I weighed approximately 280 lbs when I started working for a local Lumberyard several years ago. Over the next couple of months, I lost 30 lbs simply from running around, lifting heavy boards and loading and unloading trucks. Needless to say, I was rather pleased with myself for losing the weight, and I was determined to lose even more. I was at 250 lbs, and my goal was 220. Only another 30 lbs and my weight loss journey would be complete.

It is important to lose weight the healthy way. Watch what you are eating, including the amount of sugar and fat you are consuming. Exercise, even if you can only walk, it is important to get your body moving. Eat small more frequent meals and drink lots of water everyday.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, I ditched the lumberyard job, and found work doing something less strenuous. Naturally, I figured that I would start gaining weight again, since I was no longer jumping about all day for eight to twelve hours. So, imagine my surprise when, after six months of inactivity, I weighed myself and found out that I was 230 lbs. At first I thought it was a fluke, but then I went to the health club and got an official measurement. I was 230 lbs, and on the verge of losing even more.

I did not understand why it was happening, because I certainly did not feel healthier, I wasn't eating healthy, and I had only been going to the health club for a few days. So what happened to the 20 lbs? I went straight to the doctor and got tested to see what was going on. It turns out that the culprit was a hyperactive thyroid gland. A little uncommon in men, but it does happen. A hyperactive thyroid gland pumps out too much thyroid hormone, which controls your metabolism. Since mine was over active, my metabolism was eating away all the fat stores in my body. Unfortunately, at the same time, it was causing other health problems and I was feeling really terrible.

The doctors gave me a pill that destroyed my thyroid gland, and then put me on a special thyroid regulating medication for the rest of my life. It is a lot easier to manage now, but I run the risk of seriously gaining lots of weight if I am not careful with what I eat and how I live my life.

If you experience weird fluctuations in your weight, and you have no logical or reasonable explanation for it, then you should see a doctor and ask about a thyroid test. Most women are typically HYPO thyroid, and will simply need some meds to help balance it out. Other people, like me, may have to get their whole thyroid gland removed and then take medication every day.

If you are having weird symptoms of fatigue, a fast heart rate, or are losing weight despite having a couch potato lifestyle, then it is time to see the doctor.