Its impossible for me to lose weight with hypothyroidism

kristinhull1 wrote: »

I am 50lbs overweight. I cannot lose weight and idk why.

I have been told I have hypothyroidism by one Dr but wanted a 2nd opinion. I'm always going to be fat.

I have Hashimoto's (autoimmune thyroid disease), but I lost the weight & have kept it off for a year. I lost more slowly than most MFPers, so be patient! But I did it just like everybody else—by eating fewer calories than I burn.

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

kristinhull1 wrote: »

Idk how that could be possible. Im starving.

I honestly thought I gained weight for no good reason. But even after I was taking thyroid meds I still kept gaining. Then I learned to log everything I eat & drink accurately & honestly. What a wake-up call!

I'm less hungry when I use MFP's default protein & fiber goals as minimums and ignore fat & carbs. It'll take trial & error to find what works for you.

Logging works.

PeachyCarol wrote: »

MamaBirdBoss wrote: »

Aw, sweetie, I know it's hard! I don't have hypothyriodism, but I have a disease that causes fatigue. Get the hypothyroidism treated ASAP to improve your quality of life, decrease depression, and decrease your appetite.

Also, get a scale and weigh absolutely everything you put in your mouth.

Hypothyroidism mostly makes you gain weight because it increases hunger and decreases your energy. If you go work out, you might unconsciously "balance" it because you have low energy, by doing less the rest of the day.

And that hunger? It makes you play tricks with your brain. It makes you add just a LITTLE more of this, a LITTLE more of that. And if you're not weighing, you get fooled by it. You REALLY do. I've been playing games where I try to put the same amount in each time and I don't look at the scale.

When I'm hungry, I cheat EVEN THOUGH I KNOW I'LL CATCH MYSELF. My brain tells me that a larger amount IS the smaller amount I thought it was. It tries to trick me up.

If you're super-hungry, look for low-density items to add.

No. Hypothyroidism does not increase your hunger. It slows your metabolism when it's not treated properly. It does decrease your energy -- because you're metabolism has been slowed down.

Once again, you're posting about yourself.

I'm hypothyroid (Hashimoto's) and I second this. An underactive thyroid slows metabolism. You don't gain weight because it makes you hungrier which makes you eat more, you gain weight because your metabolism is lowered. Having said that, you will gain weight at a faster rate than normal if you are overeating. Which is how all of us - screwed up thyroids or not - ended up here.

I've lost over 50 lbs so far. The key is to get properly diagnosed and medicated. That's your priority, OP.

In the meantime, though, you definitely need to obtain a food scale and weigh what you're eating, because you won't really get a handle on that until you do. Packaged foods are generally a land mine of sodium, which may mask any weight loss with water retention. Also, because you're a woman, OP, your monthly cycle can easily add 5+ lbs. Thankfully, both the salt and the TOM gains are temporary, but unless you're aware of them, you can easily get discouraged by them.

editorgrrl wrote: »

kristinhull1 wrote: »

I am going to have to buy a scale on payday and start weighing my food.

This will be a game changer. (But brace yourself for quite a shock!) Weigh everything you eat—including packaged food and creamy spreads (hummus, mayo, peanut butter, dressings, etc.). Every thing.

Logging is simple, but it ain't easy. Logging works.

Logging made the difference for me when we were figuring out the correct dose of medication. There was one three month period that would end in a "normal" blood test, but I gained and lost the same 3-5 pounds over and over, so I knew it couldn't be right.

Also, don't let everyone scare you that it's going to be super hard or super restrictive. It may have to be, but not always. I'm most certainly not low carb. I've lost about 60 pounds in a little over two years, which might seem slow, but is the result of poor logging on occasion, either intentional or because vacation is awesome.

Get medicated. It might seem like it sucks having to take a pill for forever, but it makes an enormous difference and isn't a personal failure.

You can do this.

It doesn't matter how well you are doing. If you have hypothyroidism you have to start treatment for it. After two weeks on the right dose of medication, your body will be regulated and you will start making more progress! If you have more questions about hypothyroid please message me. I have been on medication for it since I was 5. Good luck!!

kristinhull1 wrote: »

Cut out pop entirely- Check
Eat 1200-1700 calories a day- Check
Get exercise as much as I can- Check
Eat more protein- Check
Move as much as I can- Check

I am 50lbs overweight. I have dieted once before only losing 15lbs. This time ive lost 5lbs and cant get away from only the 5lbs lost. I cannot lose weight and idk why. Im getting very discouraged. No matter how hard I try the scale wont go below 180. I have been told I have hypothyroidism by one Dr but wanted a 2nds opinion. I have tried everything with no luck. Its pretty much impossible. Im crying as I write this because im always going to be fat.

I'm diabetic and hypothyroid for 25+ years. I had to stop taking thyroid meds and stop insulin as well. Yes, you can lose weight. Learn more about the keto diet or the low carb, high fat (LCHF) and also intermittent fasting (IF). I started with LCHF, transitioned to IF and then to keto (mostly keto for my diabetes) and I've lost 18 pounds in the past 2 months. There most definitely is a light at the end of the tunnel! Oh, and I don't feel like I'm starving, EVER.

I have hypothyroidism. Lost almost all my hair, feel in pain a lot too... but the thing about this disease is that at max it can only account for an extra 15-20lbs. Its in the american association for hypothyroidism. I used it as a crutch for the longest time but in reality it really is energy in vs out.

blankiefinder wrote: »

Mr_Knight wrote: »

kristinhull1 wrote: »

If im doing anything im eating too low of calories.

No, you're not.

Your logging is completely broken - you are eating way more than you think.

If her hypothyroidism is not under control, this is not necessarily true.

This ^^ My sister suffers from this and has a very difficult time with weight control. Work with your doctor to find a plan to manage it. There are foods that can mess your thyroid, learn what they are and avoid them. Work with a nutritionist trained in this area, if possible.

It can be done, but you will have more of a struggle than others. It sucks, but don't give up!

Soopatt wrote: »

Do we really think that if 100 people were locked in a room and only given water for a month that most of them would waste away and lose weight except the one person with x health condition?

Do we really think that when prison camps are stormed by armies they find a bunch of skeletal people and one obese person with x health condition?

I don't deny that metabolic disorders exist or there are reasons that some of us lose weight slower than others, but lets get real folks. There is not a person walking this earth that cannot lose weight with the right approach.

Has anyone watched BBC's "Secret Eaters"? All those people say the same things. They are the ones with the special condition. They are the only person on the planet who cannot lose weight. What does it turn out to be every time? They are eating more than they think they are and they are eating unsatisfying foods.

Also, it is worth remembering that if you really are the special snowflake with a slow metabolism, then your slow metabolism needs and demands less fuel, like a small engine, compared to a bigger engine. You should be less hungry and need less calories than your mates, if that was the case.

I was whining on a thread just a little while ago about how hungry I always was. A few people pointed out that I don't eat enough veggies and protein and you know what? They were right. I have increased my veggie intake and eat the right kind of protein more often and my hunger has backed off considerably.

It is harsh to hear these things OP, but you HAVE to start by taking accountability.

I really think some people posting here do not understand some of the basics.

Yes, someone with UNTREATED hypothyroidism will lose weight if they eat little enough, as asserted above. However, if it's severe, they will have to eat below the bottom threshold allowed by MFP. Do you really want them to basically starve themselves to lose weight?

Yes, someone with MANAGED hypothyroidism CAN lose weight. I am always the first to say that! I lost mine. However, the OP's hypothyroidism is NOT under control right now. Don't compare yourself losing on synthroid or Armour to her being able to lose with neither.

With someone with an untreated health condition, the best recommendation is always to see your doctor!

Edited to add that as I already mentioned probably on page 1, that this is a good time for the OP to learn about weight loss by getting a scale and starting to track her calories and learn to log accurately and at least try to maintain.

kristinhull1 wrote: »

Thanks everyone for all the great advice and motivation. I go on the 20th for a ultrasound of my thyroid. Then ill have a follow up to find out what they want to do about it. I am going to have to buy a scale on payday and start weighing my food. I know the scale should be going down instead of staying up. One day ill be at 180. The next ill be back to where I started. It so discouraging. My Face is so puffy. My hairs falling out. My nails break. I am so tired all the time but yet I cant sleep. Im anxious, depressed. My joints and muscles hurt all the time. I have high blood pressure. I am just so over this 50lbs that needs lost.

I hear ya on how & what you are feeling. I know weight can be a big deterrant however at this point what you really want to focus on is getting the hypothyroidism in control. Once you & your doctor figure things out & you, hopefully, get put on a prescription to level out your hormones things will definitely get better with your overall health. I went through all of this about 3-4 years ago & I'm now slowly starting to try to lose weight again. I've always been overweight & I've forever been trying to lose weight. I find that how I lose it now, with hypothyroidism, in comparison to back when my thyroid worked properly is really not all that different. It's my mindset, level of activity, age, and habits that are more of the negative factor if anything. If I put my mind to it & work like I did at it in the past, I seem to lose just fine. Sure there are times where it seems a little harder but as long as I keep taking the meds regularly and stick to healthy eating & activity it does still allow me to lose weight. I've just recently restarted & have lost close to 30 pounds & that's without really trying all that hard because I wanted to ease into things. I'll be amping up more now that I know I'm feeling good & healthy enough again to do this!

Trust me, get the hormone level in control & start feeling healthier first & then focus on losing weight. You may even find that as you work on the getting healthier part you will lose some weight if you just eat healthier as you go. It's a process but until your body gets back to that healthy state it'll only get harder so let the healing begin:-)

stevencloser wrote: »

blankiefinder wrote: »

stevencloser wrote: »

Jeneba wrote: »

I agree with you - you most certainly CANNOT lose weight, no matter what you do, no matter what other people THINK you should be doing unless your thyroid meds AND your adrenal treatments are OPTIMIZED. (Sorry for shouting...)

Most doctors just think they can throw a pill or two at us and everyone will live happily ever after.

These treatments are an Art. You need to test your free T4 and free T3 repeatedly over a period of at least a year before your titration yields the most effective dosage. Just because results seem to fall in a "normal range" does not mean that your levels are right for you.

Check some of the websites such as "Stop the Thyroid Madness" and you will find an entire community ready to support you.

Sending you a Healing Hug.

You most definitely CAN lose weight regardless of the medical condition.

blankiefinder wrote: »

Soopatt wrote: »

Do we really think that if 100 people were locked in a room and only given water for a month that most of them would waste away and lose weight except the one person with x health condition?

Do we really think that when prison camps are stormed by armies they find a bunch of skeletal people and one obese person with x health condition?

I don't deny that metabolic disorders exist or there are reasons that some of us lose weight slower than others, but lets get real folks. There is not a person walking this earth that cannot lose weight with the right approach.

Has anyone watched BBC's "Secret Eaters"? All those people say the same things. They are the ones with the special condition. They are the only person on the planet who cannot lose weight. What does it turn out to be every time? They are eating more than they think they are and they are eating unsatisfying foods.

Also, it is worth remembering that if you really are the special snowflake with a slow metabolism, then your slow metabolism needs and demands less fuel, like a small engine, compared to a bigger engine. You should be less hungry and need less calories than your mates, if that was the case.

I was whining on a thread just a little while ago about how hungry I always was. A few people pointed out that I don't eat enough veggies and protein and you know what? They were right. I have increased my veggie intake and eat the right kind of protein more often and my hunger has backed off considerably.

It is harsh to hear these things OP, but you HAVE to start by taking accountability.

I really think some people posting here do not understand some of the basics.

Yes, someone with UNTREATED hypothyroidism will lose weight if they eat little enough, as asserted above. However, if it's severe, they will have to eat below the bottom threshold allowed by MFP. Do you really want them to basically starve themselves to lose weight?

Yes, someone with MANAGED hypothyroidism CAN lose weight. I am always the first to say that! I lost mine. However, the OP's hypothyroidism is NOT under control right now. Don't compare yourself losing on synthroid or Armour to her being able to lose with neither.

With someone with an untreated health condition, the best recommendation is always to see your doctor!

Edited to add that as I already mentioned probably on page 1, that this is a good time for the OP to learn about weight loss by getting a scale and starting to track her calories and learn to log accurately and at least try to maintain.

It might be below the lower threshold of MFP, but it would still only be 500 calories under whatever her body needs to do the things it does (which isn't a lot hence why the TDEE is so low to begin with).

Would you want to live on 900 calories? How would she manage her hunger? I wouldn't want to live on that. Why not treat the hypothyroidism and do this properly?

I wouldn't want to, but she wouldn't be starving herself any more than anyone else on a 500 kcal deficit if she did.

She might suffer from malnutrition though. Do you have any medical training to give advice on how to treat this medical condition, or are you just giving advice on how to lose fat with no regard to health?