Hypothyroidism and myfitnesspal

graciouspal

I am a hypothyroid patient. Do I need a special diet and exercises? I easily got fatigued when doing some activities. Does myfitnesspal has any special considerations as to my supposedly calorie intake and exercises?

momma3sweetgirls

If you take synthetic thyroid meds and your dose has been deemed right for you, then you can consider yourself a 'normal' person and diet and exercise like anybody else.

lovestobaketoo

I am part of that wonderful club too:) I am not sure of special diet/exercise but for me I started walking and went from there. I run two to three times a week and I try to add more fruit or fiber foods to keep me moving:happy: Good luck!!

caroline_g

I've got hypothyroidism too but you don't need to alter your diet or exercise for it. You should be medicated and if your levels are normal, like momma3 said, you can consider yourself to be a normal person and carry on as normal.

witchyboots

If you take synthetic thyroid meds and your dose has been deemed right for you, then you can consider yourself a 'normal' person and diet and exercise like anybody else.

Yes, I agree. I have an underactive thyroid and I've lost 54lbs since January. I've never done anything 'extreme' - just used my Wii, bellydancing and swimming. I've actually found that my fatigue levels have improved massively. If I can do you can do it too!! I wish you well xx

AdAstra47

My mother suffers from both hypothyroid and hypoglycemia. Her doctor recommends what he recommends for almost everyone: eat a low-carb, high-protein diet, except for right before a workout: eat or drink plenty of carbs right before you exercise, to fuel that effort. And eat a little something with protein in it every three hours while you're awake, to keep your metabolism on an even keel all day long.

Deedee0075

Be sure to take your Synthroid/Levothyroxine DAILY and try to incorporate foods that boost thyroid function (coconut oil; sea veggies like sea palm and kombu; cold water fish; apricots; lentils; figs..

Try to avoid raw broccoli, cauliflower, peanuts. These foods can suppress thryoid function.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/93304-natural-foods-boost-underactive-thyroid/


I get very fatigued even with my meds - sometimes I think no one understands. I haven't been to the gym in 2 months and can't get motivated to go again. But I enjoy doing work outdoor so maybe a walk in the neighborhood will be better for exercise.

Best of luck to you. Make sure you stay on your meds - because a low thyroid affects fertility and healthy bones just to name a couple. Also - be sure to get your Vitamin D and Calcium checked - these seem to be affected with hypothyroidism.

tambink

I have to agree I have hypo as well as long as I take my meds Im fine I eat right and exercise like crazy and I am fine you may want to check with your doctor to ask how many calories a day you should be eating I eat between 800 to 1200 a day and it hasnt bothered me about my thyroid.

abbie017

I am a hypothyroid patient. Do I need a special diet and exercises? I easily got fatigued when doing some activities. Does myfitnesspal has any special considerations as to my supposedly calorie intake and exercises?

This is something you should ask your doctor, not a bunch of strangers on the internet. People mean well, but only your doctor knows the limits your body can handle and can suggest ways to better exercise and eat to assist in weight loss.

1953Judith

There are a couple of threads on here on hypothyroids, the posters have provided much needed perspective.

I pretty much follow the concept of MFP in terms of calories. I follow my husbands diabetes diet in terms of food balance. I keep my weight goal at 1/2 lb a week, because I want to maintain a even metabolism. I have averaged 3/4 lb weightloss per week since I joined the site in early April which is the fastest I have lost weight in my five year concerted effort to move toward good health.

It has been very hard for me to get to a point where exercise has reaped rewards rather than aggravation and exhaustion. If you have been out of the exercise world for a long time, I would advise starting up very slowly by increasing your activity level in life, walking a block or two; cleaning out a cupboard when you find yourself wanting to sit and read a book or watch TV. I'd up the ante every month in terms of activity. I have worked my way up to an active life style that includes but cardio and strength. I have just added stretching and flexibility. It is a beautiful fall day here. I started it by walking my dog 25 minutes, I will work 8 hours, go to body pump (strength exercise) for 50 minutes at lunch, come home and walk the dog for an hour.

I have been hypothyroid for over four decades. I have found that my metabolism likes me to make incremental not abrupt changes. I still stay in touch with my doctor routinely because my thyroid can chug along fine with the medication for years and suddenly for no apparent reason, I am either taking too much or too little medication. I have worked very hard over the past five years to attain my weight loss, but it is very SLOWWWWW. Many people have lost in a year what I have lost in five years.

Hypothyroidism makes metabolism changes and subsequently weight loss a little harder, but it does not make it impossible, just slower. Part of what I did five years ago was make a decision that I would do everything in my power to help my body stay healthy and fight disease.

Deedee0075

This is something you should ask your doctor, not a bunch of strangers on the internet. People mean well, but only your doctor knows the limits your body can handle and can suggest ways to better exercise and eat to assist in weight loss.

NOT TRUE. My doctor knew jack sh#t about thyroid. I had to ask repeatedly to be tested for hypothyroid and she swore that I was fine. Not only did I have a TSH of 60, I had to come back years later and ask that I be tested for Hashimoto's which she swore I didn't have. Guess what???? I tested positive for the antibodies. So please...the "strangers" here probably know more than your average doctor.

abbie017

This is something you should ask your doctor, not a bunch of strangers on the internet. People mean well, but only your doctor knows the limits your body can handle and can suggest ways to better exercise and eat to assist in weight loss.

NOT TRUE. My doctor knew jack sh#t about thyroid. I had to ask repeatedly to be tested for hypothyroid and she swore that I was fine. Not only did I have a TSH of 60, I had to come back years later and ask that I be tested for Hashimoto's which she swore I didn't have. Guess what???? I tested positive for the antibodies. So please...the "strangers" here probably know more than your average doctor.

Maybe you need a new doctor.

Deedee0075

This is something you should ask your doctor, not a bunch of strangers on the internet. People mean well, but only your doctor knows the limits your body can handle and can suggest ways to better exercise and eat to assist in weight loss.

NOT TRUE. My doctor knew jack sh#t about thyroid. I had to ask repeatedly to be tested for hypothyroid and she swore that I was fine. Not only did I have a TSH of 60, I had to come back years later and ask that I be tested for Hashimoto's which she swore I didn't have. Guess what???? I tested positive for the antibodies. So please...the "strangers" here probably know more than your average doctor.

Maybe you need a new doctor.

Oh yes, that was a long time ago. I have a different doctor.

AdAstra47

This is something you should ask your doctor, not a bunch of strangers on the internet. People mean well, but only your doctor knows the limits your body can handle and can suggest ways to better exercise and eat to assist in weight loss.

NOT TRUE. My doctor knew jack sh#t about thyroid. I had to ask repeatedly to be tested for hypothyroid and she swore that I was fine. Not only did I have a TSH of 60, I had to come back years later and ask that I be tested for Hashimoto's which she swore I didn't have. Guess what???? I tested positive for the antibodies. So please...the "strangers" here probably know more than your average doctor.

Maybe you need a new doctor.

Unfortunately, I have to agree. I LOVE the doctor I have now, but he's the first doctor in 20 years who actually listened to me. That's one out of around a dozen I tried. Too many docs take one look at you, see an obese person, and assume that all of your health problems are because you're fat and lazy. When they should be finding out whether the obesity and lethargy are symptoms of some other problem. My doctors would always do a thyroid test, and maybe a diabetes test, and tell me I was "fine." They'd tell me I had high cholesterol and try to give me a prescription for Lipitor or something similar, without ever discussing diet or exercise or other options. They'd say "you just need to lose weight," I would tell them that I watched what I ate very carefully and exercised regularly, and they would say "then you should be losing weight" (basically, they called me a liar). I *knew* there was something wrong, because a person who eats normally and exercises regularly should not gain 10 lbs a year. But the doctors were useless.

My current doctor actually listened, then did some extra tests, discovered that my metabolism was screwed up, and gave me a diet that would fix it. Since then I've been cured of mood swings & depression, I have energy again, and I've lost almost 35 pounds. So my advice is to listen to your doctor, but also listen to yourself and your body. And if your doctor won't listen to you & your body, find another doctor who will.

graciouspal

Thanks. yes, I'm a little bit guilty for poor compliance to my daily meds.

graciouspal

Thanks to all of you... it's a high time to get fit and healthy then...all of your posts are greatly appreciated. Such a great motivating factor for me to start right @ MFP.

tomcat4680

I'm a member of this club too. My doctor recently upped my dosage, then I started dieting and walking I've lost 13 pounds in 5 weeks.

Crazyjoe11

We have the same condition.

I take my tablets regularly which stop me from feeling sleepy and I am now working on my fitness levels and my diet. So no special diet for me but I definitely need a healthier diet :-)

My tips are

1. Take your medication as per instructions ( ie my medication is every morning before breakfast)
2. Improve your diet - introduce one healthy food that you like into your diet each week until it becomes a (good) habit eg. eat an apple
3. Exercise a little more today than you did last week

Now - if only I took my own advice!

Take care of yourself and good luck with your energy levels! :-)

haileemou

My mother suffers from both hypothyroid and hypoglycemia. Her doctor recommends what he recommends for almost everyone: eat a low-carb, high-protein diet, except for right before a workout: eat or drink plenty of carbs right before you exercise, to fuel that effort. And eat a little something with protein in it every three hours while you're awake, to keep your metabolism on an even keel all day long.

Thats what im currently doing and its wroking

I have hashimoto's thyroiditis - all the hypo symptoms!

haileemou

Regarding the doctor - I HAVE EXACTLY THE SAME! A lot of specialists dismiss the new studies about the Hashimoto's i have, ive had to educate them! There needs to be more awareness!

haileemou

[/quote]

Unfortunately, I have to agree. I LOVE the doctor I have now, but he's the first doctor in 20 years who actually listened to me. That's one out of around a dozen I tried. Too many docs take one look at you, see an obese person, and assume that all of your health problems are because you're fat and lazy. When they should be finding out whether the obesity and lethargy are symptoms of some other problem. My doctors would always do a thyroid test, and maybe a diabetes test, and tell me I was "fine." They'd tell me I had high cholesterol and try to give me a prescription for Lipitor or something similar, without ever discussing diet or exercise or other options. They'd say "you just need to lose weight," I would tell them that I watched what I ate very carefully and exercised regularly, and they would say "then you should be losing weight" (basically, they called me a liar). I *knew* there was something wrong, because a person who eats normally and exercises regularly should not gain 10 lbs a year. But the doctors were useless.

My current doctor actually listened, then did some extra tests, discovered that my metabolism was screwed up, and gave me a diet that would fix it. Since then I've been cured of mood swings & depression, I have energy again, and I've lost almost 35 pounds. So my advice is to listen to your doctor, but also listen to yourself and your body. And if your doctor won't listen to you & your body, find another doctor who will.
[/quote]

EXACTLY my experience too! I almost knocked the head of the endocrinologist that told me to lose weight and stop eating a lot - I WASNT! i couldnt burn it! 7 months of full on dieting and excercise and he still didnt believe me! Im on a T3 hormone drug and im losing weight first time in ages, i had to educate him thats what i needed! MAKES ME ANGRY

slieber

I've just been diagnosed, too, and right now am on the starter level for Levathroid (sp?). It seemed to make a difference for a few weeks but am back now to feeling fatigued and icky. Have to stick with this until the next blood test, which is in a few weeks,

Any suggestions as to what to ask the doc? This is all new to me.... Have had trouble regulating diet and exercise due to this. I dance, mostly, and do the gym to cross-train....

Thanks!