Macros for hypothyroid and hormonal issues

phobiep

Without going into all my personal details, can someone recommend an appropriate macro count for me? I am hypothyroid (needing to tweak my meds because I'm not feeling well) and am now also estrogen dominate and taking progesterone for that.

MFP defaulted into 40%carbs, 40%protein and 20% fat, 1200 calories. I really don't think this is the mix for me. I feel terrible after about 2 days of low fat, low calorie, but low carb doesn't seem to work anymore either. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

psuLemon

Well it depends on your weight.. but maybe around 25% carbs, 35% protein and 40% fats.


If you want to provide your weight and if you know your body fat, we can be more accurate. Also, if you can open your food diary we can provide suggestions. But generally stuff needs to be tired for a month before determining if it works. Also, what are your goals? What is your exercise routine and do you use a food scale?

skv1974

I agree with upping the protein. I was taking progesterone also and felt like crap. I upped my protein and I know this is not on your Macros, but I lowered the sugar. I lowered my fruit intake also due to sugars. The weight is falling off, no more pregesterone and I feel great. I shoot for 40% Protein, 30% Carbs and 30% fats. 40 grams of sugar or less.
Keep working with it and see what works for you

P.S. I found out I was gluten intolerant after 2 trips to the ER and Numerous visits to the OB/GYM for Menstrual and Hormonal issues. Gluten Free has taken those issues away. It sounds harder than it really is to do. I eat lots of good proteins and veggies

phobiep

Thank you for your replies. Heres' some background and details: I'm 42. About 5-6 years ago, I lost 20 lbs. doing several rounds of hcg. I ended at about 130 lbs. I quit all gluten, grains, white sugar, flour, processed foods, sodas, etc. Did really well eating high protein, low carb, very clean with the very occasional eating out/splurge meal.

Shortly after last hcg round (about 3 years ago), I began having severe adrenal fatigue symptoms. Not sure if it was the hcg that caused this, or what. I got on Armour thyroid and cortisol, and it took many months, but I felt much better after that.

Fast forward to about 9 months ago, I weaned off of the cortisol, but shortly after, suddenly had hormonal symptoms and gained what felt like 10-15 lbs, (in reality it was about 7lbs.). While I realize that doesn't sound like much, it is two pants sizes for me. After blood tests, we discovered I was estrogen dominant. So I started on progesterone. While most of the symptoms have subsided from the hormonal imbalance, my weight won't budge, even though I've continued to eat clean, low carb.

In the meantime, some thyroid symptoms have returned and I'm struggling. I intend to beg my doctor to adjust my thyroid meds. I feel much better when my numbers are as low as possible. Much lower than "normal", so we'll see if he will do it.

After so many years of very disciplined eating, I'm tired. Especially since I'm not seeing any reward for it now. In my heart, I feel like my diet needs have changed, but I don't know how to adjust them. I did the Fast Metabolism Diet for 3 months, and didn't lose anything. The grains in that diet, even though they were gluten free, caused some of my numbers to spike (or so the doctor said), so I've returned to no gluten.

I'd like to lose about 10 lbs. Again, I realize this doesn't sound like a big gain, but I'm extremely uncomfortable in my clothes and I look terrible, so it's time to do something!!

Kalikel

You really need to ask your doctor.

I've been having to do something that means I can't have the Synthroid. In three weeks I have gained six pounds while eating 1200/day. I am beginning to crave carbs like used to. I remember this all as it comes back.

Hypothyroid is so horrible.

Obnoxious people go on about how you can still lose by eating at a deficient. They fail to understand that eating 700-900 calories a day comes with drawbacks and how very hard it is to do that when you crave food like a starving person. When the body has no energy, it pushes VERY HARD for you to give it energy. Even if you eat 1500 calories - if it has no energy, it wants more.

I am done with my little issue and back on the stuff as of today (yay!), so I'll be going down again.

But I've had a fresh reminder of how hard and depressing the whole hypo road is and, once again, my heart goes out to those in the constant and inevitably losing struggle to lose while having low (or no) thyroid hormone. Especially those who don't know they have a problem.

Good luck, everyone!

phobiep

My doctor continues to push the "eat more vegetables and low fat" and exercise. Well, I barely have enough energy to get through the day, much less exercise. And I can barely function on low fat. I also don't believe in low calorie. Been there, done that as well. So I thought I'd try to focus on macros and not so much on calories and see what happens. Idk if that's the right thing to do or not and I'm just not sure where to put them. I was probably eating 40%fat, 40% protein and 20% carbs before. But what worked for so many years doesn't work now, so something has to change.

psuLemon

It's possible that the HCG messed with your hormones a lot, which in turn might have to be addressed before your body will be willing to do anything. From a purely anecdotal side, a person I have been working with is only now (after a year) been able to lose any kind of weight (similar stats as you buy 10 years younger) and she did 3 rounds of it. And in order for her to lose weight, she has to eat 1400 calories total, which includes 3 days of weight training for an hour and 3 days of cardio for an hour. What I surmise is the year of HCG increase metabolic adaptation as HCG promotes eating 500 to 800 calories max. What our plan was to increase calories until she started to see a gain. This allowed us to understand her true maintenance calories. Then we backed off by 300 calories and did a combination of weight training and cardio. For the most part, she was on a lower carb diet (about 30%) to improve satiety. Also, we aimed for 30g of fiber.

But to address the immediate problem, do you have a food scale? Can you open your food diary? And what is your exercise routine? But in the end, hormonal issues can be difficult to get past and you need doctors will to try different medication combos that will allow you to hit your goals. And even if we do alter your macros, you would need to try it out for a few weeks to a month to see if it can work.

phobiep

I do have a food scale and starting today, I will go back to weighing and tracking everything. As for my food diary, I haven't tracked anything in 5 months, so there's nothing there yet. I haven't been exercising. As I stated before, it's all I can do to finish my every day chores. I do clean house pretty vigorously, though! Haha! I know-it doesn't count!

I'm struggling to see myself being able to stick to a 1200 calorie plan like MFP is suggesting, but I will try my best. I thought I'd start out at 35C/30F/35P for a while and see where that lands me. I would normally be doing something with much higher fat and protein.

This is just so frustrating. After having everything pretty much under control for so long (with the thyroid issues), adding in another problem with age related hormones is really throwing me for a loop.

phobiep

I also wanted to try incorporating coconut oil into my meals, but that's REALLY going to throw off my macros. I thought it might be good for my adrenals.

psuLemon

In regards to macros, the most important ones are fat and protein. They are both essential, while carbs are not. So if you prefer to go low carb or even keto, you do have that option. If I was you, I would start around 1400 calories, using your food scale and tracking daily to see what kind of progress you have after 4 weeks. I would set macros at 30% carbs, 35% protein and 45% fats. I would also aim to get 30g of fiber. Also, if you feel the need to replace carbs with more fats, you can do that. In terms of coconut oil, you can incorporate it if you would like, but I haven't seen any reliable studies that would suggest it's any more beneficial than other oils. For the most part, coconut benefits have been blown up, like vitamin C was 10 years ago. But if you like the taste, go for it.

cindytw

Anecdotally, I have seen a lot of people messed up by HCG in the long run. I have similar issues, and am almost your age, although I have never been on HCG. I did my best at losing and sustaining when I was watching ALL my numbers, exercising minimum 3-5 days a week, and staying around 50g net carbs or less. I find that with the hypothyroid, I have to work twice as hard to lose anything. Sad but true. Age I think plays a part too, it doesn't come off so easy anymore. Hang in there! PS, I have my macros set at 10% carb, 30% protein, 60% fat. 1440 calories. I do eat back my exercise calories to avoid screwing with my metabolism any further.