How can lose weight with having hypothyroidism?

Rudegyal86

I’m having problems losing weight because I always gain it back. I have thyroid problems and it’s really making me wanna give up on trying to lose weight. Do anybody have any advice on what I can do?

MichelleSilverleaf

See a dr to help get your thyroid stable again, and then go back to a manageable deficit. There have been a few people on these boards who have lost weight with thyroid issues, and you can too. But probably best to start with getting your thyroid taken care of.

collectingblues

Are your levels and meds controlled?

livingleanlivingclean

You don't gain the weight back because of your thyroid, you gain it back because once you've lost it you probably don't pay so much attention to how much you're eating and end up eating too much. Have you lost weight then tried tracking to maintain?

ultra_violets

I have hypothyroidism and have been taking levothyroxine for about 10 years. When I eat right I don't have trouble losing weight.

LKArgh

Adjust your meds, and keep an eye on your food after getting at your goal weight

yirara

The same way you lose weight with a normal functioning thyroid: eat at a deficit using a food scale. Your BMI might be 50-100kcal/lower than calculators give you, but it might also not be. Besides, these numbers are within normal statistical variation anyway

Sparkeysworld

As you will know the thyroid releases T4, which is then converted into T3.
A person with normal thyroid function produces somewhere around 20 -25mcg T3 per day.
Once anyone starts to supplement with synthetic T3, the body instantly stops producing it.
So a standard single tab at 25 mcg will just about bring you to normal levels, anymore would obviously elevate the metabolism more (but this needs to be medically supervised).
naturally.
The problem I see with T3, especially in women, is rapid weight gain when they eventually come off the stuff.
For yourself, you are probably going to be on it for the rest of your life, but for many women, especially bikini fitness, bikini physique or bodybuilding types, they may use it for a few months before a show, but when they come off, their natural T3 production has stopped, so the metabolism is at a virtual standstill, this is when the weight gain starts.
It can take months for natural T3 production to come back up to pre supplemented levels, and in some cases it doesn't happen at all, so they have to go back on for life.

yirara

Sorry, but metabolism does not stop, otherwise people would die very quickly. There is a lot of research evidence that suggests that BMI reduces a bit at the onset of hypothyroidism, but that's it. Plus, a decreased thyroid hormone output leads to sluggishness, tiredness, less fidgeting, which all contribute to a slightly lower calorie need, plus increased water weight.

Sparkeysworld

yirara wrote: »

Sorry, but metabolism does not stop, otherwise people would die very quickly. There is a lot of research evidence that suggests that BMI reduces a bit at the onset of hypothyroidism, but that's it. Plus, a decreased thyroid hormone output leads to sluggishness, tiredness, less fidgeting, which all contribute to a slightly lower calorie need, plus increased water weight.

Are you quoting me?
High levels of T3 (50mcg and over) suppress the release of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), which will reduce thyroid signaling hormone (TSH).

There is the risk of being sluggish when you come off T3, and your metabolism may grind to a screeching halt. Therefore, it is important to run supplements to help your thyroid levels recover quickly.

Essentially, this means you must come taper off the Cytomel for as much time as you were on, and run such supplements as zinc, selenium, ashwagandha and vitamin B-12. Luckily, there is a supplement that has all of these elements, and even more. It is called T3-PCT, sold by N2BM, and it is extremely affordable.

I've seen it hundreds of times.
You can read all you want from the internet, but there's no experience like first hand.

yirara

Sparkeysworld wrote: »

yirara wrote: »

Sorry, but metabolism does not stop, otherwise people would die very quickly. There is a lot of research evidence that suggests that BMI reduces a bit at the onset of hypothyroidism, but that's it. Plus, a decreased thyroid hormone output leads to sluggishness, tiredness, less fidgeting, which all contribute to a slightly lower calorie need, plus increased water weight.

Are you quoting me?
High levels of T3 (50mcg and over) suppress the release of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), which will reduce thyroid signaling hormone (TSH).

There is the risk of being sluggish when you come off T3, and your metabolism may grind to a screeching halt. Therefore, it is important to run supplements to help your thyroid levels recover quickly.

Essentially, this means you must come taper off the Cytomel for as much time as you were on, and run such supplements as zinc, selenium, ashwagandha and vitamin B-12. Luckily, there is a supplement that has all of these elements, and even more. It is called T3-PCT, sold by N2BM, and it is extremely affordable.

I've seen it hundreds of times.
You can read all you want from the internet, but there's no experience like first hand.

I'm sorry, but I'm talking about properly conducted peer-reviewed studies in respectable scientific journals while you talk about incidental medication abuse that has nothing to do with the original question of the TO.

Sparkeysworld

yirara wrote: »

Sparkeysworld wrote: »

yirara wrote: »

Sorry, but metabolism does not stop, otherwise people would die very quickly. There is a lot of research evidence that suggests that BMI reduces a bit at the onset of hypothyroidism, but that's it. Plus, a decreased thyroid hormone output leads to sluggishness, tiredness, less fidgeting, which all contribute to a slightly lower calorie need, plus increased water weight.

Are you quoting me?
High levels of T3 (50mcg and over) suppress the release of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), which will reduce thyroid signaling hormone (TSH).

There is the risk of being sluggish when you come off T3, and your metabolism may grind to a screeching halt. Therefore, it is important to run supplements to help your thyroid levels recover quickly.

Essentially, this means you must come taper off the Cytomel for as much time as you were on, and run such supplements as zinc, selenium, ashwagandha and vitamin B-12. Luckily, there is a supplement that has all of these elements, and even more. It is called T3-PCT, sold by N2BM, and it is extremely affordable.

I've seen it hundreds of times.
You can read all you want from the internet, but there's no experience like first hand.

I'm sorry, but I'm talking about properly conducted peer-reviewed studies in respectable scientific journals while you talk about incidental medication abuse that has nothing to do with the original question of the TO.

Can you link to these studies please, I'd be interested to read them.

collectingblues

Sparkeysworld wrote: »

As you will know the thyroid releases T4, which is then converted into T3.
A person with normal thyroid function produces somewhere around 20 -25mcg T3 per day.
Once anyone starts to supplement with synthetic T3, the body instantly stops producing it.
So a standard single tab at 25 mcg will just about bring you to normal levels, anymore would obviously elevate the metabolism more (but this needs to be medically supervised).
naturally.
The problem I see with T3, especially in women, is rapid weight gain when they eventually come off the stuff.
For yourself, you are probably going to be on it for the rest of your life, but for many women, especially bikini fitness, bikini physique or bodybuilding types, they may use it for a few months before a show, but when they come off, their natural T3 production has stopped, so the metabolism is at a virtual standstill, this is when the weight gain starts.
It can take months for natural T3 production to come back up to pre supplemented levels, and in some cases it doesn't happen at all, so they have to go back on for life.

What does that have to do with someone who makes no T4 or T3, and thus has to supplement? Those of us with Hashimoto aren't going to get natural production again. Period.

Jancandoit7

I have hypothyroidism and have been taking nature thyroid for many years. I have done much better with this naturally dissected thyroid med than I did with the synthetic hormone (synthroid). Anyway, yes you can lose weight if your thyroid hormones are stabilized. I also walk 3-4 miles 5 days a week which has helped tremendously too. I'm 60 and the pounds don't come off as easy these days, but with consistency and patience they do come off!

collectingblues

jojo6mfp wrote: »

collectingblues wrote: »

Sparkeysworld wrote: »

As you will know the thyroid releases T4, which is then converted into T3.
A person with normal thyroid function produces somewhere around 20 -25mcg T3 per day.
Once anyone starts to supplement with synthetic T3, the body instantly stops producing it.
So a standard single tab at 25 mcg will just about bring you to normal levels, anymore would obviously elevate the metabolism more (but this needs to be medically supervised).
naturally.
The problem I see with T3, especially in women, is rapid weight gain when they eventually come off the stuff.
For yourself, you are probably going to be on it for the rest of your life, but for many women, especially bikini fitness, bikini physique or bodybuilding types, they may use it for a few months before a show, but when they come off, their natural T3 production has stopped, so the metabolism is at a virtual standstill, this is when the weight gain starts.
It can take months for natural T3 production to come back up to pre supplemented levels, and in some cases it doesn't happen at all, so they have to go back on for life.

What does that have to do with someone who makes no T4 or T3, and thus has to supplement? Those of us with Hashimoto aren't going to get natural production again. Period.

He was saying that some people take it when they’re in training for shows for a short period when they don’t need it because of a health problem (as far as I could make out)

Ah. So basically contributing nothing relevant to the actual question.

paperpudding

I lost weight in 2013.

I have maintained it since, including from mid 2016 on when I had only half a thyroid gland, the right side having been removed on account of a tumour.
I dud not find it any harder after the surgery - although of course I took replacement medication and have the amount monitored.

chrissywelsh10

I also have hypothyroidism - been on levothyroxine for 10 years. I will never come off it, and those with a real condition never should. Once stable you will loose weight (when in a calorie deficit) - my levels have been stable for 8 of those years. Over the last year I’ve lost 11.7kg. My maintainace level however is aprox 100-150 calories less than the same person of my height weight & gender without an inactive thyroid. But you can reach a healthy weight & maintain it. It’s possible!

AnnPT77

I'm hypothyroid, properly medicated on 175mcg generic levothyroxine, which I take religiously and exactly per instructions. I've been on levo for 15+ years, with a few dose adjustments based on blood tests along the way.

As far as I could see, I lost weight just like anyone else does, and was able to lose 50+ pounds in less than a year. It wasn't easy every minute, but it was doable.

Now, going into my 3rd year of maintaining weight, I find I need more calories than MFP predicts for a 62-year-old my size (5'5", 130s) and activity level (sedentary) even though I eat back all exercise calories.

Experiences vary, but mine has been in line with what's medically predicted for those properly medicated.

When, in the past, I've needed a dose adjustment, I've noticed a slight creeping weight gain or resistance to loss until the meds were adjusted, but the effect seemed fairly small.