Hypothyroid & Losing Weight

BigAnnieG

The first and most important bit of info here is: don't worry! You WILL reach your goals.

It just takes a little longer than for healthy people!

I've been on 200mcg of levothyroxine for hashimoto's for a while now, but it took literally years to get the right level. So patience is a virtue - if after three months you're still not feeling a difference, go back to the doc and get another full panel done. As someone's already said, get them to check your conversion as well. It might simply be that you need to bump up by another 25mcg for the difference to be felt.

If you hold water as part of your thyroid symptoms, you might find that you seem to lose a lot of weight pretty quickly and then plateau. You'll notice much slimmer ankles too I'll bet don't let the plateau put you off - it was only fast loss because it was water, not fat.

Keep going. Possibly the hardest thing to do is reverse a mentality (which I certainly used to have) of 'I can't do this because of my thyroid' to 'I can do this despite my thyroid'. Simple change, big difference in motivation.

Also, as someone else has already said, take it first thing in the morning at least 30 mins before you eat anything, and don't take with indigestion tablets or ibuprofen as these will inhibit uptake.

When you get the medication levels right, you'll be able to lose weight as easily as the next person, especially using MFP tracking tools etc. At my absolute heaviest, I was 314lbs and that was three years ago. It took me three years and lots of medication juggling to get down to 252 at the end of last year, and a new diet and gym membership this month now sees me at 237lbs. This isn't to brag: it's to show that seriously, if I can lose weight at a 'normal' rate now my thyroid is 'in order', then you definitely can!

Keep going!

neohdiver

wendykoopa wrote: »

I went to the doctor and found out that I am hypothyroid. I have been prescribed 50mg of Synthroid and will start it today. Anybody else on a weight loss journey with this disorder and taking this medication that can give me any tips, advice, what to expect etc.? Any details of your journey are appreciated!

Hot flashes stink. I thought I was done with those - but they're back since I started taking synthroid.

Hypothyroidism likely plays a far lower role in weight than its reputation. I have, unfortunately, lost weight more than once. I'm down 34 lbs since diagnosis - and am losing at about the same pace as the last time.

mrtastybutt wrote: »

If you aren't feeling better in a couple of months, I suggest running a full panel to see that you are converting your t4 into t3 properly. In a few people this doesn't happen and they have to take a different hormone replacement but I can't for the life of me recall the name right now.

Ditto that advice - but have the full panel, regardless of whether you are feeling better. If you are making rT3, rather than T3, the only way to know is via the full panel. If that is happening, you need less T4 (synthroid) and you need to add T3. (The "few people" who don't know include quite a few doctors who only measure TSH - an indirect measure that cannot tell you whether your T4 or T3 levels are where they should be -and who may

Terri70 wrote: »

Ok. Thanks for this post. I have a question for y'all. I've been on Levo at 125 mcg for the last 6-7 months and my # looks great. The problem is I'm not seeing any of the good side effects that y'all are saying you get. I'm still VERY sluggish and have been having a problem with losing weight. Could a change in meds make a difference there? and not screw up my good #? I hate feeling like this and am sooooo ready to rid myself of this weight. If it's time for a med change, what do you suggest? Thanks in advance!

Has your doctor run the full thyroid panel? If your thyroid is converting T4 to rT3 (rather than T3), you won't get the benefits people are mentioning. My doctor refers to T3 as the happy hormone, and rT3 as the anti-happy hormone. Many people with hypothyroidism have multiple impairments, including one that doesn't efficiently convert T4.

KristieJC

I was diagnosed 11 years ago. I'm currently on 125 mcg levothyroxine and 15 mcg of a T3 supplement. I have no problem losing weight when I actually stick with a good eating plan. One suggestion: if you don't see improvement after about 6 weeks on meds, you might see a holistic doctor (DO - doctor of osteopathic medicine). I see one and she has me on a T3 supplement because my thyroid doesn't respond to the levothyroxine like it should. Holistic doctors tend to check a lot more in your bloodwork than your standard primary care physician. She found my issue and got everything under control. Also be sure to have regular bloodwork and see your doctor afterwards to make sure your dose gets adjusted if needed. Your doctor should already have you doing this. This is especially important if you get pregnant. My doses had to be adjusted almost monthly throughout my pregnancy. Good luck! If you're interested, send me a friend request.

clambert1273

So by reading everything here.. I am on the highest dose and pretty much the highest my PCP has seen.. I take 300mcg daily. I have hashi's as well. My weight has been fluctuating for years and tops out at about 190lbs. To lose weight for me, I have to be very meticulous with calories and weighing food. I also have to adjust my calories all the time as I lose weight... sometimes up and down lol

It is a wild ride but can be done slowly!