If you're in New York City, I'll be conducting a seminar on "Living Well with Thyroid Disease" at the New York Open Center on Friday, December 9th at 7 pm. The seminar will focus on how to live well with thyroid conditions, thyroid risk factors and symptoms, how to get diagnosed, conventional, alternative and integrative treatments, mind-body approaches, and vitamins and herbs. I'll also talk about the controversies, including: natural vs. synthetic drugs, T3, RAI, weight loss challenges, soy, fluoride and more. If you'll be in New York City and can make it, I'll look forward to seeing you there.

For information on how to register for the seminar, visit the New York Open Center website.

Weight is a constant battle for many of us, myself included. Here are 10 tips -- things that I'm going to do -- EVERY SINGLE DAY between now and New Year's -- to help keep myself healthy, and start the New Year, if not a little lighter, than at least not any heavier. I've also included a E-Book Guide, featuring handy worksheets for every day between now and New Year's Day. Read the article, then download the free E-book, and get started right along with me today!! http://thyroid.about.com/b/a/224814.htm

We're finding out more and more than high fiber intake is one of the keys to diet success, and may just be the make or break factor for many of us, especially thyroid patients trying to lose weight. If you're trying to get the recommended 30 grams of fiber a day, check out Dr. Levine's Ultimate Weight Loss Formula, a fiber "shake" mix that, mixed with water, makes a zero-calorie shake (chocolate, raspberry or vanilla) with 17 grams of fiber per serving!! I hear the raspberry is the latest favorite flavor of my readers. Find out more now.

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

For many of us the holiday season is a time for celebration. This usually means a lot of eating, especially of high fat foods. Most of us put off making any plans to diet or exercise until our New Year's resolution. The problem is most of us don't follow through on our New Year's resolutions. So if we are not going to get started then, why not start now. "What!" You may say, "start a diet during the holidays". Before dismissing the suggestion consider some of Dr. David Junno's arguments for starting today!

http://thyroid.about.com/od/loseweightsuccessfully/l/blholidaydiet.htm

If there is only one article about thyroid disease that you read cover to cover this year, it should be this one: "The TSH Reference Range Wars: What's 'Normal?' Who is Wrong, Who is Right...And What Does It All Mean For You and Your Health?"

Right now, a battle is waging in the endocrinology community regarding the so-called "reference range" for the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) test. Most practitioners rely solely on this TSH test as their supposed "gold standard" for diagnosing and managing most thyroid conditions. But, the medical community is split, over whether or not to adopt recommendations to change the reference range, making it narrower -- meaning that many more people would be diagnosable as having thyroid problems. And what this means for you is that even with the SAME test results, you may get properly diagnosed, or turned away! You may be told you have thyroid disease, or you may be told that your problems are "in your head" or that you're stressed, depressed and PMSing! You may receive proper thyroid treatment, or be underdiagnosed...condemned to chronic illness. It all depends on which camp your doctor is in... This is one of the most important issue facing thyroid patients today, and yet few doctors are even aware of the controversy and the implications for patients. Find out all about the issue, and why doctors are coming down on both sides of the controversy, and what it all means for you, your thyroid diagnosis, your treatment, and ultimately, your health.

http://thyroid.about.com/od/gettestedanddiagnosed/a/tshtestwars.htm

Wondering if I've already written an article about a topic of interest? Pop over to my search page, and see what I have, at both the thyroid.about.com and thyroid-info sites.

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

It's that time of year when much of the country is up to its neck in freezing cold weather, and pockets of snow, ice, and cold have taken hold all around the nation. Surviving the cold weather season means it's time to pay attention to some tips that can help you "winterize" your thyroid, and enjoy better health during these colder months.

Read the 10 Tips Now!

Take our new poll, which asks the question: Which Thyroid Drug Works Best -- and Safely -- for You?" Is it Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid, Unithroid, Armour, Cytomel, Thyrolar, Generic Levothyroxine, Other Desiccated Thyroid Brands, or something else not mentioned? More than 1000 people have already voted, so cast your vote, and see what people are saying! The results might surprise you!

VOTE NOW!

Can you think of a better gift this holiday season than the gift of health? Iherb.com, my favorite online vitamin/herb/nutrition store, is continuing their wonderful deal on my books.

You can get four of my popular books:

• The Thyroid Diet: Manage Your Metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss, 2004
• Living Well With Hypothyroidism, New 2nd edition published 2005
• Living Well With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia, 2004
• Living Well With Autoimmune Disease, 2003

DR. STEVEN HOTZE VS. THE ENDOCRINOLOGISTS: THE BATTLE OVER HYPOTHYROIDISM DIAGNOSIS AND ARMOUR THYROID
Dr. Steven Hotze, author of Hormones, Health and Happiness, has declared war on the conventional thyroid community -- and the drug company that largely funds it -- by writing, and saying publicly in interviews that hypothyroidism is vastly underdiagnosed, that blood tests don't tell the complete story, and that Armour Thyroid is preferable to Synthroid or other synthetic thyroid drugs. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists has fired back, by attacking Hotze's appearance on CBS's Early Show. Things are heating up, and the war is just getting started. I've laid out the controversy for you in an in-depth article, where you'll also be able to watch Dr. Hotze's TV appearance yourself, read the various letters, and weigh in on this issue of importance to all thyroid patients!
http://thyroid.about.com/od/drstevenhotze/a/hotze.htm

MARY SHOMON'S LETTER TO MICHAEL BASS, SENIOR EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, CBS EARLY SHOW
http://thyroid.about.com/library/hotze/blbassletter.htm

MARY SHOMON'S LETTER TO DR. LAW AT AACE, 11/18/05
http://thyroid.about.com/library/hotze/bllawletter.htm

BILL LAW/AACE'S RESPONSE OF 11/23/05
http://thyroid.about.com/library/hotze/bllawletter2.htm

MARY SHOMON'S 2ND LETTER TO DR. LAW AT AACE, 11/25/05
Since Bill Law's 11/23/05 letter did not actually address any of my questions, I've written again, specifically outlining the questions he needs to answer. Read the 11/25/05 letter now.
http://thyroid.about.com/library/hotze/bllawletter3.htm

If you've read my book "The Thyroid Diet," or read articles at my websites, you've heard me talk about various supplements that I find helpful in my own weight loss battle. I've worked with Iherb.com to put together two special combinations of my favorite supplements, to make it easier and less expensive to add supplements to your weight loss effort, if that's something you want to do as part of your overall wellness.

THYROID DIET STARTUP PACKAGE
This combination includes Evening Primrose Oil, Hoodia, Lean for Less Weight Loss, Lean for Less Carbo Regulator, Lean for Less Fat Regulator, Lean for Less Water Regulator, and CLA Tonalin all at a special price.

LEAN FOR LESS STARTER PACKAGE
Lean for Less Starter Package includes Lean for Less Weight Loss, Lean for Less Carbo Regulator, Lean for Less Fat Regulator and Lean for Less Water Regulator

Order either package online from Iherb.com now or order from Iherb by phone, 1-888-792-0028 (1-626-358-5678).

QUIZ: IS YOUR THYROID MAKING YOU FAT?
Could your thyroid be making you gain weight, or sabotaging even the best efforts to lose weight? Take our quiz, and find out whether or not you may be one of the millions of people who are struggling with extra pounds, thanks to an undiagnosed, untreated, or undertreated thyroid condition.
http://thyroid.about.com/library/quiz5/blthyroidquizi.htm

QUIZ: COULD YOU HAVE A THYROID PROBLEM?
Do you have factors that put you at higher risk of developing a thyroid problem? Do you have the common symptoms seen in thyroid patients? Find out in this helpful interactive quiz. Answer the questions, and get a rating that will help you assess your own likelihood of having a thyroid problem. http://thyroid.about.com/library/quiz2/blthyroidquiz.htm

Is your doctor doing everything possible to help you get your thyroid condition diagnosed and properly treated? You may think so, but many patients struggle with thyroid disease, continuing to experience chronic and debilitating symptoms, yet are being told that there's nothing else the doctor can do to help. The reality? Your doctor may be making some far too common mistakes in your diagnosis and treatment -- mistakes that could be preventing you from feeling and living your best. Take a look at these ten common mistakes many doctors make, and make sure you don't recognize something YOUR doctor is doing!

http://thyroid.about.com/cs/doctors/a/10mistakes.htm

With the temperatures plummeting this time of year, many of us tend to hibernate inside our homes. But, hibernating is for bears. As humans it's important to stay active through all four seasons. Yet, a poll of 5,000 people found that 30 percent get no exercise at all during the winter months. Certified personal trainer Lynn Bode has some suggestions to help you stay active, even when it's frigid outside.

http://thyroid.about.com/b/a/141176.htm

I can help.

In a one-on-one telephone coaching consultation, we'll brainstorm your thyroid questions, and I'll share ideas and resources with you on where to get more help so you can feel and live well. If you have just one or two questions, then we can have a 15-minute consultation. If you have a whole list of things to discuss, sessions are available in 15 minute increments, up to an hour. Just the two of us, on the phone, brainstorming practical -- maybe even life-changing -- solutions to your health challenges.

You are invited to set up a phone consultation -- usually, I can schedule your session in the next 48 hours! -- to explore your thyroid questions, and map out a plan to help you enjoy better health. You have important questions, and getting answers to those questions is a key step that can help you tackle your thyroid problems and improve your health.

One important reminder -- since I'm NOT a doctor, I cannot offer specific medical advice, interpret your medical tests, or provide medical counsel. But I can and will guide you to resources, experts, information sources and more that will help you feel better!

Find out more, or book your consultation now, at: http://www.thyroid-info.com/consult.htm

I wish you a happy and joyous holiday season, and I'll see you in the New Year!!

Live well,

Mary

Mary Shomon
P.O. Box 565
Kensington, MD 20895-0565
Fax: 425-977-1175