can a thyroid problem keep you from loosing weight?

meghanhawk
meghanhawk Posts: 6
in Health and Weight Loss
hello : )
my name is meghan
and i have been trying to loose weight since JR year of high school. I am now 21 and have only gained. Last year i was dignosed with PCOS and Hypeothyroid ( i think thats the name) . I have found it almost impossible to loose weight. Although i only gain a pound or two here and there, It comes right back off and i remain the same weight. I have tried everything to loose weight.. Am i wasting my time???? HELP!! <3

Replies

  • PandaPudges
    PandaPudges Posts: 45
    Absolutely 100% yes. My mother has hypothyroidism as does one of my aunties and they have both struggled with weight all of their lives. They both also have diabetes, not sure if it is linked, but definitely just wanted to warn you of that.
  • meghanhawk
    meghanhawk Posts: 6
    thank you...
  • PandaPudges
    PandaPudges Posts: 45
    There are supplements and different ways to stimulate the thyroid, though! Don't fret. Just do a bit of googling, see if there are foods you can eat to help! Nature always has a way.
  • GymAnJuice
    GymAnJuice Posts: 512 Member
    the tyyroid diet by mary j. shomon, got mine on amazon. honestly, it will change your life
  • Mandarz
    Mandarz Posts: 50 Member
    have you tried taking a kelp supplement and maybe a vogels thyroid support ( if your not on synthroid ) could help, i have also heard of people taking metformin for pcos and having good results
  • brandiuntz
    brandiuntz Posts: 2,717 Member
    I have hypothyroidism. If you get it treated, and your thyroid levels are back in the normal range, you can lose weight "normally". The key is to treat your hypothyroidism, as it causes other problems besides weight gain. Get under the care of a doctor if you are not already.

    I take a compound version of Armour, which seems to work much better for many people than Synthroid.

    Good luck!
  • JenniBaby85
    JenniBaby85 Posts: 855 Member
    YES! Thyroid problems (AND PCOS) can cause you not to lose weight, and even gain. But no, you are not wasting your time trying. Get it taken care of, and keep eating healthy and moving around. IT may take longer to lose weight, but it's still possible. I was put on metformin for PCOS awhile back, and levothyroxine and I lost 25lbs in 2 months without even trying. Now, I don't need the metformin anymore, but am still on the levothyroxine and I'm getting there, slowly but surely getting to my weight loss goals
  • jillbean521
    jillbean521 Posts: 4
    HI,

    I have a under active thyroid and take synthroid for it. It is harder to loose weight but once you are on your meds and you follow a regular program- you can loose weight. I lost 30 lbs just by counting my calories and while it isn't always easy because sometimes I'm following the 1200 to 1500 calorie diet and still gain if I go over my calorie count by just a tiny bit, so I have to be very, very diligent or I can gain in just a matter of days. It takes dilligents and patients so hang in there.

    PS I don't have any friends on this site and I'm not on facebook, not sure if you can reply....thanks, Jill
  • HappyHungryHealthy
    HappyHungryHealthy Posts: 121 Member
    Yes, its a royal pain in the butt and very depressing seeing the scales go up when you know your doing everything right! Iv had an under active thyroid (hypothyroidism) for nearly 7 years and it's only for the last 3 that I find losing weight to be very difficult. I understand how frustrating it is, but with the right amount of medication and tracking what I eat, along with a bit of exercise I have finally started to see a difference. So to answer your question, no you are not wasting your time! It will take time and hard work but it will happen. :) you say you got diagnosed last year, so have you been back to your GP for your annual check up? I know when I first got diagnosed my levels never sat still so my medication was being changed all the time, until they found the right amount of thyroxine for my body, so maybe it's worth talking to your doctor if you haven't already :)
  • hollygoddess
    hollygoddess Posts: 78 Member
    Hi,
    I also have spent many years with PCOS. There is a high blood sugar connection with cycstic ovaries & overwight women. I also used Metfornin (generic name for Glucophage) to treat my PCOS. There was a period of adjusting to being on this medication due to side-effects like conflicting nausea/persistant hunger (in my case). It did successfully help with the cysts, but not completely resolve them. Please consider a FULL physical with COMPLETE blood work/labs by your doctor, to include complete thyroid counts, estrogen, blood sugar/diabetic screen, anibody thyroid screen to check for Hashimoto's Disease, cortisol, etc. Also: ask your M.D. to refer you to an Endocrinologist for evaluation, this is the specialist needed to manage PCOS properly. Most DEFINATLEY thyroid issues make weight loss very difficult, cause persistant fatique, mental sluggishness, water retention all over the body especailly in the face & neck causing "puffy moon face". In my case the PCOS never stopped until my ovaries were removed 3 years ago, painwas greatly reduced but weight loss had another challenge added: menopause & estrogen hormone replacement. I will never stop my quest to balance my hormones & chemical balance! I am now seeking the assistance of a holistic specailist to treat the auto-immune component (my body's own antibodies attacking the thyroid gland) of my aquired Hypothyroidism (low thyroid). For sufferers such as my self it's all about metabolism/EXERCISE to force our bodies into a calorie burn for weight loss vs. unneeded calorie storage as fat. Please friend me if you wish, I will share any knowledge I have gained!
  • meghanhawk
    meghanhawk Posts: 6
    Thank you everyone.. i have learned a lot from you guys and I'm not so scared anymore.. Im going to follow your advice and give weight loss another try
  • DanaHerro
    DanaHerro Posts: 186 Member
    The answers are yes and no.

    If your thyroid levels are NOT regulated/treated, then nothing under the sun will work for you.

    However, once your levels are at a good place, you should be able to lose weight normall!

    That's how I was diagnosed. WW did NOT work for me and I was like, "huh??"
    I was diagnosed Hashimoto's disease/hypothyroid a month later.
    Now MFP, WW, etc all work great. I just have to keep regular checks on my levels. My TSH needs to be between a 1.5-2.5 or I'm not at my best! :)

    Good luck!
  • Poetic_Photography
    Poetic_Photography Posts: 138
    I also have hypothyroidism & yes ~ it absolutely affects your weight! Once you get it balanced, however, the weight should come off (although it does take me longer to drop pounds now than it did prior to diagnosis). Hang in there! :smile:
  • jillbean521
    jillbean521 Posts: 4
    I'm glad to hear you say that you will give weight loss another try, because you can do it!! Weight loss is never easy for anyone with or without a thyroid condition but saying you can do it is a start.....good for you!! You will feel better over time, just take it one pound at a time. Keep your positive attitude and smile lots that is another key factor......Jill :)
  • islandmonkey
    islandmonkey Posts: 546 Member
    hello : )
    my name is meghan
    and i have been trying to loose weight since JR year of high school. I am now 21 and have only gained. Last year i was dignosed with PCOS and Hypeothyroid ( i think thats the name) . I have found it almost impossible to loose weight. Although i only gain a pound or two here and there, It comes right back off and i remain the same weight. I have tried everything to loose weight.. Am i wasting my time???? HELP!! <3

    Are you on thyroid meds at all? As others have said, if your thyroid is properly managed then you are essentially just like anyone else when it comes to weight loss. But you definitely have to ensure you are properly managed.

    If you're on meds - are you taking them consistently? Waiting an hour before eating? Taking any calcium or iron at least 4+ hours after?

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