Its impossible for me to lose weight with hypothyroidism

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Replies

  • kristinhull1
    kristinhull1 Posts: 294 Member
    Im always hungry no matter what. I was eating 4500 calories a day before I started eating 1100-1600 cals a day, Im a overeater. Im always hungry.
  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    Im always hungry no matter what. I was eating 4500 calories a day before I started eating 1100-1600 cals a day, Im a overeater. Im always hungry.

    It might help you to pay more attention to what you're eating if you're not feeling full. Protein is very filling, and you're not getting much of it.

  • fattymcrunnerpants
    fattymcrunnerpants Posts: 311 Member
    Im always hungry no matter what. I was eating 4500 calories a day before I started eating 1100-1600 cals a day, Im a overeater. Im always hungry.

    It's because of the types of food you're eating. Calories matter but do does protein. You're eating a lot of high calorie low nutrient food.
  • ffbrown25
    ffbrown25 Posts: 110 Member
    Im always hungry no matter what. I was eating 4500 calories a day before I started eating 1100-1600 cals a day, Im a overeater. Im always hungry.

    This used to be me, too. After I changed my diet, even though I was eating MORE food at less calories (by cutting the low-nutrient junk and increasing my protein and fiber), I was low-grade hungry all the time for a couple of weeks. My body adapted, though. I think exercising helps, too.

    A lot of people here will say that it doesn't matter what you eat, just how many calories you consume. Yeah, that's true to a point, but in my experience, the problem with eating crap, no-nutrient, high-calorie food that doesn't fill you up is that you always MORE of it. When I was eating that way, I was always. hungry. All the time! And no wonder!

    When I stopped buying crap food and just accepted that I would eat other things (except every now and then... I can't quit nachos), a lot of the stress lifted. I wasn't struggling with eating one crescent roll and KNOWING there were more on the pan in the other room (knowing they were there just made me hungrier). I think it's a mental challenge more than anything else.

    It's tough, and I know your thyroid issue has to make it tougher, @kristinhull1. Try upping your protein and fiber. That will probably help keep you full. I really wish you the best of luck! <3
  • kristinhull1
    kristinhull1 Posts: 294 Member
    Im upping the protein and fiber.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    Im upping the protein and fiber.
    Fiber is fantastic for staying full. It hangs out in the stomach longer than other stuff. Some people say they feel fullest on fat or protein, though. For me, it's fiber, for sure.

    If you're cutting way back on calories, try to make them count. Eat healthy foods that give you lots of good nutrients. Fruits, veggies, whole grain breads, low-fat dairy and lean, white meats.

    Good luck!!
  • kristinhull1
    kristinhull1 Posts: 294 Member
    Thank you =)
  • maryfoto
    maryfoto Posts: 1 Member
    Have you been to a dr who specializes in weight loss ? There's so much to it
    I too have tlow thyroid issues since having kids and was about 20 lbs heavier
    My dr evaluated my thyroid issues in great depth ( she explained some doctors just look at one thing with thyroid ) anyways, she knew exactly how to help it with meds . In turn after being on the correct meds it helped me to feel better and gAvee more motivation . She also gave me some appetite suppressants temporarily to help me get my weight under control . It's hard ! But if you are suffering from thyroid issues make sure you are seeing a good dr who understands it .
  • kristinhull1
    kristinhull1 Posts: 294 Member
    I hope im seeing the right Dr.
  • blankiefinder
    blankiefinder Posts: 3,599 Member
    I hope im seeing the right Dr.

    Not if he prescribed iodine instead of synthroid...
  • snikkins
    snikkins Posts: 1,282 Member
    I hope im seeing the right Dr.

    Not if he prescribed iodine instead of synthroid...

    +1

  • amb_321
    amb_321 Posts: 3 Member
    I have Hashimoto from the childhood (more than 27 years). It is possible to lose weight. First of all, to stabilize the TSH by the appropriate meds. Then firmly want it. Since February 2013 I lost 35 kg (about 77 pounds). This is about 1 kg / month. Patience. People write a lot about food and counting calories - OK, but how much do you exercise and how? "As much as you can" is not very precise. The minimum is 40 minutes 6 times a week. It can be a quick walk.
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    amb_321 wrote: »
    People write a lot about food and counting calories - OK, but how much do you exercise and how? "As much as you can" is not very precise. The minimum is 40 minutes 6 times a week. It can be a quick walk.

    You lose weight by eating fewer calories than you burn—period. Exercise for fitness; log to lose weight.

    Thyroid disease can cause fatigue—and require more frequent &/or longer rest & recovery periods. Listen to your body, and do not overdo it.
  • kristinhull1
    kristinhull1 Posts: 294 Member
    My first doctor gave me iodine. I am seeing a new Dr now. And im walking 4 times a week for a hour and doing dumbells everyday while my Sons sleeping.
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    You've already gotten a lot of good advice, but I just want to agree that you've cut out a lot of stuff from your diet in attempts to lose, but likely your hunger will be what ends up "sabotaging" you. I did the same thing, ate too little volume of food (because it was higher calorie) and would get super hungry, and then binge on everything in sight.

    Instead of looking at things as what you have to give up, look at what you can add to your diet. Your diet seems to be relatively carb heavy, which is a two fold problem: many people with thyroid issues do better on a lower carb diet (lower, no low carb or no carb necessarily), and carbs can be digested quickly and aren't as satiating. Try adding in some veggies with your breakfast. A scramble of your egg whites with mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, etc would be much more filling. And if you added in the same number of calories of veggies as in your toast, you'd likely triple the volume of food you were eating.
  • ezapp09
    ezapp09 Posts: 1 Member
    Have you tried cutting your carbs? I have a thyroid issue as well but found for my body, I don't handle carbs well. I found when I stay away from any breads, pasta, refined sugars & dairy products, I lose weight & feel better. Also, when I'm on top of it— meal prepping helps & weighing food is SO important!! Stay away from condiments & salad dressings, I learned from my nutritionist that I was adding 100+ calories a meal by using condiments & dressings! Lean meats, lots of veggies are the trick that works for me. I will tell you, it's VERY hard to eliminate all that. I still struggle daily myself but the best I've ever felt is when I followed those rules. Everyone's bodies are different but it's worth a shot! If you want a "weight-loss thyroid buddy" I'd be all about it :)
  • jotti101
    jotti101 Posts: 41 Member
    hi
  • jotti101
    jotti101 Posts: 41 Member
    Oops sent by mistake.
    I suffer from an under active thyroid and I can tell you, you can loose weight but its harder to keep it off.
  • jotti101
    jotti101 Posts: 41 Member
    All I can say is that if you have an underactive thyroid your dr shouldnt have let you leave the surgery without giving you a prescription as you cannot manage this condition without medication.
    Confirm your condition and then deal with what you have or not!
  • sarahbe89
    sarahbe89 Posts: 18 Member
    Im practically starving myself. Im eat 3 egg whites and a piece of whole wheat toast for breakfast, 1 cup of soup with veggies and a whole wheat shredded chicken breast with bbq sauce and a very small dinner.

    I have hypothyroidism as well and I've been struggling for over a year trying to lose the weight with no avail until I did a diet over haul. There are SOOO many foods that are bad for you when you have this condition. Gluten, soy, sugar, fat, processed foods, alcohol... The list continues! It's not just about the amount of calories you are eating but also what those calories are made from. I have in the past two months lost 22 lbs simply by taking my meds regularly like I am supposed too and eliminating the foods on the DONT EAT IF YOU HAVE HYPOTHYROIDISM list. It's a struggle because your food options are limited but with some will power and creativity it CAN be done. Also I haven't even added in exercise yet so I'm sure once I do I will lose even more even quicker.
  • snikkins
    snikkins Posts: 1,282 Member
    sarahbe89 wrote: »
    Im practically starving myself. Im eat 3 egg whites and a piece of whole wheat toast for breakfast, 1 cup of soup with veggies and a whole wheat shredded chicken breast with bbq sauce and a very small dinner.

    I have hypothyroidism as well and I've been struggling for over a year trying to lose the weight with no avail until I did a diet over haul. There are SOOO many foods that are bad for you when you have this condition. Gluten, soy, sugar, fat, processed foods, alcohol... The list continues! It's not just about the amount of calories you are eating but also what those calories are made from. I have in the past two months lost 22 lbs simply by taking my meds regularly like I am supposed too and eliminating the foods on the DONT EAT IF YOU HAVE HYPOTHYROIDISM list. It's a struggle because your food options are limited but with some will power and creativity it CAN be done. Also I haven't even added in exercise yet so I'm sure once I do I will lose even more even quicker.

    This is not necessarily true. I eat all these things and have either lost or maintained my weight.

    You may find its easier to create a deficit this way and some people find low carb more productive, but it's 100% not necessary to cut out all of these things. Take your meds, make sure they have the right dosage, and find a sustainable way of eating for you.

  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    sarahbe89 wrote: »
    Im practically starving myself. Im eat 3 egg whites and a piece of whole wheat toast for breakfast, 1 cup of soup with veggies and a whole wheat shredded chicken breast with bbq sauce and a very small dinner.

    I have hypothyroidism as well and I've been struggling for over a year trying to lose the weight with no avail until I did a diet over haul. There are SOOO many foods that are bad for you when you have this condition. Gluten, soy, sugar, fat, processed foods, alcohol... The list continues! It's not just about the amount of calories you are eating but also what those calories are made from. I have in the past two months lost 22 lbs simply by taking my meds regularly like I am supposed too and eliminating the foods on the DONT EAT IF YOU HAVE HYPOTHYROIDISM list. It's a struggle because your food options are limited but with some will power and creativity it CAN be done. Also I haven't even added in exercise yet so I'm sure once I do I will lose even more even quicker.

    CI<CO still works for people taking thyroid medication. I'm not too sure it's the specific foods that matter as much as maintaining a deficit and making sure the foods you eat fill you up and leave you satisfied (so you don't lose energy nor binge later).
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    sarahbe89 wrote: »
    I have in the past two months lost 22 lbs simply by taking my meds regularly like I am supposed too and eliminating the foods on the DONT EAT IF YOU HAVE HYPOTHYROIDISM list.

    You lost weight by eating fewer calories than you burned—period. According to the Mayo Clinic (and my endocrinologist):
    Although claims about hypothyroidism diets abound, there's no evidence that eating or avoiding certain foods will improve thyroid function in people with hypothyroidism.

    Source: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothyroidism/expert-answers/hypothyroidism-diet/faq-20058554
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    edited August 2015
    sarahbe89 wrote: »
    Im practically starving myself. Im eat 3 egg whites and a piece of whole wheat toast for breakfast, 1 cup of soup with veggies and a whole wheat shredded chicken breast with bbq sauce and a very small dinner.

    I have hypothyroidism as well and I've been struggling for over a year trying to lose the weight with no avail until I did a diet over haul. There are SOOO many foods that are bad for you when you have this condition. Gluten, soy, sugar, fat, processed foods, alcohol... The list continues! It's not just about the amount of calories you are eating but also what those calories are made from. I have in the past two months lost 22 lbs simply by taking my meds regularly like I am supposed too and eliminating the foods on the DONT EAT IF YOU HAVE HYPOTHYROIDISM list. It's a struggle because your food options are limited but with some will power and creativity it CAN be done. Also I haven't even added in exercise yet so I'm sure once I do I will lose even more even quicker.
    I'm less than hypo, as thyroids go. I don't have one. I do have pills, though, and the pills are so very much better than the thyroid ever was. I do lose weight. 88 pounds, so far. I would never suggest that if I can, everyone can. But I have, after many years of battling, begun losing weight after the thyroid issue was corrected. I eat gluten, soy (a lot), sugar, a little fat and a few processed foods...and I've lost weight.

    Thyroids are not fixed with foods. They're fixed by doctors.

    I have heard that the Paleo Scammers have moved from saying their diet fixes cancer and schizophrenia to saying it fixes thyroids. It does not. This idea is spreading and it's a total lie. Don't believe it.
  • Arliah
    Arliah Posts: 266 Member
    I doubt it, there are other women here with the hypothroidism and they have successfully lost weight.
    I am one of those, and I can confirm that whereas it is maybe a little harder, it is feasible. I lost about 0.8lbs a week, with a severely underactive thyroid (which I didn't know about ... now I am on syntheroid and it's obviously a lot better).

  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    Kalikel wrote: »
    sarahbe89 wrote: »
    Im practically starving myself. Im eat 3 egg whites and a piece of whole wheat toast for breakfast, 1 cup of soup with veggies and a whole wheat shredded chicken breast with bbq sauce and a very small dinner.

    I have hypothyroidism as well and I've been struggling for over a year trying to lose the weight with no avail until I did a diet over haul. There are SOOO many foods that are bad for you when you have this condition. Gluten, soy, sugar, fat, processed foods, alcohol... The list continues! It's not just about the amount of calories you are eating but also what those calories are made from. I have in the past two months lost 22 lbs simply by taking my meds regularly like I am supposed too and eliminating the foods on the DONT EAT IF YOU HAVE HYPOTHYROIDISM list. It's a struggle because your food options are limited but with some will power and creativity it CAN be done. Also I haven't even added in exercise yet so I'm sure once I do I will lose even more even quicker.
    I'm less than hypo, as thyroids go. I don't have one. I do have pills, though, and the pills are so very much better than the thyroid ever was. I do lose weight. 88 pounds, so far. I would never suggest that if I can, everyone can. But I have, after many years of battling, begun losing weight after the thyroid issue was corrected. I eat gluten, soy (a lot), sugar, a little fat and a few processed foods...and I've lost weight.

    Thyroids are not fixed with foods. They're fixed by doctors.

    I have heard that the Paleo Scammers have moved from saying their diet fixes cancer and schizophrenia to saying it fixes thyroids. It does not. This idea is spreading and it's a total lie. Don't believe it.

    I cannot stress the bolded enough. There is no thyroid diet. If you have issues with these foods it is due to a separate medical condition.

    You lose weight by maintaining a caloric deficit.
  • uhhhDoodle
    uhhhDoodle Posts: 41 Member
    I have hypo and once I got onto medicine, the weight just started coming off. 65+lbs later and I am still losing, though not quite at my goal yet. Make sure that you take care of yourself and get that second opinion so if you need to be on meds, you are. You will feel a lot better after a month or so.
  • jadedone
    jadedone Posts: 2,446 Member
    CSARdiver wrote: »
    Kalikel wrote: »
    sarahbe89 wrote: »
    Im practically starving myself. Im eat 3 egg whites and a piece of whole wheat toast for breakfast, 1 cup of soup with veggies and a whole wheat shredded chicken breast with bbq sauce and a very small dinner.

    I have hypothyroidism as well and I've been struggling for over a year trying to lose the weight with no avail until I did a diet over haul. There are SOOO many foods that are bad for you when you have this condition. Gluten, soy, sugar, fat, processed foods, alcohol... The list continues! It's not just about the amount of calories you are eating but also what those calories are made from. I have in the past two months lost 22 lbs simply by taking my meds regularly like I am supposed too and eliminating the foods on the DONT EAT IF YOU HAVE HYPOTHYROIDISM list. It's a struggle because your food options are limited but with some will power and creativity it CAN be done. Also I haven't even added in exercise yet so I'm sure once I do I will lose even more even quicker.
    I'm less than hypo, as thyroids go. I don't have one. I do have pills, though, and the pills are so very much better than the thyroid ever was. I do lose weight. 88 pounds, so far. I would never suggest that if I can, everyone can. But I have, after many years of battling, begun losing weight after the thyroid issue was corrected. I eat gluten, soy (a lot), sugar, a little fat and a few processed foods...and I've lost weight.

    Thyroids are not fixed with foods. They're fixed by doctors.

    I have heard that the Paleo Scammers have moved from saying their diet fixes cancer and schizophrenia to saying it fixes thyroids. It does not. This idea is spreading and it's a total lie. Don't believe it.

    I cannot stress the bolded enough. There is no thyroid diet. If you have issues with these foods it is due to a separate medical condition.

    You lose weight by maintaining a caloric deficit.

    If you are Hashimotos, and this is causing your thyroid issues, there is a very high correlation with other auto-immune things like Celiacs. Also lots of people who are hypo have other digestive issues (like IBS) that are also triggered by the same foods. Eating the right diet is absolutely critical to feeling well. A friend of mine is hashimotos + hypo + a few other things (not celiac), she is on a very strict diet, the AIP diet, because she feels awful if not.

    OP, I am still working on losing, but I will tell you what helps me to feel best. I need to eat lower card, low carb feels awful. This for me means, if I am eating 3 meals a day, I will have 1-2 servings of carbs at two of them. More seems to make me gain. I also need enough protein and enough fat Low fat also feels crappy. Zone-Isn ratios work best for me, but I do not strictly portion it. Next up, I am going to see if giving up gluten solves my digestive issues. I have found there is a ceiling on both dairy and gluten and I feel awful

    Also, if my thyroid and hormones are out of whack, I gain very very easily.

    My other goal is to boost my metabolism with strength training. There is a lot of controversy over long hard cardio, so you may need to play around with workout types. I need the workouts to keep my appetite in check and keep my sleep high quality.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,990 Member
    My DW has hypothyroidism. Is currently on meds. She lost 35lbs doing 2 things only: eating less calories than she burns and using ballroom dancing to help create a calorie deficit.
    I've also worked with several people who have had hypothyroidism. Results happen if calorie deficit is consistent. It still comes down to CICO if there are no other underlying health issues.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png
  • arb037
    arb037 Posts: 203 Member
    edited August 2015
    As others have stated hammer down on the Dr about your Thyroid.. also make sure to ADD reverse T3 to the tests listed above... and DO NOT let the Dr just throw you synthetic levothyroxine (synthroid) and call it good, the body needs much more than just the single thyroid hormone.T1, T2,T3, and T4. Personally my body did not convert the T4 to T3 effectively, so the natural Desiccated Thryoid Hormone works far and away better. They need to treat your symptoms until they are gone..
    Read up on Thyroids..
    http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

    I have Hypothyroid as well as Hashimoto's and have no problem losing weight when needed, granted I am on the proper dose of meds..

    Keep in mind when eating at a calorie deficit, the bodies natural response to lowered intake of fuel is to lower T3 function to preserve fat stores, (this doesnt happen fast) but over a period of continued deficit... pretty much goes along with "adaptive thermogenesis"
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