which way do i go?

[joannalc]

i've written in the past and you were all really helpful but i am back again because i am having a hard time getting my brain wrapped around things.
i thought i was dealing with adrenal fatigue. in fact when i went to the naturalistic doc she said she thought i was dealing with adrenal exhaustion. so i did the tests and they said i was fine. i was glad because i want to be healthy at the same time kind of discouraged because i thought that would answer why i am not losing inches. i do however have boarderline hypothyroid issues. doc put me on thyroid support and a few other supplements. so in thinking i don't have adrenal issues i had been walking with a friend everyday (3 miles) and just finished a 14 day bootcamp of BWO+. (i actually only made it to day 13) i had 2.75 inch loss. thought it would be more.

so... what do i do?
i am trying so hard not to get discouraged. i want to have a thankful heart for my health and that i am able to move and be with my children. i sure have a lot of blessings in my life. before my official boot camp i was being faithful to BWO+ 3-4 times a week. maybe i am just really not doing this right...

does there come a time where i just except where i am at and think this is just how it's going to be? we did have a lot of changes a few years ago but that's a done deal now.
how do i get over this hump?? am i not working hard enough?

(a little more background - was a size 14 january 2010, in six months went down to a size 8 - huge life changes including baby back to a 14 and holding for a year now)

thanks for your help gals.

[cbuffy]

Joanna, so sorry to hear your frustration! A couple of thoughts I had right off the bat. First, have you had an opportunity to work with a trainer? Maybe put the word out to family that for your next birthday/anniversary/holiday gift you would love a gift certificate for a Skype session? (If you can't get with one in person...)

But also, I'm always amazed at several of the ladies who tell of working and working and working with no change - for months on end (9+ months!) and then "suddenly" they lose a bunch of inches. It's like those "overnight success" people you hear about. One day nobody knew them and then "over night" they are a household name. But you know they were working their craft for years for that overnight success.

And, I always console myself (I'm in the same spot right now...) that who knows how big I would be if I weren't working out faithfully. Maybe I'm not losing inches, but at least I'm not gaining.........

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful. But I certainly feel your pain. {{hugs}}

[BlessedMama]

{{{Joanna}}} I think just accepting where you are for now is good, but accepting "this is as good as it gets" is not. Hypothyroid is still a metabolic disorder and still taxes your body--and did you know your adrenals will kick in to help out? So even though they test "fine" for now, that doesn't mean you can go push yourself gangbusters and stay fine!

I have a few questions.

Are you taking anything (natural thyroid, supplements, iodine) for your thyroid?
How is your eating, overall? Do you get enough good fats in your diet? Do you tend to eat lots of carbs?
Are you an emotional eater?
How are other stresses in your life?
Do you get enough sleep/rest?
What is your walking like? Able to talk? Power walking?


I hardly ever lost gobs of inches during bootcamps. You know how you read how ladies lose 15, 19, 30 inches at the Retreat? I've been twice. You know how much I lost? 3 1/2 inches the first time, 5 inches the second time! I barely got on the charts!

BUT--in the consistency afterward, I continued losing. I lined out my inch/weight loss in this post, that might encourage you, as well as the next post, "Just One Inch":

http://forum.t-tapp.com/showthread.p...es-*DO*-Add-Up!

http://forum.t-tapp.com/showthread.p...-ONLY-ONE-INCH!!!

HTH and encourages you!

(And I hope I didn't pepper you with too many questions!)

[ayj67]

Joanna,

What difference does it make if you can label yourself as clinical thyroid, adrenal, female hormonal, or insulin out of whack. What is important is, you don't feel so hot, you are tired and your metabolic function is not like before.

It is not like a pregnancy that you have to do a test to find out for sue. These 4 hormone interact and inter-dependent on each other. One of them seriously goes out of whack, the other three is likely off kilter. Our body is an ecosystem. Adrenal helps to pick up the slack of the thyroid.

Don't keep pushing more and more exercise to lose weight to get healthy. You get healthy first to lose weight. Aim for the amount of workout in a schedule that makes you feel good and energize.

I hate to push workout, but the Menopause DVD is something for you. It targets thyroid, adrenal, female hormone and insulin functions and repair.

One more thought, are you around 43? That is one of the metabolic set point, our female hormone is changing and metabolic rate changes too.

[joannalc]

bummer
i just answered all the questions and wrote a huge thing but have been back and forth to the computer so much as i flip my mommy hat on and off that it all disappeared! o well. this one i will write quicker and shorter..
so here goes.
supplements... thyroid support, herbal tincture to help with moods and sleep, vit d, CALM magnesium and calcium, prenatal (nursing mama)
eating... more on the good side than the bad. need to add more good fats. i use a lot of coconut oil but probably still need more. (made my own dark chocolate bar with oil, cocoa powder, nuts, stevia - dreamy!)
stresses... of course there is some but there is A LOT less than there use to be. it's a pretty peaceful season. (praise be to GOD- His mercies are new every morning!)
age... 37 in a couple of weeks. doc says i am pre-menopause. (i started having babies early early early and have had seven beautiful children and have two in the arms of Jesus)
walking... that is on hold for now. but when i was walking for 3 months, not power just steady.

wondering if my form is so off that i am not going anywhere.
will have to write latter. mommy hat back on.
thanks!

[casuallysweet]

Hopefully ayj will pop in on this too but i believe she's talked about how nursing moms sometimes just don't drop the weight/inches while nursing. So maybe thats some of whats going on. Dont get too discouraged. Youre doing great things for your body.

[ayj67]

Jaci,

My own and all my sisters, do not drop weight until 5-8 months after we were completely done with nursing. Like finally, the brain registered that we really do not need to make milk, and there is no need for the excess water.

My OB/Gym told me on the check up after my first, that for as long as women are lactating, we retain 10 lbs of water weight, no matter what.

Joanna,

I think you have more than just water weight, the slowing down of metabolism is definitely hormonal, thyroid if not adrenal related. There are 4 hormone that will affect the overall well being and the weight gain/loss. Female hormone is one. Estrogen creates fat cell, and insulin creates fat cell, estrogen and insulin feed off each other to create a snowball effect. Since insulin, estrogen, thyroid and adrenal are all inter-related (they overlap and help each other out), you have 2 out of 4 out of whack at least, you certainly will have a slow loss, if not a continuous gaining issue.

We need to set them back straight. T-Tapp is the one, but do not over train and over exercise to cause more adrenal issue.

Well, 34 was one of the metabolism set point. Regardless, you are already peri-menopause.

All I can say is to get the Menopause workout, it is easier for everyone to activate with this workout. The BWO+ is much more simplified than even More, you will get more and better muscle activations and faster inch loss, and you will be less fatigue too.

Walking, you can walk 15-20 mins, and do deep breathing when you walk everyday, just don't do the 2-3 miles hike.

[MissChriss]

Hey Joanna, it's been slow but steady for me too. I do not know much about adrenal issues so I'm glad you are educating yourself on that. I do know a little about aging and the female hormonal body and want to encourage you to continue on this path because you will get the level of health you desire. Try one new thing to your routine, maybe a gadget to get you walking more. The recommendation is 10K everyday just to say you're not a couch potato. I use a Fitbit tracker, it jazzes me to move as much as I can each and everyday. I love it when I have a 10K day! You hit the nail on the head with T-Tapp form too, is there a trainer in your area? I've hooked up with one twice and going to another class in September just to be sure my form is spot on. We are cheering for you!

[joannalc]

thanks gals,
i am in contact with a trainer to see what she thinks. will let you know.
i have a pedometer on my iphone. pretty handy app.
so walk more but not 3 miles at a time?? walk less??

won't give up nursing yet...sweet baby. such a short precious season. going to hang to it as long as i can.

i really appreciate the help and encouragement.
thank you!
from sunny CA
106 today with a 4.4 earthquake a couple nights ago just to keep us on our toes!

[ayj67]

What is the temperature now? It is 74 now, a cool breeze finally.