hypothyroidism and weight loss

Here's my brief history: I was 36, in excellent physical condition, working an active job and hiking every weekend, but I was gaining weight. Every month, I was a couple pounds heavier, even though I was eating less. I was tired all the time and my hair was brittle and breaking. My doctor finally took my complaints seriously, and did blood tests to figure out what was going on. It took about 8 months of playing with dosages, starting low and going higher, to find the right dosage to get my levels to optimum, so lesson 1: Don't panic if the meds don't work right away. It takes a couple of weeks to see a difference in your metabolism.

This doctor also put me on a special 'thyroid diet'- 1000 calories a day, specific foods at different times. This 'thyroid diet' has since been scientifically debunked. Fortunately for me, one of the major components was soy milk, which I can't digest, so I didn't stay on it long. Interesting to note, though, that early in this process, I was still GAINING weight on 1000 calories a day of mostly "thyroid busting superfoods". (I will never eat another brazil nut again. Thank you.) I wasn't able to lose weight until my medications were working and my metabolism stabilized.

Flash forward five years, and I'd been feeling really good, but suddenly the tireds and the hungries started again. Back to the doctor and find out that even just taking my allergy pill at the same time as my levo was messing up how the levo absorbs, so lesson 2: take your thyroid meds first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach, and without taking anything else, even vitamin supplements, for at least an hour. (I take my thyroid med when I get up to feed the cats and then go back to sleep for a bit.)
Lesson 3: Most of the "try this diet to boost your thyroid!" stories are absolute bunk. The people saying they are thyroid med free after eating this or that superfood/thyroid buster/special diet? Are going to be back on their meds within a year. Don't waste a lot of time (and perfectly good calories) with trying to 'fix your thyroid with these natural foods!'. Just eat a healthy, well balanced diet, and keep your calorie intake somewhere between your BMR and TDEE and you'll lose weight once your metabolism is balanced again.

Jess, once your meds are working, you'll feel a real difference in your energy levels. At least for now, just try to get out and walk twenty minutes a day.

My blood work in August of this year showed elevated TSH and once I was finally able to get into the doctor in October I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and put on 50 mcg of Levothyroxizine. At my 6 week lab work my TSH was in the normal range. I must say that since I was also overeating when I started watching my calories and hitting the gym every day I was loosing weight even before my TSH was normal. I am down 34 lbs since August 30th. What has worked for me is wearing a Fitbit, setting Fitbit and MFP to 1 inch shorter than my real height and not eating back too many exercise calories.

I have an underactive thyroid (for about 15 years). I never thought much of it as my mother had one too, I thought it was hereditary. It turns out, I did it to myself with years of self abuse through a diet of high calorie, high fat and high sugar products. The hormones in your thyroid work together with estrogen and progesterone hormones. My estrogen was too high (it likes sugar), my progesterone was too low. That causes weight gain and a whole bunch of other fun issues (especially as women hit their late 30s and early 40s). The high fat and sugar diet also caused my liver to overwork, I needed my gall bladder removed, I had digestive issues.

I am on medication for the thyroid but it did not make the weight come back off as easy as it went on. There are so many hormones and levels in your thyroid and most doctors only test T3 and maybe T4.

And I've still managed to lose 75lbs. It can be done! I've walked, I've ridden my bike and I counted calories. That's it. I've recently been working with food combinations (I noticed I did better with a high protein breakfast and a high carb dinner which made me wonder what else my body would like with food combos). Now, my doc has my on low carbs, which also seems to be working well in combination with my metabolic issues.

You CAN do this! The thyroid is just one more hurdle in your way but you still can lose weight.

I too have hypothyroidism. Even though my meds are correct I still gain weight quickly and lose slowly. I'm set for 1lb per week, can be under or bang on every day and still only lose 1/2 lb. I'm getting closer to goal so for me a loss is a loss!

fleurhaus wrote: »

As soon as I was on the right dosage and started counting calories the weight started to decrease.

So you didn't count calories before they put you on a higher dosage, then?

For the uk hypothyroid people, another new thing I found from my last gp check was that the 'normal range' for tsh now being used in England and Wales is 0.4 - 5.5. They also won't automatically call you in to up your thyroxine dose unless the tsh level is above 10 (although I've found they will up it if you go in to complain of being symptomatic).

shed77f wrote: »

For the uk hypothyroid people, another new thing I found from my last gp check was that the 'normal range' for tsh now being used in England and Wales is 0.4 - 5.5. They also won't automatically call you in to up your thyroxine dose unless the tsh level is above 10 (although I've found they will up it if you go in to complain of being symptomatic).

That is interesting how countries differ. I am in the U.S. and was put on medication with a TSH of 4.90. After 6 weeks the TSH went down to 0.70 so I'm still on the 50 mcg dosage.

shed77f wrote: »

For the uk hypothyroid people, another new thing I found from my last gp check was that the 'normal range' for tsh now being used in England and Wales is 0.4 - 5.5. They also won't automatically call you in to up your thyroxine dose unless the tsh level is above 10 (although I've found they will up it if you go in to complain of being symptomatic).

Yea, terrible. And they don't test for fT3 either, which is needed to see if the medication is turned from T4 to T3 and hence is able to work at all. My home country generally assumes a TSH of about 2.5 as normal, but here in the UK it's a real struggle. My GP even ignored the antibodies in the blood test, which really point towards hashimoto. But no, I'm only slightly hypothyroid with an initial TSH of 9.x Unfortunately, I'm in a very rural area and cannot simply go to another GP, or go to one of the specialists listed at patient websites as there's nothing else here. Thus not sure what to do.

I've been told I have Hashimotos for over 20 years. My doc tests 1x a year and my level of meds hasn't changed in over 10 years even though I say that I struggle to lose weight and feel tired quite often. He goes by the guidelines and since I fall within the range I'm supposed to be good. So I continue on fighting for every pound I can take off. Good luck to you!

Agree with what everyone is sharing.... it can be extremely frustrating trying to figure out the right dosage and the right regime for you to feel better. It took probably 2 years of this, that and the other before being diagnosed with hypothyroid/Hashimoto. My 104 year old grandmother had her thyroid out many years ago, my 83 year old mother is hypothyroid, (walks 6 miles a day & plays 18 everyday); my sister (60) is hypo/Hashi...well, you can see genetics play a major role. However, that is the good news also. If my 104 year old grandma is doing so well - lives by herself, but did give up driving last year at 103, then there is hope for all! I have lost and maintained 70# - but that took much research and trial and error to find what works and makes me feel better. Walking/jogging a little, I have cut out and don't miss anymore, anything made from wheat (yep, gluten), watch sugar very carefully. It may not work for everyone - but, I actually can stay awake all day at work (yay!), do 5-6 miles a day with my dogs when I get home and sleep much better.

Moral to this story -- Hang in there! Find the right medication level, right combination of foods that make you feel good, and even when you don't want to, at least go for a walk. You will be happily surprised when in a month or two you actually Feel like doing these things. Oh yes, and of course, like so many have said - take that thyroid medication upon rising in the morning before anything else. I walk into the bathroom, pop that pill with a nice glass of water and then start my day.