Fw: Sticking Out Our Necks / Jan-Feb 2003 / Issue #65

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----- Original Message -----

From: " Shomon " <thyroidnews@...>

<mam-nsif@...>

Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2003 7:00 AM

Subject: Sticking Out Our Necks / Jan-Feb 2003 / Issue #65

- S t i c k i n g O u t O u r N e c k s !! -

The Thyroid Disease News Report

by Shomon

" We're Patients...NOT Lab Values!! "

Issue #65 January/February 2003

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AOL-FRIENDLY/HTML Version: An HTML webpage version

of this newsletter is online! See:

<a href= " http://www.thyroid-info.com/news/janfeb2003.htm " >

http://www.thyroid-info.com/news/janfeb2003.htm</a>

Welcome to the sixty-fifth issue of " Sticking Out

Our Necks! " my thyroid disease news report. This

newsletter is copyrighted by Shomon, and cannot

be legally reproduced without permission. Feel free,

however, to forward a single copy to someone who

might be interested in reading the newsletter or

subscribing to it in the future.

SUBSCRIBING/UNSUBSCRIBING/DISTRIBUTION:

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send an email to

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(If you have any problems subbing or unsubbing, email

me at thyroidnews@... and I'll personally

handle it for you)

To contribute information, thoughts or ideas for the

newsletter, write to me, the editor, Shomon

personally, at news@...

ON THE WEB: My Thyroid Disease Information Source and

News Report home page is located at

http://www.thyroid-info.com , and I also run a

comprehensive Thyroid Disease site at About.com,

which you can visit at http://thyroid.about.com .

SEND NEWS! If you see something thyroid-related in

the news or on the web, please feel free to let me

know, send me a note, or forward the URL to me if

it's on the web. My email is

news@... , regular mail is P.O. Box

0385, Palm Harbor, FL 34682, fax is: 727-785-4258

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ENDOCRINOLOGISTS SAY TSH NORMAL RANGE IS NOW 0.3 TO 3

MILLIONS MORE HAVE THYROID PROBLEMS UNDER NEW

GUIDELINES

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According to the American Association of Clinical

Endocrinologists (AACE), 1 in 10 Americans - more

than the number of Americans with diabetes and cancer

combined - suffer from thyroid disease, yet as many

as half remain undiagnosed. In order to counteract

this lack of awareness and educate the public about

the prevalence of thyroid disease, diagnosis, and

treatment, in January, AACE continued its annual

thyroid awareness campaign. The 2003 campaign, Hiding

in Plain Sight: Thyroid Undercover, launched as part

of the January 2003 Thyroid Awareness Month.

According to the AACE, until November 2002, doctors

had relied on a normal TSH level ranging from 0.5 to

5.0 to diagnose and treat patients with a thyroid

disorder who tested outside the boundaries of that

range. The new guidelines narrow the range for

acceptable thyroid function, and AACE is now

encouraging doctors to consider treatment for

patients who test outside the boundaries of a

narrower margin based on a target TSH level of 0.3 to

3.04. AACE believes the new range will result in

proper diagnosis for millions of Americans who suffer

from a mild thyroid disorder, but have gone untreated

until now. AACE estimates that the new guidelines

double the number of people who have abnormal thyroid

function, bringing the total to 27 million.

AACE made the decision to narrow the range because of

data suggesting many people may have low-level

thyroid problems that could be improved with

treatment and a narrower TSH range will give doctors

reason to more carefully consider those patients.

" The prevalence of undiagnosed thyroid disease in the

United States is shockingly high - particularly since

it is a condition that is easy to diagnose and

treat, " said Hossein Gharib, MD, FACE, and president

of AACE. " The new TSH range from the AACE guidelines

gives physicians the information they need to

diagnose mild thyroid disease before it can lead to

more serious effects on a patient's health - such as

elevated cholesterol, heart disease, osteoporosis,

infertility, and depression. "

COMMENTARY FROM MARY

While it is a dramatic improvement in the awareness

of endocrinologists that they are now realizing that

the high end of the normal range was not, in fact,

normal for most of the population, it's clear they

still have a way to go when you read the words of Dr.

Gharib, an endocrinologist and president of AACE. Dr.

Gharib parrots the official endocrinologist party

line when he states that thyroid disease, " is a

condition that is easy to diagnose and treat. "

This pronouncement contradicts Dr. Gharib's own

statement. Until November of 2002, people who had

clear symptoms of thyroid disease, but were in the .1

to .3, or 3 to 6 range on the TSH scale, were

considered " euthyroid " or normal by almost all

endocrinologists and practitioners, and were NOT

diagnosed at all, much less easily diagnosed. People

who had family histories of thyroid disease, symptoms

(including enlarged thyroid, goiter, nodules, etc.)

but whose TSH tests were in the low or high end of

normal who were testing in these levels were

routinely denied treatment, or told that their

problems were the result of depression and given

antidepressants. This has gone on for decades, as

conventional medicine has relied on the TSH test --

often to the exclusion of clinical evidence, symptoms

and medical observation -- to make a diagnosis. I

would not consider this evidence of " easy to

diagnose " -- particularly from the perspective of the

millions of patients who have suffered with

undiagnosed thyroid disease, not to mention the

suffering that resulted from being misdiagnosed with

a host of mental or physical ailments by their

doctors, and prescribed various drugs, hormones, and

other inappropriate treatments.

As for the " easy to treat " component, a survey I just

conducted, reported on in this issue, found that more

than 50% of respondents reported that they are not

satisfied with their thyroid treatment. A Thyroid

Foundation of America survey found that more than

two-thirds of Graves' disease patients continued to

suffer debilitating symptoms after treatment and

while " euthyroid. " A study published in the February,

2002 issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology

and Metabolism found that nearly five percent of

Americans suffer from often undiagnosed thyroid

disease. And those projections were based on the

earlier .5 to 5-6 TSH " normal range. " If thyroid

disease is so easy to diagnose, why are millions of

people undiagnosed?

Perhaps more telling were the results of the

groundbreaking Colorado Thyroid Prevalence Study,

Reported on in the February 2000 issue of the

Archives of Internal Medicine, the study found that

among patients taking thyroid medication, only 60%

were within the normal range of TSH (and again, that

was according to the .1 to 5-6 TSH range). The fact

that forty percent of patients, a number that

translates to millions of Americans, are already

taking thyroid hormone and being treated by a doctor

but are still not in TSH range indicates that proper

treatment is not as easy as Dr. Gharib suggests.

The inadequacy of treatment's ability to relieve

symptoms was also addressed in February of 1999 when

the February 11, 1999 New England Journal of Medicine

published a landmark T3 thyroid drug study that found

that the majority of patients studied felt better on

a combination of two drugs, including levothyroxine

(T4) and T3, and NOT solely levothyroxine/T4 (i.e.,

Synthroid, Unithroid, or Levoxyl) alone.

Levothyroxine alone is the standard treatment.

The AACE has finally moved into the 21st century in

terms of its awareness that the outdated TSH

reference range needed revisiting, but it's just a

first step among many much-needed revisions to the

diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disease.

(Source: Canaris, et. al. Vol. 160 No. 4, February

28, 2000, " The Colorado Thyroid Disease Prevalence

Study, " Archives of Internal Medicine.)

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2003 THYROID SURVEY RESULTS -- SUMMARY

FIRST PATIENT QUALITY-OF-LIFE SURVEY OF NEARLY 1000

PATIENTS PUBLISHED

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From late 2001 to 2002, a survey was conducted with

readers of my various thyroid disease websites. Final

results will be published later in 2003, but

preliminary results, based on a tally of 907

respondents, are being published now, to bring

increased visibility to thyroid issues.

This is the first large-scale quality of life survey

of thyroid patients, and the first to look at

critical patient concerns such as unrelieved

symptoms, weight problems, attitudes toward patient

organizations, smoking behavior, and effective

treatments and solutions.

There are some very surprising and interesting

findings from the survey, everything from symptoms

you may not realize that are related to your thyroid,

to weight loss solutions that patients themselves

have found helpful, to what thyroid patients REALLY

think about the various patient organizations. Read a

summary of the findings, or see the detailed numbers

online now, at:

Survey Findings Summary

http://thyroid.about.com/library/weekly/aasurveysumm.htm

Detailed Survey Findings

http://thyroid.about.com/library/weekly/aasurvey.htm

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HYSTERECTOMY INCREASES RISK OF THYROID CANCER

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The risk of thyroid cancer is doubled during the

first two years post-surgery in women who have

a hysterectomy. (Source: Luoto R, et. Al. " Increased

risk of thyroid cancer among women with

hysterectomies, " Am J Obstet Gynecol 2003

Jan;188(1):45-8)

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MORE HEART DISEASE RISK FACTORS FOUND FOR

HYPOTHYROIDISM

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Researchers have found that hypothyroidism is

typically accompanied by elevated elevated C-reactive

protein and total homocysteine levels. Elevations in

C-reactive protein and total homocysteine have been

identified as risk factors for developing coronary

heart disease. Levothyroxine replacement did not

significantly affect either total homocysteine

or C-reactive protein levels. (Source: Christ-Crain

M, et. al. " Elevated C-reactive protein and

homocysteine values: cardiovascular risk factors

in hypothyroidism? A cross-sectional and a

double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, "

Atherosclerosis, February 2003;166:2:379-386.)

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THYROID DISEASE FREQUENTLY GOES UNDIAGNOSED IN CANCER

PATIENTS

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Researchers have found that thyroid dysfunction is

usually unrecognized in cancer patients and may

possibly contribute to their symptoms and recovery.

(Source: Shani, Dana et. al. " Unrecognized thyroid

dysfunction in patients with cancer, " Supportive Care

in Cancer)

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THYROID FUNCTION AND PREGNANCY

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Researchers looked at thyroid function during

pregnancy. According to the researchers, there is

growing evidence that suggests a strong association

between the presence of thyroid antibodies and

miscarriage or fetal loss. Hypothyroidism during

pregnancy, but without symptoms, appears to occur in

as many as 2.5% of women. Since undetected and

untreated hypothyroidism can negative affect the IQ

of the child, the researchers suggest that regular

screening for hypothyroidism in early pregnancy may

be justified. Postpartum thyroid disease occurs in as

many as 5 to 9% of women in general, and 50% of women

who are thyroid peroxidase antibody positive (TPO

Ab+ve). Among those who have transient postpartum

thyroid function, a significant percentage do develop

hypothyroidism. (Source: Lazarus JH., " Thyroid

dysfunction: reproduction and postpartum

thyroiditis, " Semin Reprod Med 2002 Nov;20(4):381-8)

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FILM CRITIC EBERT RECUPERATING FROM THYROID CANCER

SURGERY

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Film critic Ebert is recuperating from follow-

up surgery for papillary cancer. A year ago, doctors

removed Ebert's thyroid gland and selected lymph

nodes in his neck. (Wire services)

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INSIDE MARY SHOMON'S MEDICINE CABINET

Find out what thyroid medicine I take, as well as my

daily supplements and vitamins, what I take to fight

colds and flus, things that help with weight loss,

enhance energy, and help hair and skin.

http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/medicinecabinet.htm

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CANADIAN BABY BOOMERS POPPING PILLS -- ESP. SYNTHROID

-- AT RECORD RATE

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Canada's baby boomers are popping prescription pills

at a record pace. Retail spending on prescription

medications climbed by 8.1 per cent, and is running

an estimated $187 for every man, woman and child in

the country, or an overall $15.5 billion annually.

The thyroid drug Synthroid was the top-selling drug

in Canada in 2002 and in 2001, and more than seven

million prescriptions were filled last year. The

U.S. is seeing an even greater increase in

prescription drug sales, with overall spending of

$154.5 billion U.S. on drugs at retail outlets in

2001. (Source: The Ottawa Citizen, February 1, 2003)

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TWO COMPANIES RECEIVE FDA APPROVAL TO SELL POTASSIUM

IODIDE PILLS

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With Internet sales of potassium iodine products

brisk since the September 11th terrorist attacks, two

companies have now received Food and Drug

Administration approval to sell potassium iodide

pills at U.S. retail outlets. One company is Anbex of

New York, which received approval for its product,

Iosat. Anbex has been making Iosat since 1982. The

other company is RECIP US, a U.S. division of Swedish

company RECIP AB, which makes ThyroSafe, and has been

selling potassium iodide in Europe for years.

Potassium iodide, when taken fairly quickly in the

timeframe after exposure to radioactive iodine I-131

(such as after a nuclear accident), can prevent

thyroid cancer by flooding the thyroid gland with a

harmless form of iodine, and preventing the thyroid

from absorbing the radioactive iodine. The products

are expected to be available in food and drug stores

this spring. Of potassium iodine, Anbex spokesperson

Jo Flattery has said, " It's no longer this obscure

survivalist drug. It's gone mainstream. "

Iherb.com sells several potassium iodide products,

including:

Source Naturals Potassium Iodide

http://store./iherb/potassium4.html

NoRad Potassium Iodide

http://store./iherb/norad.html

and when they have it in stock, the Anbex Iosat,

http://store./iherb/iosat.html

You can also order from Iherb by phone, at 1-888-792-

0028 (1-626-358-5678)

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PERCHLORATE IN THE NEWS

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The rocket fuel/explosives manufacturing by-product,

perchlorate, which is a chemical that is known to

disrupt thyroid function and cause other health

problems, is increasingly the focus of public, media

and government attention. This is in large part due

to the efforts of activists like Larry Ladd, who for

years has been tirelessly working to raise visibility

and awareness of the perchlorate issue.

For a detailed list of the latest news stories on

perchlorate, do a Google news search:

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en & q=perchlorate

You can visit Larry Ladd's site at

http://www.perchlorate.org

And check out some of the coverage of the

perchlorate/thyroid issue featured at my site since

1999:

1/1/03 -- Perchlorate in the News

Eating lettuce or other veggies may expose some

consumers to high levels of the thyroid-toxic rocket

fuel perchlorate. Perchlorate is increasingly in the

news this year, and knowing more about this toxin may

help protect you and your family.

http://thyroid.about.com/library/news/blpercdec02.htm

6/20/02 -- Aberdeen, MD Well Closed After Thyroid-

Damaging Chemical Found

Aberdeen, MD has closed one of its drinking water

wells after the chemical perchlorate -- which can

damage the thyroid -- was found.

http://thyroid.about.com/library/news/blaberdeen.htm

1/24/02 -- Perchlorate in Your Water -- How Little is

Little Enough?

As time goes by and perchlorate remains in the water

supply, what exactly is the danger point at which

perchlorate in the water supply endangers the

thyroid? The Las Vegas Review Journal takes a look.

http://thyroid.about.com/library/news/blperch2.htm

8/9/01 -- Thyroid Toxin Endangers Water for Millions

in Calif. & US

Perchlorate contamination and its danger to

Californians and Americans and their health --

including thyroid cancer danger -- is detailed in a

new report from the Environmental Working Group,

titled " Rocket Science: Perchlorate and the Toxic

Legacy of the Cold War. "

http://thyroid.about.com/library/links/blewgperch.htm

11/27/00 -- Volunteers to Ingest Perchlorate,

Potentially Thyroid-Damaging Pollutant, in Water

Safety Study

Ethical questions, conflict of interest suggestions,

and health concerns are being raised by a new study

in which participants are being paid to ingest a

chemical that is harmful to the thyroid.

http://thyroid.about.com/library/weekly/aa112700a.htm

8/21/00 -- Chemical in Drinking Water May Create

Thyroid Problems

Researchers find that perchlorate in drinking water

may be creating thyroid problems in Arizona newborns.

http://thyroid.about.com/library/weekly/aa082100a.htm

8/31/99 -- Perchlorate Found in U.S. Fertilizers:

Chemical Acts as Antithyroid Agent

Review of the news that shows the thyroid-damaging

chemical perchlorate present in U.S. fertilizers and

what this means for our food and water supply.

http://thyroid.about.com/library/weekly/aa083199.htm

6/19/99 -- Thyroid Perils of Our Water & Food

Why won't the Air Force release information to EPA on

perchlorate, a chemical in our food and water that

can harm the thyroid?

http://thyroid.about.com/library/weekly/aa061999.htm

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TSH: CAN IT MEASURE THYROID STATUS?

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In a somewhat confusing editorial in the February

issue of the British Medical Journal, controversial

endocrinologist Toft says that measurement of

serum TSH alone may not always reflect thyroid

status.

According to Toft, " some patients seeking an

explanation for feeling 'below par' are disappointed

when thyroid function tests are normal. Unable to

accept that there may be psychosocial reasons for

their symptoms, a vociferous minority believe that

hypothyroidism may exist with normal serum

concentrations of both thyroxine (T4) and thyroid

stimulating hormone (TSH). Their hypothesis is that a

doctor cannot know whether a concentration of free T4

or TSH within wide reference ranges is normal for

that individual. "

Dr. Toft goes on to dismiss that argument, claiming

that patients and their " misguided medical

practitioners " don't understand the sensitivity of

the TSH process. Toft also says that " raised or

undetectable serum TSH...is not usually associated

with symptoms, hence the basis for the unsatisfactory

terms subclinical hypothyroidism and

hyperthyroidism. "

But then, Toft appears to switch gears, and states

that " It is not sufficient to satisfy the

recommendations of the American Thyroid Association

by simply restoring both serum T4 and TSH

concentrations to normal, as in our experience most

patients feel well only with a dose resulting in a

high normal free T4 and low normal TSH concentration,

and those patients with continuing symptoms despite

'adequate' doses of thyroxine may be slightly under-

replaced. "

An interesting read, worth checking out, the full

online version is available at:

http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/326/7384/295

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TSH IS INADEQUATE FOR MEASURING SEVERITY OF

HYPOTHYROIDISM

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Reporting in the February 2003 issue of the British

Medical Journal, Swiss researchers have reported that

there is a broad spectrum in terms of symptoms that

are not necessarily correlated to the level of

hypothyroidism. Patients who are significantly

hypothyroid in terms of their test results may have

minimal symptoms, while those with only mild

elevations may have substantial symptoms. Since TSH

is supposed to correspond to the severity of

hypothyroidism, the researchers' objective was to

determine how valuable TSH is in measuring the

severity of tissue hypothyroidism.

A total of 49 people who had overt hypothyroidism,

and TSH levels greater than 20 were studied.

Those with low Free T4 and Low T3 levels showed

evidence of tissue hypothyroidism, including slowed

reflexes, elevated cholesterol, compared to those

with the same TSH levels and less aberrant Free T4

and T3 levels. This led the researchers to conclude

that " TSH is a poor measure for estimating the

clinical and metabolic severity of primary overt

thyroid failure. This is in sharp contrast to the

high diagnostic accuracy of TSH measurement for early

diagnosis of hypothyroidism...

The abstract concludes " ...secretion of TSH is driven

by maximal stimulation, with no further increase

occurring with greater severity of hypothyroidism.

Therefore, the biological effects of thyroid hormones

at the peripheral tissues--and not TSH

concentrations--reflect the clinical severity of

hypothyroidism. A judicious initiation of thyroxine

treatment should be guided by clinical and metabolic

presentation and thyroid hormone concentrations (free

thyroxine) and not by serum TSH concentrations. "

Read the full abstract at the British Medical Journal

site,

http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/326/7384/311

Source: Meier, et. al., " Serum thyroid stimulating

hormone in assessment of severity of tissue

hypothyroidism in patients with overt primary thyroid

failure: cross sectional survey, " British Medical

Journal, 2003;326:311-312 ( 8 February),

http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/326/7384/311

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RELAPSES IN GRAVES' DISEASE

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Norwegian researchers looked at the effects of

different antithyroid drug (ATD) regimens on relapse

rates of Graves' disease and reported their findings

in the European Journal of Endocrinology. The study

looked at groups of Graves' disease who either took

an ATD with levothyroxine (a regimen sometimes called

" block-replace therapy), or an ATD alone for 12

months. After stopping ATD therapy, each group

either had 12 months of subsequent levothyroxine

treatment, or no treatment. The patients were

evaluated before treatment, at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and

every 3 months for a year. Those who didn't relapse

were also evaluated every three months for another

year, and then annually thereafter. The researchers

found that in general, the proportion of relapse

among all groups didn't vary, and was 47.7% two years

after withdrawal of ATD. Smokers had a higher

relapse rate than non-smokers (58.4% vs 38.8%) and

those who were positive for thyrotropin-receptor

antibodies (TRAb) 12 months after antithyroid therapy

also had a higher relapse rate (72.5% vs 36.8%), and

those with large goiter had higher relapse rates

(55.5% vs 36.3%). So, while the type of ATD and

levothyroxine therapies were not related to relapse

rates, smoking, large goiter, and presence of

antibodies after ATD therapy were predictive of

relapse.

Source: Nedrebø1, et. al., " Predictors of outcome and

comparison of different drug regimens for the

prevention of relapse in patients with Graves'

disease, " European Journal of Endocrinology, Vol. 147

Part 5

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LATEST AT THE THYROID SITE

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I'M A NEW ME

If having a thyroid problem makes you grouchy, Jody

LaFerriere will help change your attitude with her

light-hearted list of positive things to think about.

http://thyroid.about.com/library/weekly/aanewme.htm

THE 10 THINGS YOUR DOCTOR MAY NOT HAVE TOLD YOU ABOUT

GRAVES' DISEASE

Expert and author Elaine shares important

information about Graves' disease and hyperthyroidism

that you need to know.

http://thyroid.about.com/library/weekly/aa10things.htm

THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS: HOW THEY CAN CAUSE THYROID

PROBLEMS

Dr. Sheen, a best selling author and Director

of The Quantum Healing Center in Delray Beach,

Florida, explores his theories regarding how the

accumulation of unexpressed thoughts and feelings can

cause low thyroid. Read this fascinating spiritual

therapy-based approach toward thyroid treatment.

http://thyroid.about.com/library/weekly/aasheen.htm

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THE MOST IMPORTANT STEPS IN LOSING WEIGHT AND TONING

UP

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By C. LeBrun, Certified Personal Trainer

Here are some of the most important steps in losing

fat weight, toning up, and just plain old feeling

better!

1. Set a goal for yourself and get real about

achieving it.

Until you set a goal of how much weight you want to

lose, you are just dreaming. Dreams do not happen

unless you commit to them happening.

In fact, a goal is a wish with a deadline. It needs

to be specific and written down. If losing body fat

is what you want to do, you must be willing to pay a

certain price to achieve it.

So, set goals and get real about achieving them.

Before any other step, this is the most important

one. If you are not real and serious about losing

fat, all the other steps will not help you.

2. Drink your life away! (well, not really)

If you have ever doubted the importance of water, try

going a few days without it. You can live weeks

without food, but only days without water. It is used

in EVERY single physiological process your body

undergoes.

Its importance cannot be stated enough, especially

when it comes to fat-loss and fitness training. Shoot

for at least a gallon a day, preferably more. The

inconvenience of constantly using the bathroom is a

minor drawback compared to the benefits you will

receive.

Keep a bottle wherever you spend most of your day, at

your desk at work, in your car, hell, wear a water

bottle around your neck, but just get enough water.

3. Eat 5-6 (or more) small meals a day consisting of

high protein, moderate carbs, and low-fat.

This is important in keeping your metabolism

efficiently burning calories. Constantly grazing on

meals every 3 hours will allow your body to burn off

what it has consumed quicker and more efficiently.

Eating one or two larger meals will actually cause

your body's metabolism to slow down.

Skipping meals altogether will actually cause your

body to store fat as a defense mechanism. Your body

is not sure when its going to get its next meal so it

tends to store more in case of perceived famine.

Make each meal consist of higher protein (builds

muscle), moderate carbohydrates (fuel for the body)

and low fat (energy and protection).

4. Do INTENSE cardiovascular workouts 3-4 times a

week.

This is where the majority of the calorie burning

takes place. Not necessarily from the cardio you

just did, but from the fact that doing cardio

increases your metabolic rate so that the rest of the

day you will burn off more calories as well. Put all

of your energy and intensity into your cardio. Do 20-

30 minutes of cardio 3-4 days a week. During a

session of cardio, warm- up for 5 minutes, then do 20

minutes at a high intensity pace. Then cool down for

the last 5 minutes. Go at a fast enough pace where

you are sweating, panting, huffing, puffing, turning

red. Get your body out of homeostasis (everything's

normal and in balance).

Doing cardio for the sakes of doing it will not burn

fat. Going for a leisurely walk will not sufficiently

burn fat, unless you walk ten miles. Riding a

stationary bike while relaxingly reading the paper

will not burn much fat.

Hey, its only 30 minutes. Bust your butt for this

time and the return on your investment will be great.

Choose cardio machines that get more of your body

moving. The more you move, the more you burn.

5. Do INTENSE Weight training at least 3-4 times a

week.

Do not mistake weight training w/ trying to burn fat.

Weight training will not burn a sufficient amount of

body fat. What weight training will do is help you

burn fat in the future. When you add muscle to your

frame, your body has to expend more energy (burn more

calories) to maintain that muscle tissue.

So when you are at rest, even sleeping, the more lean

muscle mass you have, the more calories you will

expend. Weight training will not only strengthen

existing muscle, but will add additional lean muscle

tissue to handle any future demands placed on the

muscle. The more lean muscle tissue you have, the

more calories you will expend at rest. Not bad, huh?

6. Figure out your daily energy expenditure and

reduce it.

Most people do not like to calorie count, me

included. But in order to properly lose body fat, you

need to determine your daily energy expenditure or

caloric maintenance level. You then need to reduce

your energy consumption to be below your energy

output. It's difficult to place a number on how much

below your consumption you should go, because

everyone is different. A good place to start would be

150-200 calories below your maintenance levels. Then

continue to observe the effects in the mirror to

determine if this number needs to be changed. If you

continue to see no results, try reducing your energy

consumption to 300 calories below your energy output.

7. Continue to up your weight (overload) when doing

resistance training.

Remember that building lean muscle will assist you in

the fat-burning process later on. The more muscle you

have, the more energy your body expends to maintain

that muscle, even at rest. In order to make constant

and significant gains, remember to train intensely

and for short durations. I like to call them " bursts

of exercise! " Try and work no more than 2 muscle

groups a workout, 3 workouts a week. Keep reps lower

than higher. This will cause you to maintain high

enough resistance to add overload to the muscle,

causing more muscle growth. Do only 2-3 heavy sets

per exercise and keep workouts no longer than 45

minutes. Keep your workouts intense and to the point.

Do it and get out of the gym. DO NOT DO YOUR CARDIO

BEFORE WEIGHT TRAINING! It's hard to focus intensely

on both weight training and cardio in the same

session. Do not rob one to pay the other.

These are 7 simple (well, not so simple if you do

them well!) ways you can maximize fat burning while

increasing the likelihood of not losing much muscle.

Visit LeBrun Fitness for highly effective, low

cost solutions for weight loss and toning. Get your

fitness tips straight from the trainer's mouth!

http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com

=================================================

THREE STEPS TO HAPPINESS! HEALING THROUGH JOY

=================================================

If you need to stop, reconnect with the people and

things that bring you joy and happiness in this life,

a simple book by one of my favorite doctors,

Teitelbaum, MD, is required reading. I've been

carrying this book around for a month, reading it

when I need inspiration and uplifting, and finding it

to be a total treasure.

Dr. Teitelbaum, a doctor who specializes in chronic

fatigue, fibromyalgia, and thyroid problems, and who

himself suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome, has

outlined in a simple, easy-to-read way a three-step

process that will help you move into your natural,

joyful state of being.

Says Dr. Teitelbaum: " Happiness is our natural state

of being. It is who we are. This happiness is obvious

when you look at little children before they take

society's beliefs. Their natural state is to feel all

of their feelings without resistance, leaving them

free to spend most of their time being happy and

playful. It is not necessary to be happy all the

time. By applying the simple three-step principles in

this book, however, you can develop the ability to be

happy whenever you choose. "

Dr. Teitelbaum's personal experience with thousands

of very ill patients shows that these techniques can

help you reclaim both health and passion in your

life!

You can get the book at bookstores, online from

Amazon.com, at

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0964759977/scratcthenetwebs ,

by ordering directly from Dr. Teitelbaum online at

http://www.endfatigue.com, or by calling Dr.

Teitelbaum's office at 410-573-5389.

=================================================

TOP TEN THINGS TO DO FOR YOURSELF THIS YEAR

=================================================

By Sibyl McLendon

1. Learn to love yourself. You are just as deserving

of your love and respect as anyone else is. When you

learn to love yourself, you treat yourself better

because you know that you are worthy of it.

2. Realize that you deserve only the best that life

has to offer. When you know that you deserve the

best, you'll go out and create the best for yourself.

3. Set a goal for yourself and then do what you need

to do to reach it. No matter how small the goal,

reaching it will make you feel very good about

yourself.

4. Learn a new skill. Learning is how we grow and

assure ourselves that we are alive and capable.

5. Take time just for yourself every day. Even 15

minutes a day is enough to re-charge your battery.

This is not selfish; it is self- preservation.

6. Do something creative. Find a hobby that you

enjoy and just do it. Creativity just feels good.

7. Tell the people that you care about how you feel.

Never pass up the chance to tell someone that you

love him or her. This way, you will never feel the

pain of regret.

8. Let go of the past. It is gone forever. Learning

to live in the here and now is invaluable in making

every day the best.

9. Let go of one grievance or prejudice. We all have

them, and they are just black holes on our soul.

10. Laugh every single day. One good belly laugh is

healing. If see anything to laugh at, you aren't

looking hard enough.

Sibyl McLendon is 1/2 Navajo, and is a personal

empowerment coach for Circle Of Grace

http://www.circle-of-grace.com Sibyl can be contacted

at sibyl@...

=================================================

FIVE STEPS TO PREVENTING MEDICATION ERRORS

=================================================

Medication errors occur every day, both in the health

care setting and at home. Although no medicine is

entirely risk-free, you can take precautions to

ensure your safety.

In the hospital, medicines pass through a series of

steps to prevent possible errors before reaching the

patient. This helps protect the safety of patients

during their hospital stay.

" Checks are in place at the point when medicine is

prescribed, when the prescription order is

documented, when the medication is dispensed, and

when the prescribed medicine is administered to the

patient, " says Diane Cousins, R.Ph., vice president

of the Center for the Advancement of Patient Safety

at the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). " The patient

is also monitored to assess any response to the

medication-all in an effort to ensure patient

safety. "

In the home, consumers must make informed decisions

on their own about the safe use of medicines. A free

brochure, " Think It Through: A Guide to Managing the

Benefits and Risks of Medicines, " is now available to

help consumers safely use medications. This free

brochure is available on the Web at:

http://www.usp.org/thinkitthrough

This brochure educates consumers on the five critical

steps in making decisions about medications: Talk,

Know, Read, Avoid, Monitor. These steps allow

consumers to lower the risks and obtain the full

benefit from medications.

* Talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other

health care professionals. Keep an up-to-date list of

medicines and dietary supplements you use, and always

ask questions about any concerns or thoughts you may

have.

* Know your medicines-prescription and over-the-

counter. Be aware of when, how, and how long to use

them, what to do if you miss a dose, and whether or

not there are any side effects.

* Read the label and follow directions. Always

double-check that you have the right medicine,

particularly if you are refilling a prescription, and

never combine medicines in the same bottle. Make sure

you understand the directions; ask if you have

questions or concerns.

* Avoid interactions. Before starting any new

medicine or dietary supplement, ask if there are

possible interactions with what you are currently

using. Whenever possible, use the same pharmacy for

all your medication needs.

* Monitor your medicines' effects and the effects

of other medications or supplements you use. Pay

attention to how you are feeling and write down the

changes so that you can remember to tell your doctor

or pharmacist.

For a free copy of the Think it Through brochure by

mail, contact the Federal Citizen Information Center

(FCIC) by writing to FCIC, Department 73, Pueblo, CO

81009; by calling (888) 878-3256 and asking for

Department 73; or visiting

http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/rc/usp.htm. For more

information about USP, visit http://www.usp.org.

=================================================

DEPRESSION: WHAT EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW

=================================================

Everyone experiences periods of feeling sad, lonely,

or unhappy. When such feelings linger for weeks or

months or interfere with your ability to function,

you may be suffering from depression. Depression

affects 1 9 million Americans-and though it can occur

in both men and women, some forms appear to be twice

as likely in women.

The specific causes of depression remain unclear.

Many factors are suspected to play a role in

developing depression. Research is focused on

understanding these factors, including reproductive,

hormonal, genetic or other biological factors; abuse

and oppression; interpersonal factors; and certain

psychological and personality characteristics.

" What is clear is that regardless of the contributing

factors, depression is a highly treatable illness, "

said pharmacist Matunis, R.Ph. " As with any

illness, the earlier treatment begins, the more

effective and the greater the likelihood of

preventing serious recurrences. The first step should

be a thorough examination to rule out physical

illnesses that may cause depressive symptoms. "

Medical problems, such as thyroid disease, can cause

depression, which is why a physical examination and

medical workup should be conducted before a diagnosis

can be confirmed.

" Approximately 10 to 15 percent of those diagnosed

with depression may have a thyroid hormone

deficiency. Patients with depression should be tested

to determine if they have thyroid disorder, " added

Matunis.

The most common treatments for depression are

antidepressant medications, psychotherapy, or a

combination of the two.

There are several types of antidepressant medications

used to treat depressive disorder. These include

newer medications-mainly the selective serotonin

reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclics (TCAs) and

monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Each acts on

different chemical pathways of the human brain

related to moods. SSRIs such as Prozac®, Zoloft®,

Paxil® and Luvox® have fewer side effects and

have been found to be particularly useful and

effective.

" Although some individuals notice improvement in the

first couple of weeks, usually antidepressant

medications must be taken for four weeks and, in some

cases up to eight weeks, before the full therapeutic

effect occurs, " said Matunis. " To be effective and

to prevent a relapse of depression, medications

should be taken for about six to 12 months,

carefully following a doctor's instructions.

Medication must be monitored to ensure the most

effective dosage and to minimize side effects. "

Source: NAPSI

=================================================

MARY SHOMON'S " THYROID DIET SUCCESS GUIDE " -- NEWLY

REVISED FOR 2003!

=================================================

Thousands of people have already ordered their copies

of the " Thyroid Diet Success Guide, " and people are

reporting that the low-glycemic approach featured in

the guide is helping them slowly and safely lose

weight. And now, I've just updated the guide for

2003!!

Just a few of the key features in the newly updated

and revised 35-page Guide include:

* Is Your Thyroid Causing Your Weight Problem

* Weight Loss Requirement: Optimizing Your Thyroid

* Common Questions About Thyroid and Weight Loss

* Do Your Doctor's Mistakes Stop You From Losing

Weight

* The Habits of Successful Weight Loss

* Menstrual Cycle Linked to Weight Loss

* Weight Loss Secrets for Thyroid Patients

* The Thyroid/Weight Loss Connection - Some Theories

* How To Lose Weight With Hypothyroidism

* Stevia for Sweetening

* Thyroid Diet Newsbriefs

* Nuts for Nuts: Can They Help your Diet?

* Weight Loss Success: How I Lost 25 Pounds in 12

Weeks

* Choosing a Good Protein Bar

* Dieting for the Disinhibited: " Am I Really

Hungry? "

* How Much Weight Do You Need to Lose?

* The Ultimate Thyroid Exercise Program

* Seeing Results with Weight Loss and Exercising

* Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) Overview

The " Thyroid Diet Success Guide " features a diet plan

that you can follow, and specific information on

exercises, and many other tips and resources. For me,

it's been the only way I can effectively lose weight

(and believe, me, I've tried them all!!) The " Thyroid

Diet Success Guide " features information about why

it's harder for thyroid patients to lose weight,

insulin resistance, the role of the adrenal system,

and lots of practical suggestions to help you finally

enjoy weight loss success. The Success Guide will

help you get on the right track, with information

that has actually helped other thyroid patients --

including me -- to effectively lose weight!

Order online now, securely, using Visa, Mastercard,

American Express or your Discover card, via secure

processing with CCNow, at

http://www.thyroid-info.com/dietbook.htm

(US orders $14, including shipping, non-U.S.

orders $17, including shipping).

FAX OR MAIL ORDERS: You can also order by fax, or

mail. For an order form you can print out, visit

http://www.thyroid-info.com/dietbook.htm. U.S. cost

is $15, outside the U.S. is $25.

ORDER TOLL FREE: To order by phone, call our toll-

free order line during weekday business hours at 888-

810-9471 to order using your credit card. If you'd

like a call-back, leave a message with your name and

number, and the office staff will call you back to

take your order. U.S. cost is $15, outside the U.S.

is $25.

SPECIAL OFFER: We have reprinted the " Mini-Guides, "

so if you order the " Thyroid Diet Success Guide " you

will receive a free pocket-sized " Mini-Guide " that

summarizes the key diet tips in a portable, easy-to-

carry format!

=================================================

BOOK RECAP

=================================================

If you, a friend, or family member has confirmed or

suspected thyroid disease, there's my book, " Living

Well With Hypothyroidism: What Your Doctors Don't

Tell You...That You Need to Know. " Most people,

whether they are hyperthyroid, have autoimmune

Graves' or Hashimoto's disease, thyroid cancer,

nodules or hypothyroidism -- end up being

hypothyroid. That's where this book, published in

2000 by Harper, comes in. " Living Well With

Hypothyroidism " is a top 40 Amazon.com health

bestseller, and in October, went to its 16th

printing! You can find out more information, read a

free chapter online, and get more information on the

book and how to order it at

http://www.thyroid-info.com/book.htm.

Don't forget that you can order it from Iherb.com for

a special rate of $10 by going to

http://store./cgi-bin/clink?iherb+jBx8gj+maryshomon.html

You can also order " Living Well With Hypothyroidism "

from Amazon.com for $11.20 plus shipping, at

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0380808986/scratcthenetwebs

For you and the people in your life who have a

diagnosed autoimmune disease, or who have symptoms

such as fatigue, hair loss, joint/muscle aches,

rashes, unexplained fevers, and other mysterious

symptoms -- but no diagnosis -- there's " Living Well

With Autoimmune Disease: What Your Doctors Don't Tell

You...That You Need to Know. " The book was just

published in early October, 2002 by Harper.

" Living Well With Autoimmune Disease " is for anyone

with Graves' disease, Hashimoto's disease, or your

family and friends who have any of the 80 autoimmune

diseases, including:

* Multi-Organ Syndromes -- Including Lupus, Mixed

Connective Tissue Diseases, Sarcoidosis, Sjögren's

Syndrome

* Endocrine Conditions -- Including Thyroid Disease

(Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, Graves' Disease), Diabetes,

's Disease, Autoimmune Oophoritis/Premature

Ovarian Decline

* The Pain/Fatigue Syndromes -- Including Chronic

fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome (CFS/CFIDS),

Fibromyalgia

* Hair and Skin Diseases -- Including

Scleroderma/Crest Syndrome, Alopecia, Psoriasis,

Vitiligo, Pemphigus

* Gastrointestinal Conditions -- Including,

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) / Ulcerative

Colitis, Crohn's Disease, Celiac Disease/Celiac

Sprue, Pernicious Anemia

* Joint and Muscle-Related Conditions -- Including

Rheumatoid Arthritis, Spondyloarthropathies: Reiter's

Syndrome and Ankylosing Spondylitis

* Neuromuscular Conditions -- Including Multiple

Sclerosis, Raynaud's Phenomenon, Guillain Barré

Syndrome, Myasthenia Gravis

Don't forget that you can order the book from

Iherb.com for a special rate of $10 by going to

http://store./cgi-bin/clink?iherb+jBx8gj+autod.html

You can also order the book from Amazon.com for

$10.47 plus shipping, at

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060938196/scratcthenetwebs

=================================================

NOTES FROM MARY: A TRIBUTE TO PAT SHOMON

=================================================

Some of you know that my mother, Pat, who ran the

home office for the my print newsletter, has been

battling lung cancer for more than two years. She was

here at my house for the holidays, and after

returning to Florida, she had to go into the hospital

to have a procedure done to help drain some fluid

from her lungs during the first week of January.

After the procedure, they told us her right lung was

entirely collapsed, her cancer had spread, and that

she had 3 to 6 months to live. They recommended she

contact hospice. They then proceeded to recommend

draining the working lung, to prevent infection or

collapse.

Here are some excerpts from emails I was sending to

family and friends to update them on my mother's

condition, from both my home, and later, from

Florida...

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 15TH

My mom is still in the hospital...she's having some

sort of procedure done on her good lung in order to

prevent it collapsing or filling with fluid. In the

meantime, she's not getting pain meds or other things

she needs in a timely manner...with 20 patients for

every nurse, you apparently have to have a screaming

hissy fit every time you need anything. It's all I

can do not to get on a plane, and not go to that

hospital and start taking names... But they don't

want me to come now.

They've met with hospice and have figured out what

sorts of services are available. I still don't know

when they want me to come -- right now, my mom says

she wants me to wait till she's gotten organized. I

think she's holding me in reserve for when she can no

longer manage her medical situation...

(NOTE: I decided to go ahead and fly down to Florida

on Sunday the 18th)

TUESDAY JANUARY 21ST

Mom is home (we got her home late Tues p.m.) -- what

a medical adventure that was.

Met with hospice team at the hospital before we left.

I am amazed and impressed with hospice...they've been

fantastic beyond belief.

We spent all day yesterday getting things

organized...all the equipment arrived, the nurse came

and I got all the medicines organized, and learned

how to work with the morphine, we got the room

organized with all the medical supplies...went

straight from 8 a.m. till 11 p.m. without stopping.

My aunt is here, she did about 10 loads of laundry,

my cousin is here too, she got in from NJ at 5 p.m.,

and then gave my mother a foot massage for an hour.

All in all, my mother is MUCH happier, and far more

comfortable physically here. It's amazing how

different things are when she can sleep, eat and get

medication on HER schedule, vs. the hospital's.

We've all ended up with our roles. I'm medical

director, drug dispense, scheduler and project

manager, Dad is production, facilities, equipment and

purchasing manager, my Aunt is head of housekeeping

(laundry, and home organization) and my cousin is

personal care!

Today we had another nurse visit, my cousin shampooed

my mom, I did all the medications all day, and am

cooking dinner, my Aunt reorganized the fridge, Dad

did the shopping, so we're all working hard, and

spending good time with my mom in the midst. Mom even

had enough energy to get wheelchaired from bedroom to

living room to have lunch at the table with us. Given

that over the weekend, we thought it was pretty

likely she was dying and wouldn't make it out of the

hospital, this is a huge thing.

I've decided to stay through till the 7th of Feb

(originally was supposed to go home last nite, and

then come back the 1st, but I need to be here to help

with the meds and such.)

MONDAY JANUARY 27TH

My mom has transitioned into the early stages of

dying. She's moving in and out of lucidity, eating

and drinking little, has reported seeing dead

relatives, but is having amazingly clear

conversations with us as well. She's in no pain, and

is totally comfortable, and has said " if I realized

that your loved ones come for one, and that everyone

around you gives you so much love, and you would be

at so much peace, I'd tell everyone that dying is

lovely! "

She's simply utterly amazing!

My husband and daughter and my brother are all coming

in the 8 p.m. range tonight, and I think she's

holding out to see them. Then my guess is she will

either die, or slip into a coma.

The chaplain, a nun, came today and prayed with her

and gave her communion, and told us my mom is very

much at peace, with one leg in our world, and one in

the next. It certainly seems that way...Mom is

predicting things for the future, giving us all

advice, and it's really quite astounding.

It's the hardest thing I've ever done, but an

incredible privilege to be here with her.

We have opera music, flowers, and lots of love all

around her, and she's at peace and in comfort. What

more could we ask given the circumstance.

FRIDAY JANUARY 30TH

My Mom died last nite at 9:40 p.m. eastern.

We had called the local priest to come...she was not

lucid at all yesterday, and was breathing quite raspy

and irregularly all day. He came at 9:30 p.m. and was

wonderful...did a short service, and then called out

to her and quite firmly but lovingly told her it was

her time, that God was waiting.

He left, and ten minutes later, she took her last

breath, with all of us by her side.

The hospice nurse came, and cleaned her up and I

picked out a beautiful dress and strappy sandals she

loved. The nurse dressed her, and I put on some

makeup for her. She is having a closed casket, but

she looks peace, and so beautiful.

Gratefully, my daughter slept through it all, and had

given Grandma a big nite nite kiss before she went to

sleep. She drew a lovely picture of heaven which is

tucked in Pat's hands, along with her rosary.

Hug those you love tight for me, everyone, because

life is so so incredibly precious...

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 5TH

I gave the eulogy at my mother's funeral, and if

you'd like to see it, I've included it online:

http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/patshomon.htm

* * *

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Every single person from the hospice, from the nurses

to the home health aides, to the chaplains, to the

delivery people, were simply amazing. The respect and

caring for not only my mother, but my entire family,

was astounding, and life-affirming, and allowed us to

care for my mother with greater strength for us all,

and comfort for her. If you aren't familiar with

hospice, check out the programs in your own area, and

consider volunteering time or resources. They are

doing an incredibly important thing in this world to

help people live well.

Live well,

--

=================================================

" Sticking Out Our Necks " email edition is published

monthly by Shomon. Please invite your friends to

subscribe! Send them a copy with your recommendation.

" Sticking Out Our Necks " is copyright 1997-2003 by

Shomon.

Web: http://www.thyroid-info.com

Email: news@...

Regular mail: Shomon, P.O. Box 0385, Palm

Harbor, FL 34682

Fax: 727-785-4258

=================================================

NOTE: All information is intended for your general

knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical

advice or treatment for specific medical conditions.

You should seek prompt medical care for any specific

health issues and consult your physician or health

practitioner before starting any supplements,

vitamins, diet programs, fitness regimens, or

changing prescribed medications.

=================================================

AOL-FRIENDLY/HTML Version: An HTML webpage version

of this newsletter is online! See:

<a href= " http://www.thyroid-info.com/news/janfeb2003.htm " >

http://www.thyroid-info.com/news/janfeb2003.htm</a>

=================================================

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