thyroid/bloodwork/can't lose weight

About a year ago i was sent to the endocrinologist and i had 2,000$ worth of blood work done. I could not lose weight no matter what i did. Well, all the blood work came back fine. I'm still in the same boat. I cannot lose weight/inches no matter what i do. I've even been told i was lying because if i was doing all i said i was doing i'd surely be losing! Is there another way that my thyroid can be checked other than blood work? I do kettleworx and Turbo Fire. I work out an hour at the gym 5-6 days a week. (an hour of cardio) I eat clean. I've been working so hard and eating clean since March 18th. Any suggestions on what i should do ?
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Replies

  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
    Do you track all of your food? Do you weigh and measure it?
  • larsensue
    larsensue Posts: 461 Member
    Same problem here! I swim, walk, lift weights, bike to work everyday (weather permitting) and NOTHING!!! had all the blood work done and everything is fine. my DR said welcome to the over 40 club, you may just have to get used to it..... not what I wanted to hear and I will not accept that as the end of it. Something else has to be going on other than age.... I will continue to work at it. if you need a friend in the same boat feel free to add me....
  • Lora...yes i measure all the time and weigh my food sometimes. I've been doing it so long (and i was on weight watchers). I use this site to keep track of my food and exercise. hen i think well maybe it's not my age. I'm 40....41 in a month
  • Niki0885
    Niki0885 Posts: 19 Member
    I have hypothyroid and for the most part it is finally under control after about a year and a half. My doctor had to continue to modify my medication but they say once it is regulated you will begin to see changes. On top of bloodwork by doctor has done a periodic thyroid ultrasound to check my thyroid function (maybe that is an option for you) i would also have your doctor check your other levels such as B12 because my doctor noticed my B12 levels were really low and she gave me medication to stabilize it. In the end you can always get a second opinion if you feel the doctor is not listening to you, for years i was undiagnosed had hair loss and other symptoms but it went undetected until i found my new doctor. There is hope!!! :)
  • When do you typically go out to exercise? Originally, I did exercise in the afternoon but that was when I did track last year and I burnt a TON of calories because it was 2-2 (1/2) hours of running and sprinting. A lot more calories out than in so I could afford

    I couldn't do track this year because I had to focus on my grades so I gained a lot of weight back even though I burnt more than I took in because the next morning I'd eat back yesterday's net calories.

    So the time of day is also a big factor.

    As for your metabolism, try checking your how much you sleep. Sleep helps with metabolism.

    Also have you gotten any diagnosis from your doctor yet? It sounds like you have hypothyroidism. If he has, has he suggested levothyroxine. It's a pill that people like myself who suffer from it take to make up for what cannot be produced. If you need any help or questions about hypothyroidism, talk to your doctor and there are many people here, including myself who you can message.
  • Maybe you have a food allergy? I would suggest a 3-week elimination cleanse and see what happens then. If you start to lose weight/feel better, it's likely you have a food allergy of some sort.

    I just recently found out I have a wheat allergy (after years of struggling with weight loss), and I've lost 15 lbs since April 27th!
  • i'm writing all of this down....that way i can take it to my dr. when i go.
    I'm on a few meds ....the dr said those couldn't be the reason. Lisinopril (blood pressure) , trivora (birth control) , linzess (ibs) , and i take a probiotic. Also the dr has taken me off the last week of my BC pills...therefore i have no period. It's called menstrual suppression. I've always wondered if that could be the cause. Of course my gyno says no,
  • marie.... I will do my turbofire during the day. Between noon and 2. Then i go to the gym late evening..maybe 8pm. I get plenty of sleep. 8-10 hours a night. The dr said that i was fine----i did not have pcos BUT she did want to prescribe me Metformin. I didn't accept it because i had nothing wrong with me.
  • wandering....i've often wondered about that. I'll look some info up online and read more about it.
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    you could have your metabolic rate tested at a sport science centre / gym / uni / whatever.

    Thyroid problems can reduce metabolic rate, that's the only way if affects weight loss as far as I know - you need to eat a lot less to match it.

    If all the manic exercising doesn't deliver try 2 weeks of low calorie eating, assuming you have a fair bit to lose.
  • Lupercalia
    Lupercalia Posts: 1,857 Member
    Maybe if you opened your food diary people could help out a bit more. It's hard to say what might be going on with any sort of certainty if you don't let people see your diary.

    Lots of possibilities.....do you take measurements of different body parts regularly? Sometimes you won't see much (or any) scale movement, but your measurements will be decreasing.

    You could have some sort of hormonal issues, it could be your medications, it could be all sorts of stuff. But it seems like the place to start would be with your food intake and logging. You say you measure all your food and weigh sometimes. You should really be weighing everything, all the time...particularly since you're having trouble losing weight right now.

    ETA: I just saw your comment regarding Metformin...why did the doctor want to prescribe it if there isn't anything wrong with you?
  • tekwriter
    tekwriter Posts: 923 Member
    Are you gaining weight? I have been hyypothyroid for several years and when I was diagnosed I not only couldn't lose weight I was gaining weight. I followed WW religously for a week and gained three pounds. If you are not gaining you may still have a slow thyroid. What was your TSH?
  • Bekahmardis
    Bekahmardis Posts: 602 Member
    Open your diary to help us take a look at what may be happening. It's really hard to tell without seeing that. Sometimes people don't lose because they actually aren't eating *enough* with all the exercise.....
  • RoseTears143
    RoseTears143 Posts: 1,121 Member
    Everyone always wants to blame the thyroid for weightloss issues..It could be any number of issues. However what was checked for your thyroid blood draw? If it was just TSH, that does no good. Total T3, Free T3, Total T4, Free T4 all need to be looked at, and if autoimmune disease is a question, thyroid antibodies need to be checked as well. I have years of experience (close to 11 now) with dealing with hashi's (autoimmune hypothyroid) and know all about struggles with losing weight.

    I highly doubt it has anything to do with the menstrual suppression either since I have the Mirena IUD and haven't had a period since July of 2010.
  • ldhfcrew
    ldhfcrew Posts: 14
    I am hypothyroid and fought my doctor for over a year. I knew I felt awful and that my thyroid was off, but he kept doing the bloodwork and it kept coming back in the normal range. I had had enough and requested to be seen by another endocrinologist. The new endo told me that some thyroid patients have normal levels but function better on the lower end. So he tweaked my dosage just a little and I had incredible changes. On top of having my dosage changed, I also began Yoli's Better Body System. Between the two, I have been able to lose almost 30 pounds that I'd put on over the course of 1 1/2-2 years. I now have tons of energy and feel great - human!! Good luck!! I was in your shoes and know what it feels like to think you're not being heard! If you are interested in the Yoli System, I can get you more information as well.
  • kw85296
    kw85296 Posts: 265 Member
    Try some B12 or D3. Both of those have also been linked with difficulty in losing weight. Both my husband and my mother have been told they are D3 difficient. They are finding with our lifestyles we are not getting enough of this vitamin. It is worth a try. I would start with 2000 IU as this is what both were told to take. You could also check with your Dr. to see if this was checked with your bloodwork and if the levels were low.
  • astrampe
    astrampe Posts: 2,169 Member
    How much do you eat? Even eating clean can be too much - or too little...
    I'm in my 40's was doing P90X six days a week and eating 1500 calories - nothing lost...After (and before P90X) I ran 3x per week, did heavy weights 3x per week on 1400/1500 cals...Still nothing....
    Took a break, started walking 10000 steps during the day, cut down on running to 2 times a week and lift heavy 3times a week - and am eating beween 1700 and 1900 cals a day - more on weekends (at least one day per weekend around maintenance (2400) and the other daey around 2000...
    And I lost 5 lbs in the last month - for the first time in more than a year....
    It can be done - maybe cut down on the cardio.....
  • Dragonwolf
    Dragonwolf Posts: 5,600 Member
    i'm writing all of this down....that way i can take it to my dr. when i go.
    I'm on a few meds ....the dr said those couldn't be the reason. Lisinopril (blood pressure) , trivora (birth control) , linzess (ibs) , and i take a probiotic. Also the dr has taken me off the last week of my BC pills...therefore i have no period. It's called menstrual suppression. I've always wondered if that could be the cause. Of course my gyno says no,

    Top line of "Side Effects" tab on WebMD for Trivora:
    Nausea, vomiting, headache, bloating, breast tenderness, swelling of the ankles/feet (fluid retention), or weight change may occur.

    Trivora is a hormonal birth control. Hormones are a huge factor in women's weight...

    Two of the listed side effects of Lisinopril (according to http://www.rxlist.com/prinivil-side-effects-drug-center.htm ) - depression (which can result in emotional eating, leading to weight gain) and "rapid weight gain".

    I highly recommend a second opinion, and like someone else mentioned, an elimination diet. You might want to check out the Whole 30 program ( http://whole9life.com/category/whole-30/ ) and see if doing it makes any difference for you.
  • I don't know why the endocrinologist wanted to give me metformin. Maybe to shut me up and help me lose? I don't need anything for my appetite. It's just fine. If i don't have pcoc i didn't see the need for it. I do measure and take pics. Its been 3 months....i really don't see a difference in the pics and i lost 4 inches the first month and none after that. No, i'm not gaining. I'm maintaining. If i ate what i wanted and didn't exercise i could gain 10 pounds in a month. I've done it. I don't know what my TSH is....i have lost all my papers since it's been over a year. I need to call my dr. and get copies from her.
    I'm new to MFP.........i'll go look and see how to make my diary public
  • murphy612
    murphy612 Posts: 734 Member
    This sounds exactly like what I went through. When I was younger I could lose weight by just skipping a meal but not anymore! I had multiple symptoms of a thyroid issue but all my blood work came back normal. I then went to a Weight Loss Medical Office and had my metabolism tested, started seeing a Dietician and doing some cardio. I gained two pounds the first month, hahaha. Then I got more serious, diligently logging and weighing my food and sticking to my calories every day. I lost a little weight. Then, I hired a personal trainer and started weight lifting, BINGO! My weight loss become consistent and what I've lost has stayed off. It's taken me a long time and I've had to have a LOT of patience but it worked. I haven't lost anything in about 3 months but my diet isn't perfect so I only have myself to blame. Also, like someone else mentioned.....welcome to 40!! hahahah
  • dnunny70
    dnunny70 Posts: 411 Member
    I have no advice, just wanted to :flowerforyou: . Did you say you went to an edno? I went and they did a bunch of blood work. I was feeling awful and my thyroid was out of whack. You might want to try there. The appt. was good. They asked a lot of questions that my family doctor didn't ask.

    Good for you for sticking with it.

    It's been a year since you had the bloodwork? If so, GO again!!! I have hypo, so it's different for me -I have to get it done every 6 months. I'm bad about it and manage to go every 9-10 months.
  • Espressocycle
    Espressocycle Posts: 2,245 Member
    Eating clean and working out only work if you are eating fewer calories than you burn. If you burn 3,000 calories running and eat 5,000 calories of brown rice and seaweed each day, you will gain weight. And as far as the thyroid thing goes, while a thyroid issue CAN make your metabolism below average, it can't prevent you from losing weight entirely.
  • shirleygirl910
    shirleygirl910 Posts: 503 Member
    Thyroid is one of the hardest things to diagnose, according to my doctor. I was sent to the endocrinologist back in 2001. My blood work showed I was a little on the hypo side. When I went to the endo he ask why I was there, because he had a lot sicker patients. I was just following PC's instruction. I didn't ask to check my thyroid, I didn't know anything about it at that time. Then in 2008 I was sent back to the endo by my PC because my levels where off the chart on the hyper side. I was 314 lbs. and gaining and I was being diagnosed hyper. The endo couldn't believe it and I had to go through the tests 3x before he would treat it. It was getting so bad it wouldn't even register on the chart and my heart was being effected. Now I have no thyroid, so I just make sure I eat right, exercise. Sometimes the weight comes off and other times it just stays the same, but I know I'm as healthy as I can be.
  • runner_gurl76
    runner_gurl76 Posts: 37 Member
    I am in the same boat.

    I can tell you for certain that IBS = gut issues and food alergies/intolerance.
    I would look seriously at your diet and start by eliminating grains/wheat/gluten.

    I am in the process and the wheat elimation helped me lose 20 lbs that would not budge.

    Now I am moving on to dairy as next step.

    If you get this figured out, please let us know!
    There are so many of us out here that are struggling with thyroid issues, it would be great to see a success story.
  • rheelizabeth
    rheelizabeth Posts: 160 Member
    If one of your doctors wanted to prescribe metformin to you then I would suggest trying to eat low GI diet (low fast carbs)? This helps people with symptoms of PCOS hugely and can help with weight loss too.

    I've not done it myself...

    Also how about asking for Orlistat (Xenical)? That's been proven to work and if that doesn't work then I would try the allergy thing, trying to avoid dairy then wheat etc and see if that helps?

    I have issues with losing, it's taken me well over 12 months to lose 27lbs, it's very very slow sometimes. I also burn 2000+ calories every week (I use a heart rate monitor) and eat 1600 (still in a deficit) and eat about half of my burned calories back.

    How many calories are you consuming every day?
  • Dragonwolf
    Dragonwolf Posts: 5,600 Member
    I don't know why the endocrinologist wanted to give me metformin. Maybe to shut me up and help me lose? I don't need anything for my appetite. It's just fine. If i don't have pcoc i didn't see the need for it. I do measure and take pics. Its been 3 months....i really don't see a difference in the pics and i lost 4 inches the first month and none after that. No, i'm not gaining. I'm maintaining. If i ate what i wanted and didn't exercise i could gain 10 pounds in a month. I've done it. I don't know what my TSH is....i have lost all my papers since it's been over a year. I need to call my dr. and get copies from her.
    I'm new to MFP.........i'll go look and see how to make my diary public

    Metformin isn't just for PCOS. In fact, it wasn't originally intended for PCOS, its ability to treat PCOS is actually just a happy side effect, due to how it works. It's primary purpose is to treat insulin resistance. Even without an official PCOS diagnosis, it's entirely possible that you're insulin resistant (which is indicated by a high fasting A1C), for which the Metformin will help.

    Whether the doctor did it just to shut you up is a different matter.
  • schaapj2
    schaapj2 Posts: 320 Member
    I was having the same problem. Had my throid checked because I was finding it impossible to lose weight and ahving other classic symptoms of hypothyroid. My TSH came back at 2.76...normal according to the range. I insisted I be put on low dose syntroid because many endocrinology articles I found stated that women should have a TSH between 1.0-and 2.0...95% of the population has a TSH below 2.0. I've started on it and all my symptoms have been dramatically eliminated. I'm losing weight much slower than I have in the past, but based on my lifting and food intake this is to be expected. I also got off my birth control....estrogen can inhibit thyroid function and make weight loss more challenging, especially if you have it in excess.

    Keep pushing though....and make sure you really are at a deficit. Calorie underestimation and exercise overestimation are two things to watch for.
  • haroon_awan
    haroon_awan Posts: 1,208 Member
    Chances are it's a case of metabolic damage. Watch this and then parts 2 and 3. It'll explain more than we can

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHHzie6XRGk
  • JennaM222
    JennaM222 Posts: 1,996 Member
    Also...

    It has only been 30 days. I remember my first month of working hard kicking *kitten* eating clean i GAINED weight, then i kept it up and it started to come off. Keep it up
  • fishbarn
    fishbarn Posts: 90 Member
    Hi
    I have hyperthyroidism. Did they check your PTH & calcium levels? If so what where they If you don't mind my asking. For years I could not loss weight. That is why I'm asking. Feel free to ad me as a friend.