How do I lose weight with hypothyroidism

It sucks. I didn't lose weight until I got medicated, and only then when I started taking dessicated thyroid, NOT synthetic. I get my meds from Canada.

I actually eat a diet moderately high in fat, mostly from olive oil, nuts, and eggs. Check out Mediterranean inspired diets and South Beach. If you tend to crave sweets / starches (and if you have hypothyroid disease you probably do because of the lovely things it does to your blood sugar), South Beach WILL straighten you out. Beyond the first month or so being a tad rough, it's a very flexible way of eating and focused on healthy food.

Good luck, hon. I gained 40lbs in about 5 months while taking high-dose prescription speed, and I still have fairly unpleasant edema and have to be on a diuretic and keep my sodium intake down. Exercise is harder because of the fatigue and muscle weakness. I SO FEEL YOUR PAIN. :flowerforyou:

I agree you should have your levels checked. In my family we do them every 3 months, because they fluctuate so much (my grandmother and aunt are hypo, and I only have half a thyroid)

Have you checked your thyroid again--it can drop. Have you talked to your doctor? I just went in because I was extra tired and hair falling out--classic low thyroid (which by the way, I've had for 16 years) and it was a different hormone problem AND anemia! I have been going to a "menopause" doctor which my general phys recomended and he is very good at figuring out female problems. I am 45 now. I do know when I was younger and my kids were younger, it was harder to get a doctor to take me seriously when I said I was tired--"How could you NOT be" was the typical response. And there is probably some truth to that! But, seriously, when I was trying to lose weight about 12 years ago--the first time I got serious about it, I didn't think I'd be able to very well because Synthroid is just not the same as the real thing. However, I found that my problems were more of the "pilot error" type--I was underestimating my portion size and how often I snacked by way more than I care to admit. If you're not feeling bad--I'd go with checking my stats--measure, weigh food, read labels, and document, document, document.

The other thing that has helped me is for me to decide that I am going to do what is right because it is right (eat right and take care of my health) and not just because I profit from it (look skinny). This means I eat right and count my portions whether or not I lose weight. I got stuck a year ago spring and ate 1200 calories (I weighed 190 at the time) and exercised at least 5 times a week for 6 WEEKS before ANY weight came off. But I had made a commitment to God that I was finished wasting my blessings and made an eight week commitment to NO DESERT AT ALL and 1200 cals and exercise. It was really hard, but I had been spoiling myself and making excuses for my behavior for too long and needed a "training camp" to get back into the "I can control myself" zone. That was a year and a half ago. I lost 20 lbs then (after the first 6 week s, at about 2 lbs a week--not quite such a strict diet) and then after a while 10 more. I have 20 more to go,and am starting on them now. Hang in there, you CAN make this work.

I started having hypo after having my daughter 6 yrs. ago. It took over a yr. until I found out it was my thyroid,after 45 lbs. My thyroid meds. have to be increased about once a year and after a couple of years figured out my thyroid does better on the high side of normal and my energy levels stay better. I still have to have it increased periodically but it helps. I have to account for every last morsel that I consume and I still struggle w/ the weight. I cannot do it with just staying under my calories, I have to do some sort of activity. I don't log all of my excercise or activities because they don't count unless I get my heart rate elevated. It's tough but hang in there. Each day I am accountable it gets a little easier and it is truly turning into a lifestyle.:flowerforyou:

http://www.appliedhealth.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=400140&catid=89&Itemid=150

Thats a little easier to follow then my messy post! lol
Also, I don't know why i put synthroid, I'm on eltroxin as well

I and every woman on my dad's side of the family has or (in my case) has had Hashimoto's Disease (autoimmune hypothyroidism). I never had a significant weight problem (I think bc I have been an avid exerciser for most of my life--exercise was the only thing that really boosted by energy!).

After 7 yrs on various thyyroid and narcolepsy meds, always tired and having experienced significant hair loss, eyebrow loss and gray skin, I found a fantastic, over the counter hypo supplement called Thytrophin PMG by Standard Process.

It changed my life and energy level; I started it about 18 mos. ago during a time when my med, Armour, became unavailable in the US so I was desperate for something bc I was literally exhausted every day by noon. I got it from a chiropractor! Within a month or so, I felt better than I had in years and no longer had need for the narcolepsy med. a year later all my TSH levels were normal for the first time in years. Also, an ultrasound of my throat indicated no sign of Hashimoto's.

It was truly a miracle for me, especially after having been told that I would need meds for the rest of my life, for me that was not the case.

EDIT: I don't know if this supplement would help you lose weight, I only know that for me it restored my energy, well-being and skin and hair health. It is a bovine-derived amino acid. $12 for 90 tablets. good luck.

blessings.

I eat all veggies and have no issues w/ weight loss as long as I excercise and stay under my calories. I also take synthroid and the only thing my doctor and nutritionist told me to avoid was taking calcium with my meds. The carbs are where I am sensitive, as long as it comes fromveggies and limit fruits I am good.

Sorry - this is gonna be kinda long. Feel free to skip this one.
Ok, so here's my story...
I have been symptomatic and everyone has suspected I'm hypothyroid pretty much my whole life, but until earlier this year, I always just tested "borderline" (like around 4.5 TSH). And my weight has pretty much always been a problem. A side note: I also have narcolepsy (NOT with cataplexy), and have been on medicine for that for a few years. I mention it because it does contribute some to my lack of energy, although I know where my energy level is with that medicine (still very low, but I can at least get up in the morning).

NOW to my point - Hypothyroidism is the thing that actually got me motivated to start really focusing on losing weight. Or, treatment for it (Synthroid) did. At first, we were very encouraged because my TSH numbers responded very well to the Synthroid. After 2 months, I was where the Dr. wanted me to be, and have stayed there since. But here's the thing that really kicked me in the butt: Now my thyroid was apparently working at an unquestionably good level, but my symptoms did not improve. At first we gave it more time, but after 6 months, not only have my symptoms NOT improved, but my energy level has DEcreased, and I've GAINED about 30 lbs. (even through the summer where normally I'd lose a little, if anything). I know that is not normal. I'm even willing to accept that it's just a sucky coincidence, and I just can't figure out what made me suddenly gain so much. It's definitely staying suspect in the back of my mind, though, as maybe related to the thyroid treatment. There are just so many variables and unknowns, I have to at least try to be optimistic. I just can't be THAT abnormal.

Anyway, so the Dr is fiddling with the treatment (tried adding T3 - no change; tried switching to Tirosint - so far, still no change after 3-4 weeks, but giving that a couple more weeks). She says, ok - so hypothyroidism isn't causing the symptoms. Maybe diabetes - but all the previous tests were absolutely normal. We do them again. Still absolutely normal. Not even borderline or "pre-diabetic." She's still considering having me try a diabetes medicine anyway.... I don't think I will. I can find plenty of sources that say some people in "normal" thyroid ranges might have hypothyroidism, but I can't find ANY that say some people within "normal" ranges for diabetes still might have diabetes.
Anyway...
As well as I have been able to understand, obesity seems to be just as dangerous as hypothyroidism, and contributes to a lot of the same symptoms. Both of them cause heart disease and low energy levels, right? Maybe obesity is worse, at least for me. I was, after all, only a little hypothyroid, but I am a lot overweight.

My conclusion: Obesity (granted, maybe largely caused by 35 years of untreated hypothyroidism) is what's keeping my energy level abysmally low. Well, that and narcolepsy, but let's put that aside. I may never know why I started gaining weight when I started the thyroid treatment, but regardless, I can't afford to gain any more, so no matter how hard it is, I am now motivated to concentrate every scrap of energy that I can muster towards losing weight. Maybe, now that my thyroid is functioning right, it will even be easier to lose weight than it has been other times through my life. (it's always been hard, and I haven't tried for some time.) It's hard for everyone, but harder if you're thyroid isn't working well. I suspect I've never tried losing weight when I wasn't hypothyroid.
So, to answer the question this thread poses: I am attempting to lose weight by reducing calories (at least at first), drinking more water, and becoming more active. And, regulating these three things more consistently. I know the really big change I need to make is being more active. And maybe, this time when I lose weight, since my thyroid is right, it'll be easier and reasonable to maintain, which is something I've never experienced. I was a healthy weight once, and maintained it for a few years, but that took very long hours of intense daily exercise and a very low-calorie diet to maintain. Despite the fact that thyroid treatment doesn't appear to have helped me in any way, yet, I remain optimistic. We'll see where I am in a couple years.

The moral of my story: If you're hypothyroid, get treated. If for some reason you can't (like you're borderline and they won't treat you, no matter how much you push, or how many second opinions you get) and you have to work much harder than normal people to avoid gaining weight, then work that much harder. Whatever you do, avoid gaining weight (at the same time, be healthy about it). Obesity is worse than hypothyroidism, or at least a lot harder to treat. Good luck to you all!

Now I just wish I could figure out why my hair is still falling out. Maybe I'm just getting too old.

P.S. - Since people are sharing what their Dr's told them about how to take thyroid medicine, here's what mine said: Take on an empty stomach (no food for at least 4-5 hours before hand - preferably take it after a full night's sleep). Take with a full glass of water. Do not take with other medicines unless Dr. says the other medicines are ok. Do not eat for at least 45 minutes afterwards, and don't take those other medicines (like vitamins, supplements & others mentioned above) until at least 4 or 5 hours after. That is consistent with everything I've read, too.

I am also horrible about the not eating after my meds rule...I have coffee and breakfast about an hour after I take my pill and I do think you are supposed to wait longer than that, but my schedule does not permit it!

My pharmacist said that you need to take it on an empty stomach and wait 30-60 minutes before eating or drinking. I wasn't warned to stay away from anything food or drink-wise.

I just started on Levothyroxine a couple months ago and for the first time in years I am able to focus on losing weight and staying with it. I just had blood work done last month and my psychiatrist called to say my levels are still very low. They improved but not much. However, I won't be adjusting my meds level until the next time I see him. I tried for years to get my regular doctor to prescribe something for me, especially with all the symptoms I have (among the regular ones, I have anxiety issues, cholesterol issues and am borderline diabetic and my bs numbers were rising (needless to say, high fiber is necessary and I can't go hours and hours between meals.) Since the test came back barely below the lower level for needing meds, they said I didn't need any. So my psych. prescribed it. Since then I am definitely feeling better and need to look for a new regular doctor I guess.

Anyway, I don't have any answers, just here to support you.