I'm Hypothyroid and Finding it impossible to lose weight?

Meeva87
Meeva87 Posts: 57 Member
edited November 18 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi, I'm new here. I've recently been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism, and started a 50mcg Eltroxin medication 2 days ago. So far, I'm okay on them, but even before I was diagnosed with Hypothyroid, I noticed I couldn't get rid of the weight and not only that; I have an insatiable appetite for sweet things, more so chocolate and if I can't eat chocolate I'll binge on whatever I can get my hands on.

I'm 29, don't drink or smoke, only eat fish, not other meat. I weigh 167 lbs and this is the heaviest I've been in over 5 years, and I'm now terrified of putting weight back on that I lost those years ago.

I'm finding it hard to find food that I can make meals from, I also don't have the funds to buy expensive foods and organic stuff to make fancy meals either. So I need help, advice, tips, if anyone has this condition and lost weight with it, please help me. I'm going to log on here everyday, and try keep track, because since I was diagnosed with this, I've found it impossible to shift any weight whatesoever.

I also find exercising like trying to climb Everest lol! Seriously, everything is exhausting, and I've no energy, and I feel down all the time, I also have irregular periods which are causing bad mood swings and not wanting to do anything. I really just want to get off about 20 pounds, and I'll be happy for now.

I've no real friends to go walking with, as I'm socially anxious, it makes it difficult to go exercise on my own outside or in a gym, so yeah...I'm struggling real bad.

Sorry for rambling, I just want to hear how others lost weight with this condition, and symptoms, and what advice you can give me, what I can do differently, how I can help myself etc. I really appreciate anyone who can help me.
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Replies

  • Michellelynn219
    Michellelynn219 Posts: 62 Member
    I sent you a message. It said there was an error. Let me know if you received it :)
  • bluets2011
    bluets2011 Posts: 241 Member
    I used to be the same. Read a lot. Mary Solomon website, Hypothyroid mum, Izabella Wentz, Stop the thyroid madness, thyroid Uk, are some of the websites where I got to learn a lot about thyroid. After 15+ years suffering I'm finally on the mend having been prescribed T3 only. Still overweight but since finding this site, and going low carb 29 days ago managed to lose 6 pounds. I'm feeling really positive now and crossing my fingers that I will keep loosing. Good luck and you're welcome to friend me. :-)
  • Purplebunnysarah
    Purplebunnysarah Posts: 3,252 Member
    It can take about 6 weeks to even know if your medication is helping. It will take time! So give it time and just do what you can while your body adjusts to the medication. It can take several rounds of testing and adjusting to get dosages correct.
  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    StaciMarie1974 wrote: »
    You may need to give it more than 2 days for the medication to start working. The thyroid condition will affect your energy levels and your body's metabolism.

    In the meantime, focus on eating reasonable amounts. Not starving yourself but also not binging. If you feel that you can control yourself if you have sweets occasionally, then have them occasionally. If you feel you can't handle having them around for fear of eating the whole container, then don't buy them.

    Sorry I completely read over that point.

    It takes approximately 5-7 days (from clinical observation) for levothyroxine to take effect. It will take longer for you to notice any effects and it will takes weeks for your hormones to act and react accordingly, adjust and balance.

    My diary is open for anyone to review. I never eliminated any foods, just ate the same things in moderation and stuck to the budget.
  • not_a_runner
    not_a_runner Posts: 1,343 Member
    CSARdiver wrote: »
    StaciMarie1974 wrote: »
    You may need to give it more than 2 days for the medication to start working. The thyroid condition will affect your energy levels and your body's metabolism.

    In the meantime, focus on eating reasonable amounts. Not starving yourself but also not binging. If you feel that you can control yourself if you have sweets occasionally, then have them occasionally. If you feel you can't handle having them around for fear of eating the whole container, then don't buy them.

    Sorry I completely read over that point.

    It takes approximately 5-7 days (from clinical observation) for levothyroxine to take effect. It will take longer for you to notice any effects and it will takes weeks for your hormones to act and react accordingly, adjust and balance.

    My diary is open for anyone to review. I never eliminated any foods, just ate the same things in moderation and stuck to the budget.

    ^ Bolded is exactly what I was going to say.

    I've been on meds for hypo for almost 10 years (I'm now 23). Lost 60+ a few years ago (gained it back, but not thyroid related.. eating too much food and sitting on my butt related..).
    I'm currently back down to 178 from my heaviest of 215.
    Track everything, get a food scale so you can weigh everything.

    I can also find it difficult to get myself exercising, but I usually feel much better and sleep better when I do. Even walking is a good place to start.
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    Being low thyroid for a long time will do a number on all your organs, even after getting meds it may take a while for everything to sort itself so you feel better. It's also pretty natural to crave sweets when your energy level is low - you're instinctively trying to give yourself more energy! And the periods may sort themselves now that you are on meds as well.

    I've been hypothyroid for years but unable to tolerate meds because they made my heart race. (I also have lupus and diabetes.) Now that my heart rate is lower due to diet and exercise, I'm starting meds again (today in fact!) and we'll just have to see.

    What I've found is the most important thing is to find something you can do every day - I live in a place with regular bad weather, so what I do is HIIT cycling intervals on my stationary bike, 15 minutes a day. I started with 15 minutes of very slow pedaling and am up to 2 minutes fast, 1 minute flat out for 5 cycles. I hate it, but the thing is, it's 15 minutes, no excuses. I can handle anything for 15 minutes. When this gets too easy, I can up the resistance and swap to 1 minute on 1 minute off. So no matter what, I make myself do at least this, and then other exercise is on top of it. If you can't afford a bike, you could do the same thing with any other cardio activity, such as jumping jacks. The thing which is stupid about being exhausted and ill is that avoiding working out will not make you less exhausted, only more ill. The only way through is to work even when you feel like poo, and take your meds, and have faith you will gradually feel better.

    How is your hemoglobin? That's another thing that can strip your energy and irregular periods can do that.

    As far as making good food on a budget, don't worry about organic right now. There's very little evidence it has any impact on health and zero evidence it has an effect on weight loss. There is a learning curve on eating healthy food cheaply, but you can learn this. Buy basic foodstuffs and cook at home as much as possible. Nothing fancy, simple stir-fry with a non-stick pan. Or roast vegetables in the oven. Onions, beans, sweet potatoes, cabbage, plus whatever fruits and vegetables are in season and cheap. I don't know what the resources are where you live, but since you're a pescatarian find where the cheap fish market is - here where I live it's a Mexican market. If you buy not-fashionable fish such as mackerel, you can eat very well for very little - fresh mackerel at the Mexican market is $2.99/lb versus salmon at Whole Foods for $16.99, and they are both fatty fish high in omega-3s.
  • SCoil123
    SCoil123 Posts: 2,111 Member
    The things I found most helpful
    1. Proper medication - nothing worked until that was fixed first
    2. Adding muscle with weights
    3. Reducing and eliminating the foods that caused me inflammation (most refined carbs and soy, also cut wheat completely after an allergy test)
  • LORAXPLORA
    LORAXPLORA Posts: 5 Member
    Hi, I'm hoshimoto's hypothyroid and am very succesful with weight loss, exercise and FINALLY getting the right combination of all of the above. I've become very clear on what works and what doesn't and my advice came with lots of experimentation and lots of research. In fact when doctors and experts have recommended and I fought because it didn't help - I finally won. Please note - Here is what I found that is an add on to the comment just above me - a few more critical pieces >

    #4. Exactly WHEN you eat certain foods, especially after taking your medication.
    #5. When you take your medication:

    *For starters, waiting 45 min to an hour after taking medication to eat or drink. Reduce the iron you take until the afternoon. Or consider taking your medication at night, vs. in the morning.

    #6. TAKE PROBIOTICS. Hypothyroid and gut health are a direct connection. Work on both the symptoms and the root cause*

    #7. I would highly recommend Organic. Here's why: There are more toxins and pesticides in your fruits and veggies that would do more harm than good.

    #8. Listen to your body. If it hurts, your medication is the wrong dose. I knew in two weeks if the medication was working.

    Feel free to reach me.
  • Tried30UserNames
    Tried30UserNames Posts: 561 Member
    Once you find a medication and dose that works for you, your fatigue should start to subside which will make it much easier to follow both a lower calorie eating plan and to begin an exercise plan. You shouldn't have to buy expensive specialty foods, but you may find you do best with a basic well-balanced diet eating of all the food groups, with plenty of vegetables and other healthy foods. Many who are hypo do not do well long term on a very low carb diet as it can further lower their thyroid function.

    You will probably be able to lose weight once your hormone levels are optimal, but you also may find things fluctuate and there are times your body won't lose weight even when you think it should.

    For myself, I couldn't tolerate the medication you are on and you may find it makes you sicker. Don't be afraid to research and try different things if your doctor's favored medication isn't the one most compatible with your body.
  • michelledantinne
    michelledantinne Posts: 2 Member
    Hello. I knew there was something wrong for a few years now and was finally diagnosed with hypothyroid in Sept '16. I've been working out at least 5x a week at least an hour a day over the last 4 years and have actually put on 20 lbs during that time. I had to do a health assessment for my DH company this morning and found I was 3 inches more in my waist than last year. My working out is at a hault due to a tennis elbow that refuses to heal for the last year. My Dr. told me to lay off cardio recently due to extremely low t3 levels and stressed adrenals. I eat pretty healthy with the occasional treat. I have been taking Nature Throid and Lirothyronine and I cannot lose a lb! I've tried low carb, shake protocols, phentermine, nothing works. I'm at a loss. So incredibly depressed right now. Nothing fits. I don't mean to have a pity party, as I know there are many in my same shoes. That's exactly why I'm posting here. No one else understands what I'm going through. Any advice?
  • cheryldumais
    cheryldumais Posts: 1,907 Member
    michelledantinne wrote: »
    Hello. I knew there was something wrong for a few years now and was finally diagnosed with hypothyroid in Sept '16. I've been working out at least 5x a week at least an hour a day over the last 4 years and have actually put on 20 lbs during that time. I had to do a health assessment for my DH company this morning and found I was 3 inches more in my waist than last year. My working out is at a hault due to a tennis elbow that refuses to heal for the last year. My Dr. told me to lay off cardio recently due to extremely low t3 levels and stressed adrenals. I eat pretty healthy with the occasional treat. I have been taking Nature Throid and Lirothyronine and I cannot lose a lb! I've tried low carb, shake protocols, phentermine, nothing works. I'm at a loss. So incredibly depressed right now. Nothing fits. I don't mean to have a pity party, as I know there are many in my same shoes. That's exactly why I'm posting here. No one else understands what I'm going through. Any advice?
    I'm hypothyroid and have been for years. Working out excessively actually makes me feel much worse. I get raging headaches and feel like I'm going to collapse. I have lost 80 pounds walking and eating at a deficit. If you are anything like me you might want to just watch the diet more and do gentle exercise. No one understands that doesn't suffer from this frustrating condition. You can normalize your weight and you can feel better but as others have said it takes time and patience. Try slowing down and eating healhy and low calorie. Find things you like to do but don't push beyond your ability to recover in a day or two. That has been my experience anyway for what it's worth.

  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    Tried30UserNames wrote: »
    Once you find a medication and dose that works for you, your fatigue should start to subside which will make it much easier to follow both a lower calorie eating plan and to begin an exercise plan. You shouldn't have to buy expensive specialty foods, but you may find you do best with a basic well-balanced diet eating of all the food groups, with plenty of vegetables and other healthy foods. Many who are hypo do not do well long term on a very low carb diet as it can further lower their thyroid function.

    You will probably be able to lose weight once your hormone levels are optimal, but you also may find things fluctuate and there are times your body won't lose weight even when you think it should.

    For myself, I couldn't tolerate the medication you are on and you may find it makes you sicker. Don't be afraid to research and try different things if your doctor's favored medication isn't the one most compatible with your body.

    Would you share more about your experience with specific medications? I'm interested in knowing what my options are and the internet seems to say "try stuff at random until something works for you" which isn't very helpful.
  • Meeva87
    Meeva87 Posts: 57 Member
    AgileK9 wrote: »
    You sound exhausted and I just want to give you a hug! I'm hypothyroid and went undiagnosed for years because I didn't fit into their perfect window of test levels. I had to fight to get on meds and then they put me on the wrong one for years until a doctor finally did the right tests. She figured out that the T4 med that I was on was useless because my body wasn't converting T4 into T3. Even with the right meds it may take awhile for your body to adjust. Be easy on yourself in the meantime. Take long walks, that's what started me back on to exercising. Try to cut out the refined stuff, sugar, processed foods etc and eat more nutrient dense foods.

    Also, have you had your Vitamin D levels checked? I was so low, it almost didn't register. Taking 5000 iu's a day of Vitamin D has helped me immensely with so many things. Low D can have a lot of the same symptoms as thyroid issued.

    Haha aww thank you! I'm sorry you had to go through all that before you got what was right for you! Thanks for the info :)
  • Meeva87
    Meeva87 Posts: 57 Member
    TresaAswegan wrote: »
    CSARdiver wrote: »
    StaciMarie1974 wrote: »
    You may need to give it more than 2 days for the medication to start working. The thyroid condition will affect your energy levels and your body's metabolism.

    In the meantime, focus on eating reasonable amounts. Not starving yourself but also not binging. If you feel that you can control yourself if you have sweets occasionally, then have them occasionally. If you feel you can't handle having them around for fear of eating the whole container, then don't buy them.

    Sorry I completely read over that point.

    It takes approximately 5-7 days (from clinical observation) for levothyroxine to take effect. It will take longer for you to notice any effects and it will takes weeks for your hormones to act and react accordingly, adjust and balance.

    My diary is open for anyone to review. I never eliminated any foods, just ate the same things in moderation and stuck to the budget.

    ^ Bolded is exactly what I was going to say.

    I've been on meds for hypo for almost 10 years (I'm now 23). Lost 60+ a few years ago (gained it back, but not thyroid related.. eating too much food and sitting on my butt related..).
    I'm currently back down to 178 from my heaviest of 215.
    Track everything, get a food scale so you can weigh everything.

    I can also find it difficult to get myself exercising, but I usually feel much better and sleep better when I do. Even walking is a good place to start.

    Wow! Thank you for sharing that, and well done for losing so much! I completely understand as well! I have a food scales, so will put it to better use! :)
  • SCoil123
    SCoil123 Posts: 2,111 Member
    rheddmobile wrote: »
    Tried30UserNames wrote: »
    Once you find a medication and dose that works for you, your fatigue should start to subside which will make it much easier to follow both a lower calorie eating plan and to begin an exercise plan. You shouldn't have to buy expensive specialty foods, but you may find you do best with a basic well-balanced diet eating of all the food groups, with plenty of vegetables and other healthy foods. Many who are hypo do not do well long term on a very low carb diet as it can further lower their thyroid function.

    You will probably be able to lose weight once your hormone levels are optimal, but you also may find things fluctuate and there are times your body won't lose weight even when you think it should.

    For myself, I couldn't tolerate the medication you are on and you may find it makes you sicker. Don't be afraid to research and try different things if your doctor's favored medication isn't the one most compatible with your body.

    Would you share more about your experience with specific medications? I'm interested in knowing what my options are and the internet seems to say "try stuff at random until something works for you" which isn't very helpful.

    I take levothyroxine along with a B vitamin complex and selenium. I have hashimotos if that matters
  • Meeva87
    Meeva87 Posts: 57 Member
    rheddmobile wrote: »
    Being low thyroid for a long time will do a number on all your organs, even after getting meds it may take a while for everything to sort itself so you feel better. It's also pretty natural to crave sweets when your energy level is low - you're instinctively trying to give yourself more energy! And the periods may sort themselves now that you are on meds as well.

    I've been hypothyroid for years but unable to tolerate meds because they made my heart race. (I also have lupus and diabetes.) Now that my heart rate is lower due to diet and exercise, I'm starting meds again (today in fact!) and we'll just have to see.

    What I've found is the most important thing is to find something you can do every day - I live in a place with regular bad weather, so what I do is HIIT cycling intervals on my stationary bike, 15 minutes a day. I started with 15 minutes of very slow pedaling and am up to 2 minutes fast, 1 minute flat out for 5 cycles. I hate it, but the thing is, it's 15 minutes, no excuses. I can handle anything for 15 minutes. When this gets too easy, I can up the resistance and swap to 1 minute on 1 minute off. So no matter what, I make myself do at least this, and then other exercise is on top of it. If you can't afford a bike, you could do the same thing with any other cardio activity, such as jumping jacks. The thing which is stupid about being exhausted and ill is that avoiding working out will not make you less exhausted, only more ill. The only way through is to work even when you feel like poo, and take your meds, and have faith you will gradually feel better.

    How is your hemoglobin? That's another thing that can strip your energy and irregular periods can do that.

    As far as making good food on a budget, don't worry about organic right now. There's very little evidence it has any impact on health and zero evidence it has an effect on weight loss. There is a learning curve on eating healthy food cheaply, but you can learn this. Buy basic foodstuffs and cook at home as much as possible. Nothing fancy, simple stir-fry with a non-stick pan. Or roast vegetables in the oven. Onions, beans, sweet potatoes, cabbage, plus whatever fruits and vegetables are in season and cheap. I don't know what the resources are where you live, but since you're a pescatarian find where the cheap fish market is - here where I live it's a Mexican market. If you buy not-fashionable fish such as mackerel, you can eat very well for very little - fresh mackerel at the Mexican market is $2.99/lb versus salmon at Whole Foods for $16.99, and they are both fatty fish high in omega-3s.

    Thank you, that is great information and yeah I totally agree. All I can manage at the moment is an hour a day walking my dogs, after that, I get too tired to do anymore. I know my problem is food and not correcting myself when I overreat. I really appreciate all the info you put in here!
  • Meeva87
    Meeva87 Posts: 57 Member
    Hi everyone! Thank you so much for all your replies, I've been reading them all, and jotting down tips to help me. You really are wonderful people for being so positive and helpful. I'm buying a diary tomorrow when I go shopping, and I'm going to start writing down everything I eat in a day, and how much I'm drinking and then log it in on this website, and then I'll be able to judge what I'm doing wrong and what I can do to make things better. Thank you again everyone! :)
  • Duchy82
    Duchy82 Posts: 560 Member
    Give the meds time to work be prepared for needing a few increases and once on the right dose you should be able to lose the weight. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in Apr 2010 got to my heaviest at 237lb and have lost 73lbs altogether so it most definitely can be done. I'm on the home stretch now trying to get to around 155lb. I lost the weight by eating what I liked, you don't need to follow anything special if you don't want to. For now get the meds right and try and get the cravings under control and the rest will follow.

    Some great advice has already been given so I won't repeat what has already been said. Good luck.
  • not_a_runner
    not_a_runner Posts: 1,343 Member
    Meeva87 wrote: »
    Hi everyone! Thank you so much for all your replies, I've been reading them all, and jotting down tips to help me. You really are wonderful people for being so positive and helpful. I'm buying a diary tomorrow when I go shopping, and I'm going to start writing down everything I eat in a day, and how much I'm drinking and then log it in on this website, and then I'll be able to judge what I'm doing wrong and what I can do to make things better. Thank you again everyone! :)

    Writing it down and then logging later might be a good way to get the hang of things, but if you can log directly to MFP you'll save yourself the extra step of writing it down.

    I've found it works much better to log as you go throughout your day, or even log your day in advance if possible. That way you can keep an eye on where you're at and not realize you've gone over when you finally do log everything.
  • mmmpork
    mmmpork Posts: 133 Member
    When it comes to diet, do not do anything too extreme like low-carb until you've established a baseline. Use the dietary advice you get from your doctor as a base for experimentation (sometimes their advice isn't always the best) and try to stick to a relatively balanced macro distribution. Note that You can lose weight on any diet as long as there is a calorie deficit and other metabolic factors have been accounted for.

    Regarding the sweets craving, I often find I get those when my macros are out of balance, particularly if I'm not eating enough saturated fat. It can also be linked to a vitamin deficiency or even a brain chemical dysfunction (eg, low serotonin). Whole fat dairy usually resolves the craving in my case but you'll need to experiment for yourself.

    For eating healthy on a budget, my biggest advice is to cook as much from scratch as is feasible. You'll not only reduce your calories, but also increase the overall nutrition density of the foods you are eating. I'm a huge fan of America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Illustrated. They have vegetarian cookbooks and vegetarian options in most of their cookbooks. You can find their cookbooks at the library or even used. They are also very budget conscious and recommend cheaper options. One of my favorite recipes is a simple linguine with tomato sauce. It is literally about 6 oz of linguine, a can of whole tomatoes, basil, olive oil, and salt. You use a food processor to chop the tomatoes for the sauce and you can cook the linguine directly in it without having to boil it separately. Their recipes are well written and well tested so they will come out perfectly as long as you follow the directions. My favorite cookbooks of theirs are Cooking for Two, Cook's Illustrated Cookbook, and Make Ahead Meals. I also recently got One Pan Wonders and Cook it in Cast Iron and I'm enjoying those a lot as well.
  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    Check out the work of Jeffrey Brown, MD. He's an endocrinologist who revolutionized the treatment of hypothyroidism and one of the key reasons the TSH "normal" range is established at 0.2-2.0. He clients are some of the world's elite endurance athletes and has a theory that endurance competitions may cause a higher risk of hypothyroidism.

    Another point that has worked for me is hydration. I get up at 5am to take 200 mcg Synthroid and drink 16 oz water. I drink 16 oz water 30 mins prior to every meal, which also helps with hunger signaling and satiety.
  • Meeva87
    Meeva87 Posts: 57 Member
    Thanks again to the other replies, I've been writing down all your tips and sticking them to my 'wall of inspiration', it is going to help me. You are all really wonderful for being so supportive and helpful, honestly, thank you! :)
  • Psychgrrl
    Psychgrrl Posts: 3,177 Member
    StaciMarie1974 wrote: »
    You may need to give it more than 2 days for the medication to start working. The thyroid condition will affect your energy levels and your body's metabolism.

    THIS! Eight weeks for the T4 medication to fully integrate and then retest and adjust as needed. If you're on a T3 or combo, the T3 is fast acting, but not the T4. It's a process to get the levels right and then they may shift again.

    Hang in there!
  • ajmccurley
    ajmccurley Posts: 1 Member
    I'm hypothyroid too! Echoing some other advice in the thread, it takes months for you and your physician to get the dosage right, and at least one month of consistent medication use for it to properly absorb into your body. When I was diagnosed I had a year of follow up appointments every one to three months with blood tests to adjust my dose.
    The best thing you can do, above all else, is BE DILIGENT about taking your medicine. Take it at the same time every day - set an alarm on your phone if you need to. This will ensure that the TSH levels they get from the blood tests are accurate and your docor can find the right dose for you as quickly as possible. At your next appointment, let them know you're trying to lose weight. Ask what kind of changes you can expect to feel as a result of the medication and what they recommend you do with your diet. You're on the right track, just give it time.
  • jadedone
    jadedone Posts: 2,446 Member
    Would you share more about your experience with specific medications? I'm interested in knowing what my options are and the internet seems to say "try stuff at random until something works for you" which isn't very helpful.

    I have found that when my thyroid and hormones are out of whack, losing is impossible and gaining is easy.

    I take t3 and t4 meds now. The generic synthroid didn't work for me at all, I felt like crap. I need to be on brand. I was also overmedicated at some point and couldn't sleep and my digestive system was a mess. I thought about doing a natural thyroid replacement medicine but I have been feeling pretty good lately. So much so I felt ready to tackle weight loss again. I also need a daily multivitamin to feel energetic.

    I seem to lose much slower than other people and meal timing and composition seem to matter as well. I think my adrenals are fatigued and that is the next area I want to research.

    I am experimenting with the right exercise. It seems that lower impact is the right way to go for me.

    Good luck, I know it is frustrating.

  • Psychgrrl
    Psychgrrl Posts: 3,177 Member
    jadedone wrote: »
    I take t3 and t4 meds now. The generic synthroid didn't work for me at all, I felt like crap.

    The reason for this may be the fact that there are hundreds of brands of generic synthroid out there and while the medication is the same, the binders, fillers, coatings, and colorings all differ from brand to brand. Most pharmacies stock whatever brand is cheapest when the order is placed. This means you could be getting a different brand each time you fill your prescription. And that can really mess with people.

    I was on a brand name until I changed to Kaiser. They make their own generics, so it's the same every time. I've been really good off-brand for the first-time.

    I take 88 mg T4 (levoxyl) and 15mg T3 (cytomel) every morning.
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