Stubborn extra weight/fatigue

[witeowl]

The issue of iron is a good possibility. I'm not officially anemic, but after a weird issue with my period (we're talking two and a half weeks of nonstop flow) I've learned what iron deficincy feels like. I now pay attention and when I start feeling a little droopy, I get in a nice, juicy steak. Works wonders for me, and would be an easy thing for you to try. Of course, since you already have an appointment, it's a bit moot.

[szsz]

I was having a similar issue and it turned out that my thyroid was no longer functioning optimally as a result of an autoimmune disorder. Many doctors will only check one thyroid level; there are three or so different aspects that need to be checked. I was undiagnosed for years before this recent discovery. Am much better now with supplemental thyroid treatment. (I'm 47.)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I too was just about to suggest she have her thyroid checked when I saw your post!
Definitely good to do especially since she is going for a checkup anyway.

[KnottedYet]

By the time I finally went to the doc I was convinced I must have low thyroid. I thought she was nuts for checking all these other things (iron, vit d, cell counts, etc.) Doctors are pretty smart... I sure like mine. She listens to me, but she follows her own hunches, too. (she was talking about anemia at my first appointment for the fatigue, and I was brushing her off!)

Anything your doc wants to check, have it checked! You never know what might be up!

(btw, all my thyroid indicators are absolutely beautiful, even though I have celiac disease which is a big contributor to thyroid issues. Niiiiice!)

[cylegoddess]

I had incredible fatigue.
It turned out I had;
chronic fatigue
low iron
low copper
not enough protein
over training
not enough sleep
Not in that order.
Most of mine is the CG but adequate protein intake helped Majorly, plus not over training. I started to sleep 8 to 9 hours a night, rather than 7.
Im still working it out .
The iron helped as well. Its a good test to have. I also started taking herbs prescribed for me( panax ginseng, shizandra, and some others).Ginseng is great!
Also see if they can check for adrenal fatigue.Thats quite common nowadays,what with stress and working too much.

[tctrek]

+1 on getting thyroid checked. Unexplained weight gain and fatigue are prime candidates.

Also, if you are taking any medications that might block the absorption of nutrients, you need to think about when (time of day) you take them and what you eat/drink immediately after. I take Metformin and found out that it blocks absorption of calcium which in turns gave me a B12 deficiency.

Finally, you should log your food intake. I'm 57 and I have to eat less calories now than I did in my younger days even though I am very active now and barely got off the couch in my younger days! I log everything I put in my mouth to stay within a proper calorie range and ratio of carbs/protein/fat.