Thyroid issues
KristaHuyer
Posts: 57
I am new to the message boards but wanted to give it a try for some support and motivation!
I am doing an extremely intense cleanse right now to find out what food sensitivities I have. I also gained about 15 pounds within a year for no reason as i work out and ate fairly healthy. It is now coming to light that there could be a thyroid problem, which would explain why I take care of myself and still don't loose a single pound.
Does anyone else struggle with this, and know of any ways to work through it?
I am doing an extremely intense cleanse right now to find out what food sensitivities I have. I also gained about 15 pounds within a year for no reason as i work out and ate fairly healthy. It is now coming to light that there could be a thyroid problem, which would explain why I take care of myself and still don't loose a single pound.
Does anyone else struggle with this, and know of any ways to work through it?
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Replies
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Hello - I wanted to comment as I am going through a similar situation. I eat very healthy and exercise (although could probably do a better job!), but I have just been recently diagnosed w/ hypothyroid which has caused me to gain about 10 lbs over the past year (despite reduction in calories).
Although I am yet to find any good tricks to kick start weight loss, I wanted to let you know that I feel your frustration of eating healthy and still gaining weight0 -
Having a thyroid issue for almost 22 years has been hard...no matter how much you watch what you eat, diet, exercise the weight just doesn't come off....I do try to stay active, because i know if I wouldn't I would feel lousy....just keep working and doing what you do...because it makes yourself feel better....and if people can't see you for you then it's their issue....stay busy!!!0
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I have Hypothyroidism. I talked to my mom when i found out to see if i had ever had a problem with it and she told me that i did when i was little. It got better there for a long time, but my senior year of high school (close to 5 years ago) I started to gain a little weight. I was up to 198 by graduation date. I didnt think anything of it, but when i started college i of course put on the infamous "freshman 15" only i just kept gaining and gaining. I didnt know what was going on. I was trying to eat healthy...but kept failing, and i also started exercising with my friends...which i eventually gave up. I wasnt seeing progress so i quit. Well, now here in present day I struggle with hypothyroidism. I initially found out about it when i found out I was pregnant with my daughter. They did all sort of tests, poke after poke after poke...every month. They came back with the results as everything is healthy, except my TSH levels were too high. They put me on levothyroxine, and now i feel so much better. I feel like i have more energy, and my tolerance to hot and cold weather is a lot better...not perfect, but better. Im not sure if this helps at all, but i thought i would let you know that you are not alone. Maybe if you haven't already, talk to your doctor about checking your levels and possibly medicating you. It's helped me. So far i am down 10 lbs and ive started my diet/working out 2 weeks ago. Good luck
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I'm here to see if I'm lying to myself or if I have a thyroid issue. For three weeks I have averaged 1200 cal/day including exercise calories. I initially lost, but for the last two weeks I have gained back 3 lbs.!!! I am so frustrated.
Both my sister and my daughter have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism.
My biggest problem is that I have food intolerances and there is not a thryoid med that I can take. I talked to a compounding pharmacists and he can't help me,
Does anyone have any ideas?0 -
Thank you all so much for your help!
Its been a very frustrating journey cause most drs have just taken blood and my thyroid has come back as "average". my naturopath is saying though that "average" might not be normal for me, so I am hoping to get more tests done.
I am on a cleanse where I can't eat any wheat, eggs, dairy, sugars, soy, red meats, potatoes, tomatoes, bananas, any acidic fruits. and the list goes. I have been on it for 3 weeks! MOST people would honestly loose 10 pounds by doing this cleanse!!! I haven't lost one pound- which leads me to think there really is something else going on.
Do you guys know what kind of other tests I can get done? I have an ultrasound this week to check out my abdomen, but I know thyroid won't show up in that. Im hoping it all gets fixed soon though!
Again, thank you so much for sharing your stories with me!0 -
I would discuss with your doctor about estrogen containing foods in your diet and he should be able to maybe help0
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Thyroid issues don't stop you from losing weight. Being lazy and not watching what you eat does. I have very severe hypothyroidism and have been able to lose weight just by staying under my calorie goal. I bust my *kitten* with lifting and eat whatever fits under my goal. These posts make me RAGE!0
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Thyroid issues don't stop you from losing weight. Being lazy and not watching what you eat does. I have very severe hypothyroidism and have been able to lose weight just by staying under my calorie goal. I bust my *kitten* with lifting and eat whatever fits under my goal. These posts make me RAGE!
But are you taking Thyroxin or something similar? Thyroid issues could affect your ability to lose weight IF you are not taking medication to regulate your thyroid. I suggest you go to an endocrinologist if you are really concerned about this.0 -
I guess I should have added "if it is regulated" Thank you 1CGThyroid issues don't stop you from losing weight. Being lazy and not watching what you eat does. I have very severe hypothyroidism and have been able to lose weight just by staying under my calorie goal. I bust my *kitten* with lifting and eat whatever fits under my goal. These posts make me RAGE!
But are you taking Thyroxin or something similar? Thyroid issues could affect your ability to lose weight IF you are not taking medication to regulate your thyroid. I suggest you go to an endocrinologist if you are really concerned about this. 0 -
There are a lot of here us. We even have a group. Come join us!
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/770-hypothyroidism-and-hyperthyroidism0 -
It sounds like you may just have a sluggish metabolism and not hypothyroidism. If you are going less than 1200 calories a day this could be to blame. Metabolism also slows as you age- you have to beef up the exercise or cut more calories to maintain. It's no surprise you wouldn't lose weight on a cleanse- you may have put your body in a starvation mode if you are dipping too low on calories.0
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I guess I should have added "if it is regulated" Thank you 1CGThyroid issues don't stop you from losing weight. Being lazy and not watching what you eat does. I have very severe hypothyroidism and have been able to lose weight just by staying under my calorie goal. I bust my *kitten* with lifting and eat whatever fits under my goal. These posts make me RAGE!
But are you taking Thyroxin or something similar? Thyroid issues could affect your ability to lose weight IF you are not taking medication to regulate your thyroid. I suggest you go to an endocrinologist if you are really concerned about this.
Added to say: Yup. Perfectly regulated, you are pretty much no different than anyone else!
Granted, it's not always easy to stay regulated for many people, but even then, untreated hypothryoidism doesn't make it impossible to lose weight... it just makes it slower. Weight gain CAN happen, but often the weight gain comes from cortisol issues grouped in to untreated thyroid (both too high or too little).
I'd also say "YES!" to what MidwestAngel said: LIFT. I have had severe issues with hypothyroidism (I also don't have a thyroid, and have dealt with adrenal issues twice in my life), and had hormonal weight gain. I wish more doctors recommended lifting. It helps regulate hormones, it helps boost a sluggish metabolism, etc.
Lifting has literally changed my life, and I think anyone with hormonal issues should do it... especially because high doses of certain thyroid hormones affect bone density, and LIFTING BUILDS THAT ****.0 -
I guess I should have added "if it is regulated" Thank you 1CGThyroid issues don't stop you from losing weight. Being lazy and not watching what you eat does. I have very severe hypothyroidism and have been able to lose weight just by staying under my calorie goal. I bust my *kitten* with lifting and eat whatever fits under my goal. These posts make me RAGE!
But are you taking Thyroxin or something similar? Thyroid issues could affect your ability to lose weight IF you are not taking medication to regulate your thyroid. I suggest you go to an endocrinologist if you are really concerned about this.
I'm going to point out here that I agree that getting treatment should help to normalize your ability to lose weight when you get it right, but if you are honestly logging all your calories and eating a deficit, being more active, etc. and have not lost any weight for a month or so, you should talk to a doctor. There are a lot of different things that can affect this and make it harder to lose weight. Bring your food diary and show it to a professional and ask them what you can change. Some people find this issue with certain anti-depressants or hormonal birth control, some people find that if they cut soy, which can mess with your hormone levels, it helps. Some people aren't getting the right amount of vitamins their thyroid needs, even though the gland works fine. It could be any number of things including something that could seriously mess up your health in the long run. As a teen I had a doctor I couldn't get to listen to me about this issue, and it messed with my head for a long time. You aren't a special failure snowflake so if you are working hard to make a change, you should see at least SOME change.0 -
Thank you all so much for your help!
Its been a very frustrating journey cause most drs have just taken blood and my thyroid has come back as "average". my naturopath is saying though that "average" might not be normal for me, so I am hoping to get more tests done.
I am on a cleanse where I can't eat any wheat, eggs, dairy, sugars, soy, red meats, potatoes, tomatoes, bananas, any acidic fruits. and the list goes. I have been on it for 3 weeks! MOST people would honestly loose 10 pounds by doing this cleanse!!! I haven't lost one pound- which leads me to think there really is something else going on.
Do you guys know what kind of other tests I can get done? I have an ultrasound this week to check out my abdomen, but I know thyroid won't show up in that. Im hoping it all gets fixed soon though!
Again, thank you so much for sharing your stories with me!
What tests did your doctor run? Did they just test TSH, or did they test your free T3 and free T4? TSH is a pituitary hormone and yet is the first go-to test. As well, there's a lot of controversy about what the "normal range" should be. I personally wouldn't accept my TSH anywhere over 2.0, and would want it closer to 1.0. But you really need to ensure they are testing your actual thyroid hormones - I would ask for a free T3 and free T4 test.
Your free T3 should optimally be in the top 1/3 of the range, and not just "within normal range". Your free T4 should be about mid-range.
I would also ask to have the following tested:
-Vit
it's required for the T3 to act on your cells. "Within normal range" is 30+, but again you want OPTIMAL, which is 60-80
-iron, ferritin, B12, and Selenium: used in the process of converting T4 into T3 (the active thyroid hormone)
-iodine: required for production of thyroid hormone
I'm especially concerned about the iron and B12 levels with your current diet.0 -
I'm going to point out here that I agree that getting treatment should help to normalize your ability to lose weight when you get it right, but if you are honestly logging all your calories and eating a deficit, being more active, etc. and have not lost any weight for a month or so, you should talk to a doctor. There are a lot of different things that can affect this and make it harder to lose weight. Bring your food diary and show it to a professional and ask them what you can change. Some people find this issue with certain anti-depressants or hormonal birth control, some people find that if they cut soy, which can mess with your hormone levels, it helps. Some people aren't getting the right amount of vitamins their thyroid needs, even though the gland works fine. It could be any number of things including something that could seriously mess up your health in the long run. As a teen I had a doctor I couldn't get to listen to me about this issue, and it messed with my head for a long time. You aren't a special failure snowflake so if you are working hard to make a change, you should see at least SOME change.
You say that everyone's thyroid needs are different, yet say that they aren't special snowflakes? I feel like you just learned that phrase and liked it and wanted to use it - it wasn't very constructive in this situation.
As well, the OP obviously IS talking to her doctor, has adjusted her diet for many things, etc.0 -
I'm here to see if I'm lying to myself or if I have a thyroid issue. For three weeks I have averaged 1200 cal/day including exercise calories. I initially lost, but for the last two weeks I have gained back 3 lbs.!!! I am so frustrated.
Both my sister and my daughter have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism.
My biggest problem is that I have food intolerances and there is not a thryoid med that I can take. I talked to a compounding pharmacists and he can't help me,
Does anyone have any ideas?
What are your specific food intolerances? Most meds have talc, sugar and other things people can be sensitive to - I would contact the manufacturers of Nature Thyroid and Armour to confirm what the fillers are (and any dyes). As well, a lot of people respond well to Erfa's Thyroid (Canada's dessicated med), because it's like the old Armour before they changed the fillers.
I know someone in the US who goes through Women's International Pharmacy for compounded meds and I believe olive oil was the only filler...?? I would contact them to ask. Or try around to different compounding pharmacies, but be prepared to be very specific on what your intolerances are.0 -
Thanks so much for the info on meds. My intolerances are gluten, soy, dairy and corn. Corn being the problem. Most fillers are made from corn. I had to take vicodin for an abscessed tooth, I was sick for a month from the fillers. I will check out your suggestions.0
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Thank you all so much for your help!
Its been a very frustrating journey cause most drs have just taken blood and my thyroid has come back as "average". my naturopath is saying though that "average" might not be normal for me, so I am hoping to get more tests done.
I am on a cleanse where I can't eat any wheat, eggs, dairy, sugars, soy, red meats, potatoes, tomatoes, bananas, any acidic fruits. and the list goes. I have been on it for 3 weeks! MOST people would honestly loose 10 pounds by doing this cleanse!!! I haven't lost one pound- which leads me to think there really is something else going on.
Do you guys know what kind of other tests I can get done? I have an ultrasound this week to check out my abdomen, but I know thyroid won't show up in that. Im hoping it all gets fixed soon though!
Again, thank you so much for sharing your stories with me!
I've experienced the EXACT same thing, when I went for an ultrasound I found out that I had Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) so I've been battling with that for the last 3 years, and I've gained 50lbs because of it... sigh!
My aim was to manage the cysts and go on a strict diet, I managed to lose 20lbs but ragained some of it back when I got ill.
I know it's super frustrating BUT... the weight can be dropped, just takes much longer...
You just need to find out what exactly is going on with your body, then you'll know how to treat it 0 -
Thanks so much for the info on meds. My intolerances are gluten, soy, dairy and corn. Corn being the problem. Most fillers are made from corn. I had to take vicodin for an abscessed tooth, I was sick for a month from the fillers. I will check out your suggestions.
Here's a good link that lists all the fillers - looks like Nature Thyroid would probably be fine for you?
http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/armour-vs-other-brands/
Have you been tested for Hashimoto's antibodies? With the gluten intolerance I'm wondering if you have autoimmune thyroid disease.0 -
Thank you! I am unsure what I have been tested at and what the levels were. I only know of my iron from my last blood test about a month and a half ago. I was quite low. average is around 80-300 and I was 20. I am on an iron pill right now which seems to be helping. When I visit my doctor I will ask for more detailed tests. I am also on some vitamins from the naturopathic dr for B vitiams!0
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I can't really say if you have a thyroid issue or not, as there are a lot of other things which may cause these problems. You should discuss other options with your doctor, like PCOS. Do you have any other symptoms? Do you feel cold, slow, has your skin changed? Is your thyroid swollen?
If you do have hypothyroidism, you can still do a lot about it by watching the quality, not just the quantity, of your diet, and by staying active.
I became hypothyroid after my first pregnancy, and never lost the baby weight. Over the next years I kept gaining, no matter how much I tried to follow the "normal" advice. Then I managed to lose quite a bit of weight by changing the way I eat. A low glycemic index was the magic plan that helped me. However, my metabolism changed over several years, very slowly. The doctor didn't adjust the medication despite my complaints, because I was still in "normal" territory. So I gained back about half the weight I had lost, despite being more active and more careful about my diet.
Over the last year my metabolism changed, without me knowing, and I started losing a lot of weight again. I lost enough that I got worried, and went to see my doctor. She panicked and wanted me to stop taking the amount of tyroxin I was at, but luckily she sent me to a specialist for a second opinion first. The specialist told me I was at the very top of what was considered normal, and told me to just reduce by a tiny bit. I am seeing her (the specialist) again in two weeks, and I am very curious about the new tests, because I am starting to feel tired again, and despite the same amount of exercize I perform worse than I did last year. One of the things hypothyroidism does is weaken your muscles (why exercize and particularly strength is vital), so I worry that my levels have dropped from that weird high before Christmas.
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I have hypothyroidism and take 175mcg of Levothyroxine daily, I'm also type 1 diabetic and am finding it hard to count carbs, not go hypoglycemic and lose weight. At the moment it doesn't see to be happening but I've only just started with the carb/insulin ratio so early days0
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I am also here because I am struggling to lose weight, party it's my fault, and partly it's my thyroid. Except that, unlike most people here, I am hyper. Yup, one of those people blessed with so many thyroid hormones she should sell'em at the black market and get a better apartment AND still gaining weight. Specifically, I gain weight more rapidly when I am more hyper. I am also very physically active - usually at least 90 minutes per day, some mix of cardio and weight lifting. I don't have weightloss advice, but feel free to add me as a friend. Also - be a pain in the neck with your doctor. i changed three endos before settling with the fourth.0
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I totally resonate with you! Like you, I too have trouble losing weight. During my 20's and early 30's, I was able to maintain by counting calories and working out 6-7 days/week. Sometimes, did double WOs, added a few weight classes, etc.. Once I hit 38, weight loss become a total different story. I got my thyroid tested and it came our borderline. I was able to lose 10lbs working out with a trainer, adding bodypump (weights) classes and cutting out carbs (I was starving too).
Last year (turned 40), it became a totally different story. Although I continued the same lifestyle, I gained 14lbs. I wasn't sure what was going on. Whatever I did I would lose a few lbs and then stagnate and then gain and this cycle continued the whole of last year. My weight fluctuated like crazy during my TOM.
After hearing Lyn-Genet's The Plan, I felt that this book might be the answer. http://lyngenet.com/the-plan/. I read the book ' The Plan' by Lyn-Genet and started following it on Jan 22nd. I have so far lost 6lbs. So far, I tested reactive to goat's milk cheese (this indicates that I could be reactive to cow's milk too). Y'day my test for egg whites also showed mildly reactive. So, in the next few days, I will be testing more foods. You can read more about it here--> http://lyngenet.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/How-Foods-Cause-Weight-Gain.pdf. Please note that this is not a diet. This is tool to test for foods that you are reactive too or causes inflammation. Once you figure that out, losing weight should be pretty straightforward (with diet and exercise).
Please feel free to add.
Cheers!0 -
I am doing this too! Lost 8 lbs in 13 days. Feel soooo good.0
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I am also here because I am struggling to lose weight, party it's my fault, and partly it's my thyroid. Except that, unlike most people here, I am hyper. Yup, one of those people blessed with so many thyroid hormones she should sell'em at the black market and get a better apartment AND still gaining weight. Specifically, I gain weight more rapidly when I am more hyper. I am also very physically active - usually at least 90 minutes per day, some mix of cardio and weight lifting. I don't have weightloss advice, but feel free to add me as a friend. Also - be a pain in the neck with your doctor. i changed three endos before settling with the fourth.
I also gained weight when hyper! It's a LOT more common than conventional medicine would have you believe. I think for me it's because I was so hyper that I had to eat "quick" energy just to keep going, which was always in the form of sugar, sugar sugar. So my body would burn through it crazy fast but I'd still gain weight.0
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