Thyroid and food choices help !

Savannah2990

Looking for others to learn better choices on healthy foods who have thyroid issues to loose weight .
Looking for communication and helpful info.
I retain fluid horribly. ..
In need of 20 pound to shed and I'm very active plus work out 6 x a week.
I'm 54 and never had trouble loosing weight before , so I'm fustrated.

cross2bear

As long as you are on the appropriate dosage of thyroid meds, and you take it faithfully, barring any other medical issues you should have no trouble losing weight. I have been on meds for 28 years and have dropped over 100 lbs since October 2015. Just use MFP, plug in your stats and eat the calories it tells you to eat- there is no magic, and there are no special foods to either consume or avoid. Invest in a kitchen scale and weigh and log your food. You can do this!

NewGemini130

Yep, agree w/ above. I've been hypo all my adult life. Overweight when I eat too much, back to normal when I eat less. If you have issues with water retention, maybe you can reduce your sodium. That helps me.

NewGemini130

Also- there's a big range of normal lab results, so if you're still feeling bad still, revisit w/ your doc.

not_a_runner

Good comments above.
I've been on med's for hypo since I was about 13. Lost over 60 lbs simply with calorie deficit via logging food here.
I gain when I eat too much, lose or maintain when I eat less.
(I'm currently trying to develop better habits and eat more Whole Foods, but I would be working in that regardless of having thyroid problems. Just feels right for me and maintaining my weight loss/health.)

Savannah2990

Thank you , I'm learning my low fat foods I like have high sodium -(.
I've not had any issues untill this year with thyroid and loosing weight .
I'm honestly not a big eater , but I'm going to stop tracking my excerise and only use 1200 in calories for intake.
Appreciate your feedback ,very helpful and factual.

VioletRojo

Savannah2990 wrote: »

Thank you , I'm learning my low fat foods I like have high sodium -(.
I've not had any issues untill this year with thyroid and loosing weight .
I'm honestly not a big eater , but I'm going to stop tracking my excerise and only use 1200 in calories for intake.
Appreciate your feedback ,very helpful and factual.

What are your stats? I could not survive on 1200 calories, but Iose on 1600. Are you medicated? When was the last time you had blood work?

gothchiq

Avoid raw broccoli, cauliflower, and kale. They are thyroid suppressive. Moderate amounts cooked are okay.

SCoil123

I have noticed I'm much more sensitive to water weight gain than those without thyroid issues. Refined carbs and high sodium foods cause me to retain a few lbs of bloat so I try to limit them.

Savannah2990

Scoil123 yes my water weight is horrible .
Sodium I noticed this time is higher then I imigined as I track food . Working on this as I chose better foods

Savannah2990

Yes I'm medicaided with 2 meds .
Changed 4 times in 1.5 yrs with the last on 90 days ago so im going in for blood work soon .
I take 125 Levo
Chytomel 5mg .
Worked great for 60 days and now back to same old symptoms.
Bloated, constipation, emotionally shut down , less energy .
But I also take tramadol 4 x daily for spine n neck injury .
Plus I have a brackel plexus on left shoulder but only take pain meds now if needed .

VioletRojo

Savannah2990 wrote: »

Yes I'm medicaided with 2 meds .
Changed 4 times in 1.5 yrs with the last on 90 days ago so im going in for blood work soon .
I take 125 Levo
Chytomel 5mg .
Worked great for 60 days and now back to same old symptoms.
Bloated, constipation, emotionally shut down , less energy .
But I also take tramadol 4 x daily for spine n neck injury .
Plus I have a brackel plexus on left shoulder but only take pain meds now if needed .

It's going to be rough going until you get the meds dialed in. Once your levels are good, all you'll need is a calorie deficit and you'll lose like everyone else.

bellaa_x0

Savannah2990 wrote: »

Yes I'm medicaided with 2 meds .
Changed 4 times in 1.5 yrs with the last on 90 days ago so im going in for blood work soon .
I take 125 Levo
Chytomel 5mg .
Worked great for 60 days and now back to same old symptoms.
Bloated, constipation, emotionally shut down , less energy .
But I also take tramadol 4 x daily for spine n neck injury .
Plus I have a brackel plexus on left shoulder but only take pain meds now if needed .

how do you take your meds? that made a difference for me. i was only waiting half an hour before eating - my new endo says 1 hour, plus no caffeine within that time frame. you should also not take any of your other medications at the same time as your levo. all of these things can effect absorption.

Savannah2990

Yes always take med alone and wait for 30-45 mins before eating ect .
Scale is 6 pounds down over night -).

Going to eat more veg and protein in calories and work at eliminating sodium in my food choices , seems like alot healthy foods high in sodium or goes against my meds .
Plus milk products goes against me .
Im thinking of getting a coach for work outs as right now I just work out at home with equipment. .

Savannah2990

Today I weight in 6 pounds less . Some fluid gone

honeybunny406

My husband recently had bypass surgery and was put on a 2000mg/day sodium diet. I have had to learn to cook differently, watching our salt intake. We don't eat out much anymore because salt is in everything, practically. That aside, watching your salt intake should help considerably. You can track it on here, which is a good thing. I never salt anything anymore. Mrs. Dash has become our friend. It is amazing how you get used to not having salt and we don't miss it. You should check with your doctor to see if a low sodium way to go would be beneficial. I used to have horrible water retention, but with the switch, I can see I have ankles, again, and it is wonderful. Good luck!

GottaBurnEmAll

I have Hashimoto's disease and I have the opposite problem - I have low blood sodium. Though I can retain water for various reasons (usually exercise related), I need all the salt I can get.

I'm sharing all of this to say that I don't think that your issues with sodium are necessarily linked directly to your issues with your thyroid.

Savannah2990

Good fees back , I don't use salt but I've learned some of my food choices have high sodium even tho my test results show normal readings , I've always ballooned out expecially pregnant as doctor said he even couldn't belive how much fluid I retain but again that's still 35 yrs ago ..

Well I can't weight in after work out , am time or pm time -( my true reading are about 3pm ..
Crazy ...
If I drink water I seem to hold it veres disposal,
I will still drink it during work out but I do limit it .
It sits right under my breast it seems , bloated ...

I want to ask for a diretic when I go back for blood test , I'll see if this helps ...
Thank you for your info ... very helpful

Savannah2990

Specialist now has taken blood work for thyroid and excite and postive to get meds at optimal performance.
Gain 4 pounds over night again and she put me on a low dose of diretic.
Going to focus again on working harder on eliptical plus still do my cardio .
Plus shots in shoulder pushing back surgery one last time -).
Life is so amazing and such a blessing

cbelc2

I cook my cruciferous veggies and also limit soy foods. Tofu used to be my go-to protein. I've been on levothyroxine since the first of the year and am trying very hard to shed 40 lbs in menopause with a newly treated hypothyroidism. 7 lbs of it gone so far!!! 1200 daily healthy whole food calories on a Mediterranean Diet, a vitamin per my doc, 10000 steps per day, circuit weights, and today I'm sore from a body sculpt class last night. I found that Levothyroxine gives me more energy, a clearer head, and my muscles and joints feel better.

deannalfisher

been thyroid-less for 3yrs now (total thyroidectomy in Jan 2014 for cancer) and on levo since then

a couple of thigns - like others mentioned waiting an hour after eating really helped me; also if you are on one or the other and not seeing results you might talk to your doctor - I do fine on the generic levo, but synthroid is a no-go for me (my levels actually creep up; just went back to level and my TSH dropped from 3.5 to .45 in 2 months)

soy is really the only thing that my endo recommends avoiding if possible

Savannah2990

Blood test results show my Levo is trying to push me into hyper mode again .
Decreased 125mg to 50 levo .
Body hurts and headache and drained ...
Possible hashimotos has been the plague I've been dealing with and makes clear sense as daily my certain food choices even fruits ,yogurt ect can upset my body function daily ..
Tsh is .05 L
Free t3 3.2
Free thyroxine 1.45

She lowered levo by 75 and add cytomel 2x day.

CSARdiver

Savannah2990 wrote: »

Blood test results show my Levo is trying to push me into hyper mode again .
Decreased 125mg to 50 levo .
Body hurts and headache and drained ...
Possible hashimotos has been the plague I've been dealing with and makes clear sense as daily my certain food choices even fruits ,yogurt ect can upset my body function daily ..
Tsh is .05 L
Free t3 3.2
Free thyroxine 1.45

She lowered levo by 75 and add cytomel 2x day.

Your TSH level is normal - 0.2-2.0 is the new normal. Talk to your physician.

FT3 and FT4 are both low, so adding the cytomel will help. You should begin to notice the impact after a week or so.

Other than that it's all caloric intake. Much of what you are describing appears to be water retention. Build up a routine around this and try keeping your sodium intake at a consistent level. Success in this is highly dependent upon routine building. The trick is finding one that works for you and your goals.

cheryldumais

Savannah2990 wrote: »

Good fees back , I don't use salt but I've learned some of my food choices have high sodium even tho my test results show normal readings , I've always ballooned out expecially pregnant as doctor said he even couldn't belive how much fluid I retain but again that's still 35 yrs ago ..

Well I can't weight in after work out , am time or pm time -( my true reading are about 3pm ..
Crazy ...
If I drink water I seem to hold it veres disposal,
I will still drink it during work out but I do limit it .
It sits right under my breast it seems , bloated ...

I want to ask for a diretic when I go back for blood test , I'll see if this helps ...
Thank you for your info ... very helpful

I don't want to be negative but just a story about my own experience with Diuretics. I have been on them for years for my blood pressure. I've finally lost enough weight to get off of some of my meds and the diuretic in particular because it's hard on your kidneys. Now although I'm still dieting and exercising I'm experiencing a weight gain which is crazy. I'm having a miserable experience right now. I'm up between 4 and 5 pounds in as many days off the pills and I was on a very low dose. Apparently it can take many weeks for your body to rebalance. Once you are on them it's hard to get off. Don't take them unless you really need them. Just be super careful.

crackpotbaby

Savannah2990 wrote: »

Yes I'm medicaided with 2 meds .
Changed 4 times in 1.5 yrs with the last on 90 days ago so im going in for blood work soon .
I take 125 Levo
Chytomel 5mg .
Worked great for 60 days and now back to same old symptoms.
Bloated, constipation, emotionally shut down , less energy .
But I also take tramadol 4 x daily for spine n neck injury .
Plus I have a brackel plexus on left shoulder but only take pain meds now if needed .

It's worth considering that tramadol maybe contributing to the symptoms you describe. You may want to talk to your doctor about the possibility.

Savannah2990

Yes everything you guys have states is so very true.
I will only take the water pill as I feel bloated only , Im back to my 186 the am with no bloating .

My muscle pain is gone this am , full of energy as not taking levo till Friday to level off a little .

Working out of xs week with elipti and cardio except last 3 days , and I feel better and tested .

My eating some what horrible last 3 days but still

Savannah2990

Lost weight ,
Witch has been typical of past behaviors n weight lost ..
I don't think 1200 is actually enough for my body but I have been doing it 30 days .

My tsh .O5 was low but yes the doctor felt it's the new normal scale , I will see ..
But she did do the cytomel x2 due to energy and sleep patterns -).
I was size 10 and I have to find my new adjustment to what my body is saying , starting with meds I take .
Tyremodel pain meds can slow your functions down correct , been taking for 7 yrs and any chance I don't need I won't use them-)
Ipbrophen is not a freind to me but I have try to use it for pain ..

My thyroid has long history of high n low ..
With closer blood testing , my new doctor who specializes in this and cytomel perhaps it will stop doing it or at least level off longer . Haha
FT3 and Ft4 on paper says normal but I'm just learning about them , so education is the key to change and I'm the type to speak about how I feel or learned when it comes to my body and life and expect her to take that into consideration .
Nothing worse then a doctor who thinks her/his title make the only opinion that matters .

Thank you for all your info and suggestions

leahcollett1

my tsh last time it was checked was 0.13 and i feel great!

CSARdiver

leahcollett1 wrote: »

my tsh last time it was checked was 0.13 and i feel great!

This is an excellent point and why one cannot just go by the "normal" range. This range is only based on population observation and is irrelevant if you are not in your normal range.

I likely ran hyperthyroid most of my life, but never diagnosed and never felt any negative effects. When I had a total thyroidectomy even though I was in normal (at that time 0.5 - 5.0) I felt off. I finally found a physician willing to work with me and increased my Synthroid to 175/200 mcg alt/day and I'm at ~0.14.

This is why it is so critical to have a relationship with your physician.