Weight Loss with hypothyroid~ Please help

I've got it too, along w/a lot of other issues. I'm losing, very slowly, but I am. So, stick with it, it'll happen. and yeah, get your blood checked.

Hi

I have hypothyroidism too I assume you're on medication? I don't know if you've done any research, but there are certain foods that can hinder as well as help the thyroid gland in our situation. When I first got diagnosed I went research crazy. Really quick, I can tell you that I have cut the following things from my diet...or at least seldom eat it. These are: potatoes, sweet potato (yams), raw brocolli and cauliflower, strawberries, soy and soy related foods, brussel sprouts, cabbage, mustard, peaches, penuts, radish, and egg yolks to name a few.
Foods that can improve thyroid function are foods rich in iodine like seaweed (sushi), seafood, saltwater fish, bananas, parsley, iodized salt for cooking. Selenium rich foods such as Tuna, brown rice, salmon, chicken.

Plenty of fish should be included in the hypothyroid diet because of the presence of omega-3 fatty acids. This aids in transporting the hormone throghout the body

Eating foods high fiber and drinking lots of water helps in cleansing to lose weight too.

I am a big milk drinker, but somewhere I read drinking milk is definitely not good for those with a hypothyroidism. So I switched to rice milk. No Soy milk...as from my list above...we should not have soy.

Hope this info helps!...feel free to add me if you like too!

Here is some information that I came across from a well known author on this very issue: I hope it helps.

"4 Steps to a top Hypothyroidism Diet with the Perfect Hypothyroidism Foods to help you lose weight!!

Hypothyroidism has many side effects as I’m sure you’re aware. Often people just like you will suddenly see their weight soar, their hair turn to straw and their mood plummet! Well I’m here to tell you that some lifestyle changes WILL get you back on track! In this article it’s the hypothyroidism foods that I’m going to concentrate on.
If you’ve gained weight because of your hypothyroidism it’s important to know how to tackle this problem head on. You can lose weight with hypothyroidism but it’s not easy. You need a hypothyroidism foods plan and you need the right knowledge.That’s what I’m going to give you in these 4 easy steps to a great diet for hypothyroidism. These steps should not only help the weight loss, but also have you feeling energized and like YOU again!

Hypothyroidism Diet Step 1:
Cut out the bad! Some foods contain compounds that hinder the functioning of the thyroid gland. These are called goitrogens. I’ve listed below some of the foods I know contain these and it will help if you either cut them out or at least cut them down:
1)Cabbage
2) Broccoli
3) Turnips
4) Rutabaga
5) Kale
6) Spinach
7) Brussels sprouts
8)peaches
9) Pears
10) Strawberries
11) Radishes
12) Cauliflower
13) Millet
14) Peanuts

Hypothyroidism Diet Step 2:
Bring in the good! Just like some foods will hinder your thyroid, some will also help it. Keep to foods that include Tyrosine. I’ve listed them below:
1) Chicken Breast
2) Fish
3) Turkey
4) Low fat milk
5) Yogurt
6) Avocados
7) Lentils
8)Bananas
9) Pumpkin & Sesame seeds
10) Almonds
Plus foods that include Iodine:
1) Sea kelp
2) Seaweed
3) Most Fresh fish
4) Fish oils
5) Iodized salt
6) Condensed milk
7) Trifle
8)Eggs

Hypothyroidism Diet Step 3:
Juice up your metabolism. Your diet for hypothyroidism needs to help with this as the thyroid has caused it to slow. The easiest way to do this is to increase the amount of meals you eat per day. Aim for around 6 small, healthy meals and you’ll turn your body into a fat stripping machine.

Hypothyroidism Diet Step 4:
Fiber is essential for keeping you regular and helping to alleviate constipation which is a very typical side effect of hypothyroidism. It has been proven time and time again to aid weight loss and is absolutely essential in your new diet for hypothyroidism.
So that’s it! Put these steps into action in your diet for hypothyroidism and you’ll not only see weight loss but you’ll be feeling better and looking better. Thanks for reading! Believe me, you CAN lose weight!
So there you have it! Everything you need to know about hypothyroidism foods to help you lose weight!"

Some other interesting information about hypothyroidism that I came across: Hope this helps!

Once the thyroid tissue is destroyed it will not regrow and I know of no way to stimulate the remaining gland to work harder. Many people ask if avoiding cruciferous vegetable foods or taking extra iodine will cure their thyroid condition. Compounds in plant foods, like cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, millet and soy have antithyroid effects. These foods are referred to as goitrogenic foods because theoretically they can lead to a condition of low thyroid with an associated gland enlargement, called a goiter. Supplementation with iodine completely reverses the goitrogenic influence of any vegetables. (Incidentally, these same foods have compounds that protect against thyroid cancer.27)
There is no harm in trying to improve your thyroid function by avoiding cruciferous vegetables, soy and millet, and/or adding more iodine (like from sea vegetables) to your diet, but my experience has been that this effort will make no difference.

Simple, Safe, Effective Medical Care
Part of the routine evaluation of all of patients is a check of their thyroid status. If their TSH levels are above 3 mU/L (after two separate tests), then consider supplementation with levothyroxine. Leaning more towards treatment for higher TSH levels (the more severe the hypothyroidism) and patients with a higher risk for heart disease.
When weight loss or fatigue is the patient’s concern, and they also have a slightly abnormal TSH level treatment is recommended. Other times, when the decision to treat a slightly abnormal TSH levels is not straight-forward, a six month trial on thyroid looking for subjective (feelings of well-being) and objective (lower cholesterol) improvements is recommended.

Thyroid supplementation is one of the very few treatments commonly prescribed. For patients with a damaged thyroid gland, correcting hypothyroidism with the right amount of levothyroxine can be an inexpensive medical miracle without side effects.

Note: The prices may have changed. This data was written in 2005.

Cost of 90 pills with a potency equal to 0.125 mg levothyroxine:
Armour Thyroid is an extract made from dried pig thyroid glands ($21.99)
Thyrolar is synthetic product combining triiodothyronine (T3) and levothyroxine (T4) ($64.99)
Synthroid is the most popular brand of synthetic levothyroxine (82% of the market) ($39.97)
Levoxyl is a generic brand of synthetic levothyroxine ($27.97)
Levothroid is a generic brand of synthetic levothyroxine (26.97)
Unithroid is a generic brand of synthetic levothyroxine ($24.99)
Cytomel is synthetic triiodothyronine (rarely used alone to treat hypothyroidism)
Generic brands of levothyroxine and Synthroid all work equally well.1

hi, i was just diagnosed with and underactive thyroid so this thread is very helpful. my doc tested me three times and my TSH is a 9, well over the upper limit of 4. i'm going on synthroid starting today and hope it helps. i've gained about 15 pounds in the past 3 years despite a very active lifestyle and good to so-so eating habits. i hope this medication helps, and thanks for the information about the thyroid-agreeable foods.

Did eliminating those foods from your diet aid in your weight loss?

Hi, I'm struggling with hypothyroidism too. I'm not much of a meat eater so I'm stuggling with getting enough protein without eating soy. I am trying to eat a lot of brown rice and beans and forcing myself to eat fish once a week. I miss all of my foods from the cabbage family ! Well good luck to all, I'm there with you.

Ive been hypothyroid for 13 yrs, Im also a nurse, and from personal experience and knowlege,you are better off to take Synthriod, not generic levothyroxin, there is a difference! The generic is not as effective, Synthroid price is not very much more, let your pharmacist know you want Synthroid.

Your ticker says you have lost 23 pounds so all is not hopeless. Get your t4 and tsh checked to see if you are on the right dosage. Then eat clean and exercise more. Add strength training if you have not already.

I've started to keep track of all of my TSH values and then reflecting on how I felt at each different point. Once I did that, I began to recognize the range where I felt great (relatively speaking) and where I would lose weight. Even though my bloodwork is pretty consistently in the "normal" range, my doctor historically has worked with me to keep my TSH at the range where I feel best (typically low/low-normal).

My best advice is to do all those things you know to be right: regular blood work, regular exercise, good eating; but also remember to be kind to yourself. Battling your own body is such a crappy thing to have to do, but unfortunately it's the card we've been dealt.

My warm wishes for you!

Why is it that all of my favorite vegetables are on the Do Not Eat list and the things I like the least are on they OK list? Couldn't we just change things around? Pretty please?

In regards to the original poster, I know you just recently had your levels checked, but you might want to do it again. When I was first diagnosed, I would get the medication leveled and feel great for about a month and then all of a sudden things would change overnight. It was incredibly frustrating. At the time, working out was about the only thing keeping me going. I've been living with this for almost two years now and I'm getting better at recognizing when I have a bad day vs. when I really need to get my levels checked. It's frustrating I know, but remember how good you should feel when all of your blood levels are in the correct range.

I was diagnosed about 3 years ago. After getting my dosage correct, I continued working out several times a week (4-5 days per week at that time) and watching my caloric intake. I've never messed with changing the foods that others have listed... Some of them I eat, some I don't... But I'm an "everything in moderation" kind of girl. And while I know that there may be foods that have an effect on my thyroid, I've lost down to my goal twice (once after my diagnosis, then again last year, after I had cut the workouts and regained a bit of the weight, but not all) and have been in maintenance since August. I think that, even with an under-active thyroid, it can be a matter of trial and error to find what will work best for you.

Additionally, there are other medications (I didn't read ALL of the replies, so I apologize if someone has all ready said this) that can have an effect on how well your thyroid medication works. Because either the thryroid meds or the disease itself (I forget which) can cause our iron and iron retention (ferritin levels) to drop, many of us have to take iron supplements. You can't take the iron WITH your Synthroid, nor can you take iron-containing vitamins or antacids. I also have GERD (commonly called acid reflux), I take a prescription dosage of Prilosec. I have to take that separate from my Synthroid as well. When I was taking metformin, I couldn't take it with my Synthroid, either, as the Synthroid needs to be taken on an empty stomach and the metformin needs to be taken with food. It can be extremely frustrating, trust me, I know, but it really does make a difference. Once I figured all this out (with the help of another hypothyroid friend) and started taking the meds when I should, separately, my doctor actually had to DECREASE my Synthroid dosage. She had raised my dose twice before that, but because I was taking my vitamins & Prilosec at the same time as the Synthroid, it was causing the Synthroid to be less effective.

Being hypothyroid is just another challenge in the journey to lose weight... It was really rough for me to adjust to, as I had maintained my weight as an adult, staying around a size 10 for many many years, happily. I hadn't really had weight problems. It can be really easy to just resign ourselves to staying fat because our bodies have 'betrayed' us... But you CAN make the changes and become a healthier, happier you. Keep working at it, find what works for you, remember you didn't get to where you were overnight and the changes you're making won't happen overnight either. Just keep going, don't let it drag you down. Each day is a new start and a chance for you to make good choices. Best wishes to you. I know it's hard, but I believe you can do it!

ETA: My ticker shows 48 lbs lost. That's since my high weight, right around my hypothyroid diagnosis in 2010. Since joining MFP in January 2012, I've lost about 28 lbs.

Bump for later..

Hi there

I too suffer with an underactive thyroid for which I take Levothyroxine. I am losing weight but very slowly. I have recently started taking a sea kelp supplement which is one of the best natural sources of the mineral Iodine which is an essential component of the thyroid horomone. My doctor advised that its safe to take this with my medication as it will help with my metabolism.

I've been know hypo for over ten years (15?) Make sure your lab work is up to date and really track what you eat. You're probably eating something that I refer to as a "food bomb" that you don't think is highly caloric or maybe you're portions you are tracking are incorrect. I'd get an actual measuring cup and use that for a week. You'll be shocked. I remember looking at my plate at what a serving of pasta was and groaning.

I'm virtually surrounded by my underweight family that needs to eat big meals to gain! They eat cookies, cake, McDonalds you name it. Nope I'm different and am clearly not swimming in the same pool.

Measure those portions!