Thyroid

mystic81

Hey Everyone!

I'm not asking for myself, but a good friend of mine who has thyroid issues. She is finding it difficult to lose weight, has had major set backs health wise from her thyroid. She is finally getting the meds she needs in her body, but still having issues losing weight. She does eat quite well, and lightly exercises when she can.

Has anyone else had issues with their thyroid? And what did you find worked the best for you?

I appreciate all of the information!

clambert1273

I have Hashi's and Hypothyroid (among other things) ... it isn't impossible to lose just takes more diligence..

Food scale is a MUST with hypo... there is no "oh I can eyeball" or use a cup.. won't happen. Eating the deficit to lose has to come to an exact point so it is a lot of tweaking.. literally every week.

I started in 2010 with doing the normal "Oh I will do 1200 calorie thing" that MFP gives you... that failed me. I lost some but then hit a wall and back then I wasn't using a scale. I decided to start tracking for myself all weight fluctuations and different calorie settings. For me, my sweet spot comes in around 1600-1800 calories depending on my activity level. Since I am not exercising right now, I try to stay around 1600. This gives me plenty of deficit to lose.

Patience is key with Thyroids. Multiple medication adjustments are needed as weight progressively comes up and many blood tests (full panels). I am down 4lbs this week just watching my intake. I don't keep myself from anything. If I want wine, I will have it and log it and work around it. If I want pizza, I have it and work around it

mattyc772014

First things first. Ask them to seek a doctors advice.

clambert1273

mattyc772014 wrote: »

First things first. Ask them to seek a doctors advice.

lol doctors won't tell you anything about losing weight... one nurse actually said to me "you need a low fat diet" .. I laughed in her face. As long as the thyroid is being treated and your levels are in NORMAL ranges (for that specific person) then there is no reason they can't lose weight

tbullucks2006

I have it and losing weight sucks, but it can be done. My thyroid is regulated and its still hard to lose. Sometimes I feel like if I'm not 99% perfect with diet and exercise, then I don't lose. You do just have to be diligent.

mattyc772014

^ I would find a new doctor then.

CSARdiver

Thyroid is a factor in weight loss, but by no means the deciding one. Diet and exercise are the primary drivers in this equation.

If the TSH level is high and has been for some time find a good endocrinologist to help maintain it, but unless your friend had a thyroidectomy this isn't enough of an issue to cause weight gain.

clambert1273

CSARdiver wrote: »

Thyroid is a factor in weight loss, but by no means the deciding one. Diet and exercise are the primary drivers in this equation.

If the TSH level is high and has been for some time find a good endocrinologist to help maintain it, but unless your friend had a thyroidectomy this isn't enough of an issue to cause weight gain.

untrue... I gained 50lbs without a thyroidectomy... my thyroid at this time is now dead and non functioning and when they figured that out my TSH levels were pushing up in the 50 ranges. Only took them 13 years - 99% of doctors will NOT listen to a person regarding thyroid and my PCP would not refer me to an endo (I had to battle that through insurance). Any uncontrolled thyroid can cause weight gain but it doesn't prevent losing..

Branstin

Your friend should get a referral from her primary care doctor to see a qualified dietitian who specializes in working with people with her condition. It is true while many primary doctors can't advise on weight loss, some insurance plans requires a referral from the primary care doctor in order to see a specialist. In addition, if you use the "Search" feature of MFP, you will locate several groups for thyroid support.

LAWoman72

I am a medicated hypo-T (Hashi's) and I lose weight when I control my calories to create a deficit.

However, looking back, even before I was medicated, when I was already quite obviously hypo-T (again, looking back to my symptoms), when I restricted my calories, I did lose.

mystic81

mattyc772014 wrote: »

First things first. Ask them to seek a doctors advice.

She has already checked with her Medical Dr, and Endocrinologist.

mystic81

I appreciate all of the information! @Branstin, I will tell her to ask her Endo for a referral to a good dietician that specializes.

Thank you everyone!

La5Vega5Girl

thanks for the question. i was just diagnosed a couple of months ago and i'm finding it VERY difficult to lose. i am anxious to read all the replies!

La5Vega5Girl

clambert1273 wrote: »

mattyc772014 wrote: »

First things first. Ask them to seek a doctors advice.

lol doctors won't tell you anything about losing weight... one nurse actually said to me "you need a low fat diet" .. I laughed in her face. As long as the thyroid is being treated and your levels are in NORMAL ranges (for that specific person) then there is no reason they can't lose weight

i agree - my dr told me i didn't need to lose any, that my weight was just fine. it also took about a year for them to finally test me properly b/c initial tests came back "normal." i am just in the far ranges of normal, and it's not normal for ME.

azulvioleta6

I have primary hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's disease.

Light exercise is not enough. Significant, heavy exercise is necessary. Reducing carbs is also helpful--not necessarily Keto or Atkins, but getting all flour, rice, sugar, pasta, bread, etc. out of your diet and eating mostly vegetables and protein.

PeachyCarol

azulvioleta6 wrote: »

I have primary hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's disease.

Light exercise is not enough. Significant, heavy exercise is necessary. Reducing carbs is also helpful--not necessarily Keto or Atkins, but getting all flour, rice, sugar, pasta, bread, etc. out of your diet and eating mostly vegetables and protein.

This is not true. I have Hashi's. I was diagnosed in 1991. I only lightly exercise because I also have other autoimmune diseases that have me in a lot of pain right now. I also eat moderate carbs and am a vegetarian. I'm losing weight just counting calories and eating at a deficit, and I'm losing at a decent enough rate as well. I'm also a menopausal woman.

My recommendation for the OP's friend? Thyroid is a tricky thing. There's a range of normal on blood work, and I had the very good fortune, when I was first diagnosed, to have the endo who diagnosed tell me that I'd have a fight on my hands for the rest of my life. He told me to ALWAYS go by my symptoms, not by blood tests numbers. He said that if I still didn't feel well or still experienced Hashi symptoms, that I was not corrected enough. He said that there's a reason there's a range of acceptable norms, and every patient he had found a sweet spot.

To give my personal example, through years of experience, I know the number I need to be corrected down to. It's pretty darn low. I could test normal at say 2.5 or so, and still not feel well, because I need to test at 1.2 or under to feel optimal. If your friend still feels fatigued, has dry skin, and has any other symptoms... she needs to talk to her doctor and have her dosage tweaked.

LAWoman72

azulvioleta6 wrote: »

I have primary hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's disease.

Light exercise is not enough. Significant, heavy exercise is necessary. Reducing carbs is also helpful--not necessarily Keto or Atkins, but getting all flour, rice, sugar, pasta, bread, etc. out of your diet and eating mostly vegetables and protein.

Reducing carbs helps me keep my appetite in check. It doesn't help me lose faster unless I also reduce my calories. That's just me.

I have definitely not needed significant, heavy exercise and I am very definitively hypo-T. And I'm old.

azulvioleta6

Well, it's true for me...and many other people who have thyroid issues.

I could walk until I am blue in the face--I would never lose a thing until I start lifting, dancing, running, etc. I could eat 800 calories a day--if my carbs are over 100 G, I will gain weight.

Track and watch over time to see what works for you.