Lisa McManes, Thyroid Thrivers
Thyroid Nation
41 years old
Ohio, USA
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
Since age 6
I have struggled with my weight all my life as I
was born with a genetic predisposition to obesity.
I was born with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, a type of autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks and destroys the thyroid gland. The sole function of the thyroid is to make the thyroid hormone which affects nearly all the tissues of the body, where it increases cellular activity. It regulates the body’s metabolism, and the rate at which the body creates and uses energy. Most of us know this already, right?! Amazingly, every day since diagnosed at age 6, I have had to take a synthetic form of that hormone, in order to have a metabolism, at all. Let me say that again, I had to take Synthroid every day, or I would NOT have a metabolism. The metabolism is not to be taken for granted, take it from me!
Can you even imagine? At age 6, you just want to run and play and be a kid.
Obviously, this caused many health issues, hardships and struggles in my every day life. It is no cake walk, for sure. Thank goodness for my family. My husband and I have been married since 1997 and had a beautiful daughter in 2006. It was a high risk pregnancy with complications and constant blood checks of my TSH level to make sure that our unborn child was OK. We wanted a full-term, healthy and happy baby, just as all new parents dream of. And we did, she is wonderful.
When Piper was born, I wanted to make sure that I instilled in her the values of good self-esteem, eating healthy and being active so she would live a healthy long life.
Therefore, I needed to practice what I preached. Even with all of my difficulties and issues, I wanted to show my daughter and myself, that I could thrive. That I could take what was given to me and make the best of it. Five years ago, at my heaviest of 288 pounds, my friend and I, finally agreed to join the local gym. We wanted to lose weight and get fit together, so we also hired a personal trainer. Skeptical at first, since I had always struggled with my weight, seriously questioning how a personal trainer could offer me anything different than I already knew or had tried before. I reluctantly, gave it a try.
Thankfully, and to my surprise, my trainer did help me. I learned how to eat right, for ME and for MY body. After all these years of living with this disease, I still had more to learn. I started logging my food on DotFIT, exercising and wearing my EXERSPY, to monitor my steps and calories burned. Eventually, I fell in LOVE with running. Who would have thought? I drop a few pounds and it opens the door to so many things I never had the courage or motivation, to do before. Beginner’s Running Club — sure, why not!? I have been hooked on running ever since.
So far, I have lost 100 pounds. My goal weight range is 175-185 pounds. I stay
within a certain calorie range each day, while eating normal foods (no diet food
or shakes or pills). I cross-train or do cardio, least 2 times a week, and run twice
a week. I have taught Eat To Lose classes (a certified in DotFIT program, from
my gym). I also teach a 30 & 60 minute Butt & Gut class and the Beginner’s Run Club,
to help and support others with their weight loss journey. To date, I have
completed 6 half marathons. I also COMPLETED my first full marathon in
October, 2012. I have come a long way, since starting my weight loss journey, 5 years ago. I want to set an example for others, for myself and for my family, to get and stay healthy despite any health obstacles they might be facing. Oftentimes, my condition requires me to work harder than others. It definitely takes me a little longer to accomplish things, like losing the extra weight. But,
IF I CAN DO IT, ANYONE CAN.
In August 2013, I passed my exam and am now a Certified Personal Trainer from the National Academy Of Sports Medicine. My story was shared on The Ricki Lake Show and OMG Insider, as the ‘Weight Loss Wednesday Inspirational’. I also just started my own training business and will be doing Weight Loss Coaching, Personal Training and group classes. (with a small emphasis on what I know best, autoimmune disease) 🙂 Follow me on Facebook at Lisa’s Weight Loss Diary.
Those of us with a Thyroid Disorder, such as Hashimoto’s might have to work harder, but WE CAN DO IT.
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