What is wrong with me???

[tiki]

Okay, I had my first follow-up with the doctor's diet program. I've lost six pounds. I was sooooo proud.

 

Side note: My H and I have been out working (slaving) in the yard for the past two weeks. We've tilled the entire front yard, trenched, pulled weeds, laid 200 feet of tubing, re-covered with dirt...the whole nine. I'm not talking about silly, crappy, yard work. We've been slave driving ourselves from dusk til dawn. After work, we're in the yard and out there even working in the dark trying to get the yard perfect. Well, our project is FINALLY over. But it's not like I've been sitting around. I can't do that at home, too much going on.

 

ANYWAY. I lost my stupid six pounds in four weeks. I don't eat a lot, hardly at all really. I thought it was all working out well. I've been exercising 3 x a week (35 minutes each time) since July. I'm good 2 go, right? Um, no.

 

My fat percentage has gone UP and my muscle mass has gone DOWN. The Doc says I'm losing muscle mass. And I need to eat more - 6 times a day. And that I must be overloading on carbs? Huuuuhhhhhhh?? No way, man. She told me to eat more protein. And that what was going on, wasn't good enough.

 

So I've been working my ass off, and that's not good enough? How about I just be lazy?

 

Well, I had bloodwork last visit and my cholesterol is almost 300. My triglycerides are almost that too. And one of my thyroid levels is low (she says that's nothing). But why is my cholesterol so frickin high?!? I'm not that overweight. I hardly eat meat (I'm almost a vegetarian!) but I do love cheese. WTF?!? I had my cholesterol checked like 8 years ago and it was high, and I was skinny!!!!

 

So anyway, she says to eat more proteins. So I looked on their website and it says that that's things like lean meat, steak, cheese, eggs, crap like that. That's where all of my cholesterol comes from is animal derived products!?!?! Hello?! And I don't eat fish or chicken. And I'm not crazy about pork. And I can barely eat meat.

 

What am I to do? I left so dern depressed. Is it a possibility that the metal scale thing that I had to step on barefooted could be wrong in all of my body fat measurements??

[ReluctantRomeo]

Measurement errors are possible, especially when the change is small.

 

But it has to be said that this is a common problem with women losing weight. Especially those with vegetarian tendencies. Protein (and therefore your muscle) is a very good source of energy, so weight loss can often come from there instead of fat. Especially if you're not eating much quality protein.

 

The trick is like your doc said - to lose weight slowly and keep eating plenty of lean protein. Some suggestions for other sources of lean protein without cholestorol:

 

- fat-free milk and yoghurt

- pulses, eg lentils, beans or soya. These are best mixed with a little grain (wholemeal bread or pasta).

 

Vegetarian (or near vegetarian) diets are potentially just as healthy as more mixed ones, but you have to work way harder in terms of learning nutrition facts and balancing proteins. A mixed diet is easier to manage.

[alphamale]

Originally posted by tiki

Well, I had bloodwork last visit and my cholesterol is almost 300. My triglycerides are almost that too.

Hi cholesterol is cause by what u eat AND your genetic makeup, TIKI. Ask your doc to put you on Vytorin 40/10. This is a new combo cholesterol drug that can reduce your cholesterol count by up to 40% (usually 20-30%) and all u need to do is take a pill each day.

 

oh yeah, this drug has very few side effect too!

[blind_otter]

Yeah, ALPHA is right. I have high cholesterol, I'm only 25, and I am not overweight. My Dad has had 5 heart attacks and 6 strokes. He just has horrible genetic makeup when it comes to cholesterol.

 

Maybe you should see a nutritionist?

 

But the eating 6x a day thing really is the best way to go. I had a digestive disease for a few years when I was younger and I remember that being pounded into my head because I couldn't digest food normally.

[moimeme]

ANYWAY. I lost my stupid six pounds in four weeks. I don't eat a lot, hardly at all really.

 

If you don't eat much, your body thinks there's a famine afoot and so it works harder to conserve the calories you do take in. Your very best bet is to eat several small meals a day and vary the calorie intake from time to time so your body can't settle into one pattern of calorie intake. It might even make your bady store more fat since fat reserves are what it puts by to survive the 'famine'. Doing all that work and not eating much wasn't a good idea.

 

Read up on vegetarian diets and especially how to get sufficient protein if you don't want to eat too much meat. RR's right about soy and pulses. There are proteins to be had in other foods but it takes a bit more work to ensure you have enough.

 

I wouldn't ignore the thyroid levels, either. A lot of women have troubles with their thyroid but doctors still don't seem to give that gland much attention. And all the women I know who are having thyroid trouble are also unable to take weight off and have cholesterol trouble. Maybe see an endocrinologist about that.

[tiki]

Wow, all of yall's info is soooo helpful. I think I see what you guys are saying. And because I've never classified myself as a vegetarian, I've never felt like I should compensate for any protein loss. What about protein shakes?

 

Something else that bothered me was that she told me to make sure I was only doing 20-50 recommended carbs a day. And always eat breakfast. I told her that it was hard to find anything to eat, because a frickin pop tart even (yuck, I know) has like 27 carbs! And she was like, okay so then you have 20 left for the rest of the day. What?! 20?!?

 

Breakfast is my hardest meal. All of your options are no-carb things that are a pain in the arse, like bacon, ham, eggs, who has that time??? I even quit drinking my slimfast because of all the carbs?!

[alphamale]

Originally posted by tiki

Wow, all of yall's info is soooo helpful. I think I see what you guys are saying.

If your cholesterol count is 300 your DR needs to put you on medication. End of story. I just had a physical a month ago and my count was 270 and my doc put me on Vytorin.

[tiki]

Yes, you're right alpha. I need a family doc too. I know I can reduce it some myself, but I think a lot of it is genetic. Arrrrgh, I hate to be on more meds!!!

 

The lady that I work with told me that I was a walking heart attack.

[blind_otter]

At my work ladies bring in sausages to eat. No joke. Or cream cheese with veggie sticks/crackers. I munch on stuff throughout the morning because I am nauseous every morning b/c my bc pill gives me mild morning sickness.

 

I break the law once or twice a week and have a bagel or croissant. Also, there are lo-carb options that can replace slimfast. But I don't munch throughout the day as much as I should.

 

Oh and make sure to drink a butt load of water throughout the day.

[moimeme]

I think this no-carb stuff is a crock. Your brain needs 60 grams of carbs a day to run.

Drop the pop tarts and eat good whole grain toast or cereal. Just as fast and much better for you. There's carbs and carbs. Yes maybe avoid the sugars and white flour but complex carbs are good for you and help keep your appetite regulated.

[tiki]

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

 

I'm going to try to do better.

 

The sign in the room said that on average, patient's lose 10-15 pounds a month. I think she was really unimpressed with my measley six, but I can't afford to lose THAT much THAT quick. I personally think it's too much too soon! I've heard the faster you lose, the faster you gain it back. I'm happy with my sex. Now if I could just lose the fat part, and not the muscle part.

[westernxer]

Originally posted by blind_otter

Maybe you should see a nutritionist?

 

Definitely see a nutritionist.

[alphamale]

Originally posted by tiki

The sign in the room said that on average, patient's lose 10-15 pounds a month. I think she was really unimpressed with my measley six, but I can't afford to lose THAT much THAT quick.

shoot for losing about a pound a wk. the slower you take it off the greater chances of u keeping it off and it also gives your body time to adjust and for the skin to shrink. at most you should be losing 1.5 lbs per week, no more.

[tiki]

How the heck do you find one of those....I guess in the back of your insurance manual? Does anyone know if most insurances cover them? I'm not a diabetic or anything, so they may not.

 

Just that one thryoid level was a little low. Not my TSH or anything. But who knows.

[blind_otter]

Originally posted by tiki

How the heck do you find one of those....I guess in the back of your insurance manual? Does anyone know if most insurances cover them? I'm not a diabetic or anything, so they may not.

 

Just that one thryoid level was a little low. Not my TSH or anything. But who knows.

 

Your doctor should give you a referral when you ask. Just be like "I want a referral to a nutritionist, beyotch!" and see what your doc says. Just kidding. Be nice, TIKI.

[brashgal]

Was your TSH high? I think the upper range is 5.5 - if it's higher than that you might be a candidate for Thyroid meds.

 

You definitely need to be on some cholesterol medication - sometimes just being on it for awhile and watching what you eat until you get down to your goal weight will control your cholesterol levels. So you may not have to be on cholesterol meds forever.

 

Eat oatmeal, pears, beans - all have been found to help lower cholesterol (fiber baby!!)...also, try fish oil capsules if you won't eat fish (those Omega 3 fatty acids help the cholesterol balance).

[tiki]

It wasn't my TSH, but some other thyroid level. It was low, but not too low. The oatmeal is loaded with carbs!!! I thought that was a good idea (and convenient) too. It's like you can't win!!!

 

The nurse recommended their Omega 3 pill, but I get tired of them recommending all their crap. I should've just bought the stuff. Is the omega 3 the same as the fish oil stuff?

[brashgal]

My bottle reads "Natural Fish Oil Concentrate high in Omega-3 fatty acids" so I would imagine so. Got it at Wal*Mart, not too pricy.

 

You have to eat some carbs and oatmeal (especially the kind that is not processed to death with lots of sugar) is complex carbohydrates - stays with you all morning. I buy the old-fashioned oats, half a cup with some raisins and some pecans and cinnamon - I don't even need sugar. A quarter cup of non-fat milk on top, I'm not hungry again until noon. Okay - looking at the box - it is 27g of carbs but again, good carbs - much better for you than a poptart.

[tiki]

Mine's that crappy Quaker instant oats or some crap. Then I just add warm tap water. That still good for me??? Guess not?

 

Arrrgggghhhh, I'm ready to get fat. Just quit it all and get fat. Wait. I mean fatTER.

[brashgal]

If it has no sugar in it then still ok, but the long cooking kind is better. What you don't want is the stuff that comes in the little packages that is already flavored (cuz it's LOADED with sugar - bad carbs, bad carbs!).

 

This is merely a temporary set back - you will get through this Tiki!

[tokyo]

I remembered that not all cholesterol is bad and I'm not sure what your doctor checked, maybe he needs to take a closer look at here, but here's some more information:

 

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=180

[sophia34]

Just as there are good fats (olive oil, canola oil, avocados, peanuts, etc.) and bad fats (triple cheeseburger and fries), there are good carbs and bad carbs.

 

I'm not sure you should be focusing as much on limiting ALL carbs as you should be limiting BAD carbs. Pop tarts, bad Slow cooked oatmeal, stone ground whole wheat breads, and wheat pastas, good.

 

I actually eat the slow-cooked oatmeal every morning, although I do cheat: 1/2 cup oatmeal with raisins and cinnamon. I mash a bit of banana into it or add a teaspoon of honey for sweetness. Put just enough water in the bowl to cover the oats, then throw it in the microwave for 3 minutes. It's almost as quick as instant, but tastes better and is much better for you than the oversugared instant varieties.

[quankanne]

eat good whole grain toast or cereal

 

remember giving the babies you cared for cheerios to snack on? Figure out what one serving is, then put it into a resealable container and snack on that for breakfast. That works well for me, since I rarely can eat first thing in the morning. By leaving out the milk, you're leaving out the additional carbs.

 

as for the high cholesterol levels, the diabetes educator I consulted with recommended fish oil tablets, same as brash did a couple of posts earlier. Apparently they help the "bad cholesterol" levels go down. If you're serious about adding it to your diet, buy it in mass quantities at wholesale warehouses like Sam's Club or Costco -- that's where I stock up on my stuff.

[tiki]

Originally posted by quankanne

eat good whole grain toast or cereal

 

remember giving the babies you cared for cheerios to snack on? Figure out what one serving is, then put it into a resealable container and snack on that for breakfast. That works well for me, since I rarely can eat first thing in the morning. By leaving out the milk, you're leaving out the additional carbs.

 

as for the high cholesterol levels, the diabetes educator I consulted with recommended fish oil tablets, same as brash did a couple of posts earlier. Apparently they help the "bad cholesterol" levels go down. If you're serious about adding it to your diet, buy it in mass quantities at wholesale warehouses like Sam's Club or Costco -- that's where I stock up on my stuff.

 

Awesome idea quank! Good idea to snack on! I'm checking into the pills.

[nzchick]

I know why you're losing muscle.

 

1) Too much cardio.

2) Not eating enough

 

Work more on weights and eat alot of protein. I promise you, you're gona get in better shape. Go to worldfitness dot com they're very helpful when it comes to dieting. I lost 30 lbs with their help