Hello!
I’m hoping for advice on fixing some issues and optimizing my hormones. I have read the sticky on thyroid basics twice, and suspect that I may have an iodine deficiency.
Stats:
Age: 34
Height: 5’11"
Weight: 192 lbs.
Body Fat: 19% (measured by underwater testing)
Symptoms:
-Lethargy (Not all day, every day, but most days, usually around late afternoon/early evening and often lasting until bedtime.)
-Anxiety, Depression, Moodiness (Fairly rare these days, but was once a significant problem for me)
-Brain fog
-Problems concentrating
-Lack of motivation
-Difficulty changing weight, losing or gaining (This has almost always been independent of any calorie intake, activity level, or diet)
-Erection problems (Used to have problems getting one. Seem to have mostly fixed that, but now I can’t always maintain one. Almost never have “morning wood” or experience sexual dreams. Sometimes it is almost as if I can’t feel my penis.)
-Low sex drive (see notes in “Diet” below)
-Dry skin
Diet:
-Has varied off and on. I am currently on the Anabolic Diet. I have been on it for four weeks now. It has helped me drop seven pounds. Based on the mirror, I also believe I have put on a little muscle. It has also done wonders for upping my sex drive and stabilizing my mood, but this doesn’t always stay consistent.
I also did the diet last year, with similar results. However, it took about six months to drop 10 pounds and get to 16% body fat.
Overall, this diet has been the most effective of any methodology I have tried in regards to how I feel overall.
As for diet statistics, I have been eating 3,200 calories/day. I am careful to measure and weigh my food. At this calorie intake, I have dropped seven pounds in four weeks. On weekdays, macro breakdown is approximately 60% fat (almost 50/50 saturated and monounsatured), 38% protein, 2% carbs (< 30/day minus fiber). On weekends, the carbs are upped significantly (mostly clean and Paleo), fat is dropped much lower, and protein is lowered some. I am not as specific about calorie numbers on the weekend, mostly focusing on consuming lots of clean carbs. I consume plenty of green veggies and fiber every day.
I rarely ever use iodized salt, and I don’t consume much in the way of sea vegetables.
Training:
Has varied off and on over the years, sometimes very regularly, other times just to get some exercise in.
Currently, I am following Wendler’s 5/3/1 seriously. Have seen gains in strength and muscle.
Sleep:
Something I have not taken seriously enough in the past. However, for the last six weeks, I have been making sure to get a minimum of eight hours/night. Sometimes 9 to 11 hours. This has helped some with the lethargy and definitely with my mental well being. However, I still often feel tired. I often have trouble getting to sleep, even when I’m tired. And even after a good night’s sleep, I sometimes either still feel tired when I wake up and/or I lack the motivation to get out of bed.
Supplements:
-Multivitamin with good amounts of B, C, D, and E. Includes 150 mcg. iodine.
-Additional 5,000 IU Vitamin D
-I alternate Biotest ZMA and Elitepro Minerals
-SAMe
Body Temp:
I have been taking my temperature for the past four mornings and afternoons. In the mornings, I have been as low as 95.9 and never above 96.6. In the afternoons, I have been as low as 96.9 and never above 98.1.
I have had hyperhydrosis (sweaty hands) all of my life. I occasionally feel hot and have been told that I’m like a heater. Occasionally after eating a low-carb meal, I feel hotter.
Other Notes:
-I have been taking atenolol for high blood pressure for nearly ten years. I started at 50 mg. 2 times/day. I now have that dose down to 25 mg. 2 times/day, and have been at that dosage for about six months. My blood pressure is around 125/75 to 130/80.
-For the past seven days, I have been taking two antibiotics for pneumonia that has mostly cleared up
-I mostly carry fat around the waist
-I do not have hair loss and my facial hair grows easily
-I have often had times of high stress, though recently I feel much better equipped to deal with situations and not end up stressed
-About 10 years ago, I had chronic sinus infections (about one a month), and thus heavy antibiotic use. Now I may get three or four a year, but half the time they go away without antibiotics.
Blood Tests:
I have results from a test done in July 2013. I can post those if they are helpful. I need to get new ones done, but I have to find a new primary doctor first.
Thanks in advance!
And thanks to KSMan for all of the helpful posts! I have learned a lot.