Starting Again - Anyone with Hypothyroidism?

dare2begin wrote: »

Glad to hear someone was able to do it!!

You can, too. Quite a few older and/or hypothyroid women succeed. Consistency is really important. The things that work for others work for us: Logging food consistently and as accurately as practical; not trying to lose so crazy-fast that it's unsustainable; working to increase daily-life movement and add some exercise, too; adjusting intake based on results; sticking with it patiently for the long haul.

I used this eating plan:

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10636388/free-customized-personal-weight-loss-eating-plan-not-spam-or-mlm

Read the "Most Helpful Posts" sections in the "Getting Started" and "General Health, Fitness & Diet" part of the forum for much helpful information about how to make the process work.

There can be a small energy-level penalty for hypothyroidism (clinical research suggests less than 5% reduction in metabolic rate), but much of the issue is fatigue; after menopause, we tend to become less active and lose muscle mass. Both of those are things we can work to counter.

You can do this! :flowerforyou:

Hypothyroid here, lost 43 lbs and have kept it off over 5 years now. I understand the part about needing to have slightly less calories than someone with normal thyroid function. I have to eat slightly less than all the calorie calculators say I should. It’s only about 5% so not that much, that’s true... but it also means I’m just an extra cookie or two/week away from slowly regaining the weight again. If I let myself gain over 5 lbs from my goal weight I start to balloon quickly so I only allow myself a range of 3 lbs more or less than my goal weight. If I go up more than 3 lbs then I have to start logging and weighing my food again to get back down. I also have to stay active. It’s frustrating feeling like you have to work twice as hard for half the gains of someone normal but it is what it is and I’ll do whatever it takes to maintain my goal weight. I find that walking 1-3 miles daily (in addition to regular daily activity) really helps me keep my weight in check (when I do this but I don’t always) and I do eat back ALL my cardio exercise calories. These habits have worked for me to maintain a healthy weight for almost 6 years. It can be done, you just have to be honest with yourself, stay active and WEIGH YOUR FOOD PORTIONS and log everything to be as precise as possible. Good luck to you! 🙂

I will add - just because your thyroid levels are in the range doesn’t mean they are right for you

For example we keep mine in the .5-.7 range and anything over 1.2 and I have hypo signs including my weight creeping up and blood pressure issues - but finding a doc who will listen to you about this takes time

RunsWithBees wrote: »

Hypothyroid here, lost 43 lbs and have kept it off over 5 years now. I understand the part about needing to have slightly less calories than someone with normal thyroid function. I have to eat slightly less than all the calorie calculators say I should. It’s only about 5% so not that much, that’s true... but it also means I’m just an extra cookie or two/week away from slowly regaining the weight again. If I let myself gain over 5 lbs from my goal weight I start to balloon quickly so I only allow myself a range of 3 lbs more or less than my goal weight. If I go up more than 3 lbs then I have to start logging and weighing my food again to get back down. I also have to stay active. It’s frustrating feeling like you have to work twice as hard for half the gains of someone normal but it is what it is and I’ll do whatever it takes to maintain my goal weight. I find that walking 1-3 miles daily (in addition to regular daily activity) really helps me keep my weight in check (when I do this but I don’t always) and I do eat back ALL my cardio exercise calories. These habits have worked for me to maintain a healthy weight for almost 6 years. It can be done, you just have to be honest with yourself, stay active and WEIGH YOUR FOOD PORTIONS and log everything to be as precise as possible. Good luck to you! 🙂

This is so interesting to read. I have Hashimoto's and lost 10kg about two years ago but gained some back. I would like to lose the last 3kg again and then not slip again. Exercise has done amazing things for my body and mind. I do cardio, Pilates and yoga.