Hypothyroidism and weightloss...or lack of...

I have hypothyroidism as well. Try to get more iodine in your diet. I saw a supplement with GNC and Puritan's Pride I believe. I take my prescribed meds so I don't personally take those supplements. Def. something to check into.

It is just another hurdle in the battle. You still control what goes into your mouth and how much you work out. Going on the medication is only a help. My sister is a great inspiration for those of us with hypothyroidism as she lost almost 80 pounds by diet, exercise and proper dosage of Synthroid. With my 175mcg dosage I'm trying to follow in her footsteps.

I am just starting this battle too I was diagnosed about 6 months ago and I've had almost 12 blood draws in that time. It's miserable. They can't get my meds right. I'll be stable for about 5 weeks and then off I go again one way or the other. I have found substitutes for almost all bread and pasta (except for the occasional bread with peanut butter or dinner with friends) and that has helped my energy levels but it's also been amazing for my "fight the flab" (what I'm calling my weight loss goal). I've finally gotten down to sleeping about 7 hours (was at 10) per night and feeling comfortable with that.

It isn't easy, but like others have said, it's another piece to the puzzle. My Dr. promised me that we would keep testing until we had my thyroid regulated. However, she also recommended aiming for a low CARB diet, not just low calories. So, find ways to turn veggies into your "pasta" and enjoy trying new things. (Suggestions *** Cauli Rice, Cooked Celery strings as pasta, slivered and cooked carrots with alfredo or pesto, cucumbers shaved for cold antipasta type salads... just try it. don't look for a recipe just mix stuff together and try it!

I've been logging in for 15 days and so far, I've lost 6 pounds. I feel good I'm feeling awake and more alert

I'm also a thyroid patient (112 mcg) per day. When I went to my family physician first, he misread my labs and also told me nothing was wrong. I was still having many of the symptoms so he referred me to an endocrinologist who found it right away and immediately put me on Synthroid. I've lost 22 pounds since last February and 14 since I've start My Fitness Pal! Try to get a second opinion...

Also, check out Jillian Michael's book "Master Your Metabolism." Believe it or not, she is also hypothyroid so has many good diet tips on foods that will help boost your thyroid and support a naturally slow metabolism! It's an easy read with some great recipe ideas as well.

Good Luck

Thank you for all the info! I feel like a walking zombie! I force myself to the gym. I force myself to fight the urge to sleep. I just recently was so exhausted that i just stayed in the car and slept. I eat healthier including tons of veggies. I have cut out high fructose corn syrup, soda, fruit juice, snacking, breads and pasta. I hop on the scale this morning after working out for a week straight and after eating small portions of salad with chicken and other healthy meals and it says I gained 1.8 lbs. how depressing! My obgyn told me that my T4 level was at 4 back in 2009 when I was pregnant ( he was looking a old results to help me figure out why I'm exhausted). I went to my family physician who told me in 2010 that my thyroid was perfect. I suffer from about 90% of he symptoms. I'm going for more blood work this week, but honestly I am scared they won't find anything wrong with my thyroid since the ultrasound showed nothing.

If they ignore the problem, see an endocrinologist. Sometimes traditional doctors wont prescribe you the medicine if your levels aren't a certain number, which is an old standard. I could sleep 12 hours every night, and still be exhausted the next night. All I felt like doing was laying around, and exercising killed my muscles. I had major muscle fatigue and joint pain, then my neck and tongue started swelling up. I got on my medicine (125mcg) and within one week I was losing weight after spending a whole year struggling.

A few years ago my thryoid went crazy and I was hyper for a few months (a horrible way to lose 30lbs quickly). Then my symptoms reversed and I became hypo. The weight piled right back on and then some. After about a year we narrowed down my optimal level of Synthroid. According to my doctor thyroids can kick in and out of gear for a long time before they finally pack it in and you can have a stable dose of Synthroid. Once I hit that point I stopped gaining weight and I've been able to lose a little bit of it since.

Thyroid is a complicated issue so you would be wise to have thorough testing done to find out what's going on and how to fix it. Iodine supplements are only useful if your thyroid isn't getting enough iodine - and can make the situation *worse* if your throid is suffering from other issues. Lots of info and various perspectives available via google.

I agree with alot of the ppl here! I have been hypo since 2002, they found out by doing my blood for preg issues. With my second child I only gained 11 lbs while preg, and then steadily put it on after her, until the summer of last yr when FINALLY I am on a correct dose of Levoxyl 250mcg a day. I have lost 26lbs since July 2011, not alot but I am more then happy with the progress. Until they get you on meds I think the weightloss is next to impossible (not saying it can't be done) I can always tell when my meds need adjusted as I feel like crap alot of the time, freezing, tired, and slow weight gain. Just make sure you keep on them. The only down side to being hypo I think is all the dang blood draws as I have had 116 blood draws since 02 :ohwell:

OH and if your joints and muscles hurt as bad as mine did working out... Get glucosemine and fish oil and take them religiously. You will see a HUGE difference. I am doing Insanity and I rarely have muscle fatigue now.

Hypothyroid groups on MFP:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/search?phrase=thyroid&order=0