Hypothyroid help

alygator1223
alygator1223 Posts: 2 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I've been active most of my life, but the day I got diagnosed with hypothyroid ruined me I gained weight and feel so unmotivated. This past week I got back to the gym everyday but I'm wondering is their anyone who has the same disorder who has lost weight and knows solutions to this? Please help!

Replies

  • Lizzy622
    Lizzy622 Posts: 3,705 Member
    Only solution is taking your meds. Once you are on the right dose, you should be able to lose the weight again. It won't be easy but it is worth the effort.
  • not_a_runner
    not_a_runner Posts: 1,343 Member
    For me, the day I got diagnosed was not that day I acquired a thyroid issue. It was just the day the doctor said "let's get you on some meds and see if you improve." Which, in my mind is a good day. While meds can be tricky to get right, that's better than spending years of my life going undiagnosed.

    I get bloodwork done regularly and am careful about when I take my meds and how soon I eat before/after. Aside from that, I exercise as I like and try to track carefully.
    I used to believe that I was for some reason doomed to carry extra weight because of my thyroid, but that's simply not true. I've come to realize my problem is that I take in more calories than I burn. I like to eat a lot of food. When I get that under control my weight follows.
  • Duchy82
    Duchy82 Posts: 560 Member
    The solution is quite simple really, get your meds optimal, at a bare minimum a TSH below 2 but ideally you want to be symptom free. And use mfp to count calories and lose the weight, it may go slow until you're optimally treated (stay in control of your own thyroid health, educate yourself and make sure you know your hormone levels) but after, you should be able to lose normally I've lost 70 lbs so far with hypothyroidism so it is totally doable.
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    I'm on the no thyroid train (removed in 2014 due to cancer) - but had symptoms of hypothyroid long before that (was told it was in my head since my blood work was normal).

    I second what @AnnPT77 said - if your dosage is right (both in medical range and what your body prefers) then losing weight shouldn't be an issue. But there is a fairly wide range of clinically correct thyroid levels (.5 to 4.5) - knowing your body and listening to it is huge - for me, I know that I function much better at the extreme low end of the TSH range (my doc keeps mine at/bleow .5) - when it was at the 3.5, I felt like crud and was gaining weight - but you need to be your own advocate as they adjust your meds
  • ccsernica
    ccsernica Posts: 1,040 Member
    edited April 2017
    I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's about 10 years ago and am on a fairly large dose of Synthroid, 137 mcg. Weight loss had been no problem since I've gotten serious about it and started with MFP. Take your dose correctly and on time, and you should have no problem either.
  • firead
    firead Posts: 56 Member
    I was diagnosed with hypothyroid about 7 years ago, but had problems with my weight and energy levels long before that. I went off medication for several months, because a combination of schedule and finances kept me from seeing the doctor, but was still losing about 1.5 pounds a week during that time. I just started back on medication and am hoping that will either make me lose a bit more or make it easier to keep it up.

    The only thing I've done to lose weight in that time is follow the MFP suggestion for calories and log food pretty strictly. I did tweak my macros a little, and try to hit 30% protein & fat & 40% cards. The calculations for 2 pounds a week usually put me right around 1.6 pounds, which makes sense from what I've seen anecdotally (people with hypothyroid needing about 300-500 less calories a day for the same results as the average person).
  • SarahAnnGMA
    SarahAnnGMA Posts: 1 Member
    I was diagnosed with hypothyroid and with medication my TSH is around 2.3, but I have been struggling to lose weight. Are others working with their physicians to keep TSH below 2 or some other target? I see that mentioned above. Maybe I need to speak to my doctor about increasing my dose of Levothyroxine.
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    @SarahAnnGMA - a lot of it is finding the best balance for your body - and being your own advocate - there is a large range of normal TSH - I operate better on the extreme low end - at 3.5, I feel foggy and overally cruddy
  • MJFSH
    MJFSH Posts: 7,252 Member
    I was diagnosed with and been taking meds for Hypothyroidism 18 years ago. for the longest time, I was struggling with yo-yo dieting and not being able to lose weight, but once I was introduced to IIFYM (If It Fits Your Macro) in 2012, I have lost the extra weights I had and been able to lose and gain weight, as necessary for my fitness goals. I think as everyone pointed out, the trick is to have the right dose of meds and find a diet plan that could be easily adopted as lifestyle, to achieve your goals.
  • alygator1223
    alygator1223 Posts: 2 Member
    Thank you all so much! I do take the right amount as my doctor told me for my meds just time I guess!! It means a lot from all of your advices !!
  • cross2bear
    cross2bear Posts: 1,106 Member
    I have been on thyroid meds for about 28 years - once you are on the right drug and the right dosage, you can lose weight like anyone else. I have lost over 100 lbs in the last year. Please dont use your condition as an excuse not to try.
  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    SarahAnnGMA wrote: »
    I was diagnosed with hypothyroid and with medication my TSH is around 2.3, but I have been struggling to lose weight. Are others working with their physicians to keep TSH below 2 or some other target? I see that mentioned above. Maybe I need to speak to my doctor about increasing my dose of Levothyroxine.

    As of 2003 the "normal" range for TSH is 0.2 - 2.0. Understand that this is a population study, so you may not feel normal if your TSH and respective fT3 & fT4 have been outside this range. There are several people studied that feel completely normal, but have a TSH reading of 10 or greater.

    In my personal case I was likely hyperthyroid for much of my life, so that feels normal to me. This is in line with post total thyroidectomy and thyroid cancer treatment as the protocol is to keep TSH as low as possible (I'm around 0.02).
  • LAT1963
    LAT1963 Posts: 1,375 Member
    A lot of docs are still using old guidelines for the TSH target when treating hypothyroidism. CSARdiver's post about the guidelines is important.
  • cheryldumais
    cheryldumais Posts: 1,907 Member
    I am 60 and hypothyroid. I've lost 95 pounds from my all time high weight while Hypothyroid. It can be done if you take your meds faithfully and eat under your required calories. I find I lose a bit slower than some but that could just be my age. In the beginning I averaged 1.4 pounds a week. After about 85 pounds that really slowed down. I still have 21 pounds to go and am losing at about .25 per week. Be patient and find a path you can live with for life. After all this isn't something we do just till we lose weight we have to maintain once we reach goal. Good luck!
  • WandaVaughn
    WandaVaughn Posts: 420 Member
    I was diagnosed early last year, started meds, found out I had uterine fibroids, then had a total hysterectomy August 2nd. 2016 was pretty much a bust for me, health-wise. January 1st had me at 214 lbs and I vowed that this was my year to take control.

    I'm down by 32lbs, almost finished Couch25K, and feeling strong. You can, too, OP. Take your meds and get your head in the game. It's as much a mental thing as a physical one, imo.

    Best of luck to you. I hope to see a great status update from you someday soon!
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