Hypothyroidism - Can't lose weight!!!

Hey everyone

So pleased to have found this thread!

I was diagnosed with hashimotos aged 19 and have had it for almost 7 years now. It took a long time to diagnose and I'm on 125 mcg of levothyroxine.

I've always struggled more than others to keep weight off, despite a healthy diet and exercise regime. I'm actually writing this from Malaysia. I've been backpacking for 2 months and am concerned that my levels are off - the tell tale signs are back: tiredness, confusion, constipation, bloating, missed periods, including a massive amount of weight gain, which is very noticeable when you're 5 ft tall. Maybe my tablets are damaged from the heat (despite using an insulin cooling pack), or maybe I just need a higher dose.

I had a blood test yesterday and am waiting for the results. Does anyone have any advice on dealing with the Asian diet with underactive thyroid? Or even healthy options? Everything seems to be drenched in oil, soy and/salt. It's carb based too, so my options are limited! the trip of a lifetime has turned into an obsession over what I'm eating - its like being trapped.

I actually really hope my leveks are off as it would explain a lot, although this has happened before and blood tests have come back normal. Have you guys had that? It's like I'm out of touch with my own body if that makes sense!

Another thing: when I saw a doctor in KL yesterday, he checked my heart rate and said it was low. Never had that checked in the UK before. He also said blood tests should be done every 3 months. Mine have been once a year. Does anyone else using the nhs get this treatment?

Its so Inspiring to see everyone's success stories, or progress stories...thanks for giving hope that we can get control over the condition.

BUMP for later

Ok so I am 26, a full time student and stay at home mom. I have hypothyroidism. However I also had 3 csections in 4 years at the same time hypothyroidism appeared so did chronic urticaria and angiodema. I read that thyroids can act up because immune issues. I been to many doctors, im tired all the time. I currently have a 5yo, 3yo, 1yo. I push all the time, im on levo 100mg daily, still feel bad all the time. However I lost 50lbs last year to gain it ALL back, and still gaining. Anyone else feel like its all stacked against them, but still want to fight, and can help with some advice and motivation.

I understand your frustration as I have fought your same battle for so long...lose with work and then gain with the exact same diet and exercise...sometimes it is so discouraging...hypothyroid is so depressing...I wish how I saw myself didn't get spoiled by the scale and the mirror

you relies thats an amazing amount of progress... not slow at all =/ ... just goes to show hypothyroidism is to an extent an excuse... its not possible to change the laws of thermodynamics..yes it slows metabolism.. but if your not losing weight at a calorie number,, you need to try dropping it ever so slightly, yes to lose weight youll have to eat abit less then the average.. but for ppl saying you cannot lose weight with hypothyroidism is non sense.. studys show its only a difference of 10 lbs on people , or a couple hundred calories a day difference that doesn't get burned..

why do people think if you have hypothyroidism you cant lose weight.. thats so far from the truth.. its only responsible for an extra maybe 300-500 cal difference a day.. your thyroid even untreated cannot change the laws of thermodynamics... you guys make it sound like your body can sit at a stand still, not use food for energy nor use bodyfat?? thats impossible you would be dead... study's are showing even untreated hypothyroidism is only responsible for a slower metabolism not an impossibility to lose weight... thats just non sense.

Unless you have an ongoing battle with it, you can NOT understand it. You can do everything right and have nothing work. It, however, takes the right combo to kick some results in.

I think everyone is different, I have heard that many people with an under active thyroid struggle to loose weight, I for one are one of them however I have last 2st over 4 months but it is a very slow process.

why do people think if you have hypothyroidism you cant lose weight.. thats so far from the truth.. its only responsible for an extra maybe 300-500 cal difference a day.. your thyroid even untreated cannot change the laws of thermodynamics... you guys make it sound like your body can sit at a stand still, not use food for energy nor use bodyfat?? thats impossible you would be dead... study's are showing even untreated hypothyroidism is only responsible for a slower metabolism not an impossibility to lose weight... thats just non sense.

Unless you have an ongoing battle with it, you can NOT understand it. You can do everything right and have nothing work. It, however, takes the right combo to kick some results in.

I FEEL DEAD! Enough said!

But, no, really I feel your pain. And I believe everyone feels a little different and has different issues with hypothyroidism. I had thyroid cancer 2 years ago and gained 30 pounds in 3 months after having my thyroid removed....I hate my body now, I hate how I feel but I have decided not to let that define who I am. I do feel better watching what I eat and working out even if it's just a little. And I am determind not to give up - sometimes I think that is all we can do.

I love hearing success stories on here from people that have done well. Though that is not to say I do not get more frustrated or maybe even a little jealous. It still helps knowning there is hope and people have done.
Long store short - Keep your head up

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism about 6 years ago. It took about a year, year and a half, to get my levels in the acceptable range (I take Levothyroxine). Since my levels are stable and in a normal range, most symptoms have improved.

In regards to diet, I try to eat fewer carbs and more protein. When I do this, weight loss seems easier. Perhaps it's because I am eating fewer calories and more conscious of every little thing I eat, or it's due to how my body processes the different sources of nutrition. I don't know, but it seems to work for me. When I don't try to keep the carbs down, weight loss seems impossible.

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism 2 days ago. I am 28 years old and as of right now I weight 143 lbs at 5'4. For myself I do understand that the majority of my weight is muscle. About a year and half ago I started training for fitness competitions as I have always been a very atheletic individual. I have put on muslce mass but I noticed even when I switched my diet and exercise to start the "cutting" phase for competitions that I would not shed any excess weight and even gain a little. This is when I knew something was out of whack. Since college I have always been very sluggish and never thought that had anything to do with my thyroid. I was wrong! My TSH levels came back at an 11 even though my T3 and T4 where in the "normal" range or at least that is what the doctor said. My journey has just now begun. The doctor put me on levothyroxine and I go back in 6 weeks to check my levels. I would like to drop around 10 lbs for that would be a healthy range for my body type. We shall see how this goes!

I am having the same problem. I like to exercise so that is not the problem. I exersice alot. What do I do about my diet? I can't seem to lose weight unless I eat very little. Starving myself is not the answer. It is very hard to stay motivated when I don't see any results. My Doctor says it is very hard to lose weight even with the thyroid meds. He also says since I am getting older that my metobolism has slowed down. I am so self consious about my weight. Sometimes I don't want to go out or see anyone. It is very depressing.

We're in the process of setting me up for treatment of Hashimotos, but before we knew what was going on, I gained 8lbs in Nov/Dec. I lost 6 of them over the last month, eating a 1200 cal day (I eat back about 50% of my exercise cals). So, even unmedicated, you can lose I'd strongly recommend strength training, as that is what has helped me the most. I've lost several inches, and starting to feel defined.

The main thing for me is the fatigue, which I hope gets better on meds. I just plan my day around: must get 8hrs of sleep, must take a nap after work, then go to gym/yoga/ride horse, etc. I spend a lot of time sleeping! But whatever, you have to do what you have to do to be healthy, and I'm hoping after I start meds next week things will be better.

Having hypothyroidism, that is being treated by Levothyroxine, has not prevented me from controlling my weight. Prior to treatment, I put on a bit of weight, but that was it, and I am not a mild case, either. So there is something else at play here, causing your gain, most likely.

A few things I learned from my biology teacher + others with Hypothyroidism:
1. Eating right after you take your medication can affect how your body absorbs it. After taking your pills wait 30 mins before eating breakfast. Wait 3 hours before eating calcium rich food/supplements.

The manufacturer of Synthroid http://synthroid.com says to wait 30 minutes–1 hour before eating or drinking anything but water, and a total of 4 hours before taking any vitamin or mineral supplements. I read in the Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism group http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/770-hypothyroidism-and-hyperthyroidism that one should wait a full hour and take Synthroid w/ a full glass of water. (I had been taking a few sips & waiting 35 mins.) Maybe it's a placebo effect, but I have way more energy now—and less brain fog.

3. Try eliminating gluten, soy, peanuts, aspartame, strawberries, peaches and grapefruit (my coworker's mom tried this and lost a ton of weight)

Everybody's different, and weight loss takes a whole lot of trial & error, but on the advice of my endocrinologist I haven't changed what I eat at all. I just eat less.

9. Breakfast should be your most calorie filled meal. Dinner should be the smallest and at least 4 hours before you go to bed.

When you eat makes no difference, except for taking Synthroid on an empty stomach. I take mine first thing in the morning, but I keep it & a glass of water on the bedside table just in case I wake up in the middle of the night. It's a real treat to get up later and eat or drink whatever I want without waiting an hour.

Basic question: who should I go see in order to have my thyroid checked: Ob/Gyn?