth. My pregnancy was a difficult ordeal; we both barely survived and I suspect it affected the formation of her poor little teeth. Alas, I am no expert and it doesn't matter now.

So lately it has been hard to keep sugary foods out of my mouth. I was doing so well for months with no sugar, no chocolate, and no caffeine. Well, all three of my old "friends" have come back into my life these past few weeks and my waistline is starting to protest.

I've been searching the web and found some tips to help deal with my stress and get back on track with healthful eating. Click on the links below to see what I found.

1. Ayurvedic rules for stress eating: Drink warm tea instead of eating junk when you are upset.
2. Kundalini Yoga: This may not look like the yoga you've seen on television or most workout dvd's but my experience with it has been extremely positive. I will take a few minutes every day to practice and reap the anti-stress benefits.
3. Address adrenal fatigue: Stress causes hormonal imbalances. There are ways to correct and repair your glands. Good Stress Supplements can help.

It won't be easy because stress doesn't just disappear; it tends to accumulate and grow larger. At least I have a few tools to take care of myself and live better.

Tirosint: 2 Week Review

Hummingbirds Make Me Smile

It's been about two weeks since starting the new thyroid medication. I feel better and less tired, though my stamina is not where I would like it to be. It is a strange feeling that my body is adapting to functioning at a higher rate of metabolism. Hopefully, in another two to four weeks my body will be fully adjusted.

The body's organs adapt to changes in thyroid levels at different rates. It takes four to six weeks for a person's body to fully adjust to new changes in thyroid medication. That seems like a long time to know whether a new medication or new level of medication is the right one.

Here is a link that explains how the body adjusts to new hormones.

New Thyroid Medicine: Tirosint

I went to the doctor this week. My T3 and T4 levels were in the low normal range, but my TSH wasn't right. Not to mention I have had difficulty losing weight, hair loss, and mind numbing fatigue. So, she put me on a higher dosage of levothyroxine and prescribed a different brand: Tirosint. It is thyroid medicine in gelcap form. My doctor said that the this medicine is easier for the body to break down and convert into the proper hormones.

It is a new medicine. I went to their website and printed a voucher that gives me my first prescription free. Anyone can use it, as long as a doctor wrote you a prescription. Go to Tirosint's website.

Go to drugs.com to see the FDA's official information about Tirosint.

Since it is brand name only, my health insurance won't cover it. Its price ranges from twenty to thirty U.S. dollars for 28 pills. I will see if the price is worth it.

Weight Loss and Better Skin with Virgin Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is, obviously, extracted from the meat of the coconut. This oil is beneficial for weight loss, digestion, various skin conditions, and more.

How can fat promote better health? Is it hype? Is there actual evidence? 

Coconut oil was something I'd heard about years ago. A friend read a book about its health benefits and convinced me to read the book. The author struck me as a used car salesman type of person, so I dismissed his book and all thoughts of coconut oil. Besides, fats are bad for you. So I thought.

Several months ago, feeling unwell and desperate to feel better and lose weight, I started looking into lower carb diets. I stumbled upon coconut oil again and began serious research. What I found convinced me that it was worth incorporating into my diet. The first spoonful in my hot herbal tea had me hooked. Coconut oil was here to stay.

Here is some of the research that helped me make my decision.

Diet: The Food You Eat Matters... A Lot

You may think that with hypothyroidism, that your metabolism is slow and that diet isn't important because you will always be stuck with some extra weight. My personal experience is that this thinking is false and detrimental to health.

My Doctor Said That to My Face? Really?

After my daughter was born, my thyroid became enlarged, my hair fell out, my joints ached, and the weight piled on. I went to the doctor, who told me my thyroid was "normal". He also told me it was normal to be tired with a baby. As for the weight, he offered to sell me a weight loss regimen. I found another doctor. Then, another.

When my daughter was 14 months old, I sought a doctor because my thyroid was still enlarged. "I am working out like mad, eat no processed foods, and live healthily and gain weight rather than losing it",  I explained. When my labs came back "normal", she treated me with open contempt. "You need to lose weight. No, we don't look at T3, that is preposterous."

Needless to say,  I told her my opinion of her worth as a doctor and never went back.

Based on my research, this behavior is pretty common. It took me years to find a doctor who actually measures and prescribes T3 hormone. For an explanation of what that is and why it is important, click here.

Is there an easy way to find out if a doctor is open-minded about latest thyroid research and is willing to prescribe based on symptoms, instead of just looking at numbers on the lab report?

There isn't an easy way, but here are some things I've learned along the way.

1. Look for a DO behind the name, instead of MD. This stands for Doctor of Osteopathy. They are doctors just like regular MDs, but their training emphasizes treating the patient as a whole. This doesn't automatically mean they will be better at dealing with the thyroid than the typical "clueless" doc, but the nature of their training means they might be more open minded. My current doctor is a DO and I am pretty happy. She also accepts my health insurance.
2. Call the office and ask how the doc deals with thyroid issues. The receptionist won't know, but most offices have a nurse or two, and you can ask to speak with them. Ask what type of lab work is requested: TSH and T4 only? Or do they measure T3 as well as free T3 and T4? What type of medication would the doctor prescribe? If no one wants to talk to you, hang up and find another doctor.
3. Ask your friends! I found my current doctor through a friend who is also hypothyroid.
4. Ask your pharmacist. They may be able to tell you which doctor prescribes certain medications, such as Armour (natural T4/T3) or Cytomel (T3). However, some laws may make this information confidential. It doesn't hurt to ask, though.
5. Look for online and/or local hypothyroidism support groups. Joining is usually free and the information you can find is priceless.

Your health is your responsibility, and just because a doctor tells you it is your fault, lack of motivation, or a figment of your imagination does NOT mean you have to accept it. Keep looking for a doctor who will take you seriously and don't give up until you are satisfied.