Hope is in sight

After several months of feeling terrible it seems as though the hope has returned. I though my thyroid was messed up and I  was right but the cause nobody could figure out.  My endocrinologist said my tsh level was fine and wouldn't do anything so I went to a new one the other day for a second opinion and he basically  brushed me off and wouldn't do anything either once he found out I was on cymbalta and blamed it the fibromyalgia.  After leaving that appointment I was at rock bottom.  I knew something was wrong and all the signs pointed at my thyroid including t3 and t4 levels which were low.  In tears on the drive home I said a prayer asking for answers because I didn't know what else to do.  I felt like there was no quality to my life and apparently a few months of feeling great was apparently all I was ever going to get.  I felt like this weight loss journey was for nothing if I felt just as bad as when I was at my highest weight.  When I got home I was replaying the appointment in my head and the dr had asked me how long I had been on the cymbalta and what I was on it for.  I was put on it around 6-7 months ago for pain from a wreck that wouldn't go away because the fibromyalgia.  Then I realized  that about that time the weight loss stopped and all the symptoms started.  I googled the side effects and compared them to the list I showed the dr and they matched up.  Also a side effect of cymbalta is under active thyroid which is what I thought was going on to begin with.  I immediately got an appointment with my regular dr and told her about this and she told me that she didn't make the timing connection before but that more than likely could be it.  She gave me samples of a lower dose to wean off of after few days.  I guess we will see soon if it has been the medicine all this time or not.  The drs fear and mine is that the pain will return which it already had in the past few weeks to an extent but I think the crazy ky weather has caused a fibro flare.  There are other ways to manage the pain but there is not other option for this thyroid issue because the drs won't touch it.  I can't wait to feel better and start losing weight again.  This last 26lbs has got to go.  I think if for no other reason my struggles during this weight loss journey or really my struggles through life have been to prove to others that you can overcome them.  Just through this weight loss journey alone there has been fibromyalgia, car wreck and thyroid issues and i have continued to lose weight, eat healthy and workout as much as possible.  You have to want it  more than you want anything and I have wanted this more than anything ever in my life and nothing will stop me.  I promise despite any obstacle you come to that you can beat it and your weight loss dream or any dream is possible.  My story should show you the power of prayer, determination and faith.  None is possible without GOD.  No doubt that I wouldn't be here and where I am today without him.  He will get you through those obstacles.

Holidays are here

The holidays are here. Don't use that as an excuse to eat everything in sight. I just keep eating the same that I always eat. For thanksgiving we had a very untraditional meal because we had it the weekend after and figured my brothers and their families wouldn't want turkey and stuffing again. They ended up making chili and fast food..lol. I knew all along I would be cooking my own food. I decided to make the kids a healthier mac n cheese with light laughing cow cheese, broccoli and kale. they had no idea that was kale and they all liked it. I also made a spaghetti squash casserole and baked some sliced zucchini and squash with low fat parmesan cheese on top. Those that were brave enough to try the casserole loved it. I finished every bite of the leftovers! It was so good. I have been instructed to make this for every event we have this month! I got the recipe off pinterest. Its basically just spaghetti squash, cottage cheese, fat free mozzarella cheese, rotel, onions and topped with low fat parmesan cheese. The recipe in this link has a lot more ingredients and I have seen different variations of the recipe. I am quite fond of my own! http://recipes.prevention.com/Recipe/spaghetti-squash-casserole.aspx


There are plenty of ways to still eat healthy through the holidays. There is no reason it has to be any different than any other time of the year. Its just your choice. Nobody can make you eat those desserts. My favorite dessert that I eat often is quite a surprising one. It is peanut butter cookie dough. What!? Yes but its not made of what you think. Its made of chickpeas, honey and peanut butter. I made them into cookies once and they were good but I prefer just to eat it as dough. You would never know it was chickpeas. I even tested them on my peanut butter loving niece and she loved them and she was shocked when I told her what was in them. Here is a link to the original recipe. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/749893-chick-pea-peanut-butter-chocolate-chip-cookies


There are way too many healthy options out there that are so good and good for you. The choice is yours.

As far as an update on me I did get the ultrasound results today and my thyroid looked fine. I see the new endocrinologist this month and we will go from there. I am beyond ready to feel better. Tired of being tired! Gotta keep going though!