New to this group! :)

SKHaz1

Hey everyone! I am hypothyroid and was diagnosed all the way back in December 2008. (On my birthday no less) I think I was hypo for a whole year without treatment and gained 100lbs. Due to the low metabolism but also because of fatigue and general "depression" like symptoms. I just didn't care. I felt a lot better once I got on the medicine. Lost 30lbs pretty quickly.

But now...I've lost about 9lbs since January. 9 lb in 5 months!?!?! I exercise and log my foods but the weight loss is SO FREAKING SLOW! I played around with calories. MFP suggest 1300 for my for weight loss, I gained. I tried 1200, I maintained. I tried 1000, and I lost 1 lb with a LOT of hard work. I'm also starting to feel fatigued again.

Has anyone felt better after being on meds but then started to feel like poo again? My levels are all "normal". I'm seeing my doctor Friday. How do I have this convo with her?

shakybabe

Hi welcome to the group!

You're probably fatigued cos you're on 1,000 cals and if by 'hard work' you mean you've been exercising alot your body will be struggling.

Try upping your cals but go low carb in particular wheat, try switching to non wheat based cereals like oats and maybe try gluten free bread for a while if you have to have some toast!. I use soft corn tortilla's for sandwich wraps instead of bread too or can get gluten free pitta breads etc.

When I first started my diet last June I had only lost 9lbs by august. At end of august I went wheat free/low carb.. very strictly for first few weeks.(only fruit, veg, lean white meat, fish and mostly water to drink) . lost 7lb in first week, 18lbs in sept and 16lbs in oct!.. then it slowed down to 5lb a month then 2lb!

I also reintroduced the other carbs slowly and reduced to once a week eg I'd use cauli instead of rice or cous cous but might allow sweet potato chips once a week and toast once a week. It was quite strict but it worked for me. i did have treat days but stuck to GF like GF brownies, or the Dietary specials GF pizza one day a week.

I started only having one day where I allowed treats and more cals (sundays to cover my sunday dinner and fav weekend breakfast scrambled eggs with bacon) then I allowed two treat days a week.

I now have non-wheat cereals back in my diet, rice and potatoes but have stayed wheat free for most of the time with the occasional treat... a friend had birthday lunch at Pizza Hut recently so I had a regular wheat based pizza and enjoyed hot choc fudge cake, but went really low carb for few days after to drop the water I gained!

tecallahan

Agree with all this advice. 1200 calories is too low -- unless you are eating back all your exercise calories, with a net calories of 1200 per day. Also, make those calories count -- eliminate processed foods, sugar and starchy foods... eat fresh, whole food - veggies, fruit, protein, etc. I do ratios of 40% carb, 30% fat, 30% protein. Don't be afraid of fat -- fat doesn't make us fat!! Get your fat from nuts, seeds, coconut oil, olive oil, avocado, etc. We can't see your diary -- but I know for me it's about the quality of the food I am eating... when you are exercising you need to give your body fuel.

Hope this helps and hang in there... it's different for all of us, but eventually if you stay focused you will find the key to losing the weight. And losing it slowly is good!!
Terri

shakybabe

I also find if my thyroid levels are too low I'm extremely sensitive and have constant 'cold' symptoms from dust, hay fever, blow up more on wheat (higher water gain), extremely sensitive to anything with any tiny traces of nuts - peanuts, coconut, etc.

When my levels are a little higher, I'm not as over sensitive and usually fine with dust and hay fever as long as on anti-histamines and can handle tiny traces of nuts (ie cross contamination) as long as the foods doesn't actually contain peanuts. The allergy symptoms will still start but taking anti-histamines immediately usually results in them going off within 30 mins.

On a lower dose I can have the cold symptoms constantly for a week or two. I don't know if anyone else has found this?.. but it doesn't help with energy levels as have no will to exercise and more likely to gain weight.