Shucks, thanks Maggie. I don't know if it's that I'm amazing, I'm just REALLY stubborn.

I go through weaker periods too. Maybe, as you say, it's cycle related. But I also find if I've been under stress, it affects me. You've been away on a trip, flying all over the place. Maybe your body is trying to adjust. You'll be back to normal in no time, probably.

Wanda

Hi Maggie:

I got my results back. Here are the numbers:

TSH: 2.08
Free T3: 3.9
Free T4: 11

What do you make of all these "normal" results?

Wanda

Hi Maggie:

Here are the reference ranges. According to the lab's references ranges, I'm on the lowish side of normal for T3 and T4. What do you say?

TSH: .35-5 (which we know is wrong) (2.08)
Free T3: 3.5-5.5 (3.9)
Free T4: 9-23 (11)

Thanks Maggie!

Wanda

Hi Maggie:
Wow, you're the 2nd person now to tell me I'm hypothyroid. I posted on the hypo forum and Nat replied. I don't know if you know Nat, but she's an incredible woman. Very intelligent and helpful. She's been gone from the forum for a year, and just popped in out of the blue to reply to my post.

Here's the post - I started down at about post #17 (top of the 2nd page) http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthre...23&page=2&pp=15

OK, I'm not thrilled that I'm hypo, but it gives me something to work on instead of the frustration I've been experiencing the last 5 months. I think I'll just call for an appointment instead of waiting for them to call. I'm feeling impatient now.

Thanks for all your help Maggie. I really appreciate it.

Wanda

Hi Wanda

Give the Wilson's syndrome protocal some thought. The philosophy behind it is a person is not necessarily hypo thyroid per se, but through stress, illness, etc, has clogged their thyroid system with reverse T3, which blocks receptor sites, and can do nothing for since it's inactive. This presents as hypo thyroid with the same symtoms.

What's nice about Wilson's protocal is if it works, and you reset your system, you can go off thyroid hormones, whereas if you do take traditional thyroid medication, you're on it for life. If I had known about Wilson's protocal when I started treatment 4 yrs ago, I would have tried this first. I don't know if it's going to work for me, but I am going to try it later this month.

What happened to me, is when I went on traditional thryoid medication, I was given a low dose, but because my pituitary sensed that there was hormone coming in, it stopped telling my thyroid to produce TSH. So my TSH dropped to 0, my Free T 4 to 8, (scale 10-22) and my Free T 3 to the bottom of the range. I gained 20 lbs in just a couple of months, until I got on a proper dose, and it took 2 years to lose!

Over the last 4 years I've grown weary of taking daily medication, always feeling slightly undermedicated, and I want to see if I can get my own thyroid and pituitary working right again. I'm using Wilson' protocal to do this.

Whatever you decide, just know that it's not your fault that you have a hard time losing weight. It's your hormones, and when you get them figured out, you'll do fine.

I'm glad you've made an appointment and are getting the answers you need Talk to your doctor about what your treatment options and let him know about Wilson's protocal. Give him the website if he hasn't seen it.

Maggie

Hi Maggie:

I'll do that. He seems to treat Wilson's b/c he mentioned it when I asked about RT3. Although he did say that he found the success rate challenging.... or something to that effect.... I didn't get any details.

I found that website a bit confusing as to protocol. I didn't see anything concrete other than supplements or something. LOL, maybe it's my brain fog. What are you going to be taking to treat your thyroid? I know the estrogen dominance was one issue, but anything else since I can't get rid of "high estrogen" by traditional means?

Thanks again,
Wanda

Lower body today, feels much easier, thank god

Squats

12 x 45
10 x 55
8 x 65
6 x 75
12 x 45

Time to increase the weight

Leg extensions

12 x 70

Lunges

12 x 20
10 x 25
8 x 30
8 x 40
12 x 20

Leg curls

12 x 70

Seated calf raises

12 x 55 x 3

Did not do cardio today. Had a very long day of work yesterday, a 2 hr road trip to see a client, lots of meetings, 12 hrs total. I could feel it today.

Also figured out the mystery of why I felt weak during my upper body workout on Monday. Duh....

When I looked back at my gym log I saw that I accidently kept adding 10 lb weights to the bar for bench instead of 5lbs. By the time I got to my set of 6, I was lifting 15 lbs more, and I couldn't do it. I think my shoulders were sore because I overdid chest.

What I was trying to lift was the same amount as I do for squats. I'm surprised that I'd be lifting a similar amount to what I do for squats since it's a smaller muscle group.

Will walk for one hr this aft with my dog. That's it!

Maggie

Hi Maggie:

Thanks for all that info. I remember reading the Schwarzbein Prinicple II (not I) and she talked about RT3 being diet-related, that her plan would resolve T3 related problems. I'm pretty sure that's what she said, the 'ol brain's a bit foggy these days. If you haven't read her book, it's an excellent read. It's a more balanced approach to carbs, protein and fat, but people can do a lower saturated fat version if they do the Insulin-resistant, Burnt out adrenals program. It's a hormone-balancing program. Here's a sticky in the SP forum that you may find interesting.

Well since this IS your gym log, you're fabulous on the leg ext and curls. LOL, about the bench press. One time I'd just finished doing leg press and forgot to change the weight stack to do a cable row. It was damn heavy but I got 6 reps out of it. I was amazed I could do it when my mind was tricked from limitations.

'til later!

Wanda

Yeah, the first book just addresses Insulin, but the 2nd book addresses the interplay between insulin, cortisol and adrenaline. With what you are trying to do, I think it would be a great read for you even if you don't do the plan.

Wanda

Finally weighed in at 158. Last weigh in on Sept 11, 158.

This is the one thing I do not like about lifting weights. I have no way of knowing how much muscle I gained and how much fat I lost.

I'm not happy with this at all

I lost 6 lbs in the first 2 weeks on Fat Flush.

I think I may go back on Fat Flush for a couple of weeks to get things going, AFTER Thanksgiving weekend. I absolutely hate that diet, but it works.

Supposed to to HITT today. I feel like eating chocolate and watching TV instead!!

Maggie

Got off my butt and did 35 minutes of HITT, up a mountain road with my chocolate lab Maggie. 30 minutes downhill walk to finish.

Off to go camping for the Thanksgiving weekend.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Maggie

Have a great Thanksgiving Maggie!


Wanda

That sounds so fun! Mmmmm, nothing quite like the taste of organic meat. Yep, I have plans to stuff my face full of food I shouldn't eat. But it'll be SO worth it.

Wanda

Hi Maggie: