Hypothyroidism; Catabolic Exercise
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Treadmillmom1st
Posts: 579 Member
Hi guys. I need your opinion. I have for the last 7 years taken great care of my body through a combination of cardio and strength training and a balanced diet, I couldn't be happier with my physique.
I was upset to be recently diagnosed with Hypothyroidism.
I've heard weight increase to be an unavoidable side effect so have upped my exercise intensity and successfully upped my muscle mass, reduced my fat mass thus increasing my basal metabolic rate.
Good eh? No, if you believe what you read online.
Apparently strength and cardio training by nature damage the body forcing repair (catabolic), but is apparently harmful if you have Hypothyroidism.
WTF.
What are your thoughts?
I was upset to be recently diagnosed with Hypothyroidism.
I've heard weight increase to be an unavoidable side effect so have upped my exercise intensity and successfully upped my muscle mass, reduced my fat mass thus increasing my basal metabolic rate.
Good eh? No, if you believe what you read online.
Apparently strength and cardio training by nature damage the body forcing repair (catabolic), but is apparently harmful if you have Hypothyroidism.
WTF.
What are your thoughts?
2
Replies
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I don't know about that. I've been losing weight since January 22nd and utilizing a combo of circuit training, running and weight lifting. I have hypothyroid/Hashimoto's. My doctor has done nothing but praise me, other than scolding me for not getting enough healthy fats (which I've changed).2
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suzannesimmons3 wrote: »Have you thought of asking your doctor by any chance.
No. In the UK you see a General Practitioner, they're unlikely to know, you're not assigned a specialist unless there are complications. My 3 month review is a month and a half away.0 -
I've never heard of that at all, and I've been hypothyroid and seeing specialists for years. I'd caution to be careful on what you read online. Try to find reputable sites and definitely talk to a endocrinologist.
Weight gain is NOT an unavoidable side effect, but weight gain is easier when you're hypo because your metabolism is slowed down. So to avoid gaining weight, you need to be more vigilant in your eating and exercising habits, and you may need to eat fewer calories than what the calculators all say you need for your height, weight, and age. I usually have to cut mine by about 100 calories to see the results I want to see. I have never heard or read anywhere that cardio and strength training were bad for hypothyroid patients, and common sense would argue with that one anyway.
I was once told by a former doctor that I'd never lose weight since I was hypo. Obviously untrue - I've lost 90 lbs in the last 10 months by counting calories alone. So just because a doctor says it, doesn't mean its true. Some doctors, especially in the endo field, aren't always up to date on the latest research and will continue to expound on what they were taught in school 20 years ago, which isn't always correct. Never be afraid to get a second opinion or a consensus, and definitely be skeptical of what you read online!7 -
Treadmillmom. I'm in the UK too. its so difficult, its good you seem to be doing ok, for now. The system, NICE does not permit t3 testing. they see no point but read any good thyroid support site like thyroid UK and they say it is essential, particularly because there are some biggies on the list. I would expect you have only been tested for tsh and may be t4, which is far short of what is needed. Testing for antibodies would help diagnose Hashimoto's which is autoimmune in origin and is different from being hypo from iodine deficiency in the diet and needs different support. It is really helpful to know where your issues stem from.
To come back to your post. You are doing a valiant job. If you are by any chance lower carb you are doing a great deal to protect yourself. The thyroid experiences pressures from being involved in feed back loups between other endocrine glands. The lack of proper testing within the NHS means the root cause of one's Hypothyroidism is not defined. The damage you allude to can happen if one gland is deficient, causing some effect and this can be to a personal level or not at all. Many of us have issues with digesting/eliminating carbs as a consequence of being hypo-hashi.
I suggest you take a look at thyroid UK, and other good support sites because not everyone is helped by t4 supplements. (I'm casein intolerant, did not show in the permitted allergy testing, dairy can be in t4 pills. I also react to paraben which is the preservative in the liquid when I tried it. I have gone outside to a BANT Nutritionist)
There are people who are less able to convert t4 to t3, it take several minerals and a happy liver, others are genetically less or unable to create t3. As you may read there are others who do best on t3 supplement only or a combination, 3 and 4. Others function better on a NDT products. None of this is available here in the UK.
I'm sorry to be so negative. Having a hypo diagnosis here in the UK is only part of your personal answer. One site gives 300 possible symptoms many less common and most of us only have a handful, a very personal one and you are right the doctor knows little, my endo knows less than the Professor in immunology yet he blocked my re- referral to my reigning my health! All the very best.1 -
I've never heard of exercise being an issue and I must admit that generally I thought that when you took the levothyroxine it replaced the level that would have been generated by thyroid if it was working properly so it restored the balance and you're (theoretically) as you would be if your thyroid was performing normally (if that makes sense?). So I would say weight gain would be an issue when undiagnosed rather than once you've been prescribed the levothyroxine and have worked out the right dosage.
You sound like you're already taking care of yourself and have goods habits and that'll will make it easier to keep an eye on things and keep you weight under control.
For some reputable information, as you're in the UK, in addition to the site mentioned about, I would also suggest checking the British Thyroid Foundation website. If you have any questions or issues, they'll probably be able to help and should be able to back up their answers with medical research references (or not as the case may be) which might help with your GP as you'll be able to refer to official medical sources.
Hopefully you know this but just in case you don't - as you're in the UK, and you've been diagnosed by your GP as having hypothyroidism, you can apply for a medical certificate which means you get all of your NHS prescriptions free... even when they're for conditions not related to your thyroid condition. They last for about 5 years I think but as thyroid issues are considered a lifelong condition then you just renew it whenever it runs out. Doesn't make up for having the thyroid problem but it's better than nothing!1 -
Where's the source for this info? Specifically?
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
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I can't speak for this doctor's overall practice of medicine but my girlfriend got some very quackish weight loss advice from her endocrinologist, namely that she could only lose weight by eating below 1400 calories a day (regardless of her current weight etc). I wouldn't have objected if she'd arrived at that by doing RMR/BMR analysis (say, respiratory gas exchange testing) but instead she just threw 1400 out there like it was a magic number. Lame.
I'm encouraging GF to go see an RD and get respiratory gas analysis.0 -
@CSARdiver thoughts from your research?0
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Where's the source for this info? Specifically?
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
http://www.hypothyroidismrevolution.com/hypothyroidism-exercise/ that's one, I cannot now find the other articles that touted the same information.
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Treadmillmom1st wrote: »Where's the source for this info? Specifically?
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
http://www.hypothyroidismrevolution.com/hypothyroidism-exercise/ that's one, I cannot now find the other articles that touted the same information.
that article listed exactly ZERO scientific peer reviewed studies on the effect of exercise on hypothyroidism - so i would honestly take it with a grain of salt. My PCM and endo who have been managing my hypothyroidism for several years highly encourage cardio and weightlifting and I am an endurance athlete - i have no issues losing weight when I am properly medicated - I listen to my body when it comes to recovery and rest days2 -
Steer clear of the woo sites and stick to accredited medical sites on this.
Here's the truth of the matter. Hypothyroidism impacts your Resting Energy Expenditure (REE) by ~5% and that's going from fully supplemented to zero supplementation. That is 80 kcals/day out of a 1600 kcal/day budget.
What may happen is a sudden onset of water weight caused by hormonal imbalance, but this is temporary and goes away in ~5-7 days.
Can you disclose how you were diagnosed? TSH, Nodules, fT3, fT4, rT3?
There are several elite level athletes with varying degrees of thyroid disorder - especially common among endurance athletes. Jillian Michaels has Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism. Check out the work of Jeffrey S. Brown - he is a revolutionary endocrinologist who changed the treatment of athletes.
I had a total thyroidectomy in 2000 and believed I was doomed and just let myself go. I put on ~70 lbs over the next 14 years, note this had nothing to do with hypothyroidism - I transitioned from a high active military career to a cushy job in academia. I never tracked my intake and pretty much stopped working out. In 2014 my wife had used MFP and I started this. I lost 60 lbs in the first year and now focusing on getting faster and stronger than I was 17 years ago.2 -
I lost my thyroid to cancer a couple of years ago. I've found that as long as I'm properly medicated the lack of thyroid has no effect on my weight or physical fitness. I'm a distance runner and I lift heavy. I've had a slight decrease in strength, but that's the only negative I can think of.1
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Are you perhaps thinking of overexercising and undernourishing contributing to a lowering of thyroid function?0
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Yes! Like today!0
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livingleanlivingclean wrote: »Are you perhaps thinking of overexercising and undernourishing contributing to a lowering of thyroid function?
No.0 -
livingleanlivingclean wrote: »Are you perhaps thinking of overexercising and undernourishing contributing to a lowering of thyroid function?
No. I'm thinking by increasing my muscle mass I'll increase my Basal Metabolic Rate...which I've done successfully in the last 30 days...just gotta maintain over the next 30 years lol.2 -
Treadmillmom1st wrote: »livingleanlivingclean wrote: »Are you perhaps thinking of overexercising and undernourishing contributing to a lowering of thyroid function?
No. I'm thinking by increasing my muscle mass I'll increase my Basal Metabolic Rate...which I've done successfully in the last 30 days...just gotta maintain over the next 30 years lol.
You won't have increased your muscle mass in any significant way in 30 days!
And muscle uses a very small amount of calories per day to maintain itself (c. 6 cals per pound per day).
You would be doing well to add 10lbs of muscle in a year to add 60 cals to your BMR.
There's many good reasons to add muscle of course but you need to be realistic.2 -
Treadmillmom1st wrote: »livingleanlivingclean wrote: »Are you perhaps thinking of overexercising and undernourishing contributing to a lowering of thyroid function?
No. I'm thinking by increasing my muscle mass I'll increase my Basal Metabolic Rate...which I've done successfully in the last 30 days...just gotta maintain over the next 30 years lol.
You won't have increased your muscle mass in any significant way in 30 days!
And muscle uses a very small amount of calories per day to maintain itself (c. 6 cals per pound per day).
You would be doing well to add 10lbs of muscle in a year to add 60 cals to your BMR.
There's many good reasons to add muscle of course but you need to be realistic.
Shame I can't add pictures I could show you my Boditrax BMR from 1575 to 1620. Muscle mass from 51.8kg to 53.5kg. I exercise 5 days a week. HIIT cardio with wieghts and Plyometrics.6 -
I had to Google. Boditrax is a bioimpedance machine and thus incapable of giving any sort of accurate BMR reading. It will also be greatly affected by hydration so the body fat and muscle numbers aren't accurate either.
It's just the limitations of human physiology and in your (our) case being female. Optimal conditions of a calorie surplus, progressive overload training and blessed genetics would get us about 1lb of muscle per month. And some fat gains because you always get some fat with your muscle just like when losing you always lose some muscle with your fat.2
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