Hypothyroidism

Get your medication sorted and hopefully the weight will start to vanish in time.

The best thing to do is get a referral to a qualified dietitian who has experience working with patients with your health condition. He/she will help you create a weight loss plan that will work with your medication. Your macros (carbs, fat, protein) may have to be adjusted as well.

It can take a long time to get to the right dosage. Be patient. If you haven't been sent to an endocrinologist, get to one! If you follow no other advice, follow that!!!!!!

After I'd been on for a while and the levels became appropriate, I felt the energy difference. It wasn't just that I noticed I was doing more, I FELT more energetic. No more cycles of constipation and diarrhea. The cravings for carbs disappeared. The craving for constant food disappeared. I felt better and did more than I've done in my life. I told the doctor, "The last time I felt this good, I was twelve."

Not everyone has the remarkable about-face I had, because my thyroid wasn't functioning at all, so having the Synthroid literally changed everything - my whole life.

It doesn't make me like other people. I could never eat 1500 calories a day and lose weight. I see people talk about eating 2000 calories a day and losing weight and it seems like they live on some other planet, lol. That's just never going to happen for me. But I CAN LOSE. If I eat a normal amount of food and I exercise, I lose weight. That was never possible before.

I always say that with the exception of the birth of my son, my thyroid diagnosis was the best thing that ever happened to me. Sadly, it didn't happen in time to save my hair, but the pills fixed everything else.

I was off of it for a few weeks lately, and all kinds of bad things happened. Not at first, but it didn't take long. Lethargic. Craving food constantly, especially carbs. Constipation - OMG. And I started getting dizzy when I stood up, which is why I'm back on it.

I hope you have the success I did.

When people ask how I lost the weight, I say, "I take a pill." There is nothing I do now that I never tried before. I watched what I ate and exercised before. At best, I could stay the same weight. I'd starve myself and not lose. It's so nice to diet and exercise and know that it will help me lose weight! People whose bodies work could never understand the joy of having one that didn't...and then does!

Still not as easy as it is for some, but I'm losing and I'm happy as hell about it.

If you are half as lucky as I am, you'll be over the moon. But give it time. It takes months, sometimes, to get it all straightened out.

I've been hypo for about 15 years now. I steadily gained weight and they steadily increased my dosage. It doesn't matter what I do or how I eat, I cannot lose weight. My doctor even put me on temporary weight loss meds. They didn't work. The most I've ever managed to lose was 10lbs. I'm trying very hard to lose weight and it's so frustrating b/c people won't believe you. Being hypothyroid you have to exert twice as much energy as normal people to burn 1 calorie. So say you exercise for an 30 min doing cardio and for instance you calculate that you have burned 300 calories. Wrong, b/c you're hypo you've only burned about 150 if that. Hypothyroidism sucks!! I'm sorry if my response isn't as positive as the others, but this is my personal experience with hypothyroidism. I do have my levels checked regularly. For many people the medicine does help and they go on to lose weight. This was not the case for me so if you find yourself in my position, which I pray you do not, just know that it is possible to eat very little, exercise and still NOT lose weight. People won't believe you. I haven't found my answer yet, but I'm still searching. Good luck.

Hello hun,
I am hypo also, and know the struggle with losing weight. It is possible to lose the weight, but I think the biggest issue with us thyroid patients is we have problems maintaining the weight because there is a constant struggle with how our body metabolizes food and burns energy. I know the feeling of being tired all the time, emotional mood swings from the doctor's always tinkering with my medication. It is a lot for us to even get up and move. So I totally understand where you are coming from. I am taking Armour thyroid and seem to be doing better on it than just regular levothyroxine. Well, I will add you as a friend and we an talk more on the topic if you like. Hoping you have a blessed day.
angel

I've been hypo for about 15 years now. I steadily gained weight and they steadily increased my dosage. It doesn't matter what I do or how I eat, I cannot lose weight. My doctor even put me on temporary weight loss meds. They didn't work. The most I've ever managed to lose was 10lbs. I'm trying very hard to lose weight and it's so frustrating b/c people won't believe you. Being hypothyroid you have to exert twice as much energy as normal people to burn 1 calorie. So say you exercise for an 30 min doing cardio and for instance you calculate that you have burned 300 calories. Wrong, b/c you're hypo you've only burned about 150 if that. Hypothyroidism sucks!! I'm sorry if my response isn't as positive as the others, but this is my personal experience with hypothyroidism. I do have my levels checked regularly. For many people the medicine does help and they go on to lose weight. This was not the case for me so if you find yourself in my position, which I pray you do not, just know that it is possible to eat very little, exercise and still NOT lose weight. People won't believe you. I haven't found my answer yet, but I'm still searching. Good luck.

I believe you.
I always had trouble losing weight unless I did one of those VLCD (I know, I know). Two years ago, after doing one of those and losing 40 lbs I was determined to keep it off, so joined a gym, ate right (even went to a registered dietician and got a balanced, healthy 1700 cal/ day food plan), worked with a personal trainer... gained 40 lbs. Kept getting my TSH tested annually and it would come out normal, finally, after a year, went to an endo got a top to toe work up, diagnosis: hypothyroid (TSH level actually went out for her!) and insulin resistant. Great huh? got on the meds, get checked/adjusted regularly, sticking to my workouts, working with a personal trainer, eating right (called the RD after my diagnosis for any adjustments and she said if I was less active she would cut my calories, but because of how much I exercise, no way, keep it where it is), should be losing like gangbusters now, right? RIGHT???
Yeah, I've lost 6 lbs in a year (all in the last six months when we thought my meds were finally regulated, and plateaued as of this month)... so I still don't have the answers either, but I haven't given up (next appt is in 2 1/2 weeks and if bloodwork is still going bad, she will adjust meds again).
I get the same thing, nobody believes me, I MUST be doing something wrong, so I know right where you're coming from, don't give up, we'll find the answer (if you do, please share, it might work for me too)