Hypothyroidism - Can't lose weight!!!

Bump for later

I've tried EVERYTHING and can't seem to lose weight. I've done weight watchers, the biggest loser 30 day jump start, Food Lover's diet, low carb diet, eaten between 1200-1300 calories, cut out soda and work out 3-4 days a week for 45 minutes on the treadmill. I've lost nothing. And trust me, I don't eat anything that I shouldn't, well maybe here and there. I've been told I eat the 90%/10% diet, but I was also told by a nutritionist that I wasn't doing anything wrong either. The only thing that I lost weight on was a shake diet, two shakes a day and meal between 600-800 calories...well of course I'd lose weight and unfortunately, it made me ill so I stopped. But I lost 10 lbs and have managed to maintain that. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism 6 months ago and have been taking a low dosage of levothyroxide (sp?). My next step is to go see an endocrinologist and talk with a friend of mine who just became a nutritionist. I'll keep trying, till I find my answer and I FEEL completely healthy now but any thoughts on this matter would just lift my spirits about it all, i'm really starting to get depressed about it all. I like the way I look but I'm 5'3 180 lbs. I don't look it, i have an hour glass figure, but when I see myself in pictures, I HATE it!!!! :frown:

Hey, I have hypothyroidism and was diagnosed about 6 years ago now. I'm really sorry its affected you so badly - maybe I was lucky or maybe ive been on meds for so long that it doesnt matter! But, i lost 30lbs and luckily the weight shifted really easily. Definitely go see an endocrinologist, because the doctors tests for it just do a standard reading, but the levels may not be working right that your on right now even if it appears they're in the right range through simple blood tests. Its something I need to do because although my hypothyroidism doesnt affect my weight as such, I do have other symptoms like fatigue/tiredness and im very sensitive to cold which makes me think I need a proper breakdown of my levels. I really hope things get sorted for you and you're weightloss gets better! What dosage of levothyroxine are you on? Your body ,may also need time to adjust to it if you only started on meds a few months ago.

Hi - I could have written exactly the same as you did. My doc's just increased my meds after a lot of pushing from me and has agreed to retest in 2/3 months - hubby says that's a result but I feel like it isn't - I'm obese and having been trying hard for 5/6 years without much success - at least I've stopped putting on now! Have been to dietician who's said I'm doing everything right and has no other answers so I've just decided to try and embrace who I am at the size I am. Still eat healthily and record on this site and still exercise but try not to obsess about it. At least for the next two months until I'm retested.

Most of the people replying (including the OP) are probably not eating enough during the day. I mean, it sounds like you all are active and if you're only eating 1,200 calories a day, that is WAY too low - even for those of us (me included) who have hypo.

I work out between 45-60 minutes 5-6 days a week, alternating running days with a bootcamp class at the gym. I NEVER eat less than 2,000 calories a day - which would probably be the equivalent of eating back exercise calories. I've been losing around 2 pounds a week, and I'm on levothyroxine.

My suggestion: go to fat2fitradio.com and use the military body fat calculator first to determine your body fat percentage, then do the Calories and Metabolic Rate calculator to determine how many calories you should be eating each day based on your activity level. THIS WORKS!! Prior to following this, I was only eating 1,400 calories a day and NOT eating back exercise calories and wasn't losing weight. Upped my calories to what fat2fit suggested and the weight has been consistently falling off each week.

NOTE: If you eat the calories suggested by fat2fit DO NOT EAT BACK EXERCISE CALORIES.

This may work for some, but it didn't work for me. I upped my NET calorie goal to about my BMR for about 3 months. I went from losing 4 to 5 lbs. a month to losing 2.5 lbs. a month. The difference in my loss was about exactly what I bumped my net calorie goal up to. I just lowered it back down. The problem with methods like above is that the BMR calculations are just estimates and averages. Some of us are much lower than those estimates. I do eat back ALL my exercise calories though.

I am in the same boat. It took my doctors almost 3 years to finally diagnose me after I was gaining weight nonstop. They finally diagnosed me when I was 18. It has been so hard to lose weight with this problem. But I am not giving up! I am also going to mention my new lifestyle when I go to my endocrinologist check up next week!

I am a Dietitian/Nutritionist who also has a Diagnosis of Hypothyroidism, just diagnosed in May 2012. I gained 5 lb and was unable to lose until I was put on meds (Armour Thyroid 30 mg) and joined MFP! MFP has enabled me to take my fitness to a whole new level! I am now the slimmest I have ever been in my entire life and ended up losing 8 lb. and have gained some lean muscle as well. I eat a very healthy, low fat, vegetarian diet so that helps too.

I definitely suggest seeing an Endocrinologist, having your labs monitored closely and even consider switching to Armour Thyorid instead, it is natural instead of synthetic like all the others. Both Dr. Mercola and Dr. Mark Hyman, MD rec. the Armour Thyroid. Also be sure to limit intake of Soy and avoid Kale. My Dr. said these both interfere with thyroid function. I actually started losing the weight once I increased my calories to 1400-1500 per day and even did some zig-zagging of my calories as well. This is where you eat higher on some days lower on others, but a 7 day avr. would be 1400 calories. Also, add strength training at least 3x per week if you haven't already done so. If you add lean muscle mass it helps increase your metabolic rate so you burn more calories even while at rest. I suggest moderate carbs. I eat 55% CHO/20% PRO and 25% Fat. But you can go as low as 40% CHO if you so desire and do a 40/30/30 split.

I have hypothyroid I was diagnosed with hashimotos disease last year. My levels Are always ok when I have blood work done but I can't lose weight to save my life. I'm like you 5"3 170 lbs. I got down to 153 in December doing hcg but I gained it all back.I work full to,e and have two kids so it's really hard to find me time to exercise . Right now I'm starting to count every calorie and see if that does anything. I'm know the feeling you describe of feeling like I'll never lose the weight. I've researched stop the thyroid madness but I feel like messing with my medications or taking natural supplements is too risky. I trust my dr and I know ppl say they have a "western" idea of medicine or they don't treat it fully but I just don't want to take my health into my own hands without consulting with them and I asked my dr about some of the things I've read on that website and he said he is weary of all of those items because none of them have been tested or approved by the FDA. I don't take any vitamins because he said ppl overdose on vitamins all the time. I wish there was something I could do. I hate that my thyroid controls my weight my mood and how tired I feel good luck!

I've been on thyroid meds for almost 14 years. I can loose weight..l.but I ave to be consistent....exercise, healthy/within calories and water. It can be done. It takes time.

Hi there! Thanks for your post, gives me hope! I'm 27, recently engaged and have been dealing with Hypothyroidism for 8 years. I got engaged in January, and since that day have been making healthy choices and busting my butt to loose weight.

I have stayed under 1,200 calories and been doing crazy workouts for the last 3 months. I am maintaining my weight, but not loosing an ounce! I'm starting to think it could be the meds. I'm currently on 175mcg's of Levothyroxine (a lot i know ) But have head a lot of positive comments about Armor. Can you let me know how it was transitioning? Was it hard for your body to get used to?

Thanks for the advise!

OMG This is so me 2 years ago. I did weight watchers spent a tone of money and didn't lose and once. I finally did some research of my own. Got my doctor to put me or Armour ( here in canada it's call desiccated thyroid horme) samething though. Within a few months I tried to lose weight again did but it was really slow. Since then I did more research on the site Stop the Thyroid Madness and they talked about a low carb diet. Well I am doing South Beach and I am down 14 pounds so far in 9 weeks. So this is what has worked for me. Tried other routs they didn't work. Get your meds straightened out first then go from their. Most who are hypothyroid (Hamsho) do well on low carb.

Thanks for the Canadian inclusion.... I am just starting to find a solution to my problems and will keep this info in mind..

I also have hypothroidism. I take levothyroxin daily. My weight loss has been slow, but it is coming off. I stick to my calories religiously and exercise daily. Some days hard exercise. If I go over my calories, I make myself exercise to I am either at or under. Like I said, it has been a very slow progress, but I am making headway. Maybe there is something else contributing to you troubles.

I'm hypothyroid, but I take T4 AND T3 (both synthetic versions) replacement; on just T4 (levothyroxin) I was in the same boat as you. Some people don't convert T4 medication to the active T3 hormone, so in essence they are still hypo while being medicated. Go to stopthethyroidmadness.com , they have a bunch of information. I just took my profile pic 06-17-13 (Monday) ... I'm 5'2 and weigh between 101 and 103 lbs (petite frame, I only have a 5.5 inch wrist and a 10.5 inch neck); when I tall people I'm hypothyroid they don't believe me. It's totally possible to lose weight/fat with a thyroid issue.

they may have to adjust your meds, I 've had hypothyroidism for 30 years and doing the calorie (1200) and exercise thing I am losing weight, so don't dispare and get your blood checked , good luck hon

I have hyperthyroidism and graves disease. So I know how it goes to lose weight. I was diagnosed 5 yrs ago when I was pregnant with my 4 yr old. And 1 1/2 yrs ago my thyroid started to normalize and I gained 100 pounds. It is hard but possible , my total weight loss so far is 30 pounds and I have 70 more to go, but it took 1 year to lose the 30 pounds.
You can add me as a friend if you like and we can lose it together. And I can get some tips from my brother-in-law who also has hypothyroidism as to how he lost all the weight he did.