Two weeks never sounded so long. I have radioactive iodine treatment scheduled in a couple weeks therefore I am on a “low-iodine” or “low-I” diet. This means NO: processed foods, dairy, seafood, eggs, bread, anything with salt, chocolate, soy… so pretty much everything! I’ve made some very nice salads though.

Also not making it any easier, it’s my birthday. Not that I care too much about the actual day, but I was hoping to have some pizza or chocolate cake** or something relatively bad for me. These mandatory diet changes got me thinking about all the other nutritional changes I’ve made over the last 6 months to a year. In my desperate attempt to have more energy, feel better, lose weight, and even be able to exercise again, I have made a lot of changes. And I have felt better because of it, but I just cannot lose weight. And the same rules don’t apply anymore. I can’t just go on “low-carb” or go running/kickboxing/etc. Even if I could work up the energy to do some lunges or something, I would probably then crash for about a week. Just getting the kids in the car wipes out my energy at this point in my life.

As anyone with thyroid issues, especially hypothyroidism, knows gaining weight or not being able to lose weight is usually at the top of the list when it comes to the most frustrating symptoms. I jokingly told my sister once that I sometimes think I would feel better if I wore a shirt that says “I’m not just fat, I have thyroid cancer.” And I don’t know if it’s just my own personal feelings that I need to deal with, societies expectations, or the “fat-shaming” we see all too often. We as a society are so focused on appearance and perfection. I’d be lying if I said that I don’t think about how to lose weight every day, but I’m also trying to remind myself that it’s health and wellness that I really want. And for now that means sticking to my low-iodine diet, while keeping a list of everything I will eat once this is over. Sushi, chocolate, peanut butter, bread and so many other delicious iodine-filled foods… all in moderation of course.

**A friend found a recipe for chocolate cake that I can eat and it’s not half bad!