Under active thyroid = weight gain

What medication did your doctor give you?

Did you see your primary care physician or an endocrinologist? If you didn't see an endocrinologist, you need to. They are specialized to deal with the endocrine system and will know how to best treat you.

How long have you been on the meds?

Take it from me… You can't just rely on the meds for weight loss. You have to do your part with exercise and diet. I know you're tired but you have to push through it. I am on tons of meds that make me exhausted but I still push through and do at least 30 minutes. Exercise gives you energy. You will feel energized after exercising. Trust me. What is your diet like?

For energy… take a super B complex vitamin daily.

I have had a under active thyroid for a few years now and have gained some weight my clothes are to tight and the tiredness means a lack of exercise. I have been to the doctors and got medication but don't feel that it's working very well. I was wondering if there is any food that can help maintain a healthy thyroid. And maybe give me back some energy.

There is no food or diet that will do that. If you feel that your meds are not helping and if it has been at least three month that you take them, talk with your doctor and either have the dosage changed or the meds you take, or both. Once you are well adjusted there is no reason that you cannot lose weight. I lost my thyroid to cancer and this means by definition that I am extreme hypo thyroid. It took me two years to find the right amount and combination of meds, but now that I am adjusted I have lost 45 pounds since April 2013.
Also, even if you are well adjusted with your meds you still need to eat at a deficit to lose and exercise for better health and increased energy.

Feel free to add me. Im hypothyroid. Low thyroid levels. Please take care of yourself as of now. This is a struggle!!

Jennibaby85 May I ask what meds your taking and your age? I have hypo thyroid and take 2 meds and haven't been able to lose weight for 4 years now and my Dr. blames it on hormones since my blood test are normal. Thoughts? I am 49, will be 50 in March and still have my normal period.

Ask your Dr. to check your T3 levels. Typically they just test T4. My blood work kept showing normal but I knew I felt horrible and read a great book called the Thyroid Solution which explained about low T3 levels that represent severe depression and fatigue. After testing my T3 we found the levels low and added a second med and within a week I felt like my old self, I was happy and energetic. It's your body, you have the right to get test done.

I had to have my thyroid removed. I used to see my endocrinologist every 6 to 8 weeks. But now I live in South Korea and can only go once every six months. In the last six months, I gained 10 pounds due to my medication being off. Fortunately it is corrected and I can work towards my target healthy weight. SO, I know how you feel. Hang in there!

I was diagnosed as Hypothyroid around 13 years ago. The medication does little for my metabolism so I've made a few lifestyle choices. (I realised there is no magic pill to make the weight fall off, it's down to me).

The best exercise for me, for losing and keeping off the weight is running and step aerobics (with hand weights). But for me exercise alone doesn't do it. The most effective way for me to lose weight is to lose the carbs, particularly sugar. This is the health plan provided by a specialist that I follow and on which I lose around 1/4 lb each day - up to 2lb per week: -

Food:-
Replace cooking oil with Coconut oil (raw - not processed).
Cut out wheat, sugar & Soy products
Moved to unsweetened coconut milk instead of cows milk.
Carbs obtained from vegetables.
Restrict fruit (whilst losing weight but reintroduce later)
Protein from meat and fish. I don't weigh anything.
Restrict goitrogenic foods such as broccoli, cauliflower and kale to every other day.
Snack on nuts only (restrict almonds as they're goitrogenic as well, brazils, cashews and pistachio are good).
Cut the alcohol for a while.

Exercise
I do either 30 mins of step aerobics with hand weights or run 4 - 6 miles - 5 or 6 days a week. (Pilates occasionally). My preference is running as I like to be outdoors and it's the best weight loss exercise around.

I also only eat when I'm hungry! My specialist advised no food until lunchtime and eat within an 8 hour window (16 hours fasting each day). Up to lunch I drink coffee whizzed in the blender with a teaspoon of coconut oil, plus water or green tea (no milk). I have a good sized salad with either fish, meat, cheese, home-made salad dressing (cider vinegar, oil oil, fresh ginger, mint, mixed herbs). Dinner is generally protein plus lots of veg. Any goitrogenic veg boiled and then rinsed in fresh (hot) water. Dessert is generally home made rice pud (coconut milk, spices and no sugar) or home made coconut milk panacotta. If I get the nibbles at any point during the day I have a handful of nuts, but this doesn't happen often as I'm not hungry on this plan.

I take selenium and iodine supplements and use around 2tbs of coconut oil in coffee or for cooking with each day.

It may not suit everyone - we're all physiologically different, but it works a treat for me and my thyroid. When I get to where I want to be then I modify and follow this 4 - 5 days per week.

An interesting book to read is the Perfect Health Diet by Paul Jaminet PhD. I think the title belies it's integrity but the concept is excellent!

MFP has two thyroid groups:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/770-hypothyroidism-and-hyperthyroidism
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/51427-butterfly-chasers

Per my endocrinologist, I haven't changed what I eat since my diagnosis of Hashimoto's (autoimmune thyroid disease). My meds, Synthroid & Cytomel, have changed my life. I have blood tests every three months, then my endo adjusts my dosages.