Losing weight with an underactive thyroid

Emme

Perhaps this belongs in the "Thyroid misery" thread.

I have had Hashimotos thyroiditis for a number of years (diagnosed in 2009) and haven't been able to lose much weight since I got it. Before I had Hashimotos I weighed around 9 stone and never went above 9 and a half. Now I weigh between 10 stone 3 and 10 and a half stone. I am 5'4" so I'm overweight.

My doctor advised me to lose weight but I told him that I haven't been able to lose weight since (and a little before) I got Hashimotos. I eat a healthy diet, I exercise (bootcamp, cycling, walking) but no matter what I do my weight won't go below 10 stone 3. I don't let the Hashimotos stop me from being active and I have run several 10Ks since I was diagnosed. I just can't lose much weight! I would like to be between 9 and 9 and a half stone, ideally 9 stone.

I am on the correct amount of medication and my bloods are within the normal range apart from constantly raised thyroid antibodies.

Does anybody with an underactive thyroid have any tips about losing weight

Girlsmam

I'm in the same situation as you except I'm closer to 14 stone. I eat healthily, run 3 times a week, walk every day, attend aerobic classes and I cannot shift a pound. I'm really disillusioned at the moment, I enjoy my exercise & healthy lifestyle but I hate my body shape.my family & friends think I'm making up my health lifestyle at this stage! I have hashimoto also, diagnosed 6 years now & my most recent bloods are apparently 'normal' (TSH & T4). Apart from my inability to loose weight I have about 3 days a week where I feel exhausted, my hair falls out, I have dry skin, bloatedness, slow bowls & other symptoms. I'll be really interested to hear people's response too.

Emme

Girlsmam wrote: »

I'm in the same situation as you except I'm closer to 14 stone. I eat healthily, run 3 times a week, walk every day, attend aerobic classes and I cannot shift a pound. I'm really disillusioned at the moment, I enjoy my exercise & healthy lifestyle but I hate my body shape.my family & friends think I'm making up my health lifestyle at this stage! I have hashimoto also, diagnosed 6 years now & my most recent bloods are apparently 'normal' (TSH & T4). Apart from my inability to loose weight I have about 3 days a week where I feel exhausted, my hair falls out, I have dry skin, bloatedness, slow bowls & other symptoms. I'll be really interested to hear people's response too.

Hi Girlsmam, are you sure your bloods are normal? Get your GP or your specialist to test them again because the lab might have sent back the wrong results. Get the full range - T3, T4, TSH and TRAB. The symptoms you describe above are like I was before I was diagnosed. Do you have a brain fog as well where you forget things and feel stupid?

I have sluggish digestion as well and have to stick to a high fibre diet but I'm not as badly affected as you. Some people find that cutting out wheat and gluten helps them but their doctor might not think it's necessary. You have to experiment and see what helps you feel well.

I don't think your priority is weight loss, it's the fact that you're feeling unwell and get that sorted out first. When you feel better you can start working on your weight.

Girlsmam

Hi Emme-my TSH and T3 are in the normal range doc says they indicate my thyroid is very well controlled. I've read up loads on it so I remain convinced its not controlled for me. Yes I get brain fog too, it's awful. I'm exercising to try & boost my metabolism, trying to eat clean, anything really to rule any other causing factors out. The doctor said have a think about my results and make an apt to discuss further.

bob0001

I made this account just to reply to this.
I got diagnosed with Hashi's when I was 29m and started to put on a massive amount of weight very quickly.
I had the usual symptoms but hands down the worst was the brain fog.
Seven years later and a lot of effort (interspersed with much larger swaths of saddening apathy) I finally got put on Armor with a much lower dose of eltroxin then I was on.
I never really lost any weight over the past seven years and after being put on armor I even gained weight the first six months because the dose was only for the mornings so in the afternoon I went so low I couldn't be bothered going to the gym the twice a week needed to maintain my weight.
Now I am on a morning and evening dose of armor along with an even lower level of eltroxin and its a new world.
I go to the gym four times a week and exercise like a very sweaty teenager. The weight loss is slow but any loss is a loss.
I sleep the same but waking up has gone from a painfull hangover to a nice simple opening of the eyes and I am instantly awake.
But by far the best thing is that the brain fog is now gone 90% of the time. I had forgotten what it was like to actually remember where I put my phone. To actually see in my mind and retrace my steps was something I had forgotten I could do. I now care a lot more about what I eat and what I do with my time. I couldn't be happier with the results.
So if you have brain fog and are finding it hard to lose weight, it might be an idea to find an endocrinologist and ask to be but on armor. There are more than enough studies from the states to justify it. GL.

Pixied

Can anyone recommend a consultant around Dublin who is really on the ball with all this?

Good info! Thanks