Common Thyroid Problems

Thyroid problems come in many forms.  Millions of Americans suffer with this each year; more women suffer with it than men.  All of them affect thyroid production, forcing the body to use more energy than normal. People are finding easier ways to cope with these thyroid problems by consulting a thyroid surgeon.  Solving the problem starts with figuring out the problem.  Here are the most common thyroid problems.

Hyperthyroidism

This is a type of thyroid problem that comes from an overactive thyroid.  This thyroid creates too much hormones.  This will cause sleep problems, tremors, weight loss, anxiety, nervousness, fatigue, muscle weakness and changes in appetite.  An inflammatory thyroid or overdosing on thyroid medication can also cause this condition.  One main type of hyperthyroidism is Graves’ disease.  The thyroid disorder causes the immune system to create antibodies that attach to thyroid cells.  These cells either stimulate or inhibit thyroid hormone production.

Hypothyroidism

This is a more common type of thyroid problem.  This is caused by a non-active or underactive thyroid gland.  This will slow down the heart; give chills, dry skin, depression, low body temperature, lethargy and forgetfulness.  This is not good for children to have.  Children with this condition will develop differently in their body than normal people.  They will suffer from dwarfism and cretinism.  Without treatment a person may suffer a myxedema coma.  One main type of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.  This disease destroys the immune system and the thyroid gland.  The most common type of hypothyroidism in America, this prevents the gland from making enough hormones.

Thyroid Nodules

Less common types of thyroid condition is thyroid nodules.  This condition comes in solid lumps or lumps with fluid on the inside.  Depending on the size the nodules can make it harder to breathe because it presses on the windpipe.  It doesn’t cause symptoms and most are non-cancerous.  The ones that are cancerous (10%) may suffer from throat cancer and will have to be treated immediately.  The sad part is it can’t be detected early.  The cancer can develop undetected for several years.  Once detected the person must take action now for the most successful recovery.  People having treatment for acne or gone through neck radiation in their younger years will be the ones more at risk of getting a cancerous nodule.

Goiter

This is more of a male’s thyroid problem than female because it affects the Adam’s apple.  The thyroid swells into a butterfly shape at the base of the Adam’s apple.  The condition is mostly painless, but males suffering from goiters will have difficulty swallowing, breathing or coughing.  This is caused by nodules on the gland, low thyroid hormone or lack of iodine in the diet.  A doctor should be able to tell which is which.

Tips For Getting Over Your Weight Loss Plateau

Food JournalHave you been trying for the longest time to lose weight? You keep telling yourself you’ll stay away from certain things and exercise so much but you keep falling back into old habits for some reason. Many people experience this. It’s called reaching a plateau. You work hard to burn calories and you lose a few pounds and maybe even some inches. But then it becomes incredibly hard to progress. This is because the body is trying to reclaim homeostasis and stop changing.

Here are steps to help you along the way, including the ever-important treating yourself when you’ve reached a goal, to celebrate.

  1. Eat Less Calories Than You Burn

This may sound simple, and scientifically speaking, it is. But it sure is not easy without taking the right steps. Do not, under any circumstance, try to starve yourself. For many, this has led to terrifying disorders in which the body actually eats itself from the inside out. Instead of burning fat, you get rid of needed muscles. Bad idea!

2. Make Sure To Treat Yourself For Goals Accomplished

Make sure to let yourself have a little fun with a delicious reward like a satisfying Mrs. Field’s gift basket. You deserve it after hard work, and more importantly, you need something to keep you from breaking your diet. Eating healthy will only last if you take short breaks and indulge from time to time. If you could point to the reason you abandoned your last weight-losing quest, it probably had to do with it being too much for you.

So enjoy a piece of warm goodness like a cookie and brownie basket or a twinkling smile tote. These will be sure to brighten up your new life and will keep you on track to reach your goal. You can even freeze cookies for later or share.

3. Keep A Food Journal

Some people have a hard time expressing their feelings or keeping tabs on events in a journal. But when you’re writing about food, this becomes more of an activity than a chore.

4. Find An Exercise You Enjoy

Many do not find running appealing. Some hate showing their bodies in a gym full of toned jocks. If you’re one that does not like certain exercises, don’t do them! Find out what you love by trying new things. You can ski, surf, play at the beach, play catch, take the dog for a daily walk, or do any sort of thing that keeps you active. This will work out the most important muscle in your body: the heart. Make sure to mix up the exercises each day to avoid a plateau in one area of your body.

Begin losing weight today the healthy way with a Mrs. Fields gift basket. This may be the number one thing that will keep you from hitting an impossible plateau and will help you on your way to weight loss. This way you won’t have to say “no” to treats when they’re served strategically by you.

Weight-Loss Plateau Combat Techniques

Last month, you were completely dedicated to losing that extra weight. But as the weeks have gone on, you are starting to lose your motivation and are tempted to fall back into your bad habits. STOP RIGHT THERE! Don’t move another muscle! First of all, pat yourself on the back . . . you have done such a great job so far! Don’t quit now just because it’s getting tough.

Rather than giving up and being satisfied with your current weight, or worse, drowning your sorrows by consuming a dozen donuts, try the following combat techniques to reignite your fire for weight-loss:

1. Consider an “Intermittent Fast”

Intermittent fasting is a pattern of eating that alternates between periods of fasting (usually meaning consumption of water only) and non-fasting. Lucky for you, intermittent fasting (IF) can be done in a number of ways. From daily fasting, by only eating during a 5-hour time period, or setting aside one to three days a week to fast, the combinations are virtually endless. The important thing is to know is what kind of intermittent fasting technique will work best for you and your lifestyle, and this can only be determined by a little experimentation. As long as IF is done correctly, it can kick your body off of its weight plateau in just a matter of days. NOTE: IF is NOT about starving yourself. It’s about eating in a manner that mimics the natural irregularity of Grok’s eating patterns.

2. Write Down Everything You Eat

Everything you eat adds up. But instead of viewing your food log as a negative thing, make a game out of it! Consider having competitions with family members or friends to see who can stay within their allotted calorie intake each day. Have a prize for the winner at the end of the month.

A food diary is an honest look into what you’re actually eating, not what you think you are eating. Need more convincing that you might not be being honest with yourself? According to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, those who kept a food diary in a 20-week study dropped double the weight of the dieters who did not chronicle their food choices. Keeping a food diary makes you accountable for what you eat because it forces you to consider your actions before you take them. This is an effective safeguard against mindless snacking or emotional eating.

3. Change Your Workout Routine

If you never change things up, you will likely find yourself dreading the monotony of regular gym sessions and start losing motivation. In addition, your body can become used to to the same caloric burn and muscle exertion as it becomes more efficient at completing regular movements. Give your brain and body the wake up call they need by switching up your usual routine with some new additions.

Read more: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/weight-loss-plateau/#ixzz1pp8cM0Mo

 

Curb those Late-Night Cravings

It’s 10:30 p.m. and you have had a long day. You already ate dinner, but you’re starving again. How can you curb these late-night cravings? Wendy Ida, a health and fitness expert, suggests three ways:

  1. Eat meals that include the right nutrients 
    • Curb your late-night appetite by eating healthy foods throughout the day. Though it may seem contradictory if you’re trying to lose weight, do your best to eat a protein, carbohydrate, and fiber with each meal. Such components will help keep your hunger at a minimum.
  2. Chew gum 
    • Keep gum on-hand and chew it daily. Studies have shown that chewing gum can actually repress hunger. Gum is a low-calorie substitute that can keep your mind and mouth occupied.
  3. Go to sleep at consistent time
    • If all else fails, try just falling asleep. When you’re asleep (obviously) you can’t crave food. Make it a habit to go to sleep at a reasonable hour every night. The most consistent you are with your sleep schedule, the less likely you’ll be to crave late-night snacks.

March Madness Weight-Loss Challenge

Today marks the beginning of another fist-pumping, adrenaline-rushing “March Madness” tournament. The 67 single-elimination games of the 2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship are sure to be a slam dunk in collegiate basketball history.

As the hundreds of jump shots and free-throws start dropping, “March Madness” ought also to be a great reminder of the weight you’re trying to “drop”. Think about it . . . spring and summer are on the way . . . are YOU ready to strut your stuff in that swimming suit? If the answer is no, it’s not too late  – you still have time to get the “beach body” of your dreams before the sun comes out. But you’ve got to start now!

Join the “March Madness Weight-Loss Challenge” and make it to the “Final Four” by losing at least four pounds in the next two weeks! How, you may be asking, can I possibly lose four pounds during the most ESPN-centered two weeks of the year?

Well, if you watch all 67 games, at approximately 60 minutes per game, you will have watched almost 4,020 hours of college basketball during the month of March. Wow! That’s a LOT of basketball! Imagine if you spent that time, or even half of that time, working out or lifting weights? The positive impact on your body would be even more exciting than your favorite college team sweeping the tournament!

But since no one in their right mind would ever choose to work out instead of watching “March Madness” (including me) . . .  why not combine the two? Rather than just sitting on the couch while you’re watching games, make use of the commercial breaks to fit in some workouts. Do some push-ups and crunches, bring your free-weights into the living room for some bicep curls, or just do a calf-raises. As we’ve learned from the game of basketball . . . every second counts.

Step up your game this month!  Join with your favorite college basketball team and Drop 30 Pounds and make it to the “Final Four” by losing four pounds by the end of March!

What are you waiting for? The clock is ticking!  Don’t let the buzzer sound until you’re one step closer to your weight-loss goal!