And the thyroid went kaput

All of this running around, eating on the run has gotten the better of me.  It happened so quickly, but one day I realized I had gained 20 lbs.  Now, if you read my blog, you’ll know that I went through a ton of very stressful incidents in my life and on top of all that, or maybe because of that, my thyroid slowed down and I am now taking Synthroid for the rest of my life.  Needless to say, I need to watch what I eat and lose some of this extra weight that is dragging me down.

I saw a nutritionist who told me I was exercising too much and that my body had no time to repair itself post workout.  Hurray, I was so relieved to hear that and I immediately got comfortable taking a few days off a week.  Guess what?  Bad move!  I gained weight and started hating it when I did go to exercise.  What was a 20 year routine was really disrupted and I am slowly working my way back up to 5 days a week.

The nutritionist was also focusing so much on what I should and shouldn’t eat based on my body’s reaction to certain things.  Her theory is that we should all eat anti inflammatory foods so our organs work as well as they should and we aren’t retaining fluids etc.  It’s a great idea, and I lost 12 pounds in two weeks, but it was so confusing keeping track of everything that I found it impossible to integrate it into my real life after the two weeks was up.  Needless to say I gained it all back as fast as I lost it.

I’ve also been told that as a person suffering from Hypothroidism, that I shouldn’t eat cruciferous veggies, meaning green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale.  What?  That’s all I eat!  Then I read that well, it’s okay to eat this as long as it is cooked.  What happened to raw is best?  I guess there is something in certain foods that produces something that interferes with something else that would otherwise help the thyroid.  Then again, according to the Mayo Clinic’s website, this is all false and you just need to take your medicine regularly and talk to your doctor.  What to believe?

Last week I started weightwatchers.com.  I am down 1.5lbs.  Not much, but I really think I can do this.  I feel like I am still eating what I want, only less.  Who knew handfuls of almonds were maybe a bad idea! I would like to share some of the foods that I have been eating that have really been helping me.

Lentils.  I made this delicious Lentil/tomato/onion dish last night that is very high in fiber and protein and filling and satisfying all at once.  It can be made into a sauce over meats or eaten on its own as I did.
Spice, citrus, vinegars, chiles, pickles, are all my new bffs.  The above photo is of Rachael’s homemade pickles which are easy and delicious. These add complex flavors to my foods.  I love Rachael’s Spice Grinders and Gweneth Paltrow’s Pickled Jalapenos.  So delicious!
I am eating more fruits and veggies than ever before because I am not counting any of it and not thinking about it.  I keep reminding myself, no one ever got fat eating a carrot!
Eggs, hard boiled, have been a lifesaver for me.  They are easy to carry in my lunch bag to work and make a filling snack or addition to a simple salad to bump up the flavor and give me some protein.  I find that without enough protein I feel famished soon after I’ve just eaten.
For me, laying off the white carbs, white sugar and dairy has helped me to feel good.  I am not going to deny myself a glass of wine or a slice of pizza (or two of each) here and there, but I no longer make it an every day thing and I really do think it has helped me to stop craving more of those things.  For instance, if I eat something sweet, I find I want more of it or more sweets.  If I don’t eat anything with added sugar (I am not talking about fruit), then my cravings for sweets subside.  If I have to have something sweet, an orange or other fruit will satisfy me, whereas in the past I would probably knock over an old lady for a piece of dark chocolate.

What is working for others who have thyroid issues or are simply looking to eat healthier?  Back at you next week with my progress report!

-Last Minute Lady

Rosemary Maggiore is our Last Minute Lady. A single mom of two kids plus a full time job (she runs this website!) keep her busy and usually pushing things to the last minute. Somehow she manages to keep her cool and her sanity while she enjoys good food, wine, friends and most importantly, family.

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