I'd like to chime in.
I'm not participating in the "weighin", since the community affair is not exactly my thing, but recently I discovered something that is worth repeating. In particular to people that is trying hard to keep or get back in shape.
Going back to school at the same time I quit smoking was a disaster for my weight. I decided to take care of the situation once I graduated. I graduated and started working for the Navy. Have a great gym at work and even paid-time for using it.
Facing a completed lifestyle change, I went to the doctor to get things going the right way. My only complaint to the doctor was "I'm too fat and I feel old". I was fortunate to find a doctor that actually cared, the first visit was close to 45minutes of observing, talking and checking things out. I was then directed to get a complete blood test and some X-rays.
Looking back I only went to the doctor because I figured everything was going to be fine, before going to school I was very fit even with a cigarrete in my mouth every moment I was topside. Worked underwater for many years pulling long hard days without a problem. I decided to quit smoking and get what my mother refered to as a "real job" because I didn't think I would be able to keep up with the underwater work in my late 40's or 50's.
Anyway, it was a month between the first and second visit to the doctor. A month of going to the gym strong and carefully watching what I eat. I wasn't expecting miracles but for sure a couple of pounds, if nothing else, at least some looser clothes.
Oh well, I figured I'm older and have been sitting on my butt too long, I'll just have to work harder and eat even less.
I was wrong, not about getting older but about being healthy. Out of no where I turned out to have a thyroid issues. I thought only huge people that have to purchase 2 tickets on a plane deal with thyroid problems.
That's not all, once I got over the shock and started reading about it. It turns out there is a lot of controversy about the condition. A lot of people out there, mostly women, have under or over active thyroid but are not being treated. Doctors used to diagnose this by signs and symptoms but a few years ago they figure a way to detect some levels of hormone in the blood making now the diagnosis of the condition a blood test thing. But what they used to consider normal, is not quite normal. Newer studies made the normal range a lot narrower than what it used to be, and some doctors are not up to date. To make matters worse, the way the figure the proper amount of medication can also be extremelly funny (and I don't mean funny ha ha). Of course the good drug manufacturers are all over it mudding the waters.
All this rant to let you know that if your are working out and watching what you're eating without results, maybe there is something else. In my case, I had many symptoms that screamed underactive thyroid, but individually they could've been atributed to temporary trivial stuff, or just gettin up in age.
Take a moment to read about it and see if it can apply to you. Google "thyroid" and check out the typical signs and symptoms, if more than a couple apply, you may want to look farther.
for riding!! dont want to do that in Sydney - hitting bike riders is a national sport for us!
