I'm really struggling with the program. Six weeks into this and am back at my starting weight. I vary very little each week on what I eat yet some weeks I've lost as much as 3.2 and another week gained 4.0. I know there are a lot of things that factor into this like the water consumption, retaining fluid, TOM, exercise, etc., but I can't help but wonder how much of a part my low thyroid is playing in all this. I'm on med, and according to my doctor, it doesn't need to be changed or increased based on my thyroid level which was recently tested.
Just curious about others who are on the plan and are low thyroid.

I have a thyroid condition. I am on synthroid. I had to change what I ate a little I pick lower cal dairy,I can eat 3 fat free yogurts a day with fruit, I only eat one. I eat a slice of fat free cheese with one of my meals to get a little extra dairy in. I eat a cup of cereal with 1 percent milk every morning. sometimes fat free yogurt with strawberries for a mid morning snack.I eat my JC lunch(no salad) sometimes extra veggies. I will eat a sugar free jello with fat free cool whip for mid afternoon snack then a JC dinner with salad and extra veggies and my JC dessert. I have been losing weight pretty good. My doctor told me even with Medication I can't eat as much as other people. It doesn't seem fair and the first week was hard but it seems a lot easier now.

I have low thyroid and take Synthroid too. I've been tested and it's right where it's supposed to be but my metabolism is horrible. Of course, being 60 doesn't help! I'm also on Paxil which contributes too.
I'm just taking it slow and easy...and trying to be patient. Sometimes it's tough when I read here about fast big losses. I just have to remember...that's no me...I'm different.
Stick with it...it all balances out.

You both seem to be doing very well so far on the plan. I am eating all JC food, no MOMO yet. I haven't cut back on dairy, have 2 fat free milks per day. I know the key is probably to exercise, but it's a catch-22, I don't exercise because I have a low metabolism, and have a low metabolism (probably) because I don't exercise. I just don't have the energy to exercise. Do either of you exercise?

I do Jazzercise 2-4 times a week. I also have a 4 year old that I chase after. I am tired a lot. I have never lost weight on any other diet this is the only one that works for me. Good luck.

I looked at your posting last night. I am also on Synthroid. I started the JC
program around Labor Day and have lost very slowly (7 lbs to date). At times I am in tears about it.
Last week I finally lost 2.2 lbs. I was so happy. Here is what I am finding works for me.
First off, eat more frequently. Don't get me wrong. Don't eat more food, just every 2 to 2.5 hours. I like a nonfat yogurt, fruit or a salad. Eat Free foods as often as it takes to satisfy your need to munch or your hunger.
Second, I have added twice the amount of water into my day. I drink at least 2-32oz bottles a day and into the night.
Last, with a low thyroid, I have added more exercise. I have been doing spinning, cardio classes and lifting weights for 8 weeks now and my body is just starting to get feel the improvement in my metabolism.
Hope that helps. I too have been discouraged, but reaching the weight loss goal and getting more healthy is worth it.

I have hypothyroidism and am taking Synthroid. There are a couple of things I have found out while on the program ...
#1 - make sure you are taking the actual name brand Synthroid and NOT the generic version. They are different formulations and the generic I have found is not as effective. Have your doctor prescribe the name brand as medically necessary to get around the insurance company.
#2 - SOY ... the majority of Jenny foods contains Soy in one form or another. One of the foods persons taking Synthroid should avoid is Soy .. which makes the program almost impossible to follow. I've gone through the foods - weeded out things like the Potstickers and the one with actual soy beans in it. I found it helped with my energy levels a bit.
It is impossible to cut out soy products completly while on the Jenny Program. You might want to have your blood levels taken now ... see if the Soy is reducing the effectiveness .. and have your doctor adjust your dosage accordingly.
You can see my weight loss progress below .. it's been sporadic .. but my gains are mostly from an increase in Diet coke consumption or a lack of exercise.
I"m not losing BIG weight numbers like my othe contest winners ... but I've had a slow and steady downward progress averaging about 1.5 pounds a week.
Good luck!!

I'm also on Synthroid. I always felt like I had no metabolism.
Make sure you're eating the small amounts every 2.5 to 3 hrs. That raises your metabolism.
I don't *exercise* but I walk every other day; not speed walk mind you, and about 1 to 1 1/2 miles.
Combine those two and you should level out and start losing.
**Val**
Age 53
Height 5-5
GW 160
8-22-07 228.6 *Beginning weight
8-28-07 226.2 (-2.4)
9-4-07 224 (-1.8) On vacation
9-11-07 222.4 (-1.6) Total loss-5.8 lbs!
9-17-07 222.6 (+.2) But 11 inches lost!
9-26-07 220.4 (-2.2) Out of town
10-2-07 217.8 (-2.6) Yay!!!!!
10-8-07 218.2 (+.4) Darn water.
10-18-07 217.6 (-.6) Sick but Lost the gain+
10-24-07 214.4 (-3.2) Stress/fire/little exercise
10-30-07 215.4 (+1) Fire/Dad died/no exercise
11-7-07 214.2 (-1.2) Out of town/funeral
Total loss 14.4 lbs = 14 sticks of butter!
COME ON 210!!

This was really interesting to read as I too am on thyroid meds and know it contributes to my slow losing. But, then, I think, what else would I be doing?
This has been the only way to lose for me. I gained 30 lbs in 3 years without ever being able to stop myself no matter what I did. Then started on this program. I love the food and know that I must persevere. I have a good grasp at what I can and cannot eat. It is not that much...ha ha
I pretty much stick to the plan and try and eat often to keep metabolism up. I am 65 so need to boost up all the time. However, I do walk, go to the gym, jazzercise and of course, tap dance.
So, Hanleygirl, I say, can you at least get out and walk around the block? Go to the mall and walk around...do something to increase your steps? I do get discouraged but I keep reading these boards to stay motivated. Let's keep it up!!!!!

I am hypothyroid, and I take Armour (I don't do well with synthetic hormones of any kind).
When I was still having all the symptoms of hypothyroid, even though I was taking the supplemental thyroid, my doctor took the diagnosis one step further. After an intensive interview, she did further vblood tests, and found that I was also hypoadrenic.
As it turns out, if the adrenals are not functioning properly (it's also called Adrenal Fatigue), it interferes with the T factor conversion of thyroid hormone. Though my thyroid levels tested normal, the hypoadrenia was keeping my body from utilizing it. After a month of treatment, I was finally sleeping normally, and my body temperature was regulating itself better.
The symptoms that gave my doctor the clues as to what was goin on were that I had been through some highly stressful times in the past, and afterward experienced extreme sleeplessness (most of the time I slept three hours or less a night) and had extreme sensitivity to heat. At the same time, my body temperature was only 95.5, which was a pretty good indicator that I wasn't converting thyroid.
It is absolutely essential as hypos that we exercise regularly, and lift weight to build muscle, as we need all the metabolism help we can get!

Another Hypothyroid here... don't you just love it! I to am on Armour. I had radiation therapy on my thyroid 3 years ago to stop Graves disease which was killing me. So they killed my thyroid completely... Gained 45+ pounds over the next 3 years. No metabalism due to no thyroid. Decided to join JC to put an end to this crazy weight gain. I must exercize at least 3-4 days a week for an hour+ to realize any weigh loss. I am down 7+lb since joining several weeks ago.
Hang in there! It is in your control... it is not easy - you must exercize to jump start that metabolism. I know it is hard - but you can do it - if I can - you can!

I am also hypothyroid and I absolutely cannot lose without exercise. I also find that I feel so much better when I am on a steady exercise regime. it kind of shakes out those fatigue cobwebs. I cannot get too strenuous as I also have vaso vagal syncope and am known to pass out on the treadmill (not recommended or fun) if I do too much. It was hard to get going and I was soo exhausted at first, but now I don't feel right when I don't exercise. Hang in there...slow and steadt wins the race.

I have a question about the soy comments. I had my thyroid removed four years ago because of thyroid cancer. I had radiation and take Levethroid to replace my thyroid function. No one has ever mentioned to me to avoid soy, which I have quite regularly. What's the story on that?
Pam

There are certain foods that you can eat that weill interfere with absorption of thyroid meds. Soy is but one of them. Dairy will do it, too—because it increases cadmium absorption. Iron can also interfere.
Because of that, I always take my thyroid supplement on an empty stomach when I get up early to let the dogs out. Then I go back to bed for about an hour before I have breakfast. I take my vitamin supplements with lunch. I take a vitamin regimen that was prescribed by my doctor. I take a supplement designed for thyroid function support (with CoQ3, iodine and selenium) and B-50 for adrenal support.