Life After Thyroid Cancer – Watch Your Foods and COFFEE!

As you have read in my previous posts regarding the goiter, thyroid cancer and thyroidectomy.  Life doesn’t end. It begins.  You have to reprogram your body because it’s adjusting to a hormone that it can’t produce anymore.  You have to teach your body to not be jealous of the hormone and learn to love it just as you do.  Everyone must play together.

My weight and size was slowly decreasing.  My cholesterol levels were coming back to normal, TSH levels stayed fine and I was really feeling and seeing a difference with myself.  My energy level was great.  I finally was feeling like I was on the right track.  Now into 2013, I re-started training clients, but kept the number to just a few.  I still had to fully figure this Synthroid life out. 

One day, I had my bodyfat % checked to compare to one of my previous readings.  I was still a bit disappointed.  Though, you could clearly see that I was getting smaller, I wasn’t toning normally. Back to reading through my notes of foods to avoid, and visiting sites for updated information. Something was still holding me back.

I looked through my food journals and nothing was clicking. Then, one day, I read an article that talked about caffeine and it’s affects on thyroid medication.  Well, that got my attention.  I'm a Starbucks queen – yes, non-fat, no whip or some days light whip. Additionally, I made my favorite coffee at home too.  As I was reading the article, I found out that I needed to greatly minimize my caffeine consumption. 

I thought, how in the world will I be able to handle this too. No caffeine – [SCREAMING]. I convinced myself to go decaf with my coffee.  That was where I consumed the most caffeine. I was on the last leg of my regular coffee beans, so I tossed them and purchased decaf coffee beans from World Market.  Talk about a limited variety in stores when it comes to decaf. 

That was it! Going to decaf made such a difference.  Because, I’m an avid fitness person, my energy level did not decrease.  Working out and “eating” right provides your body with such a beautiful energy boost as needed.  So, the adjustment wasn’t really noticed at all.  I couldn’t believe that something so simple would make the type of difference that it has. 

The best thing was going to both my primary and endocrinologist and watching them look at my current weight and then compare it to my previous weight.  Their faces were priceless.  Funny thing they questioned me on how did I lose so much weight (20 pounds).  I found myself telling them about eating “right”.

To this day, I’m 5 pounds away from being the weight that I was at just before all of this started.  I’m thankful for being cancer-free. I’m thankful for being a voice to others of this experience and to let you know, you’re worth the effort to make the adjustments.

Big hug to all who are experiencing thyroid problems, and/or have had thyroid cancer, and those who shared their tips on the web. We can overcome.