Hypothyroidism and weight loss

[jensonhere]

2 years ago I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Since then we have been trying to get my levels stabilized. During those 2 years the scale just kept climbing. Just recently I had bloodwork done and my levels are good so now I want to work at getting some of this weight off. My goal is to lose 30 pounds. Since I have not exercised much due to being tired ALL the time, I am starting over (used to run daily). I have been walking 2 miles on the treadmill every morning before work. I average between 10k-15k steps a day and have been counting calories. What I want to know- is there anyone else out there with hypothyroidism that has been able to lose the weight and how/what did you do to make it happen?

[RachelShrinks]

I've had Hashimoto's for 25 years, and I too had the uncontrolled weight gain for many years. I've lost and regained—at 26 I was 200 pounds, at 36 I was 140, at 46 I'm 190. I lost thirty pounds last year through daily exercise (not crazy exercise, but things like an hour on the treadmill five days a week) and seriously restricting calories. My calculated BMR is 1560, and I ate only that while exercising about 500 calories beyond that a day and also moving more. According to FitBit, I was burning 2800 a day, but FitBit tends to overestimate. I figure it was more like 2100 or 2200. Still, the weight came off.

Of course, since then, we've had some family health catastrophes and work meltdowns and I've regained 25 of those 30 pounds. Sigh. I'm trying to get back to it, but I've gone from a home-based worker/mom to a full-time cancer caregiver/mom/medical transporter. I don't actually have time to myself at all anymore, so I don't have the ability to work out. I'm going to start trying to work out after everyone goes to sleep. We'll see how that works.

My advice, really, is to figure out how much of a deficit you need to have to convince your body to let go of the weight. That deficit is usually more than people without hypothyroidism. And keep to it. When you don't, you regain the weight super fast. (points to self) Case in point. 

[Bobbinyc]

I've also had hashimoto's for decades.  Research it well.  I went undiagnosed for 3 years, despite dramatic weight gain, loss of hair, and severe muscle weakness, and exhaustion, etc. Then I was under-treated, despite blood work.  It doesn't always show up. I had to go for a radio-active iodine uptake test, for the full extent of the thyroid problem to be known.  The blood tests for thyroid are not as clear as they should be, especially considering how the medicine is titrated to such tiny amounts.  Blood work should include all of the studies of thyroid, including antibodies. Make sure you are working with an experienced, highly trained endocrinologist.  Many will want an x-ray of the thyroid. General practitioners just don't have all the latest info and the extent of experience.  That said, there is also a range of dosages that might work for you and a physician can put you in the part of the range where you feel best.  Track it yourself.  Get tested every 3 months, at least until you feel good for awhile.

Once that is solved, eat foods that support the thyroid.  Eat well. I tend to be wary of supplements - the body doesn't always absorb them correctly.  Eat very well.  And then start to move as much as you can, increasing it gradually.  I have found that the moving works even more than the change in diet, though both are critical.  I also find it helpful to think about my energy level.  

If you continue to have symptoms, see another specialist.  And get a second opinion.  There are a variety of treatments, some that are claimed to be terrific might be, well, sketchy.  But don't give up.  It really is possible to do better, but you may have to work at it.

[tmc145]

Weight loss is problematic for me too.  Must REALLY work at it!  The older I get the worse it is.  Having Hypothyroidism is a problem.  Suggestion to others watch your records as well.  Keep your count as close to 0 (zero) as possible!  Some doctors watch the numbers but as long as it is in the "range" they don't worry about it. My suggestion is to keep it as close to zero and make sure you have a good connection with doctor and tell them you still don't quite feel well and then they will increase your meds to lower your thyroid count!

[EleanorNC]

Hello.  I have hypothyroidism too.  My family doctor doubled my dose of synthroid when my weight gain of 25 lbs was noted.  Sounds like you are on the right track.  Good luck.  I haven't weighed myself yet.  Will do so on Saturday.

Eleanor

[Batty1]

Hello, I had a thyroidectomy 13 months ago for Cancer and gained 35 pounds its been awful but the worse issue for me has been the tendonitis that has ruined my feet and ankles. Has anyone had success losing the weight with thyroid troubles and if so what worked, what didn't? 

[EleanorNC]

I would use the surgeon and any other doctors who treated the cancer as my main resource.  I just surfed the web, because I have a minor problem with tendonitis, and these were the remedies suggested there.  Before using any of them, I would tell the doctor(s) about the problem and ask what they recommend.  Ask them about the following:  more rest/sleep, acupuncture, physical therapy, and any pain-relieving medications that would be appropriate.

Good luck!  I have my first/baseline weiigh-in on Saturday.  Although I am off ice cream, I am never hungry,  So, I am awaiting the results with trepidation.  I have decided to cut down on my coffee to two cups a day, and substitute spring water for some of the high calorie juice which I drink when I don't drink coffee. This strategy just came to me while I was writing this message.  Community works!  Plain water is such a good idea to keep me hydrated and cut the calories.

[BbalanceD]

I would urge caution on calorie restriction if you do the research you will discover when you drop your calorie intake too low or place your body under stress in other ways, through injury or illness, less T4 is converted to T3 instead it converts to reverse T3. It is worth paying for the extra test on your bloodwork to monitor this because your endo can adjust your meds to increase T3. The 5/2 restriction is less punishing than an all week calorie reduction. Good luck, for me it has been a lot of experimenting and I am using the AIP diet to improve my overall health.

I found long sessions of endurance exercise raise cortisol (stress hormone) levels and can make it harder to lose body fat. Hypothyroidism is a hormone balancing act so be gentle until your health improves.

[BbalanceD]

Some research on autoimmune diets may assist. My endo recommended a gluten free diet but I found it difficult to enact and the alternative products contained other, more easily absorbed, flours and converted to glucose quicker. I went off all grains for 6 months and this has greatly helped joint pain. I now add 5 grams of hydrolysed beef collagen (gelatin) to my morning coffee for long term support.

[Dominique]

Here is a related discussion from last year. Linking it as the subject line was misspelt, which may make it hard to find using the search feature.

[Batty1]

I've seen 2 Rheumy 1 neurologist and will soon be seeing a podiatrist and I don't see any solution for the tendon issues that have only been an issue since my thyroidectomy 13 months ago, it's crippling .  I do see and Endo every 3 months and get all the test (t3,t4 and tsh). Currently I'm on 100mcg synthyroid and 15mcg Cytomel and for the first time in over a year I haven't gained weight but,I haven't lost any either. As a thyroid cancer patient my TSH must be kept super low to avoid a recurrence.

[BbalanceD]

Thanks Dominique

Every thyroid story has a similar thread of weight gain and gradual loss of health. my go to research is Ray Peat and GreenMed Info because if I don't do the homework no progress is made. The doctors and specialists seem to be happy to do a brief check of the bloodwork and collect their fee. Luckily now there are terrific online sites advocating for change; Dr Izabella Wentz, hypothyroid mom, etc.

[akshayv]

Suffering from plantar fasciitis for over a year made shopping for shoe a difficult task. I had read about orthofeet and thought I would take a gamble. They are by far the BEST shoe for me. I had cleared my pain up over the winter months and was ready to get back into my walking routine. I bought my orthofeet shoes and absolutely LOVE them. Can walk three miles and have no pain afterwards. My walking shoes have turned into my working shoes. I will order another pair as soon as I have time to look and decide. Currently own the boot and now the walking so the third pair will be a charm! 

[navyasharma]

The stem cells have the ability to derive functional thyroid follicular cells. It provides benefits for the patients having hypothyroidism. The development of the therapy is done on the basis of stem cell technology. It is nowadays available to the people for the development of specialized cell types. With the starting of stem cell therapy, it is possible to do replacement therapies for those people who need treatment for hypothyroidism.