I can't stand when
AmyFett
Posts: 1,607 Member
people who have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism use it as an excuse to not lose weight, or say they're unable. I am living proof you can do it.
I went undiagnosed with it for over 4 years. I know this now because about 4 1/2 years ago I got blood work and the doctor who ordered it never told my doctor about it and what the results were. Nothing was done for over 4 damn years.
About 8 or so months ago now, I went in demanding they find out what was going on with me. I was constantly fatigued, just plain beyond exhausted, depressed, and of course FAT!! No matter what I did to lose weight before, I gained, gained, gained.
Bottom line, if you're on your medication and take it the way you're supposed to, there's absolutely no reason you cannot lose the weight. None. Yes, it might be slower than someone who's not hypo, but it IS possible. Stop making excuses for yourself and get to it!!
Rant over!!!
I went undiagnosed with it for over 4 years. I know this now because about 4 1/2 years ago I got blood work and the doctor who ordered it never told my doctor about it and what the results were. Nothing was done for over 4 damn years.
About 8 or so months ago now, I went in demanding they find out what was going on with me. I was constantly fatigued, just plain beyond exhausted, depressed, and of course FAT!! No matter what I did to lose weight before, I gained, gained, gained.
Bottom line, if you're on your medication and take it the way you're supposed to, there's absolutely no reason you cannot lose the weight. None. Yes, it might be slower than someone who's not hypo, but it IS possible. Stop making excuses for yourself and get to it!!
Rant over!!!
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Replies
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I like you, a lot. Keep rocking this, and show hypo who's boss!!0
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I am also proof that it is possible.... of course, I had to keep trying for a couple years to see some success.
Working out and eating right are worth doing regardless of if you lose weight. If you give up and eat like crap and sleep irregular hours, it only gets worse. Get off the couch, get a workout routine, and eat right.
It's not as easy as the rest of the population, but it is possible.0 -
I am also proof that it is possible.... of course, I had to keep trying for a couple years to see some success.
Working out and eating right are worth doing regardless of if you lose weight. If you give up and eat like crap and sleep irregular hours, it only gets worse. Get off the couch, get a workout routine, and eat right.
It's not as easy as the rest of the population, but it is possible.
Yep, it's definitely not easy, but it's possible!! I'm also VERY slow at losing because of my insomnia and PTSD causing me to wake up from panic attacks pretty much every night. I know if I got decent sleep, I would lose even more. But I'm just sick of all these posts with excuse after excuse!!0 -
Also, if it's something you want, you won't give up no matter how long it takes
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As long as it is under control, it should be fine. However, there are a lot of people out there who have been diagnosed, are on medications, have tried various doses and their thyroid is still not regulated. I think the key point is that if you have hypothyroidism, it your weight should be easier to manage, as long as your TSH levels are consistently within normal range. Unfortunatly, for a lot of people with thyroid disease, it isnt' always as just a simple pill.0
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It kind of is though. There's different medications, different ways to 'fix' the imbalance. A lot of times it's people just making excuses, or not taking their medication as directed.0
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As long as it is under control, it should be fine. However, there are a lot of people out there who have been diagnosed, are on medications, have tried various doses and their thyroid is still not regulated. I think the key point is that if you have hypothyroidism, it your weight should be easier to manage, as long as your TSH levels are consistently within normal range.
^^ This
Also hypo people may have other health issues. I also agree with you that it is tough to lose weight. I am have Hashimotos and my levels are crazy and haven't been regulated yet. I eat healthy and exercise. So far, I have lost 7lbs in a little over 2 months. I have over 100 lbs to lose. I am working with my doc and he sees what I eat and how much I exercise. Most people who weigh as much as me lose a lot faster. On one hand it gets very discouraging; on the other, I pay no attention because I know I am different. I suggest you walk a mile in someone else's shoes before you start hating on people.0 -
Unfortunately people will use every excuse possible to justify their inability to lose weight. It's true consistent healthy eating and exercise does not discriminate it works for everyone you just have to put in the work!0
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I think you're using your own anecdotal evidence and missing a big problem with people with legit endocrine problems: it's VERY hard for many to be medicated correctly. Many also don't say it's impossible--it just seems impossible because of how much slower and harder it is then "normal" people.
Sorry, but I'd say you're lucky to have had your levels stabilize so well on your medicine and dose. Many of us try to battle weight while also trying to battle the issue itself. All you have to do is read a few of the posts on the thyroid boards on here to see that there are more people who haven't put on a "good dose" yet, let alone a good drug.
And, if you truly deal with thyroid issues, then you know there's the added detriment of thyroid blood chemistry needing AT LEAST three months to show huge differences, longer for other organs to catch up.0 -
I agree. There are very few legit excuses.0
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It kind of is though. There's different medications, different ways to 'fix' the imbalance. A lot of times it's people just making excuses, or not taking their medication as directed.
Lol, despite your awesome avatar, you are making me borderline-rage. Do some people use it as an excuse? Yeah, the people I see who say, "Well, my doctor said my levels are normal" or "I haven't actually been to the doctor" makes me raise eyebrows rather than nod sympathetically.
Not everyone has it where things magically come together. Some of us actually lack the organ, some of don't GAIN weight but have trouble LOSING it, and some of us, etc.
And goddamn, "most people not taking it correctly." Are you serious? What a sweeping generalization that I'm sure you have NO statistics for. This is like thyroid-victim-blaming. "Well, *I* didn't have that issue, so everyone else must be whining."
Thanks for putting this on one of the main forums, so you can continue the stereotype of "Oh, thyroid is just an excuse."0 -
It kind of is though. There's different medications, different ways to 'fix' the imbalance. A lot of times it's people just making excuses, or not taking their medication as directed.
Lol, despite your awesome avatar, you are making me borderline-rage. Do some people use it as an excuse? Yeah, the people I see who say, "Well, my doctor said my levels are normal" or "I haven't actually been to the doctor" makes me raise eyebrows rather than nod sympathetically.
Not everyone has it where things magically come together. Some of us actually lack the organ, some of don't GAIN weight but have trouble LOSING it, and some of us, etc.
And goddamn, "most people not taking it correctly." Are you serious? What a sweeping generalization that I'm sure you have NO statistics for. This is like thyroid-victim-blaming. "Well, *I* didn't have that issue, so everyone else must be whining."
Thanks for putting this on one of the main forums, so you can continue the stereotype of "Oh, thyroid is just an excuse."
Amen, Sister! My thoughts exactly!0 -
I think a lot of people who are overweight or obese have got issues that they have to come to terms with or get resolved before they can actually lose weight and keep it off.
Some people need medical help of one form or another (I happened to need effective pain management) before they can change their lifestyle. Some people need to do psychological work; they have to unpick food from love, learn other ways to manage their emotions that aren't eating, or deal with deep traumas around food period. (I had to come to terms with part of my personality that was a starving fourteen year old girl who wanted to eat the universe.)
And those are things that people have to be able to do. Medical care in the USA takes money. Eating in ways that do not aggravate food intolerances is more expensive, too. And no one can deal with a psychological issue on a given timetable.
I've known I was overweight since I was twelve. I've known it would be medically advisable for pain management to lose weight since I was 23. I was able to start doing so when I was forty. I had a few things to work through first.
But I feel that working through them has made it more likely that I have left behind an obesigenic lifestyle, and that's what I want.0 -
I think you're using your own anecdotal evidence and missing a big problem with people with legit endocrine problems: it's VERY hard for many to be medicated correctly. Many also don't say it's impossible--it just seems impossible because of how much slower and harder it is then "normal" people.
Sorry, but I'd say you're lucky to have had your levels stabilize so well on your medicine and dose. Many of us try to battle weight while also trying to battle the issue itself. All you have to do is read a few of the posts on the thyroid boards on here to see that there are more people who haven't put on a "good dose" yet, let alone a good drug.
And, if you truly deal with thyroid issues, then you know there's the added detriment of thyroid blood chemistry needing AT LEAST three months to show huge differences, longer for other organs to catch up.
Lucky? No. Lucky would be NOT having to deal with this. Not being shaky to the point where I can't do much of anything with my hands. Lucky would be having my hair NOT fall out for months after starting this medication. It took months for the medicine to properly get in my system. I gave it about 5 months or so before trying AGAIN to lose weight.
Anyway, the point of this was, it IS possible and people need to be thankful they caught the problem and are working to fix it. Why would I make up the fact that I'm dealing with thyroid issues?0 -
Thanks for putting this on one of the main forums, so you can continue the stereotype of "Oh, thyroid is just an excuse."
No problem
Many people do use it as an excuse. I know others with this who don't take the medicine every single day, who don't take it when they're supposed to. That's what I don't feel bad for. You know you have an issue, you're not doing what you need to to properly treat it, but then you complain?
It's not an excuse! People with worse diseases lose weight and don't give up. They fight through and don't give up. There's really not much different between someone not having a thyroid and someone whose thyroid just doesn't work.
I know people won't agree with my post, but I really don't care about that, or I wouldn't have posted in the first place :bigsmile:0 -
Thanks for putting this on one of the main forums, so you can continue the stereotype of "Oh, thyroid is just an excuse."
No problem
Many people do use it as an excuse. I know others with this who don't take the medicine every single day, who don't take it when they're supposed to. That's what I don't feel bad for. You know you have an issue, you're not doing what you need to to properly treat it, but then you complain?
It's not an excuse! People with worse diseases lose weight and don't give up. They fight through and don't give up. There's really not much different between someone not having a thyroid and someone whose thyroid just doesn't work.
I know people won't agree with my post, but I really don't care about that, or I wouldn't have posted in the first place :bigsmile:
Oh....now I understand...you are just trolling, trying to cause drama.
TROLL ALERT0 -
I LOVE your attitude, you may be able to help me. I have a dear friend who is on Thyroxine and weighs 245lbs, she has arthritis in her knees and finds it very difficult some days to keep up with her 3 young'uns. Ive tried to coax her into living healthier (not just for her own health but because she is my best friend, I want her around for a long time yet!) but she always loses interest when she doesnt see instant results. I know she is unhappy with herself and I just want her to happy and healthy. Is there anything I can try without either hurting her feelings or making her feel worse?
You have done SO well and I know its attitude that gets you there in the end
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Proof here too! I used to roll my eyes at people who gave the "It's my thyroid" excuse. Then when it happened to me I saw how hard it was BUT as you said IT CAN BE DONE!0
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Sure it can be done, but losing weight is hard enough on its own. And thyroid is often combined with something else that needs to be taken care of .... I know people use it as an excuse, people have a lot of excuses, and so do you. It's not anyone's place to judge someone's lack of motivation, because at one point you were right there with them.0
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I kept hoping that the doctor would diagnose me as hypothyroid and prescribe thyroxine and the weight would just pour off - never did happen <pout>0
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I was borderline hypothyroid but then losing weight helped to correct it0
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I LOVE your attitude, you may be able to help me. I have a dear friend who is on Thyroxine and weighs 245lbs, she has arthritis in her knees and finds it very difficult some days to keep up with her 3 young'uns. Ive tried to coax her into living healthier (not just for her own health but because she is my best friend, I want her around for a long time yet!) but she always loses interest when she doesnt see instant results. I know she is unhappy with herself and I just want her to happy and healthy. Is there anything I can try without either hurting her feelings or making her feel worse?
You have done SO well and I know its attitude that gets you there in the end
This is similar to someone I know!
unfortunately you can only be there for support and encouragement, one day she will wake up and realise that weight management is a lifelong commitment with no easy quick fixes. It took me a long time to realise that it had taken me a long time to put the weight on, but will take even longer to lose it.
good luck!0 -
A difficulty is when you are comparing yourself to other, non-Hypos, is where the frustration comes in. The non-hypos can have similar eating and exercise habits and drop the weight much quicker, which can derail our focus. I have to work so much harder. So for me, I have to focus on my journey and use others, both hypos and non-hypos as motivation to achieve the same goals, though I will cross the finish line many months after the non-hypos.
Another issue is that we have to be hypervigilant as the weight creep happens when we are not focused on eating & exercising and it happens fast.
Hypothyroidism was a gift from my dad, a gift that keeps on giving, LOL. Both of my siblings have it, likely my kids will have it. My brother takes very good care of himself, still overweight; my sister, not so much.0 -
A difficulty is when you are comparing yourself to other, non-Hypos, is where the frustration comes in. The non-hypos can have similar eating and exercise habits and drop the weight much quicker, which can derail our focus. I have to work so much harder. So for me, I have to focus on my journey and use others, both hypos and non-hypos as motivation to achieve the same goals, though I will cross the finish line many months after the non-hypos.
Another issue is that we have to be hypervigilant as the weight creep happens when we are not focused on eating & exercising and it happens fast.
Hypothyroidism was a gift from my dad, a gift that keeps on giving, LOL. Both of my siblings have it, likely my kids will have it. My brother takes very good care of himself, still overweight; my sister, not so much.
Excellent point. Like I said, many of us don't actually say, "OMG IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO LOSE WEIGHT." We are vocal because we are in a completely different boat than others.
My own issue with weight IS actually pretty anecdotal--my levels were TOO high (all from medication, because I had my thyroid removed at 13 because of cancer) which caused my adrenals to skyrocket my cortisol. Do you know what cortisol does? It *IS* the hormone that makes weight come from nothing. Anything you put in your mouth? Fat, because fat is what keeps you alive when your adrenal glands think "Omg, we're dying," and requires no extra energy to maintain. Do you know what they do to treat LOW adrenaline, also highly correlated with thyroid issues, specifically hypothyroidism? Cortisol. Guess what THAT does.
They're all connected, the whole goddamn system is connected (hence, endocrine system), and who's at the top? Thyroid.
And I'm sorry, but yeah--you are incredibly fortunate, OP, if it took only FIVE months to get everything together. Stop using your own, SINGULAR example to judge a huge group of people.
I'm going to agree with what someone else said--you must be trolling, trying to get people to jump on your own bandwagon, etc. I would love to know your levels, your medicine, hell, even your doctor since you got such amazing treatment. I'll be waiting for a response 0 -
I was diagnosed 4 years ago after having missed my TOM for 3 months straight! But I'm "borderline" as I was told. Guess what, Levothyroxine made me hungry all the time. Stopped taking it 3 months before my last TSH test and the test came out normal. So, I haven't taken it since and I've lost now 24 lbs since July 1st. Will it hurt me in the long run? Who knows....my mom has full blown hypothyroid, stopped her meds for a while and dropped below 200. She was in the 230's!!! Sometimes I feel that dr's keep us all medication-ed up so they can continue making the big bucks!! But thats only my opinion...please don't attack me
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Proof here too! I used to roll my eyes at people who gave the "It's my thyroid" excuse. Then when it happened to me I saw how hard it was BUT as you said IT CAN BE DONE!
Exactly. It is hard. Never said it wasn't 0 -
I've learned to not compare myself to others. And whoever said I have excuses, you're wrong. I don't make excuses for myself. There aren't any. If you want it badly enough, you can do it no matter what you face. You have to accept what's "wrong" with you, and not compare yourself to others, focus on yourself, don't think about what others think or say, and go get what you want.
As for someone who has a friend with problems, I don't know what to tell you! Unfortunately, until she wants to change, there's nothing you can do that will make her. I've been struggling with this with my husband. He doesn't want to and I can't do anything to make him. It sucks, but I'm hoping he'll realize to get his head out of his *kitten* soon.0 -
I think it's just the way your post came across. Kinda rude... Just saying.
Losing weight with hypo is hard esp if your numbers are out of wHack. Even numbers in the normal range can have trouble losing weight. Is it impossible? No... nothing is impossible. Though it is very hard. Thyroid can be used as an excuse like anything else but I think it's out of line to post and say quit your crying I lost 18 lbs WTF is your problem? Every person is different, every person has their own issues regarding health and food. Don't be quick to judge.
FWIW Before being diag. with hypo 10-11 yrs ago I shot up a quick 60-75 lbs in 3 months. It was AWFUL. I gained a lot more after that trying to get my crap in order. I'm now working on it and it's coming off. It's slower than normal but it comes off. I also have other issues with food that slow me down as well. Not an excuse... just what I have to deal with.0
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