Right can anyone help...

[les121]

im starting swimming an hour 3 x a week.....now i need to follow a diet that other underactive thyroid patients have done and swear by....because nothing is working for me ...

[Ambeljazz]

Hi Les

I put on a lot of weight before my thyroid problem was discovered. Now I'm not sure if its the Levo (been taking it for 3 weeks) or my recent change of eating habits but I've managed to get rid of 5lbs in the last 2 weeks.

I'm following (as closely as possible) the 'Paleo' way of eating which basically cuts out all grains (so no bread, pasta, rice, cereals etc), starchy veg (potato etc), and dairy products. I do have a tiny splash of milk in my decaf tea but other than that I pretty much stick with the plan. As its not a calorie controlled way of eating I never need to feel hungry - I eat plenty of fruit, veg, meat & nuts.... it seems to be working for me anyway!

Good luck & I hope you find an eating plan that suits you!!

xx

[PinkNinja]

Firstly I would recommend making sure you are on an adequate dose of thyroxine. If your TSH is above 1, or you still have symptoms, it is likely you are not on a high enough dose and you may find losing weight is difficult. You also might need a slightly higher dose once you are exercising regularly. Your body would normally sort that out automatically but of course now you may need to sort it out with an increase in medication.

Personally, once I am on the right medication, I find that a diet reasonably high in protein and with not too much carbohydrate works best. I avoid processed foods and refined sugar and eat plenty of fruit and veg. I don't skimp on fat either. It is essential for producing hormones and for absorbing certain vitamins and minerals. Sugar has really been an important thing to reduce for me.

Many people find they are better if they go gluten free and find they can suddenly lose weight after previously having little success. I don't really eat bread and many other gluten containing foods but I don't cut it out completely. I do find that I do best when I avoid bread and too much other wheat products.

I hope that helps a little. I'm sure others will be along later too

Carolyn x

[PinkNinja in reply to PinkNinja]

If you prefer to follow an eating plan then the one Amblejazz suggests is one a lot of hypothyroid patients find works well. Other people find Slimming World works well, especially if you avoid the "green" days so that you are getting plenty of protein. I prefer it to weight watchers as I personally found WW too restrictive calorie-wise. Of course, it might have changed since I tried it though

[Hidden in reply to PinkNinja]

Hi Carolyn

I seem to be following eating plan similar to you, it's not too extreme, full of nutrition and versatile.

You mention fats - which type do you eat? Do you find a difference with different types?

Thank you.

Liza

[PinkNinja in reply to Hidden]

I avoid trans fats, which is quite easy when avoiding processed foods and cakes and biscuits and so on. I will cook with olive oil or butter. I haven't tried coconut oil yet but I would like to try. Natural fats seem to be the best way to go for me. I don't use margarine, only butter. I don't eat low-fat foods so I will have eggs and cheese and meat and also full-fat yogurt but just have a little less of it. I don't have full-fat milk because I don't like it, but I have semi-skimmed which is essentially just milk with the cream taken off the top so it still contains fat. I never have skimmed milk or fat-free anything, unless it is naturally fat free. I also like nuts and seed which contain fats too and plenty of protein

[Hidden in reply to PinkNinja]

Thank you!

[Jackie]

Hi I used to swim, at least 15 miles and do everything else. It did not help until my Free T3 was high, just in range. Have you had a Free T3 test?Also what are your T4 and TSH? You need all 3 tests at least for the proper treatment. Make sure you also have all the ranges, as differ at different Labs. That does not matter, so long as you have the range for the Lab you are using.Always good advice from Carolyn too, above.

best wishes,

Jackie

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