South Beach Diet?

[coffeetime]

I need advice. I am a lifetime weight watcher member who has can't seem to get back on track and am over goal by about 15 lbs. Initially in Jan. when I went gluten-free I lost about 6-7 lbs which I have regained I can't seem to get back on the wagon with WW because somewhere in my head I quit worrying about points, calories, and fat, and was focused only on gluten-free (I realize WW works well with gluten-free diets but for whatever reason I can't seem to follow the plan right now. I was reading some of the other post about going low-carb and immediately thought Atkins, but I tried that many years ago and although I felt great it was so restrictive I didnt' stick with it.

This morning I got up and was researching and found South Beach. It seems like one I could follow, I printed off food list this morning to start with until I could pick up the book. Have any of you tried this diet and was it successful for you? I'm 48 so I know age is also a factor. My TSH was 3.6 so the Dr. didn't think thyroid is an issue. Please let me know if you tried this diet and if there is anything you found helpful.

[GlutenFreeManna]

I have not done South Beach, but I have done other low carb diets in the past. I found these boards to be helpful: Open Original Shared Link They have section for the South Beach Diet. I wish you luck.

Oh and I just wanted to say that I did weight watchers back in the 80's and 90's. I don't know how it has changed, but at the time that I did it, I think it would have been very difficult to do gluten free. While a low carb diet does not equal gluten free, it certainly lends itself to being gluten free more easily than a diet which focuses on fiber and whole grains. JMO.

[Roda]

First off IMHO I think your doctor is wrong by saying you dont have a thyroid problem. There are new guidlines for the range of the TSH. This statement is printed on the bottom of my last blood work:

The TSH reference interval of 0.3 to 3.04 uIU/ml reflects the guidline recommendations from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and many others because of the finding that repeated TSH levels above 3.0 may indicate the early stages of thyroid failure. In addition, a TSH level less than 2.5 uIU/ml is considered optimal in pregnancy.

Now as for the south beach diet I did it for about a month or so last fall and lost 10 pounds in the first two weeks and felt great. I quit and have not gone back to it. I enjoyed all the food and still use many recipes. I'm needing to do something soon because I need to loose at least 20 pounds. I was exercising really well until I started having issues in Jan. They got to the point where I could not exercise. Now I'm just discouraged because I still have not gotten to the bottom of why I feel so bad and gained what I lost back. Maybe your post here was what I needed to read to get me motivated again. It really would be a good way to eat for what I think is my problem. Good luck with it and if you need support just let me know. Also my parents are die hard South beachers and my mom went from 180 pounds down to 150. Let me tell you she is skinny! She also was able to get off her cholesterol lowering medication because of her diet change. My dad lost 30+ pounds also and looks good. He was whinning when I visited last month that he is going to have to get a better watch on what he eats. I didn't see any issue with what he was eating it was what he was drinking. He has gained weight back and he thinks he needs to cut back on food, but all the while he is drinking wine or several beers a day.

[coffeetime]

Thank you both for the replies, I will check out the website and will mention to my dr. about the thyroid. I was on 125mcg daily for quite a few years while living outside the country, but most GP's in the U.S. are reluctant to prescribe because of the 0-4.0 scale that I thought was still the norm. @Roda, I have slacked off the exercise lately too, extremely busy and no energy left over for exercise-although I know it would make me feel better to get in more activity. I went for a walk this morning and am going to try to walk several days a week, even if it isn't the powerwalks I use to do. When I woke up this morning I realized I didn't want to wait till the usual Monday to start, if you would like to join me in this quest (I need to lose almost 20 as well) let me know maybe we could message our weekly struggles and SUCCESSES to each other.

[Skylark]

You're on thyroid pills with TSH 3.6? I thought the latest thinking for us folks on thyroid pills was that TSH should be pushed down to 1-2. Maybe you need to get referred to an endocrinologist to get the right dose if you're feeling sluggish, non-motivated, and gaining weight. My TSH had crept all the way up to 5.0 and I was depressed and gained 10 lbs this spring. Hopefully it will come back off.

[coffeetime]

You're on thyroid pills with TSH 3.6? I thought the latest thinking for us folks on thyroid pills was that TSH should be pushed down to 1-2. Maybe you need to get referred to an endocrinologist to get the right dose if you're feeling sluggish, non-motivated, and gaining weight. My TSH had crept all the way up to 5.0 and I was depressed and gained 10 lbs this spring. Hopefully it will come back off.

I'm currently not on any thyroid medication, however when I lived abroad I was taking Eltroxin daily. I haven't kept up with current research on thyroid conditions, though I know I felt a lot better when I was actually taking it than I do now.

[Skylark]

I'm currently not on any thyroid medication, however when I lived abroad I was taking Eltroxin daily. I haven't kept up with current research on thyroid conditions, though I know I felt a lot better when I was actually taking it than I do now.

I'm really confused. 125 mcg is enough in some people to completely replace the thyroid your body makes. How did you get on a dose that high in one country and are totally not treated in another?

You definitely need to get a referral to an endocrinologist.

[coffeetime]

I'm really confused. 125 mcg is enough in some people to completely replace the thyroid your body makes. How did you get on a dose that high in one country and are totally not treated in another?

You definitely need to get a referral to an endocrinologist.

Thanks, I will call my GP today, she is new for me, I've been with her since Feb. (my old dr who I had known since I was a child was replaced after the celiac issue began--for not listening)I haven't really discussed thyroid with my new dr. as we've worked more on the anemia and other assorted gluten related issues. Thank you for taking the time to reply, I'm always surprised by the knowledge I gain on the boards.

[Roda]

I currently take a combo of levothyroxine(T4 med) and liothyronine(T3 med) and this combination works for me. However not everyone needs T3. You do need a knowledgable endocrinologist who is familure with it though in the event supplementation with it would benifit. My current dosage is 112 mcg of the levothyroxine once a day and 5 mcg of the liothyronine twice a day. You need your doctor to check your TSH, Free T3, Free T4, and tests for the thyroid antibodies.