Underactive Thyroid & weight loss!

Sarah51072017
Sarah51072017 Posts: 11 Member
edited November 20 in Health and Weight Loss
Hiya,
New to MFP - need (and want) to lose a stone for IVF treatment but up against an underactive thyroid gland! Anyone suffer with this condition that has any advice to speed up weight loss safely? Thank you!!

Replies

  • cheryldumais
    cheryldumais Posts: 1,907 Member
    I have an underactive thyroid. I've lost over 100 pounds. As long as you are taking the prescribed medication it shouldn't make any difference to your ability to lose. The best way to "speed up" weight loss is to excersize more.
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    are you on any kind of medication? if your levels are in the range and optimized - then losing weight is not harder than it is for normal people - I've been thyroid-less for 3yrs (had hashimoto's prior to)

    hypothyroid can result in a small decrease in TDEE (approx. 200cal) - but other than that CICO applies - @CSARdiver can talk more about the science :)

  • Sarah51072017
    Sarah51072017 Posts: 11 Member
    cheryldumais wrote: »
    I have an underactive thyroid. I've lost over 100 pounds. As long as you are taking the prescribed medication it shouldn't make any difference to your ability to lose. The best way to "speed up" weight loss is to excersize more.

    I've started jogging every other morning - something I never thought I'd do! Hoping the 'jiggle' will help
  • Sarah51072017
    Sarah51072017 Posts: 11 Member
    deannalfisher wrote: »
    are you on any kind of medication? if your levels are in the range and optimized - then losing weight is not harder than it is for normal people - I've been thyroid-less for 3yrs (had hashimoto's prior to)

    hypothyroid can result in a small decrease in TDEE (approx. 200cal) - but other than that CICO applies - @CSARdiver can talk more about the science :)

    I am yeah, but have to go for blood tests every 3 months as it's very up and down!
    If you guys say I can do it - I can do it!
  • not_a_runner
    not_a_runner Posts: 1,343 Member
    deannalfisher wrote: »
    are you on any kind of medication? if your levels are in the range and optimized - then losing weight is not harder than it is for normal people - I've been thyroid-less for 3yrs (had hashimoto's prior to)

    hypothyroid can result in a small decrease in TDEE (approx. 200cal) - but other than that CICO applies - @CSARdiver can talk more about the science :)

    Yep, this.

    I am hypothyroid and I lose just fine as long as my tracking is accurate (Weighing all foods and logging everything). I think this is key to maximizing weight loss for everyone, wonky thyroid or not.

    Since you don't have a lot to lose I would select a slower rate of loss (.5-1 lbs per week). Many people find this also helps them with compliance, as it is usually easier to stick to a higher calorie goal.
    1.5-2 lbs per week can be a little too aggressive.
  • Sarah51072017
    Sarah51072017 Posts: 11 Member
    Thank you!
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,944 Member
    Yes, you can! If you're working out (running) then try to convince your GP to test for free T3 and see that it's in the upper half of the range. Running uses up T3, as does every bit of extra movement. Basically your muscles need it.
  • prima_donut
    prima_donut Posts: 11 Member
    I have hashimotos but my blood levels have always tested fine, I only know hashimotos due to a biopsy on a large nodule. I have always been able to lose weight at a steady pace but this time around I seem to be losing in plateaus and whooshes (waiting on a whoosh right now...9 day plateau at a strict deficit with activity so I should see SOMETHING), does anyone else here with thyroid issues see this sort of loss pattern or is this just my quirk?

    OP, sorry for the hijack! I have found that running helps me (usually) lose pretty steadily :-)
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    Sarah51072017 wrote: »
    deannalfisher wrote: »
    are you on any kind of medication? if your levels are in the range and optimized - then losing weight is not harder than it is for normal people - I've been thyroid-less for 3yrs (had hashimoto's prior to)

    hypothyroid can result in a small decrease in TDEE (approx. 200cal) - but other than that CICO applies - @CSARdiver can talk more about the science :)

    I am yeah, but have to go for blood tests every 3 months as it's very up and down!
    If you guys say I can do it - I can do it!

    it took my endo about 2 years to dial in my initial dosage, and I've gone through periodic ones since then - one thing I found - there is clinically a huge normal range (.5-2.0 in the new guidelines) - so just because you are in the normal range and still feel wonky, you might not be at your "normal" - mine is kept at the .5 range and anything about 1.2 and I feel out of whack
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    prima_donut wrote: »
    I have hashimotos but my blood levels have always tested fine, I only know hashimotos due to a biopsy on a large nodule. I have always been able to lose weight at a steady pace but this time around I seem to be losing in plateaus and whooshes (waiting on a whoosh right now...9 day plateau at a strict deficit with activity so I should see SOMETHING), does anyone else here with thyroid issues see this sort of loss pattern or is this just my quirk?

    OP, sorry for the hijack! I have found that running helps me (usually) lose pretty steadily :-)

    IMHO that is weight loss in general - i'll have 4-5 days at the same weight (within .2 of a lb) and then will drop a bit
  • Sarah51072017
    Sarah51072017 Posts: 11 Member
    Might be worth seeing the doc, explaining my new changes (running and eating habits) and hoping he will tell me I'm doing it right or just being daft! It's so bloody difficult! Why can't cake be good for us?!
  • Sarah51072017
    Sarah51072017 Posts: 11 Member
    Is a 30min jog in the morning enough??
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    Sarah51072017 wrote: »
    Might be worth seeing the doc, explaining my new changes (running and eating habits) and hoping he will tell me I'm doing it right or just being daft! It's so bloody difficult! Why can't cake be good for us?!

    make sure your doc is also running a full thyroid panel and not just TSH and T4 - because things like free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, Thyroid Antibodies etc - are all important in figuring out your medication plan
  • Fitnessgirl0913
    Fitnessgirl0913 Posts: 481 Member
    edited August 2017
    I have struggled with hypothyroidism for quite a few years and managed to lose weight. I am well controlled under medication now but when my doctor was messing with my dosage here are some of my tips.
    1) Stay hydrated. I know this is good for anyone but when my thyroid is underactive I get constipated and drinking enough water can help with that. There were also some days I had to add Mira lax into my routine. Believe it or not there were times when long periods constipation caused me to put on 2-3 pounds due to water weight and such, don't let that get you discouraged if you are doing everything else right!
    2) Up your activity. One of the oh so lovely effects of hypothyroidism is a slow metabolism so in order to see consistent results I had to add an extra 15-20 minutes of activity to my workout sessions.
    3) In rough periods take a break and focus on maintaining. There were times when my medication was not right at all and I could tell so instead of getting mad and pushing myself too hard I took a break for a few days and just focused on maintain and making sure I ate enough veggies. Not losing and not gaining for a week or so is OKAY!
    4) Get more sleep each night. When my thyroid was out of whack my usual amount of sleep was not enough and I found myself being too exhausted after work to exercise. I started getting an hour extra of sleep each night to make sure there was no excuse not to exercise.
    5) Finally, advocate for yourself! No one knows your body better then you do, if you feel like the medication is not working tell your doctor you want blood work done sooner. Obviously give the meds time to work initially but after some time don't be afraid to say you don't think it's working and want to be re checked.

    Oh and I almost forgot the most important thing; Don't use your thyroid as an excuse to not lose weight! Is it harder? yes But can it be done? also yes! Make up your mind right now that there are no excuses including your thyroid!

    Sorry for the large and in charge paragraph response! I hope some or all of this helps and good luck to you! Losing weight with hypothyroidism can be challenging at times but it is totally do able! :)
  • MostlyWater
    MostlyWater Posts: 4,294 Member
    I take Synthroid and have done so for about a dozen years now. I go for bloodwork a few times a year to make sure the does doesn't need to be adjusted.
  • Sarah51072017
    Sarah51072017 Posts: 11 Member
    Thank You Fitnessgirl0913! Huge help
  • Fitnessgirl0913
    Fitnessgirl0913 Posts: 481 Member
    No problem! Feel free to add me if you want some hypothyroid support! lol
  • Sarah51072017
    Sarah51072017 Posts: 11 Member
    MostlyWater wrote: »
    I take Synthroid and have done so for about a dozen years now. I go for bloodwork a few times a year to make sure the does doesn't need to be adjusted.

    I've never heard of this but will look into it, thanks!
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    Sarah51072017 wrote: »
    MostlyWater wrote: »
    I take Synthroid and have done so for about a dozen years now. I go for bloodwork a few times a year to make sure the does doesn't need to be adjusted.

    I've never heard of this but will look into it, thanks!

    In the US - Synthroid is the name brand for hypothyroid medications - you could be on levothyroxine/l-thyroxine which is the generic version. You could also be on Armour which is an alternate thyroid med (lesser prescribed) - the recommendation with thyroid meds is once you find one that works for you, stick to it - don't let them change you (I got switched from the generic to the name brand a couple years ago when my insurance changed and had nothing but issues).
  • Sarah51072017
    Sarah51072017 Posts: 11 Member
    deannalfisher wrote: »
    Sarah51072017 wrote: »
    MostlyWater wrote: »
    I take Synthroid and have done so for about a dozen years now. I go for bloodwork a few times a year to make sure the does doesn't need to be adjusted.

    I've never heard of this but will look into it, thanks!

    In the US - Synthroid is the name brand for hypothyroid medications - you could be on levothyroxine/l-thyroxine which is the generic version. You could also be on Armour which is an alternate thyroid med (lesser prescribed) - the recommendation with thyroid meds is once you find one that works for you, stick to it - don't let them change you (I got switched from the generic to the name brand a couple years ago when my insurance changed and had nothing but issues).

    Oh I see! Yes on levothyroxine 175's. But this changes quite a lot in a year. Up down up down
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    yep - it will - as they dial it in - post surgery I started on levo 100mrico-g dose and it has been increased to 137 over the last 3 years (with sometimes different days have different doses)
  • Sarah51072017
    Sarah51072017 Posts: 11 Member
    Does anyone take Zinc/Selenium/VitB for this? Or is it a waste of time and money? And am I OK to just drink a coffee before a morning run?
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    I don't take anything (personally) - aside from Vitamin C/D; I've tried Selenium, but it made my stomach cranky

    depends on when you drink the coffee in relation to taking your meds - best efficacy is to not have anything to eat or drink for at least 45min after taking - I try to go at least an hour
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,944 Member
    Don't take B-vitamins unless you're deficient. And if you are deficient then pills won't do anything. The problem is that many people that are hypothyroid are also B12 deficient, and just taking pills will raise the blood levels but not prevent nerve damage. It basically prevents you from getting diagnosed and treated if necessary. At least 4 months between the last b12 and a blood test to be safe.
  • Sarah51072017
    Sarah51072017 Posts: 11 Member
    edited August 2017
    Thanks peeps
This discussion has been closed.

Categories