Losing weight with thyroid disease

bkbrayoc
bkbrayoc Posts: 7 Member
edited November 15 in Motivation and Support
Hey all, I am trying my hardest to lose weight (to get down to a healthy size) and be healthy to a) get my thyroid back in check and to b) look good on my wedding day/honeymoon. I am teetering between 200 lbs and 210 lbs and can't break past the 200 lb mark! I eat decently well... much better than how I was eating 6 months ago when my weight and thyroid struggles really accelerated... and I exercise regularly - usually 4-6 times a week. I feel like I am doing a lot and making drastic changes but am seeing no results. I feel stronger from my weight training but all of my measurements are the same... AKA no inches or pounds lost! I'm so confused! My cousin made a joke saying that I could starve myself and I'd still gain 10 lbs. *** Disclaimer: I'm not going to starve myself *** Could I be gaining muscle mass? I would think I would lose a little weight instead of maintaining my current weight?

Is there anyone out there with a version of thyroid disease that has a similar issue? If so, what have you done to support your weight loss goals and combat this issue?

Replies

  • Nikki10129
    Nikki10129 Posts: 292 Member
    Have you been able to calculate your BMR? The minimum amount of calories needed for your basic metabolic functions, assuming you have some form of hypothyroidism your BMR might be a little lower than something that you might calculate from basic formulas, but you should be able to calculate it. Then you find your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure) which is from daily activities (walking, running, any form of exercise really) then once you find that, you take away a certain percentage and that's how many calories a day you should be eating. Then you strictly log the food you are eating, every bite that goes into your mouth. You might lose weight more slowly than someone else with normal metabolic functions, but so long as you are in a deficit than you will lose, you just have to be strict about measuring your food.

    I didn't see you mention anything about measuring and logging how much food you eat, it doesn't matter how healthy the food you are eating is, if you are eating too much you aren't going to lose weight.
    Also keep up with weight training, you want to maintain as much muscle mass as possible as that will help speed your metabolism up.
  • cblue315
    cblue315 Posts: 3,836 Member
    I've been battling with thyroid issues for 35 years. Yes you can lose weight. Last year I lost over 70 pounds. It really does come down to Calories In Calories Out.
    Eat less and move more. My BMR is a little lower than most, but not by a lot. But I do have to watch every calorie.
    I weigh and measure all my food. Yes all of it. I count the candy bowl at the bank. The couple of potato chips off my husband's plate and all the liquids I drink. You have to be brutally honest about all of it.
    Good luck.
  • ElizabethKalmbach
    ElizabethKalmbach Posts: 1,415 Member
    Just to confirm, you are taking replacement thyroid hormone, aren't you? Have you got your T4 and TSH and all that in check?
  • bkbrayoc
    bkbrayoc Posts: 7 Member
    Thanks for all your helpful replies! My BMR is 1,748 and I am on Levothyroxine. My labs aren't in check yet. I just moved to Cleveland, OH from central Kentucky and am in the process of finding a competent thyroid doctor (my doctor form Ky was a real clown). Last time I got them checked, I was at the OBGYN and my TSH was at 4.74. Which, I understand, is the top end of what's considered "normal" ;but I still have plenty of unpleasant symptoms and my OB thinks I need to keep on trying to lower it? I don't know.

    I guess I need to be more diligent about measuring logging all my food so I get a better picture of what I am ingesting. I try my hardest to log every meal... Though I do sometimes slack when it comes to taking a bite here and there but I see your point in how those bites can add up over time. I have made the effort for the last 3 months of no eating out. I buy all my food and make it at home and I prep my breakfasts and lunches for the week to make sure I'm eating a balanced meal ( I work 7 am - 5 pm - so prepping has been key in making sure I actually eat every day). My BMR is 1,748... how would I calculate the TDEE?

    My whole family and workplace (friendly workplace wellness contests) are on UP/Jawbone and that has really opened my eyes to how I'm eating compared to my family (who are health nuts). It's definitely been what's shocked me into not eating out anymore because doing it for my health just wasn't the trigger unfortunately.

  • ElizabethKalmbach
    ElizabethKalmbach Posts: 1,415 Member
    ... If your TSH is consistently at 4.74, yeah... I would look for a different doctor. I have a firmly established thyroid disorder, so my doctor tries to keep my TSH as close to 1 as possible.

    That being said, I have managed to lose weight with a TSH of 11... Weight lifting a couple days a week and a constant stream of low-level cardio (usually either rowing or walking) keep things manageable for me.
  • Afura
    Afura Posts: 2,054 Member
    If your TSH is at 4.74 and you're still having symptoms have them check your T3/T4 to see if those look off.
    To check your TDEE look at a calculator like Scooby's Warehouse (which I like better) or IIFYM. Definitely be as good as you can about weighing (you can get a $20 scale on Amazon) or measuring your food since you make your own. There's a lot of posts you can find about how we underestimate how much we actually eat.
    Keep logging, don't give up, keep working with your Dr, and if they aren't helpful to find the root of the issues you're having, get a new one. Don't stay out of loyalty if they won't be loyal to your health.
  • sunsets_fullmoons
    sunsets_fullmoons Posts: 7
    See an endocrinologist and ask about taking Synthroid or the generic. I had the hardest time on the generic weight wise and I'm Registered Dietetic Tech. I know how/do eat a well balanced diet along with strength training and light cardio. Anyways, my endocrinologist suggested the brand name. Maybe I couldn't tolerate the generic, I don't know. I do know my weight is much more manageable on the brand name. Just something I found that worked for me.
  • bkbrayoc
    bkbrayoc Posts: 7 Member
    Sorry about the delayed response... we got rid of our internet. Haha I've been having trouble finding a doctor that will do more than just a TSH test... Hopefully the doctor I'm meeting with on 4/22 will be more thorough.

    I am absolutely amazed with what all I ingest... I have been logging everything like you all suggested. All sauces, all coffee creamers, even tea... And it was eye opening. I would hate to see my nutrition stats a few months ago when I was eating fast food on the regular! I do have some good news! I've been adding in more veggies and began a 30 day walking challenge with the family since my first post and have lost 2.8 lbs so far! Thanks for the words of encouragement!

    Also, I am on the generic thyroid meds. I've been thinking of talking to my doctor about Synthroid. I just have so many problems with Levothyroxine... especially the part where my hair is brittle and falling out. My previous "doctor" said the hair loss would be temporary but it has been going pretty strong for months now. We snake the drain weekly... :( I just know that this isn't something that can be fixed in one night by a wonder drug. Sometimes that frustrates me but I just have to learn to be patient and healthy and things should fall into place.
  • thatguynick
    thatguynick Posts: 106 Member
    I have hypothyroidism, and trying to lose 175+ more lbs. I am drinking water like a fish to boost my metabolism. I'm typically drinking 20 cups or so per day now.
  • bkbrayoc
    bkbrayoc Posts: 7 Member
    That's awesome! I've definitely stepped up the water as well. I find it difficult to get in 8 cups sometimes. I used to work in a call center that was government run and we were only allowed to go to the bathroom twice per 9 hour shift. So I had to keep the liquids to a minimum if you know what I mean. I've actually had to re-train myself at my new job with the mentality that I can drink as much water as I want because I have more freedom! Haha
    thatguynick wrote: »
    I have hypothyroidism, and trying to lose 175+ more lbs. I am drinking water like a fish to boost my metabolism. I'm typically drinking 20 cups or so per day now.
    You seem to be doing quite well with your journey! Kudos!

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