Trying to lose weight with hypothyroidism

[chunt]

Hello all, 

I am a newbie here but not so new to losing weight, I have in the past lost 60 pounds so I could become part of the military. 
I love my career and everything as far as that goes is excellent and has been for the past few years. 

However, and this is a big however, in September I had been diagnosed with hypothyroid, and had some uncontrollable weight gain that I was unable to manage even with calorie restriction and exercise, I wasn't really eating because I was sleeping for 14 hours a day. Since then I have gained a total of 30 pounds from this condition while my doctors were in the process of adjusting dosages. 

My doctor said my levels are almost normal and I really really want more than anything for this extra weight to go away, other than the fact it has to go away (weight and fitness standards) I just dont feel like myself in my own skin. I have been seeing a nutritionist for the past 3 months and while seeing that person has helped maybe putting a wrangle on what the weight potentially could have been (worse) I have not lost any weight. 

Before finding out what was wrong with me I did try some of the fad diets and found that they hurt more than helped (not enough nutritional support to do large amounts of PT). I really would like some kind of advice from others on here that might have had hypothyroid issues and see what maybe helped them.

Having all that said, I am trying out the fitbit force and aria scale (gets here on tuesday) and was wondering if this helped others achieve their goals?

[Theresab]

I have had thyroid trouble all of my life. I have taken synthroid for 25 years. I have taken Cytomel also. I have also been on antidepressants for 25 years. Nothing would help me lose weight. I ran, lifted weights, and did every diet out there. 

My endocrinologist told me last year that I had insulin resistance so I decided to try the Blood Sugar Solution diet. I started in January and have lost 30 pounds already. Still 40 to go but my energy level has doubled and I have been able to go off my antidepressant. I have discovered that I have problems with gluten. It was making me fat, lethargic,depressed and giving me digestive problems. 

I know that gluten free is not the answer for everyone, but the 6 week elimination diiet changed my life.

Good luck with your journey.

[chunt]

It's been a hard road. Since I last posted the weight went up and then down again so I at a total of 5 down so far. Before hypothyroid I had done gluten free and it didn't do me much good but it has worked for others. I don't eat much of any breads and little starches. I've cut out all sugar with the exception of honey in very little amounts. I do know this is a uphill sometimes feels like everest battle. And congrats to you both on what you've been able to do so far

[kdennis250]

Hey Chunt! I am in my 30's and have had hypothyroidism ever since i was in highschool and diagnosed with graves disease. it completely sucks, i'll be the first one to say that and get it out there BUT as some others have mentioned is it NOT a life long sentence to being overweight. i find that more than anything else it just makes it that much harder to lose the weight and keep it off. here is what i have learned and how i lose weight. i will tell you right off the bat that you wont lose it as fast as your are used to. my husband loses it at about 2-3x the rate as me, and he eats more and works out less, so be ready for that and dont be depressed! it will come off, it just takes us longer.

1. diet! did you know that there is a list of foods that lower your thyroid function and make it harder for your body to absorb your meds? yup, its true, they are called goitrogens. look up the list and follow the rules (typically cooked breaks down the materials in the food that block it to some extent but even then limit it as much as you can and NEVER take them within 4 hours of your meds.

also, i personally believe and have seen that thyroid's tend to react similarly to other endocrine and adrenal disorders like diabetes and such when it comes to diet. because of this i find that if you feed your body similar diets to what you give diabetes then you will find that you have a quicker and better fat loss. I have been Paleo for the better part of a year and i have lost currently around 26lbs, and i see around a 3lb weight loss on average a month. Paleo means no grains, no sugars, no processed food. I eat all natural, made from scratch, organic. i eat a limited amount of natural sweeteners like raw honey, high grade maple syrup, agave (meaning maybe once every few weeks-months). limited nuts and fruits - a few handfuls a day. lots of green veggies, lean proteins, and lots of healthy fats. its a tough one to get used to but it makes such a huge difference for your overall health. i do not starve myself, i do not count calories, i eat slowly until i am full and dont eat again until i am hungry.

2. hypothyroidism can be managed with drugs, however, if you still have some working thyroid (meaning they did not either kill it off with radiation or remove it) then you may be able to take some all natural supplements to boost your activity. do some research and see what you can find. some things i know right off are certain amino acids like l-thyrosine and glutamine. guggle extract is also something that doctors sometimes recommend for thyroid boosting. warning - dont take anything without running it by your doctor of course.

3. always take your meds at the same time every day, and take it in the morning, without fail. there are medical reasons for this, look it up!

4. workout! you dont have to kill yourself, but you DO have to move. we have no metabolism at all to speak of, what we do have we give ourselves. you need to move every day. do strength training, do cardio, and give yourself break days but still at least walk for an hour a day, you can break it up.

5. rest and sleep! dont kill yourself working out hard core everyday, give your body time to sleep and time to rest.

6. moderate! when losing weight or changing diet your thyroid may go out of wack, keep an eye on how you feel and go every 4-6 months to be tested for your levels to be safe. if your thyroid levels are wrong then you'll be pushing against a brick wall, dont do that to yourself.

[Careybeth]

Hello everyone.   Lost 50 lbs about 10 years ago and kept them off for 7 years, then Hypothyroidism and some auto immune issues completely derailed me and the pounds started packing on.  Just when I got that somewhat under control, I retired and gained another 5 lbs.  Then I quit smoking a 4 months ago and gained another 10 lbs.  Now, I am as heavy as I EVER was. 

It is frustrating - I am 5'4 175 lbs and 51 years old.  I eat 1500 to 1600 calories on a "good day" and burn 2200 to 2300 calories a day (per fit bit).  Weight has not moved in a month.  I will lose a pound or two and then gain it back the next week.  Sometimes I can gain 5 lbs in a weekend if I don't hit my steps. 

I am going to just keep at this the best way I can, but would love to have some friends who are in the same boat. 

Good luck (to us all)

[chunt]

The SS hashimoto had proved itself to be a terrible ship so far. I would like to stage a mutiny but that's totally not possible. Feel free to add me.

So far what has helped is a food scale and quantifying everything. Walking running jogging and and food even down to the nonstick spray. I've only lost 5 pounds in about 7 weeks. I saw a dietician immediately after diagnosis for the first 6 months to relearn portions and learn what to eat (not the food pyramid) with this terrible problem.

[Careybeth]

Chunt - I do the same using Fitbit and Myfitnesspal.  Five pounds in 7 weeks is great.  Good for YOU... 

[chunt]

Its definitley comforting knowing others have similar issues. I am going to start TRX this week, I felt like total crap so I took it easy on the running and made up for it in calorie deficits.

I think the thing we all need to (or I just need to) keep in mind is that the weight wont go down in a nice linear slope. I got the aria scale and notice that I have up then down then up and then down again very very often. It would be nice if this condition held true with -3500=-1pound then none of us would have issues but the jacked up metabolism is kind of lame

[monymone]

I was 40 when I was diagnosed with Hypothyroism.  Once my doctors figured out my medications I lost 20 pounds within a month from the medication.  It's taken me almost 4 years but I have lost 150 pounds total now.  I have been just watching what I eat and eating a big breakfast and lunch and have cut down on my portions and eat a very light dinner before 7pm.  I have been just walking for exercise because I have a slipped disc in my lower back.  I am now 47 and continue to walk more and now I'm doing 5K.  So my request is don't give up....it can happen.

Thanks

Monymone

[Careybeth]

Good for YOU.  Keep it up....  I am very dicouraged right now, so your  posting helps.  I am being so careful and  this week uping my steps to 12K a day because the scale hasn't moved in a month.  Congratulations on all your progress. 

[Ebebi27]

I will have to look up this blood sugar diet solution. I tend to crave sweets. Congratulations on the weight loss!

Sent from my iPad

[Algenon]

Some of it can be genetics.  My father is half eskimo and, as a result, my metbolism is slower. ( my usually calories is 700-900 per day) You just need to make sure you walk the 10,000 steps. So long as you are active, the weight will come off.   Since getting my fit bit, I have lost 25 pounds....something I was not able to do before. 

[Shelley]

I have had hypothyroidism since I was in my 30s.  It can cause a lot of different symptoms in additon to weight issues.  I see a "Functional" medicine doctor and they will test a lot more things besides your TSH, such as Free T3 and T4 and other tests.  Anyway, just letting you know that since I got the Fitbit in Sept I have lost 43 pounds.  I also follow a plant based diet, log my food and set goals for myself.  Just because you have hypothyroidism doesn't have to automatically mean you cannot lose weight.  But some people do have more trouble than others.  Just keep experimenting with what works for you till you get it right.  Google "Functional Medicine" doctors for your area if you are truly stuck. 

[Liv517]

This chain has been great to read. I'm new to Fitbit, in a similar boat with chunt re: age. Trying to lose the weight - hopefully this Fitbit can help! Appreciate everyone's insights and can't wait to read more.

[chunt]

Im happy to have had so many readers in this thread. So far I have lost only 4.4 pounds since I started in february with weighing the food to get exact portions, excercising by running and now incorporating the TRX and other bodyweight exercises. I do hope the weight will start to come off soon. I will see my DR again on wednesday and again ask to change my medication or at least get my T4 and 3 tested in addition to the TSH testing he does. I really would like to try armour instead of the synthroid or cytomel in addition to it. 

So far this has proved itself to be more of an uphill battle than any other time I previously mentioned that I had to lose weight. My family has been very upset that my requests to see different doctors or try different medications have been denied as it is increasingly difficult just to keep up day to day. Hopefully soon I can make some headway as this has been frustrating. I really dislike that I am supposed to have a 'right' to a second opinion and am denied each time I have requested it through treatment (3 times). I have seen a nutritionist for the last 6 months and followed her reccomendations to a T.

[Antoinette_B]

I'm 60 and diagnosed hypothyroidism since mid 40's.  I was on Synthroid and then, last year,  Synthroid with Cytomel.  But I have a new "functional med" MD who switched me to 60 mg of Armour last December (commonly used YEARS ago and now making a come back) and my entire thyroid panel and how I feel has never been better!  Many free podcasts for download on nutrition and thyroid from itunes.  I listen to them when exercising or gardening/housework, etc.  You will hear the recurrent theme of removing gluten and that most hypothyroid is an auto-immune disorder....80-90% of it actually being Hashimoto's Disorder.  Weight loss is slow, and I can gain pretty quickly, but my personal experience is a need for watching TYPE and quantity of foods, cardio and strength bearing.  Loving Fitbit, Aria tools and the communities!

[chunt]

I dont have the ability to see a functional MD as much as I would like to. I keep hearing and reading that folks that are on the armour (or any of the porcine hormones) or the cytomel feel better. Personally, I would rather take a medicine thats been proved and around for a hundred years than what I am on.

 I had them check all my levels and the synthroid is going up again because the tsh went up again. It was really strange because it went down to 2.37 after dosing to 125 so my  doctor waited it out another 6 weeks and then shot up past 3.5. Luckily enough my T3 levels were reported normal so I should be ok continuing with a good solid strength training routine with the cardio.

I actually tried one of those 2 hour zumbathons and was suprised I got through the whole thing 🙂 I guess all that jogging is paying off.  

[Bakn]

I also have hypothyroidism and have had a hard time losing weight. One thing I was doing wrong was not taking my thyroid meds properly.  On March 13 I started taking  my thyroid meds one hour before I drink or eat anything but water, including coffee.  On that day I also started walking 10000 steps daily and  recording everything I eat on the fitbit web page. Trying for a 1000 calorie defecate daily. Since than I have managed to lose 21 lbs as of today. I cant say this will work for everyone but its working for me.  Suggestion, when I get close to my steps goal I walk around the room while watching TV or while reading a book on my Windows Surface until I achieve my goal.

[Pixelchick22]

What exactly are your levels now. Most doctors still go by very old guidlines and think anything under 5.0 is normal when new guidlines say 2.5 and they are thinking of lowering that yet again. My endo wants mine below 2.0 and it took a year to get it there meanwhile gaining weight. I have a lot more to lose than you do but when my levels get below 2.0 and I really watch my calories and move more I tend to lose. So far in a week of really using my fitbit and tracking my food I have lost 6 lbs. I hope to keep losing. But know it will always be harder for you to lose with hypo and as you get older, but not impossible. For me the key is writing down EVERYTHING I eat. Those bites here bites there can really add up. I also stay away from processed foods and try to each fresh foods, meats, fruits, veggies mostly. Stay away from most wheat and gluten as for me I feel better when I do.

Good luck and don't give up!

[chunt]

My healthcare provider is trying to get me below 2. I am at 3.5 now and I am trying to bump my fitbit recommended activity from 210 minutes to 400 for this week to see what happens. I started weight lifting to see what happens too. I eat fresh healthy natural foods and usually only homade bread if I have it along with a diet provided by a nutrition counselor who works at the local hospital. I started tracking food on myfitnesspal too. They took a long time to figure it out and do tests to begin with 9 months ago.

I dont plan on giving up. This week I am the sorest I have been since boot camp--and thats really saying something. 

[Shelley]

My TSH is usually around .08 or 1.  I don't have any signs of being hyper.  I do still have signs of hypo such as being cold and dry skin and hair thinning.  I have Hashimotos.  How many here have been tested for Hashimotos?  Your doctor can tell by testing for the antibodies.  Hashimotos is the most common reason for being hypothyroid.  Hashi's is an autoimmune disorder where your body attacks the thyroid gland.  There is a book out with a wealth of information about hypothyroidism and Hashimotos.  The title is Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms? when My Lab Tests Are Normal

 http://www.amazon.com/Still-Thyroid-Symptoms-Tests-Normal/dp/0985690402

Hashimotos can affect people differently.  You can swing between hyper and hypo.  Some people can get far sicker than others.  Many people do not do well on Synthroid alone. They will need to take Cytomel as well to feel normal.  Or take Armour thyroid instead which will give you both T3 and T4.

My provider not only looks at my TSH but also Free T3 and Free T4.  The book above will explain all the tests and all the reasons for hypothyroidism and what your labs results should be if properly medicated.  It will also explain how blood sugar and digestion are effected by it.  He says if you have Hashimoto's you should not be eating gluten.  The gluten molecule is so similar to the thyroid molecule, the body cannot tell the difference and will increase the attack on the thyroid.  

Since getting the Fitbit, I have lost over 40 pounds following a mostly plant based diet, no gluten, no grains except occasional corn tortillas, no dairy, and only small amounts of meat or fish a couple of times a week.  I follow the Dr. Fuhrman "Nutritarian" approach and also try to walk an hour a day.  I am almost 61 years old and have been overweight for many years.  Changing my lifestyle is making the difference.  The ability to lose weight is complex and just because you have a thyroid disorder doesn't have to mean you cannot lose weight.  If you have made lifestyle changes, are getting a healthy diet and exercising and properly medicated, and still not losing, it may be due to other factors.  Sleep is one of them.  Stress is another.  Both of those impact appetite and cortisol which effects metabolism.  Don't let having thyroid issues make you feel like you cannot succeed at losing weight and getting fit.  Educate yourself and be your own advocate.  If you can, see a "Functional medicine" doctor or Integrative Medicine doctor who have more holistic training, are willing to use different norms for evaluating your levels.  Doctors fear keeping your TSH too low because they fear you will get osteoporosis.  Well, my TSH levels have been kept low for years because I feel better at that level (more energy and better mood) and I have bone density tests every year and I don't have Osteoporosis.  My bone density results are actually above average.  Read Dr. Fuhrman's book Eat to Live to understand more about preventing Osteoporosis.  Best of luck everyone!!