Is Hypothyroidism an Excuse?

The assumption is that it is easy to get medicated and then "voila!" problem solved. Sometimes it is that easy, but not always. You'll need to be tested periodically and your medication levels will get adjusted. Also, there is a lot of controversy about thyroid ranges - different doctors subscribe to different ranges. Many doctors will get you into a normal range and decide that is good enough, but you may still be having symptoms. For example, you may feel better lower in the range instead of higher. Then you'll need to find a different doctor that will let you adjust your medications until you find your "normal." If that makes sense? All of it can take years and be very frustrating.

Yes, I am myself a Hypothyroid patient and I take medication. I have been able to lose and maintain my weight. I did fall off the wagon last summer and put on few more pounds but I'm working out and eating clean now to lose the excess weight. All I can say is that you have to be patient and consistent. I have seen results and I am sure other with hypothyroidism can too!

I've had hypothyroidism for over 10 years. It took 3 years to diagnose me (all the symptoms but perfect numbers, go figure). I got to the point where I was gaining upwards of 30 pounds a month if I really didn't cut calories drastically. (I had some really terrible doctors who didn't understand what was going on and would refuse refilling my meds, too.)

My advice? Log, exercise, keep trying. DON'T beat yourself up for it being slow losses. Worry about getting your meds right and at the right level first. Make sure your Vitamin D3 levels and your B12 levels are good, too, especially because being lethargic and tired all the time is the pits.

And remember: Weight gain didn't happen overnight. Weight loss won't happen that quickly either.

I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease 24 years ago. Hashi's will sometimes cause the normally even keel I've found with medication to hit a roadblock, and the pounds will pack on, but this just means that I need to have a medication adjustment. It's frustrating, but that's just life with Hashi's. It's not an excuse, and last year, I let 30 pounds pack on. I'm not letting that happen ever again.

With medication and a good endocrinologist and paying attention to your symptoms and tracking your intake, there's no excuse for someone with hypothyroidism to not lose weight if they eat at a caloric deficit.

In a similar vein to someone above, I'd really like my eyebrows back, though.

I've got a friend with Hashimotos. It took ages for her to be diagnosed...the NHS aren't always the quickest to deal with things like that...and she kept gaining weight and feeling ill and tired. Yeah, her diet could've probably been better, but nothing that should've caused that weight gain.

Once she was properly diagnosed and given medication, she started to feel better and started going to the gym lots. She did slimming world for a while, then just healthy eating, and she lost loads, I guess about 80lbs and she looks amazing now.

Obviously she wouldn't have lost as much if she hadn't focused on healthy eating and exercising, she still had to put a lot of effort in, but I don't think the thyroid issues meant she had to try harder than anyone else. As far as I'm aware I don't have thyroid issues, and I don't lose any faster than she did.

It's an annoyance, not an excuse. Once you're properly medicated and have your levels regulated, you lose just like anyone else. It's just a pain getting there sometimes.

Hypothyroidism is, however, a totally valid excuse for being tired all the time *yawn*.

JenniferLynWhatx wrote: »

I'm on Levothyroxine...I just don't feel any different and I only lost 4 lbs in my first month...I guess I was just curious if, at my size, that was a "you need to change your strategy" or a "you're doing good, it's just because of your thyroid" type of a loss...

Four pounds in a month is a pound a week. That is a reasonable amount of weight loss -- quite sustainable and progress in the right direction.

JenniferLynWhatx wrote: »

I'm on Levothyroxine...I just don't feel any different and I only lost 4 lbs in my first month...I guess I was just curious if, at my size, that was a "you need to change your strategy" or a "you're doing good, it's just because of your thyroid" type of a loss...

My husband has hypothyroidism and had to go back to his endocrinologist several times to get his dose right and sometimes it still changes after its been steady for years at a time. Also, 1 pound a week is a very healthy rate. If it took you a year to put on 50 pounds, it isn't unreasonable that it will take a year or more to shed it all again. Deficits are harder than surpluses. You're doing great so far!

vmsolko wrote: »

I have hypothyroidism too. I've had it for 12 years, along with Type 1 diabetes. Honestly, I am not sure how well I'd lose weight WITHOUT hypothyroidism, so I can't really blame it. Because I was diagnosed at age 18, I'd never tried to lose weight pre-hypothyroidism.

I can say that when I was severely under-medicated, I was tired constantly. But after a week of the correct dosage, I was like a new person. So I am of the opinion that as long as you are on the right dosage and your levels are within normal limits, hypothyroidism shouldn't play a big role in your lack of weight loss. I would look more closely at other factors that could be a cause (secondary to hypothyroidism) of a slow weight loss: are you too tired and phoning in your workouts, are you needing to tweak your food and calories consumed, are you logging accurately?

I'm the same way - Hashimoto's since I was 18 and type 1 diabetes since I was 9. I also have type 2 diabetes (since 13), and the symptoms of type 2 have started to decrease as I lose weight. So I'll lose a few lbs. and then suddenly have to eat a whole lot to treat lows. On my worst day, I ate more than 600g of carbs to treat lows... makes it hard to have a calorie deficit.

Having said that, I agree about getting dosage figured out and looking at other factors. It sounds like the OP is losing 1 lb/wk, which is not unreasonable. I suggest cutting back calorie intake a bit more if that isn't enough.

noexcusesjustresults2014 wrote: »

MrM27 wrote: »

You go get the proper medication.
You track properly.
You exercise to the best of your ability.

If you don't do those things then yes you would be using Hypothyroidism as an excuse. You can lose weight even though you have that issue. But if you don't address it properly then you might as well play the victim.

^^^^

Perfect answer.

Hypothyroidism wont stop you from reaching your goals. Only excuses and a lack of willpower can do that

+1
I was already obese when diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Surgery in 2005, right lobe removed. Prescribed synthroid. Used my condition as an excuse to pack on more weight ending up with a BMI of 33

Saw a vacation picture of myself and decided I'd had enough. Through diet and exercise, I lost 90 lbs over 18 months (my heart condition, tachycardia, also disappeared and I was able to toss those pills)

A couple years later I became pregnant (another miracle and a story for another time) and packed on some weight. When my son was 4 I discovered MFP and from June to November of 2014 lost 55 lbs. No fad diets, no miracle pills. I just ate less and moved more.

So yes, you can allow or to become an excuse, or you can realize it's just a hurdle, hop over it and keep on going.