Underactive thyroid

[radiantlight]

Hi! I step over 12,000 steps a day.  I eat fresh veggies and fruits daily, including baked or grilled poultry.  I do not eat after 7 p.m.  However, I allow myself dessert on Saturday and Sunday.  It is very is hard for me to lose weight or maintain weight because I have an underactive thyroid.  I currently take 1 tablet daily of Levothyroxine (75 mg).   Any tips?

radiantlight

[Heybales]

Is the 7 pm for some personal reason, or you heard the myth that matter for weight loss?

Also, the meds means you don't have an underactive thyroid.

Now, you can actually cause a thyroid problem, and similar results - by undereating.

What is a reasonable deficit for a healthy body (except extra fat to lose) is not a reasonable deficit for a body fighting an illness or disease or health issue.

That's you.

Eat too low, and studies have shown even with healthy people, their body will slow down their daily activity, causing them to burn less than they would otherwise.

Eat even lower, and body will adapt and become more metabolically efficient, burning less calories.

So how much do you have to lose, and how big a deficit did you select?

Do you correctly manually log non-step based workouts so Fitbit is giving best estimate of daily burn?

Are you accurately logging all food that goes in your mouth by weight, liquids only being measured?

Weighing even prepackaged items and do math for number of servings?

[whome]

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@Heybales wrote:

Also, the meds means you don't have an underactive thyroid.

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I don't want to come across as overly pedantic here but what the med means is that if properly dosed it should make up for the underactive thyroid so that should not be a problem with your weight loss. Unless... you overdo your calorie deficit as Heybales points out.

 You should read your presciption labels more closely - I am willing to bet money that you are taking 0.075mg or 75mcg daily - levothyroxine is not available as a 75mg tablet

Good luck

[scoobie57]

I also get about 11K-12K steps per day, am on Levothyroxine (50 mcg, 1/day). Thyroid blood tests (TSH) are not that low but am experiencing classic symptons and also have chronic, but mild, Low Sodium also in Blood work. Looking for some natural ways to tackle this and get off the meds. Reading that some food sources are not good to have with Low Thyroid (i.e.Kale, Spinach, Brussell Sprouts), Wondering if others have gotten any good results from either certain foods or supplements to help get this under control.

[Diesel712]

Hey Radiantlight!  

I thought I would take a stab at your question considering I am on the same dosage of the same drug.  I too find it difficult to lose weight, even on the proper medication.  I have had the greatest success when I spread my meals out throughout the day, beginning with coffee and a protein shake no sooner than 1 hour after I take the Levothyroxine.  I eat a light snack at 10, a lunch sized salad at 12, another snack at 2 and a cup of green tea and lemon at 4.  The green tea gives me a little energy boost for getting home which helps in curbing my incessant need to "nibble" when I walk in the door.  

I think the best advise I can offer to us "thyroid gals" is to realize that it is always going to be more difficult for us to loose weight so patience is key.  Anytime I have succesfully lost weight and kept it off in the past has been through slow, intentional loss.  

Good luck!  

[eupepsia]

Hi there!  I gained 50 lbs in three months, once I went on Levothyroxine I dropped twenty of them very quickly.  I lost another 11 - but that took a lot of hard work and dieting - and I still have a ways to go!

Make sure to take it on an empty stomach and wait at least half an hour to eat.

The amount of macronutrients you eat really matters- I see you include fresh veggies, fruits, and poultry - but what is your complete consumption like? Make sure you are eating ENOUGH! Keep your carb amount low and to complex carbs (eat carbs and proteins after a hard workout!)  I personally fast through going to the gym (Wake up at 6 or 7, spend an 1.5-2 hrs in the gym), and then eat quite a bit, and fast for two hrs prior to sleeping.

Also- a cheat meal once a week actually helps drop weight!  Just don't make it a cheat day.... or week!

[Gardenmum]

Hi I too have an underactive thyroid taking a 100 micro grams tablet of thyroxine each day. I have had this problem for 15 years or so. And over 4 years when I had a horse I found my weight was so much lighter !

I am now up to 10k steps a day which takes a lot of work. But find after doing a long walk   have a sweet tooth and find that I am then problems loosing weight. 😞

I think I need to look closely at the amount of food I am eating, and try to cut down on the sweet things. I eat plenty of fruit and veg.

Puddings are so yummy too ..... So in reflection I think my problem is in fact eating sweet things and too much. Simple to write down but difficult to change.

Good luck everyone

[birdwatcher16]

The only way I can lose weight is to keep my calorie intake at about 1300 calories.  I am at .175 Levox.  Focus mostly on lean proteins and berries, apples and most veggies.