Hey! I joined a gym recently to learn boxing and mma. It's an excellent place and the classes are intense, which is what I need. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism (underactive) three months ago and have been on prescription hormone replacement. I expect to lose weight faster than I did before the diagnosis, but I would also like to help with a controlled diet. I tend to eat a lot of grains, oats, vegetables and fruit with meat in the evening. I feel I should increase the protein though because I only eat meat at night typically. I'm also trying to cut back on fatty foods like fast food and sweets, although I love cookies. =P I also mention I drink a lot of water, no more than two cups of coffee a day and love green tea. Any other suggestions?

Your post is slightly puzzling in that if you have an underactive Thryoid, I would have thought that you would be putting on weight.

Personally, I suffered from an overactive Thyroid and was so ill it wasn't funny. One of the side effects (there were many) was losing 3 stone (42lbs) unbelievably quickly. A Chinese TCM doctor halted it - to the surprise of my own family doctor.

Get your doctors' advice. After all, they must have been the person who diagnosed you so should be able to offer suitable advice.

Your post is slightly puzzling in that if you have an underactive Thryoid, I would have thought that you would be putting on weight.

Personally, I suffered from an overactive Thyroid and was so ill it wasn't funny. One of the side effects (there were many) was losing 3 stone (42lbs) unbelievably quickly. A Chinese TCM doctor halted it - to the surprise of my own family doctor.

Get your doctors' advice. After all, they must have been the person who diagnosed you so should be able to offer suitable advice.

I have, but I also lost a lot because I worked hard. I take medication for the thyroid, which stabilizes the metabolism. I'm trying to get down to my ideal bodyweight.

Now you're on Thyroxine (that's what they gave you right?) it should be easier to lose weight. Before Macho appears and tells you to read the stickies; READ THE STICKIES!

There's some real good info in there.

Well I do have good news. I heard somewhere that your taste buds die off as you get older. Which is why you hate broccoli so much as a kid. Like now, I love steamed vegetables I could eat a full plate like candy. I have a minor thyroid problem and I get off weight pretty easily.(Keeping it off is hard though) I posted my diet on here somewhere but its nothing new. The majority of it is common sense. High protein low carb. Take your vitamins, say your prayers and be a good little Hulkamaniac lol. This also wont slow your social life, like when I go out with friends I know what to order. Chilis has a great diet menu. Lean chicken and steamed vegetables. Granted if your friends are like mine you will get a great deal of fag comments. Oh and no eating after dinner. Stay hydrated, I drink a gallon of water a day. Dont half ass it, once you get going it should be easy. FYI , I dont know how much of a sugar fiend you are, but you can have sugar withdrawals.

Any other suggestions?

Yes, read the stickies like was suggested.

Also make sure you read about healthy fats. Most people neglect that macronutrient.

Well I do have good news. I heard somewhere that your taste buds die off as you get older. Which is why you hate broccoli so much as a kid. Like now, I love steamed vegetables I could eat a full plate like candy. I have a minor thyroid problem and I get off weight pretty easily.(Keeping it off is hard though) I posted my diet on here somewhere but its nothing new. The majority of it is common sense. High protein low carb. Take your vitamins, say your prayers and be a good little Hulkamaniac lol. This also wont slow your social life, like when I go out with friends I know what to order. Chilis has a great diet menu. Lean chicken and steamed vegetables. Granted if your friends are like mine you will get a great deal of fag comments. Oh and no eating after dinner. Stay hydrated, I drink a gallon of water a day. Dont half ass it, once you get going it should be easy. FYI , I dont know how much of a sugar fiend you are, but you can have sugar withdrawals.

I work at the Olive Garden and always order off out diet menu when I get there. Fortunately, I hate alfredo sauce and love marinara. A lot of people think it's very weird, but hey I prefer the healthier stuff.

Check out the ingredients on that if you haven't already. A lot of sauces have HFCS in them to make them more delicious.

Check out the ingredients on that if you haven't already. A lot of sauces have HFCS in them to make them more delicious.

Oh I know. One thing I do to compensate is always order lunch portions and get water or hot tea. Never soda.

My best advise (other than sticky reading) is to have some protein at breakfast. A few eggs or a protein bar will go a long way to making you feel full and satisfied throughout the day, which means eating less, which means losing more. Good luck!

Yeah a lot of restaurants have great diet menus. I just used Chilis cause thats where my friends and I eat a lot. I used to eat at Famous Dave's a lot but, well if you have ever been to Famous Dave's you gotta pig out. Protein is great, I eat these beans. I think they're soybeans(Edinami I believe is what they're called) They are supposed to be rich in protein and they are cheap. Thats prolly the toughest part of eating right is its expensive.

Yeah a lot of restaurants have great diet menus.

Are they giving you a reasonably accurate macronutrient tally for the portions you're getting?

Are they giving you a reasonably accurate macronutrient tally for the portions you're getting?

I just try to eat the smallest portion possible.

I just try to eat the smallest portion possible.

The question remains, though... what's in that portion? How many grams of fat, carbohydrate, and protein? The food industry as a whole tends to be very creative in terms of how they market foods as "healthy", so don't accept their claims unless you've got the full picture of nutritional information.

Also, in terms of trying to lose weight, it's often preferable to eat a larger portion of a less calorie-dense food than a smaller portion of a more calorie-dense food, all else being equal. The less calorie-dense food should make you feel fuller for the same number of calories, thereby warding off hunger.

I guess my new strategy of only ordering mozzarella sticks instead of meals isn't going to work out as well as I thought it would.

They only give you like six of those.

I have lost 15 pounds since I started this thread. I've been following the food pyramid. My breakfast is whole grain cereals and fruit, lunch is mostly wheat breads, nuts, vegetables and fruits. Sometimes small meat portions. Dinner is meat portions (mostly chicken or lean meats), vegetables and whole wheat pasta or soup. I drink water, green tea and 2% milk (post workout). I will allow myself some snacks, but controlled amounts and to keep from binging.

It also helps my boxing coach makes me weigh myself almost every day.