Any suggestions for losing weight with thyroid issues

Unfortunately, what works is the same thing that works when our thyroids are functioning normally. Eat less, move more. Being hypothyroid slows down our metabolism, the rate at which our bodies burn fuel. This can significantly cut our caloric needs. Concentrate on lean meats and fish, fruits and vegetables. Use whole-grain foods in lesser amounts and avoid fats and sweets. Also watch salt intake, because up to ten pounds of your added weight can be from water retention.

Being hypothyroid also saps our energy, which makes us tend to be less physicially active when ideally we need to work longer to burn the same calories. I know, life just isn't fair, is it? Also know that once your thyroid levels are back to normal these methods will allow you to lose weight as well as you did before the thyroid problem. It's a myth that "thyroid weight" is impossible to lose.

Have heard that Armour or Naturethroid can help. Seems some people can't convert T3 to T4 with the T3 meds they take, and the combination of T3 and T4 in these 2 seem to help with weight loss.

kim123 said...
Have heard that Armour or Naturethroid can help. Seems some people can't convert T3 to T4 with the T3 meds they take, and the combination of T3 and T4 in these 2 seem to help with weight loss.

It's true that some people don't get adequate thyroid replacement. They may also benefit from the addition synthetic T3 such as cytomel.

When I was dealing with active Graves and contemplating ablation, one endocrinologist told me that after he nuked my thyroid, and I quote, I would have to watch every bite I ate or I would grow very, very fat. (English was not his first language.) I interpreted that to mean that I wouldn't be getting good thyroid replacement and monitoring ;-) I can't say that competent care is a panacea but that helps a lot.

No question he was a moron ;-) Like many of the highly recommended endos, I assume he at least knows diabetes. ;-)
The nature of these types of boards is that we largely hear of these "topdocs" instead of the ones who actually know what they're doing. Read enough posts in enough places and one can be convinced that thyroid was optional in some endocrinology programs...
But seriously, it does lead me to ask people if they at least have a handle on the basics of their care, because I wouldn't be surprised to find that they haven't been monitored or dosed well.

Lizzy, between being hypothyroid for about a year and then being on steroids for over a year, I managed to put on 50 pounds. With a regular workout program at the gym and at home as well as eating a lower-carb but balanced diet I took of 44 of those pounds. I'm still working on the final 6 pounds, but not terribly faithfully, I'm afraid.

I also have Type II diabetes from the steroids, so exercise was the real key for me. Three times a week I do hard, aerobic and cardio workouts, and I'm actually more than 44 pounds thinner because my workouts have converted a lot of couch-potato fat to muscle.

Kim - Thanks. Yes, I've read that about gluten and the Naturopath I'm seeing now made that suggestion rather strongly. I've been grain free for a long time but will be even more diligent now. I'm on a restrictive diet for for another auto-immune problem and trying different eliminations (been there done that) again too. Leaving dairy behind right now for joint issues, etc. It's a journey.

Judy - Thanks for the post. I was after a success story and glad to hear yours. I've traveled in the LC world for a long time. I can't do hard aerobic or cardio due to joint issues. Mild to moderate is suggested for Hashi's. I do pilates and walking right now.

Best,

Well - dumped dairy (as suggested my Dr. and by the author I. Wentz, Ph.D.) and lost 5 pounds. I think I'm on the right track - time will tell - but this is encouraging.

I just wanted to say I am in this battle as well, and MAYBE making progress. It is still too soon to tell. I gained over 70 lbs in last 2 years when this trouble all began.

Hashi and other autoimmune stuff has been causing havoc on my systems last nearly 2 years. I have had the gamut of symptoms and issues. Nausea and not much help came with Synthroid despite normalish labs. Recently switched to Armour and I can feel a difference already.

I also (just prior to the swap) have developed some heart conduction issues and am on a monitor for 30 days. I throw PVCs around and some skipped beats. Am thinking Thyroid and meds are partially to blame. I gave up caffeine as a result to help with the heart rhythms, not an easy adjustment for this caffeine junkie.

Although I haven't been exercising I have lost 10 lbs in 2 weeks but still have days of bloat and edema, but they are getting fewer. I am noticing my body comp slowly changing- My back fat (shoulder blade areas) and my lower arms are definitely thinning out a lot. I was advised to give 2-3 months before adding exercise and honestly I am not feeling up to adding anything yet anyhow. I am still exhausted and not sleeping well, still have low body temp but somehow burst into flames in an instant.

I am sure stress related to my husband's cancer and other life stressors are not helping thing0s autoimmune wise. I am working on trying to find more of a balance, but its elusive thus far yet somehow I make it through the days.

I won't post labs as they are all over the map and being monitored by MDs, and will be done again in a few weeks.

I notice my appetite is also better, my digestion is working better most days with it seeming to be less sluggish and more efficient, and I am far far less constipated and feeling less like a "blob" on many days. I know some can relate. One bonus are normal bowel movements. I nearly forgot what that was and didn't realize how much I missed it.

I will follow that FB page and also reading this link that was posted elsewhere.

https://www.womentowomen.com/thyroid-health/simple-dietary-changes-that-can-help-your-thyroid-naturally/

Just before the medicine swap labs showed a bit of hypo (when hospitalized for the heart stuff). I have just completed my rather fast taper off a couple weeks of Prednisone today so not sure what will be changing in the next weeks due to this, but am very hopeful.

Still having PVCs but far less and I have medication to take as needed.

I will keep you all posted on changes and progress for sure. At moment, it's clear a lot has been changed and still changing and not sure which can be attributed to what but I am taking notes.

I've struggled with weight issues ever since I got low thyroid. Then I got other auto immune diseases that have zapped my energy and made my joints hurt. No help there.

The natural thyroids also made my heart skip beats. What I recently started was taking synthroid along with some cytomel T3 and no more heart skipping. Just don't take a heavy dose of T3, start out slow. I am hoping to see some weight loss..... I am older, in my 60's, so it's not easy.