From 168lbs to 139lbs (pics) w/ hypothyroidism

Congrats on your weight loss, you look great. I too have hypothyroid and know how hard it can be to lose, it maybe be hard but not impossible

wow, you wear 139 well for being 5'0". I am 5'2" and weigh about 128 now, and as you can see in my pics, I don't wear the weight well at all.
But good job, you look amazing!!

Congratulations jroseonline, and thank you for sharing your journey. Having read the other posts I can see that I am in 'good' (not) company, if you know what I mean about hypothyroid and it's control over our bodies. I had my thyroid removed in 1988 due to a large goiter obstructing my wind pipe. I was so overweight that it did not show in my neck! I was the fattest anorexic you would ever see, I ate about 500 calories a day and weighed over 230lbs on a 5' 4" frame, an apple with legs was how I described myself. After my thyroid removal, I was put on 200mg of levothyroxine and over a period of two years I got down to 155lbs. I was extremely happy and fit and all was well until about 2000 when my thyroid meds were changed to a different brand. I put on weight rapidly and my doctor even put me on Duromine as he thought I was overeating! So I ended up not eating at all and ended up in hospital as I was starving to death inside this fat body! I gave up pretty much and decided that this was how my body wanted to be, fat! I just ate what I wanted and gradually my weight settled at 198lbs. I exercised at the gym three times a week, did all the required strength and cardio regimes and never lost an ounce, did not put an ounce on either, trainer was despairing but I knew that was how it was. I moved out to New Zealand in 2005 and I could not get my normal dose or brand of levothyroxine here so was put on Eltroxin, which made me extremely sick. I ended up taking reflux medication and despite throwing up every day my weight never budged. Now a new doctor (could not cope with one who just did not give a damn) has put me on 50mg of Synthroid daily (from 200mg Eltroxin) and I am now following a Mediterranean type of diet and lower carb to see if I can lose weight. He thinks my metabolism is completely shot to bits and my BMR is so low that my body just does not cope with food and I am in a permanent starvation mode. So I am now trying my hardest to lose weight and stay fit and healthy. I do now eat, work out a little and try my hardest not to stress out about it. I am down to 194lbs only a 4lb loss in 12 weeks, but it is a loss. Sorry for the long post, it's been a long journey! I so wish I could get back to that 155lbs again, but at this rate, I will be 100 by the time that happens lol, but I am NOT GIVING UP....

Hypothyroidism sucks. I am 50 pounds overweight and it is absolutely impossible to shed an ounce. I am 56 years old and I go to the gym 5-6 days a week for two hours. I don't leave until I have burned 1000 calories. I lift weights, do cardio and stay fairly busy throughout the day walking me two big dogs and even riding the stationary bike at my house. Please don't tell me muscle weighs more than fat so I must be putting on muscle. Muscle does weigh more but the difference is miniscule. I need help. I take synthroid, cytomel and don't know what else to do. I've tried a high protein diet, but one doctor, who is hypothyroid himself, said that this diet is not good for anyone with this condition. I usually eat about 1400 calories. Glad to hear about your success, but I never get any. Frustrated beyond belief.

Lynne I feel you...I am in the same boat!

You said you eat a 1400 calorie diet and that you burn minimum 1000 calories a day.....Are you also eating the 1000 calories you burned? You need to eat a minium of 1200 calories a day AFTER you account for the calories you burn in order to lose weight and live a healthy life. So based on the info you shared you need to be eating 2400 calories because 1000 of those 2400 have been burned to nothing.

I've posted a few success stories the last few months, but thought I'd share again as I am at my lightest I have been in the last 4 years. It's been a long struggle. I developed hypothyroidism in 2009 and gained 40+ lbs. I am far from over, but I am extremely proud of my accomplishment so far. Once upon a time I used to be about 125lbs. 3 kids, development of hypothyroidism and almost a decade later, I shot up to my most heaviest at 167.9lbs.

Finally found a doctor who put me on the right treatment plan and I've dropped about 29lbs in the last 10 months. Now I am working towards my ultimate goal of 125-128lbs and 17-18% body fat. Started at 167.9lbs 34% body fat and now down to 139.8lbs and 26% body fat.

Oh and a side note: I am 5'0" tall. I've had 3 kids and I am 31 yrs old.

See pics below. After seeing these pics side by side, I have found new motivation to push harder and get to my ultimate goal. I'm giving myself a realistic time frame to hit my goal. and that's the end of this year. I'm sure I can do it.

Thanks for letting me share my success story.


this was me when I was 21 yrs old and at about 120-125lbs.


Left Side: 167.9lbs Right Side: 139.8lbs


Left: 155lbs Middle: 144lbs Right: 139lbs

You look great.....I also am hypothyroid and struggle with my weight loss. So far I have only seen a 5 lbs. loss in 6 weeks; frustrating but I have seen a huge loss in inches. I am trying to keep my chin up because I know (like others here) I am gaining my muscle loss back from starving myself in the past. I had a huge amount of muscle atrophy and know I am building that back now so I know this is why I am not seeing the scale move.

I have Hashimotos and had half my thyroid remove due to it be enlarged; mostly likely the other half has died off from what I have been told. I am on synthroid; 110 mcg and 112 mcg (alternating every other day). I am at that wonderful age of 43 so that doesn’t help either!


~ Good luck everyone

***Feel free to add me as a friend for support if you’d like!

wow you look awesome!!!!

You look fantastic, and have a great sense of style at any size, OP. Seriously. Congratulations!

Thank you for sharing. You look great! And you have inspired me.
I also have hypo. And felt a little defeated latley. But after reading you post and everyone else that commented Im feeling a bit better. So thank you to everyone for sharing your stories and giving advice.

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Hi. What if you do not eat the recommended amount of calories? would you lose more weight or would I be putting myself into starvation mode?

Not eating your calories back is harmful to you and your body. No you will not go into starvation mode immediately but if you continue this way for eating yes you could.

The problem with those who have hypothyroid is that your metabolism is shot due to the improper functioning thyroid. First, solution is to make sure your meds are correct for you. Second, is you must eat enough for your body to fuel itself so it doesn't hoard your fat and make more. And third, you need to do circuit training (cardio and weights) to boost your metabolism.

Here is what most people do not understand.......A 1200 calorie diet (for women) is based on NO exercise; this is what you need to function and live a healthy life. When you burn the calories it is like you never ate them; therefore, you must eat more to meet the 1200 calorie daily intake. When the doctor or nutritionist tells you to "eat" 1200 calories this is based on NO exercise so if you exercise you have to eat more to start with OR eat back your calories.


Lets' say it takes 3 logs to keep a fire going; if they all burn to ashes what will happen to the fire if you don't replace the logs???

Ok so if you don’t eat the recommended amount of calories one would think I would weigh nothing and look great right???

Wrong…… not only did I gain weight (yes I said GAIN) that is because I lost all.....ALL of my muscle mass in my toned and very strong legs. And it showed on the soccer field. I could hardly kick the ball any more. I used to be able to kick the ball 40+ yards easily. Now I could hardly do 10-15 yards. I began to get injured quite regularly, bad painful injuries too. I didn't realize how bad I was or connect the dots as to why I pretty much sucked on the soccer field until I went to physical therapy. They did basic strength tests in my legs (resistant tests) to see how much I needed to build and where to set the weights for training etc.

I was completely embarrassed to say I had played soccer for 35 years!!!

I didn’t realize that I had been eating below on 1200 calories AND playing soccer (so pretty much ate negative calories on days I played soccer). I had a very busy life, work full-time, school full-time and worked a side job as an independent baker; I never made time to eat. Now that I look back there were days that I know I was eating probably only 600 calories a day and then played soccer on top of that! So yes, by eating below 1200 calories, will not only make you gain weight but make you lose muscle.

I have slowly begun to drop my weight. Because I am building my muscle mass back I am not seeing a huge drop on the scale; however, in 2 weeks (from the time I measured) I have already seen a 1.5” drop in my thighs and waist measurements each. (bought a new skirt last weekend and had to exchange it because I bought my normal size….went down 2 sizes but the scale doesn’t say that…..so don’t live by what the scale is telling you; measure!)

The hardest thing for people (myself included) is to recognize the difference between losing weight and looking skinner. Just because you lose weight may not make you look and skinner or better. You need to eat right exercise and lifts some weights to look skinner (or toned). Sometimes as someone posted above you can actually weigh more or the same and look a million times better!

So yes you need to eat your exercise calories back or you will lose muscle mass and could actually gain weight which defeats the purpose.

~Good luck….if you do things right you can achieve a better looking you!

If 10 is your TSH level, that is high. I think it should be under 5. Most GP's just check the TSH and prescribe Synthroid. An Endo may run some tests on T3, T4 levels if you are still having symptoms. The Synthroid, T4, is supposed to convert to T3 in your system and T3 is what your body needs most. Armour is also prescribed sometimes as more natural and it has T4 and T3 already. I had horrible results with side effects on that, including weight gain. There are also antibody tests they can do. Antibodies can block T4 conversion to T3. There is a Hypothyroid group on MFP where you could get some support. Hope this helps

you look great!! very inspirational

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