3 posts shown.
Angela Wright said:@kbszeljko
I highly recommend this app:https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...d=com.wsl.noom
It really helped me drop 24 pounds in about a month and a half by managing my calorie intake, tracking what I eat, and using the step counter. You just plug in your weight and your goal, and the app sets up a calorie deficit for you.
I pretty much stopped eating carbs, except for fruit and vegetables (minus legumes), and only had bran for grains.
You’ll probably realize how dependent you are on carbs, and I guess those first 10 days can be rough with cravings, but it’s incredible how much better, more energetic, and mentally clear you feel once you cut out refined sugars.
A Slim Jim helped me get through the cravings; it was actually quite helpful in that sense.
Good luck to your wife. 🙂
Hey there, I just skimmed the post—did you say 24 pounds in a month and a half????
First off, losing weight that rapidly isn't medically considered normal or healthy. If you haven't fundamentally changed your diet and started exercising or being physically active, I guess it's just a matter of time before the yo-yo effect kicks in and the weight comes right back.
Speaking from experience, I gained 30 pounds due to some hormonal issues that I had to lose urgently. Once my thyroid medication finally kicked in and my hormones stabilized, I went through three different nutritionists until I found one who designed a meal plan tailored to my specific lifestyle—mainly because I'm not exactly a gourmet chef. We had to adjust everything to ensure I got enough protein, carbs, and healthy fats distributed correctly.
Products like Amway, Slim Jim, and things like that are honestly just a waste of money. You really need to split your meals into smaller portions, stay within your caloric needs, and most importantly, stay active.
In my opinion, healthy, medical-grade weight loss should be between 4 and 9 pounds per month at most.
For context, from January to September last year, I worked out four times a week at the gym following a program focused on cardio and HIIT training. Without any dieting—just eating right—I lost those 30 pounds over 8 months, which is roughly 4 pounds a month on average.
Right now, my body fat is a bit over 25%, whereas if you wanted visible abs, you'd likely need to be under 10%.
To be fair, I did cut out soda, sweets, deli meats, processed snacks, and things like that. I stuck to whole grain bread, maybe 100-150 grams a day. I also used low-fat milk.
My diet mostly consisted of proteins like tuna, fish, and chicken, along with brown rice and pasta, but all in very specific portions. I had a few snacks of fruit, keeping in mind that an apple is roughly 40-60 calories.
You can find plenty of nutritional charts online that list calories for almost any food or ingredient.
Regardless, losing 24 pounds is great for now, but I wonder how long it will last unless you change your actual lifestyle. It shouldn't be about going on a "diet," but rather learning how to eat healthily—which, by the way, is usually much more expensive than just eating normally.
Best,
About a year ago, after a long series of tests with an endocrinologist—whom I consulted due to sudden weight gain of about 65 pounds and the development of gynecomastia—I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and hypogonadism (low Testosterone).
Since my only prior knowledge regarding Testosterone was that it is simply a male sex hormone, I started doing some research and reading various posts here. Because I noticed quite a few pieces of incorrect or misleading information floating around, I decided to write a specific post regarding AndroGel as a treatment, how it works, and its overall mechanism.
Generally speaking, a man's Testosterone levels should fall within the 10-30 unit range. It is my understanding that after age 40, these levels tend to decrease by about 1% annually, continuing until old age, which eventually impacts muscle mass and libido.
I learned that total Testosterone is vital for building muscle, and that there are numerous side effects associated with a deficiency. This was a major issue for me because many symptoms of low Testosterone overlap with thyroid issues; in my case, they included:
depression, sudden mood swings, poor concentration, irritability, frequent headaches, lack of energy, constant fatigue, a complete loss of libido and sexual interest, poor sleep quality, insomnia, dizziness, and slower growth of hair, body hair, and nails.
My total Testosterone was at 1.7, while my free Testosterone was 44 (with a reference range of 244-877).
To prevent further health complications—such as diabetes, osteoporosis, loss of muscle mass, or difficulty losing weight—my doctor prescribed AndroGel injections.
AndroGel can be administered at intervals of every 6 to 12 weeks.
The initial goal was to raise my levels. After my first application, I received the second dose at the 8-week mark. Before that second shot, my level was 5.6; then, after the second dose, I was scheduled for a third dose 8 weeks later.
Before the third application, my Testosterone had risen to 9.90.
After receiving that third injection, I decided to check my levels on my own about a week later, and my total Testosterone was at 27, which I could certainly feel physically.
The fourth dose was planned for the 12-week mark. Before that fourth application, I checked my levels again and they were at 12.8, which my doctor noted was expected and normal.
Since then, my ongoing therapy—which has lasted over a year now—consists of AndroGel every 12 weeks. During these periods, my levels stay maintained between 12 and 27, and since then, I have felt back to normal.
I have read that many people try AndroGel without achieving the desired results, which I suspect is due to improper administration or failing to reach an optimal level that can be consistently maintained.
Once my Testosterone levels stabilized and my thyroid specialist resolved my hormonal issues, I managed to lose those 65 pounds through exercise and dietary changes. In fact, I am heading in for gynecomastia surgery in seven days.
As for the symptoms of low Testosterone, they have all vanished. The only thing is that around the 10th week, when my levels approach 12, I notice a slight dip in energy and a weaker morning erection, but everything returns to normal about seven days after my next dose.
Unfortunately, I am 42 years old, and for reasons I don't fully understand, my body doesn't produce enough Testosterone despite my workouts, weight loss, and diet changes. I am required to take an injection four times a year, which isn't too bad, considering that before AndroGel, there used to be a version given every three weeks.
There are also natural supplements like TRIBESTANA from Octal Pharme, though I don't have any confirmation regarding their effectiveness, and a proper monthly course costs more than $333.
By the way, the AndroGel injection is covered by Medicare, and the out-of-pocket cost at the pharmacy is usually $317.
My advice would be to find a good endocrinologist. I didn't have a proper one at the start, so I wasted two years spinning my wheels, treating my thyroid while the symptoms of low Testosterone persisted.
It is important to get a correct diagnosis early on, and initially, it is crucial to achieve an optimal, normal Testosterone level through more frequent intervals, which can then be maintained every 12 weeks.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to how you apply the rules, but I can say with absolute certainty that the results have been effective for me personally.
I didn't get this advice from a friend, a neighbor, or some trainer at the local Gold's Gym, nor did anyone try to lecture me on it. Instead, I gathered everything I know from reading through the discussions on this forum.
This post might be a little long, but I wanted to offer some help to others, much like I used to seek guidance here myself—though back then, I unfortunately kept running into incorrect or misleading information regarding how things actually work.👍
Hi there.
I’m not sure what everyone else’s experience has been like, but I recently had a bit of an argument with my primary care physician. She refused to provide a prescription for a medication that should be covered by Medicare. Her reasoning was that since she’s a contracted provider, she’s supposedly required to order it herself, pay for it upfront, and then wait for Medicare to reimburse her. She was quite blunt about it, too—basically telling me that if I wasn't happy, I should just go find a new doctor.
I've recently switched to a new doctor at a different community health center, but I have to say, I’m getting the impression that I learn more about potential illnesses and symptoms through medical websites and online forums than I do from my own physician. I guess he just doesn't seem to provide much information.
Following that, they recently issued my referrals to see a specialist, just as I requested after providing my reasoning.
I have a question regarding the current direction of our healthcare system. There seems to be an increasing push to shift more responsibilities onto primary care physicians in order to alleviate the burden on major hospitals. My concern lies in how one can truly trust a general practitioner who has only just finished medical school and possesses virtually no practical experience. It feels as though I often end up discovering things about my own health through my own research rather than receiving meaningful feedback from my doctor.
To be honest, from where I'm sitting, it feels like their entire job just boils down to churning out prescriptions and orders. It seems like they lack any real, deeper engagement with the patient or a comprehensive approach to actually treating the illness itself.
This is how contract physicians operate lately. They’re telling me point-blank that they won't cover the cost of my prescribed medication, and they refuse to wait for Medicare to reimburse them.