Under active thyroid = weight gain

wclaire55

I have had a under active thyroid for a few years now and have gained some weight my clothes are to tight and the tiredness means a lack of exercise. I have been to the doctors and got medication but don't feel that it's working very well. I was wondering if there is any food that can help maintain a healthy thyroid. And maybe give me back some energy.

alexandriax03

What medication did your doctor give you?

Did you see your primary care physician or an endocrinologist? If you didn't see an endocrinologist, you need to. They are specialized to deal with the endocrine system and will know how to best treat you.

How long have you been on the meds?

Take it from me… You can't just rely on the meds for weight loss. You have to do your part with exercise and diet. I know you're tired but you have to push through it. I am on tons of meds that make me exhausted but I still push through and do at least 30 minutes. Exercise gives you energy. You will feel energized after exercising. Trust me. What is your diet like?

For energy… take a super B complex vitamin daily.

AmykinsCatfood

How long have you been on your medication? It can take 6 weeks to fully feel the effect of any medication and Thyroid medication especially can take some tweaking to get the right dose.

Ang108

I have had a under active thyroid for a few years now and have gained some weight my clothes are to tight and the tiredness means a lack of exercise. I have been to the doctors and got medication but don't feel that it's working very well. I was wondering if there is any food that can help maintain a healthy thyroid. And maybe give me back some energy.

There is no food or diet that will do that. If you feel that your meds are not helping and if it has been at least three month that you take them, talk with your doctor and either have the dosage changed or the meds you take, or both. Once you are well adjusted there is no reason that you cannot lose weight. I lost my thyroid to cancer and this means by definition that I am extreme hypo thyroid. It took me two years to find the right amount and combination of meds, but now that I am adjusted I have lost 45 pounds since April 2013.
Also, even if you are well adjusted with your meds you still need to eat at a deficit to lose and exercise for better health and increased energy.

Docmahi

the only food source that will increase your thyroid function significantly is iodinated foods (usually from iodinated salt) but this will only effect someone who has hypothyroidism due to an iodine deficiency

if you have a true hypothyroid disorder (whether central or peripheral) you need medication to adjust it - that being said dont expect the meds to help you lose a ton of weight - generally doesnt work that way - still need the regimented diet/exercise

best wishes!!

KariOrtiz2014

Feel free to add me. Im hypothyroid. Low thyroid levels. Please take care of yourself as of now. This is a struggle!!

JenniBaby85

I have hypothyroidism and didn't start losing weight until I started taking medicine for it. The thing is, I was watching what I ate and trying to exercise as much as my energy levels would allow. So the initial weight came off quickly shortly after I started taking the meds.

bakerface64

Jennibaby85 May I ask what meds your taking and your age? I have hypo thyroid and take 2 meds and haven't been able to lose weight for 4 years now and my Dr. blames it on hormones since my blood test are normal. Thoughts? I am 49, will be 50 in March and still have my normal period.

Kaylee_law_123

I have an under active thyroid, but have been seeing a Naturpath who provides me with some natural remedies to help boost it, so far it seems to be working.

bakerface64

Ask your Dr. to check your T3 levels. Typically they just test T4. My blood work kept showing normal but I knew I felt horrible and read a great book called the Thyroid Solution which explained about low T3 levels that represent severe depression and fatigue. After testing my T3 we found the levels low and added a second med and within a week I felt like my old self, I was happy and energetic. It's your body, you have the right to get test done.

mandita208

My dr thinks i have some kind of hormonal imbalance, possibly low thyroid, as i have all teh symptoms. I lost about 80 pounds then my weight stood still, now i gained about 15 pounds. Im struggling getting this weight back off. I went weeks with just not caring, no exercise, no eating healthy foods...now im back to trying again. It was all i could do it work out today. I found that if i fidn something i love doing for exercise and make it fun, its easier to get through. i used to be able to work out 2+ hours with no problem, and felt like i could do more. Now im lucky if i can for 30 mins without neediing to stop. Im not sure if under active thyroid is my problem. My dr is sending me to an endocrinologist, just waiting on hearing from them. My family dr isnt sure whats wrong and said i need to go to an endocrinologist for teh best treatment no matter whats wrong.

mandijjones

I had to have my thyroid removed. I used to see my endocrinologist every 6 to 8 weeks. But now I live in South Korea and can only go once every six months. In the last six months, I gained 10 pounds due to my medication being off. Fortunately it is corrected and I can work towards my target healthy weight. SO, I know how you feel. Hang in there!

bakerface64

Hi, may I ask what your natropath suggest?

plummersmate

I was diagnosed as Hypothyroid around 13 years ago. The medication does little for my metabolism so I've made a few lifestyle choices. (I realised there is no magic pill to make the weight fall off, it's down to me).

The best exercise for me, for losing and keeping off the weight is running and step aerobics (with hand weights). But for me exercise alone doesn't do it. The most effective way for me to lose weight is to lose the carbs, particularly sugar. This is the health plan provided by a specialist that I follow and on which I lose around 1/4 lb each day - up to 2lb per week: -

Food:-
Replace cooking oil with Coconut oil (raw - not processed).
Cut out wheat, sugar & Soy products
Moved to unsweetened coconut milk instead of cows milk.
Carbs obtained from vegetables.
Restrict fruit (whilst losing weight but reintroduce later)
Protein from meat and fish. I don't weigh anything.
Restrict goitrogenic foods such as broccoli, cauliflower and kale to every other day.
Snack on nuts only (restrict almonds as they're goitrogenic as well, brazils, cashews and pistachio are good).
Cut the alcohol for a while.

Exercise
I do either 30 mins of step aerobics with hand weights or run 4 - 6 miles - 5 or 6 days a week. (Pilates occasionally). My preference is running as I like to be outdoors and it's the best weight loss exercise around.

I also only eat when I'm hungry! My specialist advised no food until lunchtime and eat within an 8 hour window (16 hours fasting each day). Up to lunch I drink coffee whizzed in the blender with a teaspoon of coconut oil, plus water or green tea (no milk). I have a good sized salad with either fish, meat, cheese, home-made salad dressing (cider vinegar, oil oil, fresh ginger, mint, mixed herbs). Dinner is generally protein plus lots of veg. Any goitrogenic veg boiled and then rinsed in fresh (hot) water. Dessert is generally home made rice pud (coconut milk, spices and no sugar) or home made coconut milk panacotta. If I get the nibbles at any point during the day I have a handful of nuts, but this doesn't happen often as I'm not hungry on this plan.

I take selenium and iodine supplements and use around 2tbs of coconut oil in coffee or for cooking with each day.

It may not suit everyone - we're all physiologically different, but it works a treat for me and my thyroid. When I get to where I want to be then I modify and follow this 4 - 5 days per week.

An interesting book to read is the Perfect Health Diet by Paul Jaminet PhD. I think the title belies it's integrity but the concept is excellent!

Wilhellmina

I had the same. I kept on gaining and no idea how to stop it, 40 pounds in 2 years, just horrid and the fear of when this goes on I end up being morbidly obese with a whole set of new problems I bought Chris Kresser's book 'Your personal Paleo code', I added Thorne Thyrocsin to my supplements (doctor knows this) and increased the protein intake. I do not eat wheat and soy, use mostly coconut oil as fat, eat 1 apple or pear a day, normally exercising 30 to 45 minutes, but make sure rest is added to my daily routine as well, since it is just as important, in some cases even more and at the moment I lose appr. 2 pounds a week!

editorgrrl

MFP has two thyroid groups:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/770-hypothyroidism-and-hyperthyroidism
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/51427-butterfly-chasers

Per my endocrinologist, I haven't changed what I eat since my diagnosis of Hashimoto's (autoimmune thyroid disease). My meds, Synthroid & Cytomel, have changed my life. I have blood tests every three months, then my endo adjusts my dosages.