The Biggest New Year's Resolution for Me Ever and How I Will Keep It

Andrea Rowe
Andrea Rowe, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Nov 30, 2009 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."
2009 has not been a good year for my bodily figure. The year began with my thyroid hormone levels off. I lost my thyroid gland in 2002 and from the time of my daughter's birth (2005) until the present it has been off in some way. When a person has his or her thyroid gland removed, they have to be placed on a medication that replaces the natural thyroid hormone. I have met several people who have had this done and every single one of them gained weight. The thyroid gland is critcal to body metabolism and if it is not functioning enough the body slows down. Weight gain, sleepiness, depression, and other symptoms are common side effects of too much TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone). Yes, I know it sounds backward but if you need more stimulating hormone then it means you are hypothyroid and your thyroid is not functioning enough. If your body consistently stays operating without enough thyroid stimulating hormone, your weight will continue to build. I began 2009 weighing 139 pounds and am ending it 20 pounds heavier. I had my levels checked twice during the entire year. In 2010, I will have my levels checked until they are in line with where they should be and will continue each three months from that point on.

Another way I plan to lose weight is to keep a better count of my calories. Moms know it is too tempting to finish that ice cream or cake their kids no longer want. It all adds up to the calorie count. One other way I will decrease my calories is to stop drinking so much Coke. Coke was never an issue for me until this year but the caffeine usually alleviates my headaches and is better than taking pills except for the whole sugar and calorie part.

One way I have failed at losing weight in the past is by weighing myself too much and getting depressed. This year I will weigh myself one time a month. I will not buy a scale to step on twice a day and obsess over why my weight is two pounds more at night than it is in the morning.

The biggest way I will keep my resolution is by increasing my physical activity. I am a sedate lump. Lately I have been having heart arrythmias (actually wearing a Houlter monitor as I write this) so I have some excuse for not walking right now but once this is under control, I'm going to be taking walks with my family.

When trying to lose weight in the past, I have set unrealistic goals. The best success I had was in 2004 after the birth of my son. I lost down to 125 pounds and stuck. I could not drop an ounce under that weight. The body seems to have a certain set point, at least mine does and after having a child I could not return to the 110 pound, post high school graduation days. A realistic weight will be for me to return to the 139 pounds I weighed at the beginning of 2009 and then try to lose more in 2011. To do this, I plan to reward myself for every five pound loss by buying myself something small. If I am able to reach 125 pounds again then I will celebrate and buy myself some new clothing from money I earn on AC (so keep clicking to help and encourage me;)).

On thyroid testing and how it affects weight:

http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/tsh/test.html

On the weight-set point theory

http://www.thedietchannel.com/Change-Your-Weight-Set-Point.htm

Published by Andrea Rowe

Born in NE Arkansas six miles from where my dad s family lived as long ago as 1820. College grad in psychology field. My children and I have a very rare genetic disease that seriously impacts our lives. I...  View profile

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