Hypo & a scale that won't budge
rashmirao74
Posts: 14 Member
Hello fellow hypo's
I have been on MFP for less than 20 days now. Working hard and counting what I eat for the past 30 days or so, however the scale has hardly budged. All the weight loss books and sites state that when a deficit of 3500 cals is created, the body loses 1 pound of fat. How come that doesn't apply to us hypos? My TSH levels are almost bordering hyper, need to get me dosage adjusted. Currently on 75 mcg of Thyronorm meds. Working out for 60 minutes for 4 days a week at the gym. Trying to cut back the carbs (tougher for me cause I'm a vegetarian). If anyone else on this group has been through this and conquered it, I would love to hear from you. Others who are in the same boat as me are welcome to vent......
I have been on MFP for less than 20 days now. Working hard and counting what I eat for the past 30 days or so, however the scale has hardly budged. All the weight loss books and sites state that when a deficit of 3500 cals is created, the body loses 1 pound of fat. How come that doesn't apply to us hypos? My TSH levels are almost bordering hyper, need to get me dosage adjusted. Currently on 75 mcg of Thyronorm meds. Working out for 60 minutes for 4 days a week at the gym. Trying to cut back the carbs (tougher for me cause I'm a vegetarian). If anyone else on this group has been through this and conquered it, I would love to hear from you. Others who are in the same boat as me are welcome to vent......
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Hi. I'd love to be able to give you some quick weight loss advice, but I haven't found any yet. What I can tell you is that my weight loss journey has averaged about 3lbs a month, so you're right in line with how I've lost the weight. It's slow going for us hypo's, so we just need to be patient. I know it's frustrating, but every day you stay the course you're that much healthier. You can do this!0
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@lmelangley Thank you for your reply. Your advice seems practical and sound. One more reason for me to stick to my regime:-)0
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I'm in the same boat. Since I started MFP in June, the scale HAD NOT moved. So, I decided to fast (not for dietary reasons, but for spiritual reasons) and I did lose weight (of course), but when I went back to eating I didn't gain it all back....I only gained about 3 pounds back and that was three weeks ago, so now I'm at a stand still again.
Of course I'm not using fasting as a means to lose weight, but I do fast one week out of every month. There was a article by Dr. Alan Christianson (he wrote the book "The Complete Idiots Guide to Thyroid Disease" ) and he talked about individuals with thyroid disorders only eating from 10am - 6pm and fasting the evening until the morning. I haven't tried that yet, but I think I will starting next week. This is the link to the article. http://drchristianson.com/weight-loss-for-people-with-thyroid-disease/
I'm also going to be lowering my carbs to about 40-45 grams per meal over the next two weeks
If you find anything out...please post!!0 -
I try telling people it's not the same for people with hypothyroidism, people just believe what they want. I wish I had answers for you, but I do know you're not alone.0
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I read a book about Leptin (can't remember the title). It suggested that people who are hypothyroid only eat 3 times per day and not eat after 7. I tried it and it worked for me to bust a plateau. Also, cutting carbs (any breads, pasta, rice, etc) helped tremendously. It is such a tough battle. As another posted, we are different creatures when it comes to weight loss.0
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Misery loves company - I'm in!
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what has worked for me is eating more often with less at each "meal". And adding more protien, not sure how that works for vegetarians, sorry I don't have any more help.
I too have lost very slowly, but still at it for over 1 year. Oh, working out, you will see a change eventually. I look at like this: the slower you loose, the easier it will be to keep off. Just don't give up, this is your life! And we only have 1 of them.....
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Hi,
I found out that I had hypo thyroid when I hit my last 10 lbs. Had already slowly lost 30 lbs, and then it stopped. Was exercising and not feeling "better" as you're supposed to... (the whole 30 lbs went off that way, but it didn't dawn on me, since I was losing). Along with other symptoms becoming evident, I got in to the Dr. Since then, have found that it was my adrenals too.
With all the research I've done, looking for answers, I have added virgin coconut oil to my diet, and it really helps me. However I am on quite a strict-clean diet (high protein/low carb).
Since it is so hard for us to lose even 1/2 lb... I do not allow myself any slip-ups. I skip a meal / rather then eat something "off plan." I don't drink any alcohol (learned years ago - through diet counseling, that those who drink even one drink on the week-end will erase 5 days of dieting).
Another thing I've just come across, is that hypothyroid's will not do as well on "aerobic" exercise. But rather strength training. I have started "easing up" on my intensity, and am doing some strength training, looking for more ways to add that, and I am getting better results. (funny thing, that is exactly what my body has been screaming at me, but I ignored it...)
Hope some of my experience helps.
Blessings, :flowerforyou:
Debby0 -
Thank you people for all the tips and motivation. I feel very relieved that I'm not alone. Misery indeed loves company:-) Jokes apart, all of you have a similar message and that is - don't give up! that is exactly what I intend to do.
@Debbie thank you for the tip about alcohol. I'm by no means a regular alcohol consumer, but, surprised to know that even a glass of wine on weekends can be an undoing of your effort. Shall steer clear of it! Also good tip on strength training. I see you have come a long way on your weight loss journey. Congrats and all the best, you just have 3 more pounds to go..... So go get them!!!0 -
It's taken me 8 months to lose 13.6 pounds. Eight. Months. I have less than a half a pound to go to reach my goal weight and the scale just keeps rolling back and forth with the same 3-4 pounds and it never gets any lower. It is beyond frustrating. Once I reach my goal weight I have no idea how I will even manage "maintenance." After all, I am apparently maintaining rather than losing already and I can't drop my calorie count any lower!0
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I have struggled with being "HYPO" as well. I worked out for a while without seeing any results, however recently I have dropped 14 pds. I have lowered my calories to 1100 a day. I eat more protein and fish (baked) of course. Have you tried to talking to your Endo about this or maybe looking for a new doctor?0
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I had read that people with thyroid problems may also have difficulty processing wheat, nuts were also a food mentioned. As I also developed a severe nut allergy later in life when my thyroid went wrong (producing Reverse T3 in 2002) I decided to try it.
I dropped 7lbs first week, 18lbs by end of the next month (6 week), 16lbs the following month and by last xmas was half a stone ahead of schedule! so lowered my goal by a stone (original goal was to make 10st 7 (top end of healthy for my height) changed it to 9st 7 and reached that this June (middle of healthy range).
I'd like to go lower again (bottom of range is 8st 7 but would be happy with 9st) but my weight before my thyroid problems and throughout most of my teens/adulthood was around 9st 7 so I'm now struggling to get below that.
Maybe cos body is used to been wheat free now, if I do have bread (1-2 a week) its gluten free. But I still try and stay low carb in general and most meals are just salad or veg with fish or white meal (or Quorn - no red meat) without potatoes, pasta or rice etc.
I have highered my dose unofficially before to help with weight loss I've since found a supplement that doesn't artificially provide you with T3 but contains something called Gugglesterones which encourage your body to make more T3 from the T4 medication (unless your problem is the actual conversion not the production of T4) so I'm trying that at the minute.
I could do with something for the damn food cravings cos I had two periods last month this one came 3 weeks after last one so only had 1 week free of cravings in the last 6! I'm living on chocolate slim fast at the minute in order to both stick to a diet and satisfy my chocolate cravings! :noway: :blushing: :sad: damn hormones!!!0 -
You're very welcome Rashmirao
Its taken me 11 months to lose 37 lbs. I'm 59 yrs. old & have hypothyroidism & adrenal issues that are being addressed & I'm so happy to be regaining my health! :happy:
Getting rid of the weight is slow but sure... on step at a time, and you can climb that mountain!
The freedom of that 37 lbs is felt so much in my joints & attitude, along with energy level! (Although its hard to know how much of that is from the treatment I'm having... as I should have been feeling more energy when it was only 30 lbs off.)
Indulgence does not pay off. :ohwell: Press in to what your really want... let your brain decide, not your appetite. :drinker:0 -
This is a great thread! I just today scheduled my 1st appt with an Endo. It's not until Jan 2 (first available
) I am wondering what questions and tests I should ask for when I go as I believe I may have a thyroid issue. (My mother is Hyper and my two aunts are Hypo, one undergoing surgery in a month for something related to her thyroid). Any advice or tips are greatly welcomed. 0 -
This is a great thread! I just today scheduled my 1st appt with an Endo. It's not until Jan 2 (first available ) I am wondering what Iron/Ferritin levels, etc.
This is a great site and they sell a fantastic book: www.stopthethyroidmadness.com -- they also have a very supportive Facebook group Stop The Thyroid Madness.
Most doctors only test for TSH - Thyroid Stimulating Hormone -- but this is not produced by your thyroid and is not a good indication of your thyroid and metabolic health. Some doctors test for T4, but T4 is an inactive thyroid hormone, so not very helpful either. The Active Thyroid Hormone is T3 -- and most doctors don't even test for it! They are complete idiots. Your t4 levels should be on the low side of normal or even below normal. Your T3 levels should be on the high side of normal. TSH is completely irrelevant except potentially as an indicator of cancer.
So, on this site is a list of labs that are recommended -- you should take this with you.
Also on this site is a list of most common hypo symptoms - you would be surprised to see some symptoms you may have that are actually caused by hypothryoidism.
If you have symptoms tell the endo you want him to treat your symptoms, not just your labs.0 -
So inspiring to read all of the replies to this thread. It is great to hear that although weight loss can be excrutiatingly slow with hypo, those who stick with it do eventually show progress. My challenge is that when the scales don't budge anywhere near as quickly as I would like/think they should. I throw in the towel and find myself within a few weeks back to square one. Reading all of these stories of success inspires me to stick with it.0
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Thanks for the website and the info! Very informative.0
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Have you tried cutting out wheat, added sugar, diet and regular soda, and dairy? I'd really suggest that if you have hypo and you are not losing even though you are doing all the right things. 0
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Most doctors only test for TSH - Thyroid Stimulating Hormone -- but this is not produced by your thyroid and is not a good indication of your thyroid and metabolic health. Some doctors test for T4, but T4 is an inactive thyroid hormone, so not very helpful either. The Active Thyroid Hormone is T3 -- and most doctors don't even test for it! They are complete idiots. Your t4 levels should be on the low side of normal or even below normal. Your T3 levels should be on the high side of normal. TSH is completely irrelevant except potentially as an indicator of cancer.
My local surgery will also only test for T4, they say its too expensive to test for all of them each time. I now refuse to go I wrote to them and said I get better indication from my symptoms and do better on a higher dose than them highering and lowering it each time depending on what my blood test says!
This has given me the freedom to higher my dose when I thought i needed it but still only lost 3st in one year and still stuck at 9st 7 mark so I don't think it is thyroid issues. I suspect mine is more to do with menopause and hormones so think I'm gonna go on progesterone cream and something to help with cortisol and estrogen levels I think, see if that makes a difference, it's really frustrating!0 -
What I am about to say may induce some serious backlash but that's ok....
My endo put me on a low carb diet. Not just for the hypo but for insulin resistance as well. I was on WW for a year and gained 45 lbs. Now, I eat 50g NET carbs per day or less. I have lost 35 lbs since February. Personally, I can NOT eat starchy/white carbs - refined sugar, bread, rice, pasta, etc or I will gain weight. All of my carbs come in the form of fruits, veggies, nuts, etc. I eat a lot of lean meats and protein sources, lots of fiber, lots of veggies, and a few sugar free snacks that I havent been able to give up yet.
Anyway, I am not saying this WILL work for you, just saying that if you havent tried this approach yet, maybe it will change things up enough for you that your body will respond and the weight will start to come off. Also, a lot of people dont go low carb this drastically, they reduce to 100g NET or so. I have found that if I stay between 30 - 50 NET, I will lose about a pound a week. Like I said, what is right for me isnt right for everyone.
Also, do some research on coconut oil - it has helped a lot of people on this board, myself included.
You will find a lot of support on this board. Good luck and welcome!0 -
What I am about to say may induce some serious backlash but that's ok....
My endo put me on a low carb diet. Not just for the hypo but for insulin resistance as well. I was on WW for a year and gained 45 lbs. Now, I eat 50g NET carbs per day or less. I have lost 35 lbs since February. Personally, I can NOT eat starchy/white carbs - refined sugar, bread, rice, pasta, etc or I will gain weight. All of my carbs come in the form of fruits, veggies, nuts, etc. I eat a lot of lean meats and protein sources, lots of fiber, lots of veggies, and a few sugar free snacks that I havent been able to give up yet.
Anyway, I am not saying this WILL work for you, just saying that if you havent tried this approach yet, maybe it will change things up enough for you that your body will respond and the weight will start to come off. Also, a lot of people dont go low carb this drastically, they reduce to 100g NET or so. I have found that if I stay between 30 - 50 NET, I will lose about a pound a week. Like I said, what is right for me isnt right for everyone.
Also, do some research on coconut oil - it has helped a lot of people on this board, myself included.
You will find a lot of support on this board. Good luck and welcome!
I am the same if I have carbs then weight loss is very very slow. It has taken me since feb 2004 to go from 222 lb to my current 135.
As I am exercising intensely my carbs are higher at mo, as objective is to build muscle. Next month will try to get rid of fat so carbs way down. The closer I get to my goal the harder it is. Will not give up, ever.
Also agree no alcohol or sucrose. I eat only berries and no other fruit. Complex carbs and protein. Have given up hard cheese and all wheat other than wraps made with oat flour.
My main sin is coffee- skinny cappucino. Every now and again I go off the rails with a cake or marshmallow twizzle from star bucks but only after exercise. Every day I do a minimum of 2 hrs of exercise with only rest days on Tuesday. Occasionally a glass of cherry juice before bed as it helps me sleep. I have to be super strict if I am not burning calories through exercise. At moment am doing 30 days of Gillian micheal and not counting the exercise calories, that is on top of my normal regime.
May try to give up coffee and I intend to add the coconut from 1 September as a test to see if it helps. This site lets me monitor what I do very closely and change it. May do 4 hr body next as succeeded on losing last time, means lots of beans but not coffee lol!
Feel free to add me if you want to do so, only been on the site since feb but steady 1lb every month.
Jasmin0 -
WTG Mindy I'm so happy for your success!:drinker:What I am about to say may induce some serious backlash but that's ok....
My endo put me on a low carb diet. Not just for the hypo but for insulin resistance as well. I was on WW for a year and gained 45 lbs. Now, I eat 50g NET carbs per day or less. I have lost 35 lbs since February. Personally, I can NOT eat starchy/white carbs - refined sugar, bread, rice, pasta, etc or I will gain weight. All of my carbs come in the form of fruits, veggies, nuts, etc. I eat a lot of lean meats and protein sources, lots of fiber, lots of veggies, and a few sugar free snacks that I havent been able to give up yet.
Anyway, I am not saying this WILL work for you, just saying that if you havent tried this approach yet, maybe it will change things up enough for you that your body will respond and the weight will start to come off. Also, a lot of people dont go low carb this drastically, they reduce to 100g NET or so. I have found that if I stay between 30 - 50 NET, I will lose about a pound a week. Like I said, what is right for me isnt right for everyone.
Also, do some research on coconut oil - it has helped a lot of people on this board, myself included.
You will find a lot of support on this board. Good luck and welcome!
I am the same if I have carbs then weight loss is very very slow. It has taken me since feb 2004 to go from 222 lb to my current 135.
As I am exercising intensely my carbs are higher at mo, as objective is to build muscle. Next month will try to get rid of fat so carbs way down. The closer I get to my goal the harder it is. Will not give up, ever.
Also agree no alcohol or sucrose. I eat only berries and no other fruit. Complex carbs and protein. Have given up hard cheese and all wheat other than wraps made with oat flour.
My main sin is coffee- skinny cappucino. Every now and again I go off the rails with a cake or marshmallow twizzle from star bucks but only after exercise. Every day I do a minimum of 2 hrs of exercise with only rest days on Tuesday. Occasionally a glass of cherry juice before bed as it helps me sleep. I have to be super strict if I am not burning calories through exercise. At moment am doing 30 days of Gillian micheal and not counting the exercise calories, that is on top of my normal regime.
May try to give up coffee and I intend to add the coconut from 1 September as a test to see if it helps. This site lets me monitor what I do very closely and change it. May do 4 hr body next as succeeded on losing last time, means lots of beans but not coffee lol!
Feel free to add me if you want to do so, only been on the site since feb but steady 1lb every month.
Jasmin
Wow Jasmin! That's an amazing amount of wt. lost! :happy:
You are in the same spot now that I am. Its great to be so close, hey?! Yippee!!0 -
I had a good week diet and exercise wise this week but only lost 0.2kgs on the scale this week. It's so hard to keep up motivation when weight loss is this slow!! Help ladies! This is the kind of excruciatingly slow progress that makes me feel like falling off the wagon
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After ten years of this - I don't weight myself frequently. This time I made "show up to exercise" my goal instead of weight loss. I need to lose about 120 lbs though. If I see the scale not moving the I will feel unmotivated. It's so hard with hypo..hang in there everyone. 0
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What I am about to say may induce some serious backlash but that's ok....
My endo put me on a low carb diet. Not just for the hypo but for insulin resistance as well. I was on WW for a year and gained 45 lbs. Now, I eat 50g NET carbs per day or less. I have lost 35 lbs since February. Personally, I can NOT eat starchy/white carbs - refined sugar, bread, rice, pasta, etc or I will gain weight. All of my carbs come in the form of fruits, veggies, nuts, etc. I eat a lot of lean meats and protein sources, lots of fiber, lots of veggies, and a few sugar free snacks that I havent been able to give up yet.
Anyway, I am not saying this WILL work for you, just saying that if you havent tried this approach yet, maybe it will change things up enough for you that your body will respond and the weight will start to come off. Also, a lot of people dont go low carb this drastically, they reduce to 100g NET or so. I have found that if I stay between 30 - 50 NET, I will lose about a pound a week. Like I said, what is right for me isnt right for everyone.
Also, do some research on coconut oil - it has helped a lot of people on this board, myself included.
You will find a lot of support on this board. Good luck and welcome!
No backlash here! I did it too and lost a lot of weight. I agree 100% that eating fresh and elimination of bread, rice, pasta (white food) is the way to go.
Some people cannot sustain super low carb - so you could alternate -- do the 30-50 Net one week and under 100 next week. But what is key is getting rid of the sugary and starchy foods completely - no matter what.0 -
Hi Tash!I had a good week diet and exercise wise this week but only lost 0.2kgs on the scale this week. It's so hard to keep up motivation when weight loss is this slow!! Help ladies! This is the kind of excruciatingly slow progress that makes me feel like falling off the wagon
I had to figure out how much .2 kgs was... I came up with .44 lb. In my book that is good! I've lost 38 lbs now, I got there many times on .5 lbs or less a week. I'd get discouraged when there was no progress, and my husband would say
"its better then the other direction" and that's true. It really is!!
Hang in there! The changes you are making in your lifestyle will pay off. Its a life-style change that is going to make you far happier then "throwing in the towel" ever could.0 -
Thanks debby and Lisa. My cousin did point out when we were talking about it today that even though it was only .2 kg, or .44 of a pound, it was still half a block of butter's worth of fat! That really brought it home to me that even a small loss is an achievement. It's just that the motivation is really hard to sustain when I'm not seeing much progress on the scales. But that's when getting some encouragement from everyone in this thyroid forum really makes the world of difference - so thanks!0
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Thanks debby and Lisa. My cousin did point out when we were talking about it today that even though it was only .2 kg, or .44 of a pound, it was still half a block of butter's worth of fat! That really brought it home to me that even a small loss is an achievement. It's just that the motivation is really hard to sustain when I'm not seeing much progress on the scales. But that's when getting some encouragement from everyone in this thyroid forum really makes the world of difference - so thanks!
Half a pound a week is great progress! I would be happy with that! I'm not doing too badly. I started eat more to weigh less and have lost just over 3lbs in 4 weeks which i'm happy with. I think you just have to be patient and realise that you wont lose as quickly as others and try not to get down about it.. It should be a lifestyle change anyway so its not like when you reach your goal you will be off the "diet" so just keep plodding along and you will get there.0 -
Thanks debby and Lisa. My cousin did point out when we were talking about it today that even though it was only .2 kg, or .44 of a pound, it was still half a block of butter's worth of fat! That really brought it home to me that even a small loss is an achievement. It's just that the motivation is really hard to sustain when I'm not seeing much progress on the scales. But that's when getting some encouragement from everyone in this thyroid forum really makes the world of difference - so thanks!
I really like the weekly report of the exercise minutes - I use that as my positive reinforcement instead of the scale. It helps too because I see how much adding an aerobics class like Zumba (even part of the class) makes on my minutes that week.0 -
take measurements and progress pics! you'll be surprised at what you think is only a 3-5lb weight loss actually translated into lots of inches lost in all areas of your body.
it took me 10 months to drop 29lbs after my meds were adjusted 3-4 times. I have come to a stand still and have been teetering between 139-141lbs, but if you visit my thread in the Success stories
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/690731-from-168lbs-to-139lbs-pics-w-hypothyroidism
you'll see a big difference. it's a slow process to lose weight for us hypos, but in the end, it'll be totally worth it!. I got 14lbs to go to hit my weight loss goal, but realistically, I'm not putting myself on a time frame, i'm just gonna go with it and see where it takes me.0
