Thyroid problems and weight loss

smmu1124

I'm wondering if others with low TSH levels have been able to lose weight after starting medication? If so, how soon after starting medication?

I was just informed that my TSH levels are .11... And will be starting medication soon.

I was unsuccessful at losing weight, despite my efforts (and am certain that it was due to my thyroid hormone levels).

HeatherG29

I too have the same issue. I was diagnosed back in late April, started my meds the next day and at my 3 month check up my levels were back to normal, they went from 26.10 back to 1.77. I have put on 20lbs but have had a hard time even losing 1lb thus far, i have read MANY sites where woman were talking about their struggles and it seems as though losing weight with thyroid disease is possible, we just have to work way harder then others:( Good luck, stay strong!!!!

Keiras_Mom

I am hypo (not hyper) thyroid - my initial diagnosis was made with my TSH at 6.66. I haven't noticed any difference in my rate of loss with medication. My TSH is now at 1.5, but I'm not sure where my T3 and T4 are, as I just had labs done last week and don't have the results yet.

I do the Alternate Day Diet or JUDDD, and have found it works really, really well. I think for those of us with metabolic disorders like Thyroid Disease, it's best to keep the metabolism guessing, and JUDDD does just that. Good luck with whatever you're doing!

Wow, Heather, how could you function at 26.10?? I could barely function at 6.66, though I also have conversion issues and my last T3 in June was below range. Ugh, gotta love TD!

HeatherG29

I know my levels were CRAZY and i was beyond fatigued!!!! I am a stay at home mommy of 4 ~ 7,5, and 3 yr old twins so realistically there was no down time i just pushed through every day. I only struggled with my symptoms for a few months and mine became apparent after having a hysterectomy, that is when my problem started:( Eating every couple of hours, gaining weight and so tired i could barely stand were sure signs something wasn't right!!! I had to ask my Dr. to test me cause at the time i thought i was depressed about my mom's death 2yrs prior and so he treated me for depression (all classic symptoms as TD) as sure enough i was right it was my Thyroid, my Dr. was pretty shocked to say the least. Happy so say this are looking up, I just started a low carb, low sugar plan and i am down 5lbs!!! THERE IS HOPE:) Just have to find what works for you.

LPCoder

Sometimes thyroid problems stem from too much estrogen in the body and not enough Progesterone. You may want to look at eating organic to eliminate as much estrogen as possible and see if your thyroid levels come back to normal. There is also a progesterone cream that works wonders at bringing down the estrogen levels in your body. FYI: Soy has estrogen like chemicals in it and can adversely effect the thyroid. The pesticides used on vegetables and fruits have estrogen like chemicals as well, thus eating organic will help to eliminate it. Also hormone free meats and dairy is vital!

Here is a website that has some information on causes that you might be able to control.

http://amcofh.org/blog/homeopathic-treatment-thyroid

HZ15

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 2002. My levels were marginal so I wasn't treated until 2005 when my levels were still marginal but it was becoming obvious that I was suffering the symptoms of a more severe thyroid problem. Because my readings don't accurately reflect my thyroid problems (I'm assuming you ladies are in the US because here in the UK, we don't seem to be told the numbers - or at least I haven't), it has been very difficult to get my medication levels right and a 25mcg increase can swing me into hyperthyroid symptoms when the level below still presents me with hypothyroid symptoms. It's strange, it confuses the doctors but it's manageable - kinda.

Anyhoo, yes, before being treated, I had a really hard time loosing weight. I can remember being on Weightwatches and looking at the daily points I was given for my then weight, thinking that it was a crazily high amount of food to be eating. So, I knocked two points off. You could also earn 2 points a day through exercise, I exercised enough for the 2 points (which was 1hr walk so not much) but never ate those extra points. I felt like I was eating a huge amount. After a month, I'd GAINED 4lbs!

A few diet attempts after being treated also failed - they'd work for a few weeks then I'd just plateau and not lose any more. Eventually I gave up. If I was going to be fat anyway, I may as well have the chocolates, the lattes and family size packets of tortilla chips, right?

This year something just clicked. I found the motivation to really really try and lose the weight. I had kept slowly gaining even though for the most part I didn't overeat - a little too carefree with the snacking but never a giant eater. Size 18UK (22US I think) clothes were getting too tight and that was the final straw. Plus I had the extra motivation of wanting to work in pro-sports with the super-humans and having agreed to jump off the roof of a sports stadium for charity (I was not far off my biggest when I did that but even having lost a few pounds beforehand made a psychological difference).

The real difference I've found is exercise. Proper hard work, grotty and sweaty exercise several times a week that I'd previously thought wasn't for a fattie like me but found out a) I actually enjoyed it and b) nobody in the class or gym will judge you on your size (they're there for their health regardless of size). Yes, I have to be careful with what I eat and don't eat back all the calories I burn in the gym. But it's had a massively transformative effect. For the first time, I've actually been able to lose weight and keep losing weight beyond a few weeks. I've lost 54lbs since April and am exactly 2/3 of the way down to the top of my healthy range and I'm down to a size UK 12/14 (US 16/18). Still a bit of a way to go, but now I know it is going to happen and I can do it regardless of what my old pal T4 is up to.

Recently, I've done a bit of reading on hypothyroidism and weight loss and it seems exercise is known to combat many of the things that make weight loss difficult with hypothyroidism. Obviously exercise increases your metabolism which is one of the many things to suffer through hypothyroidism. However, aerobic exercise also boosts serotonin - again lowered by hypothyroidism (many diet drugs work by increasing serotonin - but are obviously not advised when you have thyroid issues). There's a bit of a summary here http://thyroid.about.com/cs/dietweightloss/a/losingweight.htm

Good luck with your weight loss girls! It may be a slightly harder journey but you can still do it and it will be all the greater achievement for it!


Oh and like the poster above said, avoid soy products. When my thyroid issue first came to light I'd been drinking soy lattes thinking I was being healthy (most soy milk is sugar filled anyway so a mistake on both counts). When I stopped drinking them, many of the symptoms lessened. That was part of the reason I ended up going 3 years without thyroid treatment BUT soy was obviously was having a detrimental effect.



PS: Since losing weight, I've started to get hyperthyroid symptoms on my previously fine levels of thyroxine. I've knocked off another 25mcg and after 2 months feel great. New bloods next week to check that TSH levels are still good. I've read that others have been able to improve their thyroid function through losing weight and exercising more and for me that seems to be the case. I know weight and thyroid function are a bit chicken and egg - but it's one more incentive to try.

basenji

I'm hypo and on Synthroid. Even though my levels are good right now with Synthroid, I still have a hard time losing weight. I recently had an increase in my dosage and I was hoping that would help the weight come off but it didn't...it did, however, cause me frequent (very frequent) heart palpitations. After many tests, I urged my doctor to decrease my synthroid dosage. A month or two later the palpitations disappeared!