Need Advice.....
deanna418
Posts: 103 Member
My beginning weight was 304lbs and I am down to 248lbs. I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism and have been on Synthroid since 2011. I came back to MFP and have been working out and counting calories since December 2012. I currently workout around 3-4 times per week and am going to talk with a personal trainer on Friday. The problem I am having is that I have been stuck at this weight for months. I talked to a girl and she said she is counting her macros. I have been doing some research and figured out everything I need to do. I know I go over on my fat and don't eat enough protein and carbs. I also don't always eat back my calories I burn. Any advice on what I am doing wrong or should I just try counting my macros for a month and see how it goes? I used two different websites to figure out my macro calculations and one gave me lower calories than the other one. Please help!
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Basic question, forgive me, but have you recalculated your basic intake for your new weight?0
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Calories are most important for the weight loss aspect. Watching the macros is great, but calories rule.
Are you keeping your follow-up appointments with your endocrinologist? Medication requirements change, so keep those!
I don't know what you're doing wrong, but I've weighed 250 and lost weight without having a thyroid. It's not easy, but for some people it is possible to lose, even with thyroid issues, if they get straightened out.
Good luck!0 -
pincushion14 wrote: »Basic question, forgive me, but have you recalculated your basic intake for your new weight?
Yes, I did this on a few different websites to figure out my macros. They have given me three different calories and 3 different macros totals. 2 of them were closer but I did look at a article on a website and it gave "basic" macros for body types and if you want fat loss/bulking/etc.
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Calories are most important for the weight loss aspect. Watching the macros is great, but calories rule.
Are you keeping your follow-up appointments with your endocrinologist? Medication requirements change, so keep those!
I don't know what you're doing wrong, but I've weighed 250 and lost weight without having a thyroid. It's not easy, but for some people it is possible to lose, even with thyroid issues, if they get straightened out.
Good luck!
Thanks and yes I have. I actually began going to an endo this August because I wasn't happy with just going to my PCP. My endo increased my Synthroid and I just went to get labs drawn in November for my 3 month check up. I have a 6 month in May but I switched to generic in November but I have been at this weight way before I switched.
So here is more history on me. Back in 2006 I weighed 314 and dropped down to 243ish on a good day by 2009 : ) Most of the weight was lost between 2007 and 2008 and I was stuck there for a few months but then I got pregnant with my youngest. I talked with the PA at my old PCP's office in April-Mayish about me not losing weight and explained to her my past with staying at that weight. The PA said that sometimes your body just needs a push and she'd prescribe me some diet pills but after I heard the risks and with my thyroid issues I was a tad bit worried.
I don't know I am just completely lost......
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Calorie tracking is of paramount value for me. As far as macros go I try to limit low nutrition calorie dense foods. You know what they are.:) I find that if I watch the glycemic load of what I eat I can stay on track. For me it is much easier not to eat trigger foods than to resist my hunger. Having given up grains automatically limits much of the foods that spike my blood sugar.0
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Online calculators aren't always accurate when it comes to estimating how many calories you burn - especially when you have a thyroid issue. They can give you an idea, but not always a full picture.
My sister had a growth on her thyroid and had most of it removed. Her calorie intake is LOW for her body size (much lower than the calculators would suggest). Over time as she exercises more and builds more muscle, she's been able to increase her calories.
You can go to a local testing facility to have your RMR tested so you know for sure.
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Is there a point where you discontinue use of Synthroid?0
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_Terrapin_ wrote: »Is there a point where you discontinue use of Synthroid?
Right now I am having my blood drawn every so often because I began to see an Endo for it. He said that depending on my TSH levels he will adjust my Synthroid. I have had it increased three times now but during my first blood draw he tested to see if my immune system was still attacking my thyroid. That's basically the easiest way to describe it. He told me luckily its not so now its just trying to figure out which mcg of Synthroid works for me.0 -
Joannah700 wrote: »Online calculators aren't always accurate when it comes to estimating how many calories you burn - especially when you have a thyroid issue. They can give you an idea, but not always a full picture.
My sister had a growth on her thyroid and had most of it removed. Her calorie intake is LOW for her body size (much lower than the calculators would suggest). Over time as she exercises more and builds more muscle, she's been able to increase her calories.
You can go to a local testing facility to have your RMR tested so you know for sure.
Thanks for the info. I might just need to search for a place to get that test done.0 -
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_Terrapin_ wrote: »Is there a point where you discontinue use of Synthroid?
Depends on the person. Most people will never stop taking it. I certainly won't, since it don't have a thyroid. Unless they come up with some new implant, it means pills for life for me. :)p
We discuss thyroid as it relates to metabolism here, but weight isn't the only thing it affects. People who have thyroid issues need to attend to them.
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Is there a reason why you switch from Synthroid to generic?
Like you I do not have a thyroid, it is extremely difficult to lose weight, not impossible, but we have to keep at it all the time - diet and exercise. I would stop taking the generic and return to taking Synthroid, even though it is more expensive.0 -
Also have your Vitamin D check, mine was extremely low when I saw the endocrinologist in November. She put me on 2000 iu and I am amazed at the difference in how I am feeling along with more energy, clearer thinking etc.
She also reduced my Synthroid from 275 mcg to 200 mcg. Depending on my repeat blood work on Dec 18, my Synthroid will be reduced further to 140mcg.0 -
billieljaime wrote: »_Terrapin_ wrote: »Is there a point where you discontinue use of Synthroid?
no
and as time goes on your levels need to be adjusted
mine were level for a long time then started getting out of whack again this year. Iknew right away when my skin and hair were dryer and I felt tired ALL THE TIME
still struggling to get my numbers right.
I wish there were another option besides pills....
I can always tell when something is wrong because I feel so drained all the time. I wish there was another option too. I never imagined taking pills all the time but luckily it has helped since I was diagnosed in July of 2011.
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_Terrapin_ wrote: »Is there a point where you discontinue use of Synthroid?
Depends on the person. Most people will never stop taking it. I certainly won't, since it don't have a thyroid. Unless they come up with some new implant, it means pills for life for me. :)p
We discuss thyroid as it relates to metabolism here, but weight isn't the only thing it affects. People who have thyroid issues need to attend to them.
My Endo talked to me when I first met with him in August. He said right now my dose is lower then what is needed for my weight but my levels are in the proper place when he bumped it up in August and he rechecked in November. He explained to me that if it is too high you can have problems losing just like when it is too low. Its very interesting what this little glan does for one's body.
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Is there a reason why you switch from Synthroid to generic?
Like you I do not have a thyroid, it is extremely difficult to lose weight, not impossible, but we have to keep at it all the time - diet and exercise. I would stop taking the generic and return to taking Synthroid, even though it is more expensive.Also have your Vitamin D check, mine was extremely low when I saw the endocrinologist in November. She put me on 2000 iu and I am amazed at the difference in how I am feeling along with more energy, clearer thinking etc.
She also reduced my Synthroid from 275 mcg to 200 mcg. Depending on my repeat blood work on Dec 18, my Synthroid will be reduced further to 140mcg.
I still have my thyroid; I just have hypothyroidism. I hit this plateau in 2009 after losing 80+lbs before I got pregnant with my youngest. I didn't lose any weight after giving birth and I began showing severe signs of hypothyroidism and was diagnosed a year and a half after. It's almost like my body just stops losing and that's why I am trying to figure out if I am doing something wrong. As for Synthroid vs. Generic, I have been on Synthroid since July of 2011 and just switched to generic a month ago, I don't think this is a problem but I will be having my blood drawn in May. I got to this weight this past March when I was on Synthroid.
I have also been taking Vitamin D since July of 2011 because I have a deficiency.
It's just frustrating because I wish I knew what could help but I did see the personal trainer on Friday. I am going to go to her every 3 weeks to change up my workouts and see if that helps.
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To OP I realllly think that your best bet right now would be to buy a food scale, calculate your estimated maintenance needs from sites like health-calc.com and exrx.net (if you do not have a stable, consistent exercise routine then do not include that in your calculations but instead log and eat back at least 50% of the calories) and then eat at maintenance for a few months. If you see that you're gaining outside of normal fluctuations, then drop the calories by 50-100 every few weeks and monitor until you see yourself stabilizing. From there, deduct 20% from that number and set that as your deficit goal.0
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I had an undiagnosed, non-functioning thyroid for a MANY years. I had all the problems and I had them in spades. At the end, I had trouble breathing. Those were the first words the surgeon said when he came to see me the morning after the surgery. "I believe you couldn't breathe!"_Terrapin_ wrote: »Is there a point where you discontinue use of Synthroid?
Depends on the person. Most people will never stop taking it. I certainly won't, since it don't have a thyroid. Unless they come up with some new implant, it means pills for life for me. :)p
We discuss thyroid as it relates to metabolism here, but weight isn't the only thing it affects. People who have thyroid issues need to attend to them.
My Endo talked to me when I first met with him in August. He said right now my dose is lower then what is needed for my weight but my levels are in the proper place when he bumped it up in August and he rechecked in November. He explained to me that if it is too high you can have problems losing just like when it is too low. Its very interesting what this little glan does for one's body.
It ruined my life. Studying things is very different than living them. It's horrible.
And, Yes! It affects so much more than your damn weight, lol.
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To OP I realllly think that your best bet right now would be to buy a food scale, calculate your estimated maintenance needs from sites like health-calc.com and exrx.net (if you do not have a stable, consistent exercise routine then do not include that in your calculations but instead log and eat back at least 50% of the calories) and then eat at maintenance for a few months. If you see that you're gaining outside of normal fluctuations, then drop the calories by 50-100 every few weeks and monitor until you see yourself stabilizing. From there, deduct 20% from that number and set that as your deficit goal.
I do need a food scale because in all the research I have done recently it said that you can't always get the correct amount even if you measure. I will admit I haven't been super strict lately because of my life. Married, 2 kids, and working on my bachelor's degree. Thanks for the info and I am going to check those websites out!
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I had an undiagnosed, non-functioning thyroid for a MANY years. I had all the problems and I had them in spades. At the end, I had trouble breathing. Those were the first words the surgeon said when he came to see me the morning after the surgery. "I believe you couldn't breathe!"_Terrapin_ wrote: »Is there a point where you discontinue use of Synthroid?
Depends on the person. Most people will never stop taking it. I certainly won't, since it don't have a thyroid. Unless they come up with some new implant, it means pills for life for me. :)p
We discuss thyroid as it relates to metabolism here, but weight isn't the only thing it affects. People who have thyroid issues need to attend to them.
My Endo talked to me when I first met with him in August. He said right now my dose is lower then what is needed for my weight but my levels are in the proper place when he bumped it up in August and he rechecked in November. He explained to me that if it is too high you can have problems losing just like when it is too low. Its very interesting what this little glan does for one's body.
It ruined my life. Studying things is very different than living them. It's horrible.
And, Yes! It affects so much more than your damn weight, lol.
That's crazy and I did read that it is deadly. A few months before I got diagnosed I had my eyes checked and needed glasses. I have never needed glasses. After I began my meds I didn't need them anymore.
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I do need a food scale because in all the research I have done recently it said that you can't always get the correct amount even if you measure. I will admit I haven't been super strict lately because of my life.
It's human nature to underestimate your food & overestimate your burns. Weigh absolutely everything you eat—even packaged foods. I'm afraid you're in for a shock!
I have Hashimoto's (autoimmune thyroid disease). Synthroid & Cytomel) reduce the fatigue so I can be more active. But I kept gaining & gaining until I learned to log everything I eat & drink accurately & honestly. Logging is simple, but it ain't easy. Logging works.
MFP has a hypothyroidism & hyperthyroidism group: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/753-hypothyroidism-and-hyperthyroidism
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Thank you for the info and I just joined the group.0
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