Jennifer: Great advice here on a thyroid check, but you say that you have cut back on carbs and are eating healthy. Do you know how many calories you are taking in each day? I lost about 60 pounds in 8 months with extreme calorie counting and limits and daily exercise. While I paid a lot of attention to carbs for bolus purposes, I focused on calories for weight loss – my goal was to limit myself to 1,800 calories per day and do exercise that would burn about 500 calories per day, and I tracked it on a weekly basis (to allow for a day of relaxation). I think the key for weight loss is calories in and calories burned.
I counted all the calories I ate for a few days and found on average it was about 1,200-1,400. More on days I eat out (though I don’t eat out much anymore). I probably burn about 200-300 calories per day in exercise. This is partly why I’m so frustrated, I would think I should be losing weight eating this level of calories, but I’m not.
I definitley understand your frustrations…especially when I see other people seem to make 1/2 the effort and get results. I initially had lost weight when I moved out on my own and ate healthy and exercised fairly regularly…but then have plateaued for some years now…and my tsh have been in normal range not sure about the vitamin D… (though I’ve never heard of this effect either)…
I don’t have any tips…other than to try focusing on non-weight goals (for me it’s wanting to do a marathon in the next year or so) which motivates me to keep working hard and hoping that eventually the weight will match up. I have noticed that certain parts of the body are becoming more toned even if the weight hasn’t changed…which is also motivating… If I’m going to be bulkier I’d rather have it be muscle than fat…Even if my legs look more like a guy’s 
Switching up exercises is supposed to help…when you do the same exercise you’re body becomes used to and becomes more efficient (using less energy to do the same task)…which should also reflect in insulin needs.
Symlin and weight loss has been a mixed bag (reading through the group’s threads some people lost dramatically while others only experienced an initial 5-10 pounds and then nothing). Personally I haven’t really seen a weight change…but then I have yet to work up to full titration. It does get rid of the “empty/hungry” sensation though…
Maybe the calorie count on your food is WRONG! Have you read the latest reports about frozen diet meals being an average of 8% wrong and restaurant meals being an average of 18% off? Taking in less calories than you use does work - I dropped about 10 pounds the last few months by scaling waaaay back on what I was eating (probably went from about 2000 cal/day to 1000-1200 cal/day - and this was kind of accidentally). Maybe you are taking in a lot more than 1200-1400 calories per day without knowing it b/c the FDA is OK w/ incorrect calorie counts on the food we eat.
I have to say that I actually don’t believe the calories in/calories out model. If you read Gary Taubes, he argues that there is ample evidence that calorie restriction alone just does not work. I am more sold on the idea that we pack on weight and reduce weight based more on hormones. I actually think one key to losing weight as a diabetic can be to maintain significant parts of the day where you can have a “normal” fasting blood sugar and at the same time have a “low/modest” insulin level. The idea is that you will mobilize fat (lipolysis) in your body to meet energy demands only when your blood sugar is “normal” and your insulin is low. Lipolysis is started when insulin drops and glucagon rises. If you walk around all day with elevated insulin, you will never burn fat. What I might suggest you try is to make sure your basal is perfectly matched and every other day “skip a meal.” If you have properly matched your basal you should not go low or high and instead you will spend a couple extra hours that day walking around hopefully burning fat.
This sounds like a good basal testing program as well!
I went low carb and added protein to each meal so that I wouldn’t get hungry in between: 2 Morningstar links, 1/3 c oatmel with diabetic friendly yogurt; lunch=2 bread slices (6gm each) + thin sliced ham & mayo or a tin of tuna fish with mayo. Supper=veg, fish/chicken.
I lost to the point I wanted to, then increased my carb to maintain my weight. It took six months.
Depending on your weight and what else you’re eating, 150 gm carb a day may not let you lose weight at all, but lowering carb means you must increase protein.
Interesting.
Low carb diets work for weight loss because in the absence of carbs, the body burns fat stores for energy. I eat a lot of calories, but they’re mostly in the form of protein & fat. I don’t overdo the protein & that can lead to weight gain. I eat pretty much the same amount of protein from day to day.
Difficult to lose weight with insulin unless you keep insulin moderate by eating less carbs & exercising.
I know how frustrating it is to want to lose weight and still control diabetes! Who wants to have pop 40 calories of glucose tabs just to get high enough to successfully exercise, right?!
Losing weight is about total calories, not where those calories come from in the form of carb, fat, or protein. So you must be eating too many/not burning enough calories.
One danger in going low carb is that it is easy too make up the missing calories in fat (trans and sat fat, especially not good for us; other types are needed).
I lost–and have kept off for 3 years–25 pounds. I started on Weight Watchers. Why it worked for me: When it comes to weight loss programs, Weight Watchers uses some techniques that have been clinically proven through the Weight Control Registry and other research to work for slow but effective loss: use a food journal, have regular counseling and support, eat healthy normal foods that you like instead of fad dieting, make sure exercise is a daily activity, set achievable goals (5 pounds at a time). If I remember right, my Weight Watchers eating plan was somewhat based on the ADA plan–about 50% of calories from carbs, but the carb sources were veggies, a little fruit, low-fat dairy, legumes and not refined, processed carbs.
Research about weight loss tends to tell us that 30 minutes a day works for maintenance, but more like 60 a day is needed for loss–and that must be in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet.
Earlier in life, I successfully lost about the same amount of weight (before attempting to get pregnant) using similar techniques and a calorie and meal plan designed for me by a dietitian. I have to admit, I didn’t keep off that weight through the years because I got away from journaling, daily exercise, etc.
Very best wishes to you as you figure out how to lose–and keep off–those unwanted pounds!
Sorry, I missed a page of the thread. I said about “you must be eating too many/not burning enough calories.” Actually, depending on your current BMI, 1,200-1,400 calories a day may actually be a bit too low. Sometimes weight loss plateaus and actually eating a little bit more (still within a reduced calorie plan) helps rev up the metabolism so fat-burning resumes!
I don’t exactly know the connection between Type 1 and low Vitamin D, although my endo’s office recently started checking all Type 1’s for low vit D. I believe that low Vitamin D is associated with higher levels of a variety of autoimmune diseases.
As for the weight loss, I had trouble losing after both pregnancies (I have Type 1 and hypothyroidism). I did weight wacthers online for months, with no results, and then all of a sudden it just started coming off. No idea why, thought maybe it had to do with my thyroid level or post-pregnancty hormonal issues. I agree that eating lots of protein and fewer cards seemed to help, I still ate fruit and whole grains, but cut out stuff that made me feel hungry soon afterward, like popcorn and white bread.
Vitamin has been shown to impair insulin synthesis and secretion in both human and animal models. After repeatedly requesting a vit D test from my GP for a year, my new endo agreed to one. Although I had been taking 4000 IUs/day (10 times the recommended amount), I was found to be barely into the reference range. I’ve since doubled my vit D supplementation to 8000 IUs/day, but have not noticed any real change in how I feel. The vitamin D test itself costs $25. It seems crazy that doctors don’t order it given what I have been reading about it. You could just play it safe and buy a jug of 2000IU vit D gelcaps at costco and just take a couple a day like I do.
I lost about a stone. My diabetes nurse told me cutting back my insulin would help, I did that, relatively slowly, I have always had too much insulin, but I would rather be lower and in control. I walk to college most days, and home, which is about 45 minutes either way, I didn’t particularly aim to lose weight or cut out much eating, just cut back chocolate and things and eventually I lost about a stone in the space of a couple of months.
Hi Jennifer! I struggled to lose weight and I stayed around the same weight for about 2 years, fluctuating 5 lbs or so consistantly. Then I went on the pump and had no Idea how many carbs I was actually eating before! So for me the pump helped me lose 20 lbs and helped me control my BS better.
Now, not everyone has these same results, my best friend went on the pump and discovered she could eat whatever she wanted whenever she wanted and see her numbers stay within her target range.
I guess it’s a different kind of freedom to different people.
Good luck, and I agree with everyone else, have your thyroid checked out, it won’t hurt!
I gained 3 lbs over the last month so I can sympathize with you. For me little forbidden treats keep sneaking their way into my mouth. I was in denial til I went to the doctor’s today and got weighed. I eat about 45 gm of carb per meal and 15 for snacks. But I do think it’s the little extras that are getting to me.
Hi Jennifer: I have never needed to lose a large amount of weight, but smaller amounts, yes. It is not easy! Kelly mentions using Weight Watchers, which really is a good program. Personally, I think going to weekly WW meetings is better than WW online, although the online tracking is really excellent. To take off my holiday-added pounds (I confess! I indulged!) I have been using the South Beach Diet, which is really a smart program (lean protein, lots of veggies, whole grain carbs). The endo of a Type 2 friend of mine recommends South Beach for her patients. Finally, regarding exercise, I would suggest that interval training may be a much better approach. South Beach Diet Supercharged advocates interval training (alternating fast and slower intervals of whatever you are doing). Best of luck to you, I know it is not easy.
For me, losing weight is about insulin input. If I use less insulin, I’ve eaten less food, I lose weight. I can lose 15lbs in a month if I’m fairly aggressive about this. However, over time, it tends to come back. When my BMI is on the lower side, I find diabetes MUCH easier to manage.
I lost 50 lbs over the past two years. I quit eating all grain products - wheat, rice, corn, potatoes. It’s called Primal eating and Mark Sisson has a website and book for support. The website is marksdailyapple.com, The book is available on the website. Check it out, but don’t just look at the opening page, search through the menu’s , the more you search the more you learn.
My son got me started; he was doing Paleo exercises and meal planning but found he liked Mark’s program better. I didn’t get into exercising consistently until this past fall. The meal plan of eating fruits, vegetables and proteins in appropriate amounts is what worked. My blood sugars and A1c’s have stayed 6.0-6.5 but I have cut the basal rate on my pump almost in half and now take no more than 2 units for meals, most often 1 unit with low carb vegetables. .
Penny
I put on a fair amount of weight at the beginning of last year(Thyroid was out of whack and stress from family issues/school), went from a normal 145 up to 180, and have just now gotten back to my normal weight(after about 3 months of diet/more exercise than normal).
What worked for me was basically cutting WAY back on carbs, normally I don’t eat a HUGE amount of carbs per day, probably no more than 100-120(unless I’m super active), but on my diet I was in the 30-40 range @ around 1200-1300 calories per day(the funny thing is the dietician my endo sent me to said I should shoot for around 2000 cal per day for “her” diet…yea right)
As for exercising, 30 minutes is probably a little on the low side. I ended up doing 1hr of running in the early AM, and then 30 minutes of interval sprints in the afternoon/PM 6 days a week, with one day being a semi-rest day where I just rode my bike around for about 45 minutes.
As others have said, double check your Thyroid, and IMO try and fit in 1hr a day of exercise(even if you have to break it up), because the only real “key” to losing weight is a caloric deficit.
Penny, I’ve been slowly migrating to Paleo as well. I gave up grain about 6 months ago and I’ve never felt this good. The main thing I enjoy about it is the drastically reduced insulin intake, and like you my A1c has dropped from roughly mid 6’s to an all time low of 5.8