I was diagnosed as hypo about 8 years ago and have been on medication for 3 years... At my highest, I was up to 288. Now, I am 40 lbs down since May, and I have dropped 3 sizes. I have been watching my calories and doing yoga about 5 times a week, and THAT IS IT. It's hard, but it doesn't mean it can't be done. Good luck to anyone else on this journey!

Thanks for the encouragement.... It's good to hear that it can be done

A good doctor makes a HUGE difference. If you are hypo and following a good diet and exercise routine and either gaining weight or unable to lose any that you need too, a good doctor will listen to you, run your labs and check your levels and adjust your thyroid replacement dose. A good doctor wants you happy & healthy as a thyroid patient not too far into the hypo or hyper zones. Took me 15 years to find one and it's been life changing.

Can I ask how long it took for the meds to let you start to lose?

I was eating one healthy meal a day and still gaining.
I'm on Levo now for 9weeks. (6 weeks at 75mcg).

My tsh is at 0.12(0.27-4.2) and my doctor is happy with this.
T4 is at 20 (12-22). I didn't take my meds before the test.

Anyone any advice? I'm so disheartened.

I was hyperthyroid and was gaining weight like crazy. Some people who are hyper lose weight but not me. I was hungry ALL the time and tired ALL the time. I took the radioactive pill and now I am hypo. So now I am on meds for hypo and in my first week in taking the pills I have dropped 5 pounds. My appetite has drastically decreased and I have a lot more energy. I feel like I can now lose this weight!

This is what I went through too. Can I ask what meds you are on and which one? I am on a low dose of levo. Only 50mcg.

to TashTag particularly. If you are still in the process of finding the right amount of medication for you, thyroid is all about the right for you, you may even find yourself being given another increase or even two, depending on the doctor treating you. I find the information on Thyroid support sites UK, US and Australian interesting and Stop the thyroid Madness is invaluable. True there are foods which make the thyroid work harder but when you are on medication it is to be hoped that the medication is given at a level which takes care of all toxin elimination,everything, enough but not too much. STTM says many doctors will only treat by numbers not by symptoms, and the numbers were collated from patients some of whom were presenting with Thyroid related symptoms which from the ignorant patients point of view means they are flawed. Some people have lists of symptoms as long as your arm and their doctors simply ignore them, patient and symptoms, this was me.

Hi Janette3X4.

I am also on low dose levo at 75. Only been on it for a week so I will definitely keep you updated on my progress.

Successfully spent 2 years to lose 30+ lbs, lost my job on my feet and put it all back on within about 3 months.

Back to start again and hopefully more success this time

75 mcg is not really soooo low. A friend of mine has no thyroid after a cancer treatment and she is on 200 mcg.

Can I ask how long it took for the meds to let you start to lose?

I was eating one healthy meal a day and still gaining.
I'm on Levo now for 9weeks. (6 weeks at 75mcg).

My tsh is at 0.12(0.27-4.2) and my doctor is happy with this.
T4 is at 20 (12-22). I didn't take my meds before the test.

Anyone any advice? I'm so disheartened.

Don't loose heart. I was diagnosed about 2.5 years ago. Before then though, my weight ballooned, and my health and immune system was been horrible. I didn't start loosing until I followed the doctor's instructions in reducing my calorie intake and exercising at least 4 days a week. So far what I have figured out with Hypo is that our metabolism is out of whack so you have to restart it per se. So you have to eat within your calorie range and excercise to boost your metabolism. The key thing is you can't stop. When you stop, you will put on the weight faster than then you lost it. Which is very discouraging... I had to learn the hard way. Once you see your #'s stay consistent and you follow a diet and exercise regimen, you'll see the weight melt off, but you have to stick w/ it.

Good job scoobydoo! What is yur daily calorie goal? I have lost another pound eating at 1250 net.

I've lost about 6 lbs since starting levothyroxine 50mcg a few weeks ago, and 10 lbs total since I changed my diet. I don't think it's so much the meds so far as it is me starting to go to the gym around the same time period.. and i also changed my diet a bit when I found out about my diagnosis (3 or 4 weeks prior to starting levo). i'm avoiding carbs and trying to get more protein, and stopped consuming soy products.

Hi new to group. Wondering if anybody out there who is hypo and just turned 50 or started to notice weight gain at 45 been battling rapid weight gain? My bloodwork is "normal"according to my dr but I know when I am not feeling normal and gaining 8 pounds in one month is not normal for a clean eater. I was going to the gym 4 to 5 days a week doing these intense, extremely difficult boot camp style workouts, some days thought I wasn't going to make it the entire 45 min and although I got strong and buff, I didn't get thin, I got bigger!!! I have gained 20 pounds this year and in 2 bouts of rapid weight gain. In over the last 5 years I have gained a total of 30 pounds, I am only 5/3 and now weigh a whopping 170 lbs! I am so angry, depressed and feel disgusting. I don't like to go out in public, I worked really hard to get back down to 148 and then second week into jan of this year, boom gained 8 pounds in a week, battled getting it off at the gym and clean diet.........boom 5 more pounds........then up and down with that 5 pounds and then boom 8 more overnight..........I can't handle gaining anymore, it will send me into a major depression. I dont' feel sexy, I wont go out on a date, i wont have sex, i feel gross. My Dr says nothing wrong with me, yes I still have periods no menopause, and I am trying to find a endocrinologist who will take my insurance.............i am doing 1200 cal a day now on here and cut back on my exercise to enjoyable exercise and not stressful exercise and no luck..............HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have congenital hypothyroidism so, I've had regular tests for most of my life. I've been "chubby" for most of my life and suffered from the assumptions that my size was a result of junk food and laziness.
I've found that my TSH levels need to be slightly higher than the top end of the accepted bracket to feel 'normal' and keeping the weight down is much easier as a result. Even a small variance seems to make life a hundred times harder to do. This is my second successful attempt at losing weight. Unfortunately I gained the weight back with interest after my first attempt (due to a combination of mismanaged thyroid meds, poor food choices, lack of self esteem and little exercise).
Getting to a healthy weight is possible but, it definitely has some extra challenges. The best advice I've got is..

• find a good doctor that listens to you. I've seen many GPs that are only interested in getting the numbers to match their little scale without regard for the effect it has on my ability to function.
• Focus on eating well most of the time (90% healthy, 10% treats seems to work for me). The more you deprive yourself the less likely you'll succeed
• Get active. Start with small goals and gradually increase the amount of exercise you do. Pushing yourself too far can lead to injury, frustration and de-motivation
  Hope it helps

Blukitten Paleo is the only thing that has seemed to work for me. I've cut out the grains and sugar and have seen dramatic results in a very shot time. Give it a try.