Success with hypothyroidism?

I am hypo and it has been EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. EXTREMELY! I have broken down and have a trainer and she is hypo as well and she will tell you it is EXTREMELY DIFFICULT That being said, the Dr has said once the meds are regulated for a yr then it will start to come off. I just can't seem to make it to a yr. Also the scale says I am not losing weight but I am losing inches so I am doing something right. Sooner or later it has to catch up. I am in this to lose weight but to also be healthier. Keep at it, don't quit because even if it is hard you WILL get there if you keep working.

I've been hypo my whole life, and was diagnosed at two weeks old. As far as loosing weight goes, when I try hard, it falls off. Just make sure your levels are always getting checked and you will do fine

Also remember - it is crucial to have your TSH, T3 and T4 tested regularly, like every 6-8 weeks, even after the doc says the meds have stabilized your TSH. Alot of docs only test for TSH - and that is missing a big point of it all!
Also - everytime I have lost weight my TSH levels change, and my meds have to be adjusted. At my heaviest I was on 150mcg, at my lightest, I was at 100mcg. Your body is constantly adjusting.

This was an encouraging post. :happy: Thank you!

I got tested after I read the book also. The only thing that worked for me was following the Paleo Diet aka Whole 30 religiously. I lost 10 lbs in one month and that was without exercise. I was too lethargic to workout. I did not watch my diet over the holidays so I gained most of it back.

You can lose weight with hypothyroidism, if you have it. There is medication that you will be placed on synthroid, levothyroxine, Armour can help get your levels back to a normal range.

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 2002...after the birth of my first son, just last year I had my entire thyroid removed... so I only have 2 parathyroids...my thyroid was cancerous. I will forever be on my synthroid... A good endocronologist will test your TSH, thyroid antibodies, T3/T4.

Your thyroid is very important, but you can still have a happy and normal life... I lost 56 pounds in 2012, and gained some back as I fell off my wagon, but hoping to lose another 50 this year...

Good luck to you!

Also, we have a group on this board that you might find helpful. It's all people with hypo/hyperthroidism.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/770-hypothyroidism-and-hyperthyroidism

You can do it! I was diagnosed in 1996, after the birth of my son. To top it off, for the last three years I have been gradually falling into peri-menopause and the hormones have been all over the place. But, I've managed to lose a little over 50 lbs in the last year. For me, eating less and exercising more has worked. It was hard , and it is still hard. It came off a lot faster in the beginning, and I've hit a plateau, but I just keep working on it. Hang in there!

I am just starting to try this - I was diagnosed with Hashi's in '07. Probably had it for years and gained lots, would get it off then slowly gain back (not thyroids fault, at least not all its fault When my levels are good, it is easier. As a previous post said, get tested every 6-8 weeks and test TSH, t3, t4. I have switched to Armour from Levothyroxine and like it better. It is a constant experiment! Good luck!

I switched to Armour, too. I changed because I changed doctors due to insurance, but would never change back. I take a very high dose, 180 mg/day (90 in the am and 90 in the pm). I know it is controversial, because it can't be regulated as easily as the man made Synthroid and Levo, but it contains all of the missing hormones -- T1, T2, T3, and T4. I feel and function much better on the Armour. Something to consider if the Synthroid doesn't seem to work for you.

Sooozie...you mentioned that you lost hair (among other symptoms)....when you switched to armour did it help with that? Did you have any success with any other treatment in regards to hair loss??

My hair is still quite thin but my eyebrows are SO MUCH BETTER. Weird. They were always missing on the outer section but now they are full eyebrows!

Hi all!

If I am posting this in the wrong section, I apologize. I am wondering if anyone has had success losing weight with hypothyroidism, and if you can share your story. What did you do that worked?

I'm 31, and put on about 30 lbs. in 6 months. Yes, I did eat more and exercised yes, but definitely not to THAT extent. Got tested for hypothyroidism, and will be getting the results soon. I also have been very tired.

Thanks!

I went from being hyper to hypo and gained a lot of weight. I have had success in taking off about half of the weight and I am working on the other half. It is hard work but it can be done. Feel free to add me as a friend for support. I have other friends that are hypothyroid as well.

I think the best advice that I have is to make an appt with an endocrinologist, not just your FMD. Someone who specializes in the disease can give the best advice. I have been hypothyroid for 25 + years, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease. Since then, have been on synthroid with blood levels checked at least annually and meds adjusted as needed based on values. My doctor told me once-+it's not the disease that causes you to gain, it's inactivity". I resented it and realized it was true. I was never really overweight, based on height. I'm 6 foot and currently 150.
Since the initial diagnosis of hypothyroidism, I've been diagnosed with 2 other autoimmune diseases-cutaneous lupus (only skin form of disease, thank goodness) and raynaud's disease (disease of small blood vessels in hands) and 1 "so called autoimmune, according to research".--breast cancer. Cancer problem is solved-gone, but then a med post surgery that caused weight gain, hence MFP and lots of work and dedication to moderation and desire to live longer.
Am I telling you this to compete with your statement/question or for sympathy? No, just to tell you that if you have hypo, then get to an endocrinologist and be committed to the treatment. But, endocrine diseases go hand in hand with other diseases, that can snow ball for you without supervision by an MD. You own your health and health status, be your own advocate! Best wishes! PS-do I sound like a big blowhard? I'm a retired ER nurse, nursing professor, who has given mega advice, but in NO way claim to be a diagnostitian!!!

Getting your thyroid levels in check does not guarentee you will lose weight. Since thyroid is one of the metabolism hormones, it may effect other hormone levels as well. There are some people who may actually gain weight when there TSH becomes normal, this is generally caused by increased hunger stimulation.
As for the monitoring of your levels, would recommend antibody testing only with the initial diagnosis of the disease as this will help determine the type of thyroid disease. Once you have started thyroid replacement, it provides no benefit.
90% of all thyroid medication adjustment is based on TSH levels. This is because the T4 thyroid hormone has a half life of 7-8 days and the T3 thyroid hormone has a half live of 6-8 hours. This means that it takes at least 6-8 weeks before the thyroid replacement you take today will have its full effect. The TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is a measurement of the pituitary gland's (master hormone gland) response to the amount of thyroid hormone you have in the system. TSH is less erratic and has the most consistent assay of thyroid lab test.
You can have the TSH, Free T4 and Free T3 checked to assess levels, but TSH should be the level the thyroid medication is adjusted by. (make sure they are testing the Free T4 and Free T3 and not just T4 and T3 as these are protein bound hormones and this can effect levels as well)
as for the types of replacement most medications are T4 replacments (Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothryoxine and Tirosent) as T4 is the primary hormone produced by the thyroid and it gets converted to T3 by the muscles. Armour thyroid/Nature Thryoid/compounded thyroid are obtained from desicated pig thyroid and provide T4 and T3.
Normal levels for the TSH generally range between 0.3-3.0 which is a very wide range. Most people do well with levels <2, but it varies as to were you feel the best. Make sure you keep an open line of communication with your provider as to your symptoms (fatigue, hair loss, sleep disorders, memory issues, swelling to feet, tremors, numbness and tingling to the hands and feet, issues with concentration, consitpation/diarrhea, increased irritabiltiy).
Have your levels checked about every 3 months while you are working on losing weight as the lean muscle mass may effect your hormone levels.
Hope this helps

I have been on meds for over 50 years and just this last few years I have lost 30k. I put on weight easy so have to watch all the time what I eat or up I go. Like this Christmas Season up 6k but lost 3k already most of it was fluid but you have to catch it right away or before you know it you will be well over again.
Not easy but can be done.
Delia