Hypothyroidism

Sly_Blue
Sly_Blue Posts: 11
in Food and Nutrition
I have it. Have had it for years. (Diagnosed at 7)


So far I have found out that white rice (Asian here) is extremely detrimental, I seem to do well with wheat as compared to any form of rice (brown rice included). I avoid green tea due to the amount of fluoride it has.
I have always had a problem with my calcium levels- I have found out that having an ounce of full fat cheese once every two days seems to help- my calcium levels have never been higher. Milk doesn't seem to help, nor do the calcium supplements.


What are your tips to loose weight with this 'disease'? Do you have any mineral deficiencies? How do you overcome them?
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Replies

  • JackieLM
    JackieLM Posts: 127 Member
    You aren't alone... I have had this for over 10 years and it is rough. I have found that I can't lose weight at all no matter how clean I eat. The ONLY way for me to lose weight is to eat clean and work out. I take some supplements that my chiropractor gave me (sold me) but I don't really notice a difference.
  • Kamikazeflutterby
    Kamikazeflutterby Posts: 770 Member
    Take the meds your doc prescribes. Get thyroid levels checked at least once a year. Have a calorie deficit like a normal person.
  • Exill
    Exill Posts: 155 Member
    I was diagnosed when I was 14 (15 years ago!) and as long as my dose is managed (currently 200mcg) I have no problem with my weight. I actually feel the best I've felt in years, since cutting back on processed foods.
  • NitaCB
    NitaCB Posts: 532 Member
    That gives me hope for returning back to the weight I was. I was only diagnosed about 3 months ago and I haven't felt a great change in being on the meds, even though apparently it's now in healthy levels. I certainly haven't been able to start shifting any of the 10 kgs it has made me gain. The worst part is the medication makes me short of breath, so my running has suffered majorly. Has anyone else had this? I've just started on a different brand to see if it's any better. Here's hoping...
  • ferb03
    ferb03 Posts: 82
    I have never heard of thyroid meds making anyone short of breath. Are you sure there isn't something else going on?
  • Sly_Blue
    Sly_Blue Posts: 11
    Try getting your GP to change your meds.

    I got my meds changed in May and the dizziness/shortness of breath lasted for a week as I was getting used to the meds. After that has been amazing.

    Used to be on thyroxin and now on levothyroxin.
  • NitaCB
    NitaCB Posts: 532 Member
    If you Google possible side effects for levothyroxine (which I'm on) it's listed there as one of them. It got worse when I upped my meds too. My brother has noticed it too, he also has hypothyroidism.
  • AmyFett
    AmyFett Posts: 1,607 Member
    If you're taking your medication as you should, you shouldn't have any issue losing weight. Maybe just a bit slower than someone whose thyroid is perfectly functioning, but that's about it. I have a hard time with not having much of an appetite though. Not really knowing when I'm hungry and when I'm not.
  • Sly_Blue
    Sly_Blue Posts: 11
    Hmm, change the meds.

    Sinthyroid was fairly ok- however it 'stopped' being absorbed by my body.
  • Exill
    Exill Posts: 155 Member
    I have asthma and always had difficulty with cardio, but since I started walking everyday it rarely ever bothers me, usually just in cold weather. I can even run, something I could never do without my asthma acting up. I take synthroid and I don't feel there's any correlation between it and my asthma, especially since I'm on a high dose now and my asthma's the best it's ever been.
  • Sly_Blue
    Sly_Blue Posts: 11
    I find cardio fine. I was doing 30 mins of HIIT and didn't die.

    It would have been impossible in my first week of changing meds, but the rest is fine. Maybe you should up the meds slowly and steadily. This is just my opinion, and get a GP to sort it out for you.
  • californiagirl2012
    californiagirl2012 Posts: 2,625 Member
    I have hypothyroidism. It has not stopped me from losing weight. My doctor prescribes a bio-identical thyroid prescription and it ended up not being a magic pill for me. I finally had to accept the fact that I needed to eat less to lose weight.

    eat less to lose weight
    exercise (especially weight training) to keep or maintain muscle mass

    Once separated the two and ate less to lose it worked, I let go of the low thyroid excuse.
  • schelli226
    schelli226 Posts: 5
    Shortness of breath is a also a symptom of hypothyroidism that isn't managed well. it is due to the accumlation of fluids in the body making it difficult to breathe. As you body adjusts this should go away.
  • kellygirl324
    kellygirl324 Posts: 74 Member
    I gained a great deal of weight when my thyroid quit working, but I lost it after taking meds. I wouldnt blame my recent weight gain on my thyroid, but I've lost approx. 20 pounds since March. Seems slow to me, but not certain that is due to my thyroid. I exercise everyday and eat fairly well (not all clean foods), but try to be mainly fresh or frozen.
  • Ge0rgiana
    Ge0rgiana Posts: 1,649 Member
    I refuse to take Synthroid or anything T4-only. Wretched stuff. I'm currently on dessicated thyroid, 180mg a day. I can honestly say that I'm quite functional. Weight is always special because of edema. However, that's a twisted tale of diuretics and potassium and a bunch of other stuff. Bottom line: I would tell anyone to give dessicated a try, especially if Synthroid is making you worse.

    As an interesting side note, I'll be trying grapeseed extract soon for the edema. I hear really good things.
  • Fit4_Life
    Fit4_Life Posts: 828 Member
    Others may not agree..but I have hypothyroid and I have been on a 1,000 daily calorie intake for a year. I have not had any medical problems or anything else. And I feel fine. No..I am NOT starving myself. I have tried the 1200 or 1500 cal intake..I was frustrated because I didn't lose any weight..

    I finally found something that works for me. I discussed it with my doctor...so everything is all good and in working order.
  • Jen_Jennings
    Jen_Jennings Posts: 124 Member
    Take the meds your doc prescribes. Get thyroid levels checked at least once a year. Have a calorie deficit like a normal person.

    HA! If it were only that easy w/thyroid issues lol
  • leojsivad
    leojsivad Posts: 124 Member
    Taking a daily tablespoon of coconut oil has been known to help those with your condition. Take your meds, get your levels checked regularly, and keep on going with your diet and exercise.
  • leojsivad
    leojsivad Posts: 124 Member
    You have to be willing to do 2x the work to get the same results as someone without hypothyroidism. If you can get past the "unfairness" of it all and work your butt off, you will succeed.
  • Ge0rgiana
    Ge0rgiana Posts: 1,649 Member
    Take the meds your doc prescribes. Get thyroid levels checked at least once a year. Have a calorie deficit like a normal person.

    HA! If it were only that easy w/thyroid issues lol

    Yeah, kinda what I was thinking... Pretty asinine. Oh, and I'm REALLY not trying to be rude, but you really think they only check them once a year? :laugh:
  • Kamikazeflutterby
    Kamikazeflutterby Posts: 770 Member
    Take the meds your doc prescribes. Get thyroid levels checked at least once a year. Have a calorie deficit like a normal person.

    HA! If it were only that easy w/thyroid issues lol

    What, you don't do this? No accurate meds means an imbalance remains uncorrected. No checkup means your meds could be inaccurate. No calorie deficit means no weight loss.

    I don't pretend to know every variation of thyroid imbalance. I know some people really yo yo with getting the right medication and the right amount, but if you take the medication to get normal levels you can lose weight normally.
  • NitaCB
    NitaCB Posts: 532 Member
    How long did most of you find it took for your body to adjust to the medication and to find the right levels? My doctor says that I'm within normal ranges now, but I'm still tired most of the time. I suggested whole thyroid medication but he pretty much said that wasn't an option because it can be very hit and miss. He also couldn't understand why the meds are making me breathless. It's not like I can go off them though.
  • Kamikazeflutterby
    Kamikazeflutterby Posts: 770 Member
    Take the meds your doc prescribes. Get thyroid levels checked at least once a year. Have a calorie deficit like a normal person.

    HA! If it were only that easy w/thyroid issues lol

    Yeah, kinda what I was thinking... Pretty asinine. Oh, and I'm REALLY not trying to be rude, but you really think they only check them once a year? :laugh:

    As the bare minimum baseline to check the levels? Yes, yes I do.
  • Jen_Jennings
    Jen_Jennings Posts: 124 Member
    Take the meds your doc prescribes. Get thyroid levels checked at least once a year. Have a calorie deficit like a normal person.

    HA! If it were only that easy w/thyroid issues lol

    What, you don't do this? No accurate meds means an imbalance remains uncorrected. No checkup means your meds could be inaccurate. No calorie deficit means no weight loss.

    I don't pretend to know every variation of thyroid imbalance. I know some people really yo yo with getting the right medication and the right amount, but if you take the medication to get normal levels you can lose weight normally.

    My levels are checked about 4x a yr usually. Sometimes more when I've had to have adjusted doses. I don't want to go into a list of things but thyroid disease has a slew of secondary problems that it causes and losing weight isn't always as easy as it may sound when there are other conditions occurring within the body. Not everyone's body is the same just as ppl's bodies are not all the same who don't have thyroid disorders. If you have thyroid disease and have had success in losing weight and keeping it controlled, that is wonderful :)
  • Jen_Jennings
    Jen_Jennings Posts: 124 Member
    How long did most of you find it took for your body to adjust to the medication and to find the right levels? My doctor says that I'm within normal ranges now, but I'm still tired most of the time. I suggested whole thyroid medication but he pretty much said that wasn't an option because it can be very hit and miss. He also couldn't understand why the meds are making me breathless. It's not like I can go off them though.

    I think it takes me about 90 days to stablize. I just recently had to have my meds lowered. For some reason all the sudden after 16 yrs of taking the same dose my body decided to change things up a bit lol. My fatigue never went away.
  • mindy_moorehead
    mindy_moorehead Posts: 17
    I have hypothyroidism and I have lost 140+ I just take my meds daily (levothroxyin-and FYI all it is-is the generic form of synthroid) and exercise and try to eat as healthy as possible and I have had no problems whatsoever!!!
  • Exill
    Exill Posts: 155 Member
    Getting pregnant really throws things off too. I was having bloodwork every month and it took a long time afterwards to get back on a steady dose (would bounce between hypo and hyper) and I'm taking a higher dose now than before. It does take awhile to find the right dose. I also used to have a goiter that I could easily feel in my neck, but it's gone now.
  • RunMyOregonBunsOff
    RunMyOregonBunsOff Posts: 862 Member
    I was having the hardest time losing the weight that I gainded from my low thyroid until I got put on a 2nd Rx Cytomel which is a synthetic T3 as well as being on the Synthroid (T4). I feel like I'm back to my old self again! I'm running farther than I ever would have dreamed of before. My thyroid weight is melting off with my calories lowered and I no longer feel like I'm wear cement shoes! Life is good!
  • Exill
    Exill Posts: 155 Member
    I always had issues with fatigue--I would sleep 10-12 hrs a day. The best thing, for me, is getting at least 30 min of walking in everyday. Sunshine and exercise are great boosts to mood and energy! I sleep 8-9 hrs now. I also feel a lot better when I eat healthy (fruits and veg as opposed to refined carbs), no surprise there.
  • Jen_Jennings
    Jen_Jennings Posts: 124 Member
    I always had issues with fatigue--I would sleep 10-12 hrs a day. The best thing, for me, is getting at least 30 min of walking in everyday. Sunshine and exercise are great boosts to mood and energy! I sleep 8-9 hrs now. I also feel a lot better when I eat healthy (fruits and veg as opposed to refined carbs), no surprise there.

    ^^^this for sure!

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