Thanx John.. appreciate it.
I was doing that a lot too, but there is a risk of creating high reverse T3. So I suggest you check it out because I learned of Reverse T3 from Gerri in 2011 and did not get around to having it measured until this past June 16th and low and behold, I have below range T3 and above mid range reverse T3, but no antibodies and also other tests like T4 and TSH look just fine. But the reverse T3 is a huge issue as it is done by the body in face of starvation to slow down the metabolism.
One way to check is use a digital thermometer and test before even getting up and moving to the toilet in the morning as that would raise temp a bit. Get the morning temp and see how low you are. The body building sites say 1 degree lower than normal means a 13% lower metabolism. It turns out I am 2-3 degrees below what it should be, so that means I am now reading books on the manner of just getting rid of reverse T3 in cycles of 1 month using T3 only approach. That is so that I do not become dependent on taking the thyroid hormone long term which is what would happen if one went on a hormone constantly. It is called down-regulation.
There have been various claims that low carb diets cause changes in metabolism through up regulation of T3. Before jumping to exotic health issues I think it really makes sense for Steve to explore the simple avenues. Steve Mann, like me, is likely just getting older and as we get older our bodies slow down and we tend to gain weight. Some basic changes to diet and exercise and even insulin regimes may allow him to achieve his desired goals.
That being said, it does seem reasonable for Steve to ask his endo to check his thyroid function to see if his weight gain might be a result of hypothyroidism.
For me, I started going to the gym regularly and found a group class called Body Pump. The class has lots of activity and lots of repetitions with light weight.
You can also do things around the house like squats or lunges while holding a gallon jug of water (8 pounds) or a couple of one pound jars of peanut butter. Use your body weight and stairs to work on your triceps, etc.
By using the term up regulation of T3 you show you really do not understand. That would be the solution. It is not what actually happens and I am not even talking about a low carb diet. I am talking about fasting which actually down-regulates T3 and that is the problem.
Unfortunately, my having put a short explanation didn't work. I was making my comment directly to you and not to him and I was specifically talking about how fasting can have an effect on the body that can actually be seen with a simple blood test that they even rarely do, and in Canada, in Ontario, for example I had to insist on it and have it sent to the USA, but I sure am glad I did and I am so sorry I did not do it in 2011 when Gerri first told me about it. In other words, the tip could have led me to the solution far sooner. Well, I have written out lots more to explain it, but I wonât put it up because as usual you are not interested.
You would rather ignore the fact that you could be creating more reverse T3 in your system while not being aware. I suggest you at least take a morning temperature and find out where you are as that is a good clue. If you are 98.2 in the morning then you are fine. If you are 95.2 you are definitely not fine and if 96.3 as I was this morning also not good. I have had all the tests done June 16th and I am not a hypothyroid person, but I do have high reverse T3 and that is the problem. So you are totally missing the point. This is about what the body does in face of fasting and even other conditions, but I wonât go into those, as the topic is about fasting and it is just warning you of what can happenâŚ.so donât put your head in the sand.
Hi Steve,
I've been T1D for 53 years and I'm female so I too have noticed the lbs creeping up over the years. What DID work for me was the acquisition of a puppy. I've lost 10 lbs just taking care of her, walking her, and taking the focus off of myself and doing something healthy for myself without even realizing it. (we spend gobs of time attending to this condition). Of course this will only work if you are an animal lover, which I am. Best of luck to you.
Linda
This is why I find the concept of fasting somewhat misleading. I know we are said to be fasting as we sleep and often I won't eat actual food for even longer, and I was having about 2 meals a day too, but I didn't consider it fasting unless I went for a full day of no eating. I knew those doing Ramadan were not eating during the day but they were at sunset and some people had said that just moving one's hours in the day could make that easily done. I think the body is designed for that, so that is why I was surprised to find out about reverse T3. So, JustLookin, have you tested your temperature? I ask because I have been doing the 2 meals a day for years, and it seems to have done me in or that may have been just the 1 month of added in total fasting for only about 6 days, one here and there. I am reading the Paul Robinson two books and then will get some T3 and try his approach. But will also get the Yahoo groups set of ideas first as I haven't yet read those. The hardest part for me know is being active when all I want to do is sleep.
My thyroid is fine.. 1st thing we checked... this is a... gee entering the 50s and eating like i did in my 40s weight gain... but never have carried extra weignt in my life came looking for some guidance... thanx thos.
Janina... have you read "the 4 hour body" by Tim Ferriss... he talks a lot about metabolic regulation with a PAGG stack and with ice believe it or not.
I did get his book "the 4 hour chef" but have not seen the other one.
Here is a doctor who mentions reverse T3. By the way, if you do not even get the reverse T3 blood test done, then all the other tests may appear OK and in range, as mine are fine in that regard...so that is why my endo has told me I am fine...but now I realize why I am not, it is due to the high reverse T3, which a person only can see if they get that specific blood test, and I have been saying that in Ontario it is not even possible to get it unless one specifically asks and pays to have it sent and analyzed in the USA.
I thought I was aiming to be helpful here by pointing it out as Gerri did for me in 2011 and I wish I had looked into it more way back then.....
I have over the past few months done extremely little contributing to this site, for a number of reasons, but at this point I was just trying to point out an issue that most people truly are not aware of.... where a normal person can be thrown into hypothyroid type symptoms even with a normal thyroid just from too much fasting and there are ways to reverse it which I am currently reading up on because I haven't started yet. That is why my temperature is about 2-3 degrees below where it should be and ironically I was at my lowest after having had peanuts in the shell a little bit every day for about 2 weeks....that was a really bad move as it is a goitrogenic food that interferes with the translation of T4 to T3.....So the next morning I was 95.2 and that was soon after buying the digital thermometer. So, all I am saying is each person should test their temperature and see where they are first. That's relatively easy to do....so here is the doctor...rT3
Let me add that the body builder sites have an awareness of the advantage of T3 only approach to revving up the body and they wisely say it should only be done briefly because there is always a problem of a body down-regulating if you give it an externally applied hormone. So they are doing it aid in weight loss while they are simultaneously trying to build muscle. So the reason I am reading the two books by Paul Robinson who has figured out how best to do it, is so I do it the right way. There are a few people's written work that I am reading first.
Dancing.
Invokana is worth taking a look at. I have had the best control of my life on it. As an added benefit it has also reduced my TDD of insulin by lowering the needed insulin for both basal and bolus rates. The last 7 days my avg BG has been 118 with a SD of 32. I also took off about 10lbs being on it. I've been a T1 for 41 years, and I am 44.
yes, I've heard good things about it as well. I am going to be participating in an artificial pancreas study but after that I am going to give it a shot. How long have you been on it?
Have you ever tested your level of DHEA-S in your blood? I am not using it now and feel worse, but have used it on and off since I was 43 and it really will make you feel younger as it increases a number of hormones. I had 4x the level of testosterone when taking it a few years back and I am a female, so the comparison was to women my age at the time. I had no noticeable side effects. But I decided I was taking too much. The idea is just enough to rev oneself up a bit.
I found I needed less insulin marginally.
A typical dose for a man is 50mg in the morning and for a woman 25mg, but there is one downside....you have to take extra vitamin E to protect against cataracts. That does work. Only use the natural versions of Vitamin E of a mixed type, not the synthetic.
If you go to a health store and look for the pharmaceutical grade of DHEA you can get it in the USA. Here in Canada the drug companies lobbied to make it a prescription drug so they would have less competition as they want to sell more antidepressants.
When you test the DHEA-S it is compared to decades of age and the levels usually reported for those patients. If you are in the 20's age range in terms of DHEA, that will make you feel good. Even being in the 30s range is not bad, but being at a level associated with someone in their 70s is what causes problems. So I say it is a very revealing test to take on oneself. Have you already been using it?
Iâve tried it. Had serious side effects. I wouldnât recommend it for anyone.
Iâm sorry you had a bad experience with DHEA. I did take too much at one point so know that it can cause certain issues. Luckily I was using 25 mg capsules so when I occasionally took two in a day it was definitely too much. Often for men the 50 mg capsules are offered and that could be too much for some people especially if they still are making more of their own hormones.
One side effect is acne and another just the irritability that comes with too much of the testosterone effect. I could feel that, as my level was higher than that of a 20 year old. Also my ophthalmologist said a few years ago, when I was taking more of it, that he could see the beginnings of cataracts so I did research on that and found DHEA could be a cause and also found out natural Vitamin E has a protective effect. So when I go back on it I will know not to take too much.
My general approach is to try to eat good healthy food (I use eat a whole food sort of paleo low carb diet) and use an active lifestyle to attain fitness goals. I think one should only use drugs and supplements when there is some real evidence that we suffer from a deficiency and that the supplement is safe and effective. I really worry that supplements and herbs are not controlled well by the FDA and may present clear and present danger to the general population if overused.
Totally agree!
I have also gone the good, healthy food route and have gone away from any "Light" product (mayo, prepared salad dressings, etc). Artificial sweeteners are mostly banned, although I do have a Stevia packet with my tea in the morning. Most people eating a balanced diet and getting outdoors should not require supplements. I also think there's a big issue with effectiveness when the mineral, herb or vitamin is uncoupled from the food that delivers it.