Underactive thyroid and struggling to lose weight

[hifer]

Hi all,

I have an underactive thyroid and been on meds for just under 6 months. TSH has come down to normal level but having levels checked again next week hopefully as a routine. My problem is I have about 1 1/2 stone to lose before I will be allowed NHS IVF as my BMI is too high. I'm finding it so so hard to lose weight because of my thyroid issue. I eat very well and do all the sensible nutritional things I should be doing (I think). I also exercise a lot (but not going crazy). It's stressful enough without knowing that we can't start IVF because of me. I've also been fit but not skinny but in the last 3-4 years this has become a real issue.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated from people going through a similar situation please. Would being on a slightly higher dose of meds help or does it not work like that???! Wishful thinking maybe...

Thanks a lot

x

[Orla9298]

Do you know what your most recent TSH was? It doesn’t have a huge impact on weight forcing it lower, mine was really low at 0.05 so I had to raise it to 1 and I didn’t put weight on, so I think it’s the same in reverse.

Are you using an app like MyFitnessPal to track your calories? To lose Weight they need to be down around 1300 or 1400 but depends on what your starting weight is. Running is also the best weight loss activity too.

Hope that helps, good luck it’s always hard to have conditions slapped on IVF funding xx

[hifer in reply to Orla9298]

Interesting thanks. It was 0.something last time it was checked! Hopefully having it checked again next week. Yes I’ve always been quite anti calorie counting but funnily enough just started using my fitness pal so will see how that goes. I can’t run sadly as snapped my ACL in my left knee last year but doing plenty of other exercise. Like you say, think it’s just the nutrition side of things.

Thanks a lot for the advice xx

[Orla9298]

Having extra Levo when you’re already low TSH puts strain on the heart, i was a bit over medicated but was scared to reduce it, but looking back my heart was racing sometimes. I’ve actually felt a lot better since i reduced a bit. I think it’s 0.8 ish at the moment. I’ve been tracking anything between 1400 and 2300 the last week! Think I’m meant to be around 1500 🙈

[hifer in reply to Orla9298]

That’s very interesting. When I was pregnant last year, my heart was racing all the time. It terrified me. I did speak to a doctor about it but never thought it could be related to meds. Plus I thought you should up your meds when you get pregnant?! Maybe not related (sadly lost baby). Thanks a lot for your input really helpful x

[Suzannah1985]

Hi Hifer,

I have an under active thyroid too and have just set myself the goal of losing nearly 2 stone to be at my optimum weight for our next round.

I have been using nutracheck, which is like my fitness pal but I have found it a bit better.

I have also been doing spinning classes and one toning class a week.

As others have said, increasing the meds won’t really help, my TSH is at 0.3 and I managed to put on 1 stone in the last 7 months 🙈.

Good luck, it is a bit more challenging for us hypo ladies to lose the weight, but it can be done 💪 xx

[hifer in reply to Suzannah1985]

Fantastic not heard of nutracheck but will take a look. It’s so so hard! I basically can’t eat v much at all before I put on weight! Wishing you all the very best with your weight loss and your next round 😀. Thanks for the boost xx

[Suzannah1985 in reply to hifer]

I hear you, my work colleagues are shocked at how little and how healthily I eat. My husband has the opposite problem, he is very slim and struggles to put in weight at all 🙄

Good luck with it all. It is just another hurdle to cross on this journey xx

[Evie404]

I also have underactive thyroid and haven't noticed any weight loss on meds. I find it hard too.

Some people respond best to exercise, some diet, some need both. I think that comes back to genetics. Whatever gets even small results, amplify it. Try different diets and different excerise methods - cardio, weights, Hiit etc. See what works. Avoid fads and don't go too low cal. Keep it nutritious. We are all different humans, it's just finding the right combo for you.