This is NOT Working Out for Me

Cool!

I really bet that will help. Maybe not cure all ills, but help.

I was doing it a while back but because I was feeling so crappy, I just pretty much stopped doing anything but eating, sleeping and breathing.

Well, I had my first follow up appointment and can I say I am a little underwhelmed at the whole process. The appointment took less than 10 minutes. He asked me how I was feeling. Better. Took my pulse. Better. No sore throat or fever? Good. "Ok, well I will need to get some labs and I'll call you if we need to adjust the dose. Then, I'll see you in 3 months!" I guess I expected more.

Waiting on my first blood test to see how I am coming along but just on feeling alone, I can tell that this is working. My good days are much better and my bad days are not quite as bad.


But in line with this thread, I was a bit put out to hear I'd gained another pound and have now brought my total to 10 lbs from this damn disease. I can start some light light working out but it's still hard to do because I am still very tired. I am not retaining water quite as much which is nice but still swollen some days.

But all in all, I think this decision was the best one to make and my doctor seems to be a little more ok with my med versus radiation decision. I am still getting a second opinion.

ok. voice of reason can be mean.. but not intended.

stop eating packaged crackers, snacks, cereals.. etc.
If you dont have to get out of your car to get your food.. dont eat there.
Veggies need to be a part of your EVERY meal since you have health problems as it is.
Start cooking with beans instead of beef.
No more fruit drinks, sodas, and junk.
tea
water
100% fruit juice drinks watered down . Add about 1/3 water to your juices before you drink them.
READ LABELS. This means shopping is going to take longer then before .. but-
avoid saturated fats, hydrogenated oils, sugar or high fructose corn syrup, MSG, salt and red dye .

do it now and you will stop gaining weight as quickly as you are.
you may even loose a few pounds without exercise.
you dont have a BAD diet, you just substitute alot of MEAL times with SNACK times and end up eating all day on junk.
diet is the huge key for you since you can not exercise.
if you were closer to me, you would eat from my kitchen and eat like Bean..

Hey dork, nice yahoo on today.

No.....more.....soda?????

Red dye? You know, I think I read that somewhere on my Graves site....

I have been eating a lot better considering the diet I had before. But I know that it has to improve more. It's so hard.

not on yahoo today.
out busy with bean and hubby
in fact im heading back out the door now.
;-)

Bella--

I hate to tell you--because I'm a sedentary type myself--that moderate exercise actually gives you more energy.

Having said this in public, off to my exercycle.

Hold your dominion.

I know but it's hard to make yourself go when you hardly have the energry to make it though the day as it is. I am slowing working back up to being more active....it's slow and painful but will be worth it in the end.

Hey Bella, I guess I missed the topic where you talked about being sick. Sorry.

Anyway, one thing about shopping carefully is you really only have to do it a few times. But for those few times, it's going to take a while. Next time you go shopping, first, make sure you've eaten well beforehand and are not rushing. Second, take a pen and paper with you.

Now, as you go along, take notes. Let's say you want to buy, I dunno, canned tomatoes. Look at not just prices (which fluctuate) but also how much salt is in there, and if there's anything else in there that maybe you don't want or don't want so much of. And just write down (I'm making up these numbers):

Hunts 1 gram sodium
Red Pack 2 grams sodium
Generic store brand 1 gram sodium
etc.

You can also make a list of foods with good things in them, such as breads:

Pepperidge Farm 12 grain - 3 grams fiber
Wonder Wheat - 1 gram fiber

etc. Whatever is important to you, take notes.

If there's any other variables, such as whether something is packed in oil or water, or whatever, write that down, too.

You may have to do this for a few shopping trips in order to get everything. Obviously, you need not do this for produce and you don't need to do it for things you don't buy.

Once you've got your information in order, organize it. Sometimes you just can't get your first choice and you really need something, so you'll need second and third choices. And you'll also need to know what is an absolute no way type of product.

Your list would look something like:
1) Starkist tuna in water (solid)
1) (tied for first place) Bumblebee tuna in water (solid)
2) Bumblebee chunk white tuna
3) Progresso tuna in olive oil
NOT TO BE BOUGHT:
Starkist dark tuna in oil
Chicken of the sea (any variety)

or whatever conclusion you come to.

Now, when you make your list (and yes, you should make a list, but that's a good thing, it means you buy only what you need, you don't throw anything out and you remember everything you need, plus most people with lists save money!), you specify -

Starkist tuna in water (solid)
Generic store brand canned tomatoes
Pepperidge Farm 12 grain bread
celery
carrots
1% milk etc.

Maybe add on the back some of your alternatives. You'll get to know what's in and out of stock. You may find that you don't need an alternatives list after a while.

Also, if you clip coupons, make sure this information is in or near the coupon holder/envelope or however you store coupons, and make sure you only clip coupons for your first, second or third choices and not for any competitors that you don't want.

We went through this exercise when I first started worrying about my cholesterol. We noted fiber, sodium and saturated fats and cholesterol in foods. I still have the lists but I know a lot of it by heart.

PS Feel better.

jespah, that is invaluable, simple advice that I honestly would never have thought of! Thank you! I am going to try this.

Hey, my pleasure.

I'm, eh, way too organized for a human being. I gotta spread the love somehow, yanno.

I am a very, uh, planned person too so this is right up my alley!

Bella--



You're also a person who likes to take charge of her life.

your organizational skills ARE impressive..!

I too am going to take that tid bit of info to the store with me.
After a few practice runs, i will be able to shop quickly and guilt free.

Excellent, Jespah. I followed a similar course for the first six months after being diagnosed with diabetes. I was also going through up to seven test strips a day. Now I know what I need to know. I know what works well, what I can have as an indulgence, and I know how various meals are going to effect blood sugar.

Well, last night my husband verbally kicked me in the ass and told me that despite not wanting to make this change, I had no choice and that even if I was delt a crappy hand, I have to play the game. *sigh* I guess I just need to square with all this and stop whining about it.

So, I need to employ the help of my A2K buddies. I am looking for Graves and/or hyperthyroid friendly foods. I haven't found a complete list out there and the tidbits seem to be scattered all over the freakin internet. So...if anyone has any spare time on their hands, could you help me search for the Hyperthyroid/Graves friendly ingredients list? Thanks a bunch. I am going to go grocery shopping this weekend to start making my pantry of safe foods and then on Monday am meeting with a new doctor to discuss my future.

Bella - Ask you doctor about support groups for people with Graves, unless you out in the sticks of North Dakota, there probably is one. It's very comforting to meet with people who have the same problem as you and to compare experiences.

I just wanted to post this link for anyone who needs to watch their diet. It is LOADED with nutritional information and content of all sorts of stuff.

This is my first step in finding "safe foods". It might not be dead on but it will give me an indication of what foods I can check out.

USDANutrition

Wow, Bella, what a great site that is!

And it shows what we probably all suspected all along. Baked goods, even homemade, and fast foods, are high in calories and fat, whereas fresh vegetables and herbs and spices are the opposite. So Mom wasn't lying when she said to eat your veggies and limit how much pie you eat, eh?

PS I have (I think) the opposite of you, my thyroid is underactive and in the process (it's been in this process for over a decade) of failing. I take meds for it, my mother has the exact same problem, dunno if it's genetic. Hmmm.