Hypothyroidism and weight loss!

I have Hashimoto's (autoimmune thyroid disease), and I lost more slowly than most MFPers. So be patient! But I did it just like everybody else—by eating fewer than I burn.

I followed the advice in the Sexypants post: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1

Per my endocrinologist, I didn't avoid any foods nor add any new ones. I just learned to log everything I eat & drink accurately and honestly.

Edited to add that I reached goal before my thyroid levels entered the "normal" range. Synthroid & Cytomel reduce the fatigue, so I can be more active. But I kept gaining until I tightened up my logging. Logging is simple, but it ain't easy. Logging works.

maggie_teacher wrote: »

I heard many times that through good eating and a healthy diet you can eliminate symptoms of the disease but I guess it's just my excuse to keep gaining weight.

If your thyroid has been damaged, the only treatment is hormone replacement:
Synthroid, or
Synthroid + Cytomel, or
Armour (desiccated pig or pig + cow thyroid glands)

Thyroid meds (just like weight loss) takes trial & error to find what works for you.

maggie_teacher wrote: »

How do I know if it's been damaged? Seems like my doctor is experimenting too with what works and what doesn't.

What is your diagnosis? If it's hypothyroidism, your thyroid isn't producing enough hormones. You need to take thyroid replacement (one of the three options listed above)—just as people with Type 1 diabetes take insulin because their pancreas is damaged.

If your diagnosis is Hashimoto's, your body is attacking your thyroid with antibodies. Usually, your thyroid responds by not making enough hormones. Sometimes it reacts by overproducing.

My point is that you can't fix your thyroid with "good eating." Take your meds!

Hi I too have hypothyroidism diagnosed 2 yrs ago been on 100 g levothyroxine,and a vitamin b12 defiency been losing weight since end of Feb 10lbs so far bloods done other day doctor called today to say my thyroid has got worse upping my dose to 125m, but I'm determined not to let this beat me anymore, I hoping as the weight comes off my thyroid issues will get better, good luck to you all x

It's a pharmacological fact that hypothyroidic conditions do not cause weight gain. They simply change your metabolic rate. So, adjusting your caloric intake to meet your caloric burns having such a condition is paramount. If you want to lose, you've got to measure, especially with such a small loss goal anyway. Surprised I don't see anyone pointing out that expecting a quick loss with your goal is unreasonable even for someone without metabolic issues.

Either way, the physics still apply. You have to take in less than you burn in order to lose. If a person with normal metabolism should eat 1400 at your height and weight to lose, I think it's perfectly reasonable to suggest that someone with metabolic rate issues to cut to 1200 instead.

mamapeach910 wrote: »

A person with thyroid disease who is on a proper dose of medication does not need to make any additional adjustments to calorie intake to account for "metabolic issues". Their medication already does that.

Eating too little over a long amount of time does one's metabolism no favors.

Yes, I understand this. However, as someone that was treated for medical starvation and treated for resting non-functional thyroid issues, I've plenty of experience with this type of change. Someone at that size who is expecting a quick loss, who has not been responding to a supposedly well-monitored diet, may well be advised to cut to 1200 without any issues, particularly if managed by a dietician.

Besides, people who are reliant on "Scooby" for accurate information are misinformed in my book. There is a difference between taking average TDEEs and spitting out numbers and working with professionals that are working on your particular case with your case history. If you don't trust your professionals, then you need to find a new team.

Quasita wrote: »

mamapeach910 wrote: »

A person with thyroid disease who is on a proper dose of medication does not need to make any additional adjustments to calorie intake to account for "metabolic issues". Their medication already does that.

Eating too little over a long amount of time does one's metabolism no favors.

Yes, I understand this. However, as someone that was treated for medical starvation and treated for resting non-functional thyroid issues, I've plenty of experience with this type of change. Someone at that size who is expecting a quick loss, who has not been responding to a supposedly well-monitored diet, may well be advised to cut to 1200 without any issues, particularly if managed by a dietician.

Besides, people who are reliant on "Scooby" for accurate information are misinformed in my book. There is a difference between taking average TDEEs and spitting out numbers and working with professionals that are working on your particular case with your case history. If you don't trust your professionals, then you need to find a new team.

Well, let's apply a little common sense here first. In this situation, have you examined the stats of the OP, or are you just arguing to argue based on personal experience?

I'll do the same. Apply personal experience, that is.

The fact of the matter is that a 29 year old with a well-corrected thyroid does not need the same caloric intake as a shorter 52 year old to lose weight. Also? the 29 year old is a teacher and is likely much more active than the 52 year old. I'll just about guarantee it.

The other fact of the matter? The 29 year old wasn't accurately assessing her intake by using a food scale. Simplest solutions and all that.

I've got hypothyroidism as well as PCOS and weight loss is hard to come by, but does come with a lot of hard work. But I do have a lot of water retention various times of the month. If you really believe your thyroid levels are way off and your doc hasn't measured your T3 and T4 and total T levels, one option is iodoral which you could purchase from Amazon. That will help regulate your thyroid. I had to use that a couple years back when there was a shortage of Armour and I couldn't get my thyroid medication for several months.

maggie_teacher wrote: »

AprilAY3 wrote: »

I've got hypothyroidism as well as PCOS and weight loss is hard to come by, but does come with a lot of hard work. But I do have a lot of water retention various times of the month. If you really believe your thyroid levels are way off and your doc hasn't measured your T3 and T4 and total T levels, one option is iodoral which you could purchase from Amazon. That will help regulate your thyroid. I had to use that a couple years back when there was a shortage of Armour and I couldn't get my thyroid medication for several months.

That's interesting what you're saying about the iodine supplement. I read an interesting book on various aspects of treating a range of 'incurable' conditions and two of them were hyper-and hypothyroidism. The interesting fact was that iodine was being used to treat both conditions. Obviously that's when you are lucky to be a patient of a professional!
How did you feel on it?

Sorry but this is nonsense, you are getting awful advice. Lack of iodine inyour diet is a very well known reason for hypothyroidism. You either have Hashimoto's which is autoimmune, or you need iodine supplements because this is causing hypothyroidism. It is not a mixture of everything, and getting treatment for X when the problem is Y is only going to cause double the problems. If you are not iodine defficient, or are hyperthyroid, and decide to self medicate with iodine, you are in for far more serious health issues than the ones you started with. It is not candy, it is medication, and pretty dangerous one to experiment with.
Ask your dr waht your diagnosis is, and follow the prescribed treatment. Hypothyroidism is a very common medical conditions, especially for women, treatment is well known and effective, it is hardly research work these days, and you would need to get a uniquely bad dr to not know how to treat you.
If the dr is saying the weight gain, or difficulty to lose weight, is not caused by the Hypothyroidism, this is not a bad dr, this is an honest dr. One who is nto telling nonsense to the patients to keep them happy.