Hi can anyone help put on alot of weight need to loose some due to wedding in 3 months time. Do you now any good diets that work for people like us
weight loss: Hi can anyone help put on alot of... - Thyroid UK
weight loss
Written by
hugs
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
67 Replies
•
SeasideSusieRemembering
Unless you are optimally medicated weight loss isn't easy. What are your latest test results, with reference ranges?
Also, are your vitamins and minerals at optimal levels, Vit D, B12, Folate and Ferritin?
Thankyou for getting back to me just been to docs and had blood test done let you now when back
Really? You've had a blood draw in the evening or did you have it done this morning?
Best time for a blood draw is earliest possible appointment in the morning, no later than 9am, after an overnight fast (water only) and leaving off Levo for 24 hours. This is because TSH is highest at that time of day and lowers later in the day and after eating. The reason this is recommended is if someone is looking for an increase in Levo or looking to avoid a reduction then they want TSH to be as high as possible. It's also best for conditions to be the same for every test then results can be compared accurately.
Hi seasidesusie yes blood taken in morning no tablet or food iwas told this was the best way to get a blood result. But every time doc says its normall ish. I just wish he was in the same boat as me then he would no how it feels when you feel like your knocking your head against a brick wall when a doc dose not listen to you and blames it on the intake of food and gives you a diet card number to ring how many diets have you got to do before they listen to you
Make sure you get a print out of the tests because "normal-ish" Doesn't sound optimal to me.
hugs When your doctor says that your results are 'normalish' do you ask for those results, get a print out or write them down?
What you need to do, which is repeatedly recommended on the forum, is to obtain copies of your test results. It is your legal right to have them under the Data Protection Act 1998. When you have a test, give it a few days then go to the surgery and ask for a print out. That will give enough time for the doctor to have seen them and for them to be filed. Make sure that the reference ranges are included.
So pop along and ask for your latest results and post them in a new thread for members to comment.
What you need is
TSH
FT4
FT3
Unfortunately FT3 is rarely done unless there is something drastically wrong with the others. However, you can get all thyroid tests done privately with a simple fingerprick blood test and I would recommend you do that if your GP hasn't done FT3.
It would also be a good idea to get vitamins and minerals tested too. This test covers everything:
bluehorizonmedicals.co.uk/T...
Once we've seen your results we can see if you are anywhere near optimally medicated, but if FT3 is missing you really need to know that level, especially as your weight is a problem for you.
My head is sore from banging it on the wall too. It doesn't matter how many diets you have been on no one will believe that you eat sensibly and you could probably teach the dieticians a thing or 2. I have seen quite a few dieticians (so called) in the last 15 years and none of them has helped me. They offered bariatric surgery and suggested yet another diet (which I have tried umpteen times before without success). several of them have accused me of lying about what I eat. Only one ever told me that dieting since I was 17 is probably what has helped with my weight gain as each time we diet 15% of our metabolism slows down. Not one has listened when Ive said I believe my thyroid is partly to blame. I have had a problem losing weight since the birth of my youngest son who is now 30. I could not eat anything while pregnant with him as I was sick all the time but ballooned in weight which I think was the start of my hormone problems. I then rapidly increased in weight and symptoms since a hysterectomy 17 years ago. I have gained a stone every year for 16 years and don't matter what I did I could'nt lose it. I get called names by strangers and now hate to go out and will only go out for appointments. I am currently going to another weight loss club because GP prescribed it but am uncomfortable with the whole group thing and feel patronised when I go. I have to admit I am not following the plan and now just go to get weighed. I took advice from this community and I am trying to keep my nutrients optimised and started thyroid s a couple of months ago and I have lost 4lb over that time. I have also added full fat milk and butter to my diet after years of low fat rubbish. I am hoping that the weight loss will continue be it at a slow pace. I am just a little worried because thyroid s is not available where I bought it originally and Ive searched other sites to no avail. I hope I haven't started something I will not be able to continue because the powers that be have stopped the availability. I will have to post when I get near to running out. Hugs Joolz.x
p.s sorry for the long reply I went off on a rant. xx
Agree that your bloods need to be normal. Pre hypo I could lose weight quite easily; in my teens it was very difficult but was very ill in my early twenties. After that I seemed to be able to eat normally.
Post diagnosed hypo, normal bloods, my fitness pal and exercise. I lost 10 pounds over 3 months (very slow) by eating 1200 Kcals and doing an exercise DVD. Essentially my diet was lean protein (lots of skinless chicken, fish, some red meat, nuts), lots of veg, some fruit. Limited starchy carbs eg potatoes, pasta, rice, bread, breakfast cereal preferably brown. Low fat everything, some low fat cheese/ spread, eggs. Skimmed milk. An oil spray for cooking.
Best of luck 
Yes I find it very difficult to lose weight now but could before being hypo kicked in. That was one of the first signs actually after my 2nd child I just couldn't lose the weight and was exhausted. After my 3rd I put on even more and put on weight doing diets like diet chef and walking 8 miles a day. Since medicating I lose it very slowly but I would say eat almost identical to the meditaranian diet, lots of fresh vegetables, fish and other protein foods, use olive oil and cut down on carbs and sugar as much as possible. If you do eat carbs go for wholemeal and obviously portion control. I still eat butter but go for skimmed milk. I have a special portion plate which helps. Think they sell them on Amazon and eBay. I am still losing weight but very slowly by a few Ibs every few months.
This is a link:
web.archive.org/web/2010103...
Thanks for the link Shaws. My original symptoms of Hypo have resolved; weight loss is the one I now struggle with. To begin with joint/muscle pain, weakness, fatigue were troublesome but have improved.
hellybaybee in reply to
It's horrible isn't it? I was always an 8-10 and never worried about what I ate. Now my weight has crept up to 14 and I constantly think about it. Mine happened when I was at university. I didn't go out much as I was always sleeping. I had a short temper and aches and pains and had put on weight despite strict diets and going to the gym daily. I just thought it was me and that the chocolate, pasta and cereal diet of my teens had caught up with me. It was only when I went to the doctor about another issue that she checked for a thyroid problem which I only found out when she said "well good news is that you don't have a thyroid problem". I knew two of my aunts had hypothyroidism but I had never considered for myself. I looked up the symptoms and found this forum which helped a lot. I made an appointment with dr skinner (rip) and the rest is history. I just find it is the most frustrating condition, partly due to all the knock on problems (vitamin deficiencies, fatigue, lethargy etc) and also because so many just think you're exaggerating or making it up.
in reply to hellybaybee
Yes you are so correct. I was a size 6-10 I varied throughout my teens into my 30s. I put on 4 stone with my first but lost it all within 12 months. I simply watched what I ate and it came off. Then after my 2nd child my thyroid started to decline and it became impossible to lose weight. Then after my 3rd I ate a fraction of what I did back then and went up to a size 16. I am only 5ft2. It's so depressing also others think you are lazy and eat all day which is totally wrong. I never ever judge people by their weight now. I used to which was so wrong but its easy for someone who just counts calories and loses weight to say these things and think them. It's just lack of knowledge really. Its surprising the amount of people who still think thyroid disorders are minor. A bit glandular! Also like yourself it runs in my family both my aunties and mum are hypo. I had no idea that reducing calories and exercising was making me even bigger until I joined here. It's as if everything works backwards to others without thyroid conditions X
No proof of this , but I think the menopause seems to cause many women to gain weight as well. My non hypo friends are all bigger. (Great that I have a pseudonym!)
I,m 51 and i to am in menopause stage gave up smoking and have a under active thyroid gained 4 stone 4lb in 8 years dont like looking at myself anymore
I replaced smoking with vaping. And yes I don't like looking at myself. Warned an old friend that I now look very different. I think though that whatever the boundaries you still have to try to keep your weight at a healthy level. What is the alternative? Although there may be medical evidence as to why hypos struggle to lose weight there is no cure. The diet I've followed, and which is recommended by the NHS, may not result in weight loss, but it is healthy.
shawsAdministrator
This is a previous post on weight gain hugs lilliput :-
I agree with the research Shaws but the bottom line is that Levo is the only thing usually offered on the NHS and being overweight has has its own health issues.Do you just give up, or try to lose weight?
Neither. You do your damnedest to get some form of T3, even if you have to buy it yourself. If you try to lose weight, by low calorie diets and exercise, before your FT3 is optimised, it will probably backfire on you, and you'll end up putting on even more. And the worst possible thing you can possibly do is go low fat. Eating fat does not make you fat. Not eating it can have disastrous effects on the body.
But, it's not just about hormones. You also need to have optimal nutrients. And going on diets will just make deficiencies worse.
100% agree, especially eith the bit about fat. It's without saying that we are talking about limiting "bad" fats & earings lots of the "good" ones.
Exactly!
And how do you get T3? Its just not available. Not that I think I'd take it. I think that my diet is rich in nutrients.
This should be a general Thyroid forum, not one which pushes T3 Sorry .
NDT is another option if you aren't interested in T3.
T3 & NDT work.
I've increased my calorie intake by over a third, whilst loosing weight.
No one is "pushing" T3, just suggesting different things that might work for different people! T3 (which is completely unconnected to diet) has changed my life!
T3 is the only hormone which is able to get into our receptor cells. T4 (levothyroxine) is inactive and has to convert to T3. If we don't have sufficient, we have symptoms and low metabolism which can also cause weight gain.
For me, T3 is a life-saver. It is also the Active thyroid hormone required in our receptor cells. T4 is inactive and has to convert to T3 but sometimes our dose of levo isn't sufficient as doctors usually only take notice of the TSH and not the patient's clinical symptoms. The patient also gets 'other prescriptions' for remaining symptoms instead of a dose of hormones which relieves all of them.
Levothyroxine for me was an absolute nightmare. Not everyone can tolerate it but when first diagnosed and desperate you take what is offered and in the UK we don't have options. After about two years on levo with no improvement, in actual fact worse than first diagnosed I began to source information and it was TUK which gave me and family a life.
T3 is nothing to do with your diet. Your body should convert T4 to T3 but not everyone's does. I don't understand why you think that this shouldn't be suggested to be honest. From my own experience, I tried to switch back to levothyroxine after taking nature throid and started to get a goitre. My diet is also rich in nutrients, meats and vegetables but despite this I have vitamin b12 and D deficiencies which need to be medicated. Unfortunately this is part and parcel of a thyroid condition.
Also, T3 is available otherwise people wouldn't be medicated on it. It's a hard push to get it on NHS but (sadly) easier privately
What has your diet got to do with T3? There's no connection. T3 is the active hormone, made by converting from T4 (levo), the storage hormone. The problem is that not everybody can convert very well, and that's why we stay sick and can't lose weight.
And I really, really do not understand your comment about 'general Thyroid forum' and not 'pushing' T3. This is a 'general' thyroid forum - whatever that is - and nobody is pushing anything. We're here to talk about hormones, and T3 is a hormone - a hormone we cannot live without. I don't think you know very much about thyroid, do you?
The only way I have been able to lose weight was to increase my T3 intake. That's the only way to burn the weight be it fat or mucin. It has been a bit more difficulty these days because it sends my blood pressure up. Maybe that's the reason docs do not want you to lose weight that way. But, if your BP is normal and stays normal as your T3 intake goes up I say go for it. You can also push yourself into hyper so you have to be very sensitive to how you are feeling and be ready to move on a dime if that happens - don't make a doc's appointment for next month maybe, drop your dose immediately and cool it for a while.
Sounds dangerous. I'm already at high risk of heart disease, so I would be scared to take T3 without medical supervision. Just looked at your profile, congratulations on surviving thyroid cancer.
Your weight is only a part of your health sweetheart.
And taking T3 to lose weight is not a good idea.
She doesn't take T3 just to lose weight. She takes it because she is hypo, and can't produce enough T3 on her own, and needs it in every single cell in her body to be well. Do you know what T3 is?
I fully understand the chemistry. I'm considering a Blue Horizon test, as my GP will not test T3. If it is abnormal, there is the problem of obtaining it of course!
in reply to lilliput
If you decide to buy t3 at a later date because you need it, just put a post up requesting info, people will inbox you of where to obtain it. It's perfectly legal to buy it and use it yourself you just can't sell it. You can obtain uni pharma t3 from Greece pretty easily and it's sold over the counter there but there are companies that send it over. Maybe you could even convince your doctor to monitor this also if you buy the t3.
You're diet may be rich in nutrients, but the problem is we hypothyroid may have difficulty absorbing and processing them. I also eat very healthily and am outside daily without sunscreen, only to find my folate and D3 were rock bottom. I'm now on supplements and feeling an improvement, if only slight.
And out of interest, why so against T3? I know from experience its made a difference to me, and I'm now suffering after GP in her "wisdom" discontinued my prescription.
That's interesting ElleBee, I too once spent 6 months Spring/Summer working outside in the Californian sun with no long sleeves, hat nor sunscreen. The following September my Doc just happened to measure my D vitamin level - and found it lower than the lower limit! I now take a supplement just to be on the safe side.
Yes you will never lose weight unless your t3 is top of the range. That's the only point I began to lose weight whilst on NDT so agree.
lilliput in reply to
I have lost weight in the past, it was just very slow. My TSH and FT4 were normal at the time. My GP does not test T3.
in reply to lilliput
You could maybe request it but not sure how willing your GP would be to do it. It seems less and less of them are doing it now I know. I had mine checked recently 3 times at an nhs hospital but only because I am pregnant. They also tested rt3 and antibodies so they are able to just think they avoid it due to cost. Or maybe consider doing a blue horizon test at some point if you get nowhere with the nhs. My mum is in a similar situation she has never seen an endo and it's just her Gp that has managed her hypothydism for the last 25 years.
lilliput in reply to
I asked my GP to do a T3 test; he says it isn't done.
in reply to lilliput
Do you ever see an Endo at the hospital at all? If not then maybe a blue horizon test is an option. You will also get antibodies and other things tested along side that, depending on which test you go for.
I follow the Hairy Bikers Diet plan. It took me the whole of last year to lose one and a half stone. I put weight on after a 6 week holiday to the USA in Autumn and 4 lbs over Christmas. I restarted the plan on 1st Jan plus doing Dry January so hoping to lose again. It has been slow for me but it's the only diet I have been able to follow and lose some weight on. I would still like to lose 2 stone so I'll just plod on with it. My husband enjoys the recipes too so we work on it together.
If you have willpower you could try Whole30 ( 30 = 30 days). Most people I know who have followed the regime ( not calling it a diet) have done so to improve the way they feel primarily and have, in addition, lost weight. My daughter ( slim ) just finished her 30 days and lost 7 Ibs. She was running too though...but that is clearly optional. Walking would be fine too. She said her sense of well being was great and it encouraged her to continue. ZERO sugar, ZERO grains, ZERO dairy is essentially what it requires. No alcohol and small amount of fruit. As much 'good' fat, fish, good-quality meat ( not processed or cured) and eggs and vegetables - including potatoes- as you like.
I started it yesterday so am hoping for some results. There is a website of the same name which is informative and encouraging. Good luck!
I would share the sentiments of others - diets don't really work unless you are optimally medicated. However, if you want to try any way I would recommend things like clean eating or paleo as they tend to be rich in the vitamins hypothyroid people need and avoid high processed chemicals which disagree with many of us. I found that cooking everything from scratch with fresh ingredients, cutting out sugar and wheat worked for me and I wasn't optimally medicated (though I wasn't far off). Some people also find that dairy free suits them better though this wasn't really an issue for me despite having a lactose allergy as a child (obviously grew out of it).
Whether hypo or not, try cutting out ALL grains, dairy (including goat's milk products) and sugar, as per the Autoimmune Fix by Dr Tom O'Bryan. An excellent read. Sainsbury's do a great range of gluten free and dairy free products. Cutting out sugar is a little more challenging, but in time you can re-educate your taste buds. Read all labels on all packaged foods, plenty of hidden gluten out there. Not only will you lose weight, you will reduce your risk of autoimmune diseases in the future.
See I have gestational diabetes so been told to go low sugar, low carbs everything but the only thing that spikes my blood sugar is white sugar and seeded breads and white bread I am fine with wholemeal, pasta doesn't or potato's. It's important to eat fats but natural ones are better. I also don't like all the aspartame sweetners in diet things as that chemical has adverse effects also. It's all a bit of a minefield and confusing though that's why instead of going totally low fat I substitute bad fats for good and eat more veg.
RedAppleAdministrator
There is a programme currently available on iPlayer that you might find interesting and helpful. (For those in the UK with a TV license, not sure if anyone else can view it)
Fat versus Carbs.
Newsreader Jamie Owen is going on a diet that goes directly against government healthy eating advice, and common sense. For the past 30 years we have been told the key to a healthy lifestyle is cutting out fat. However, as a nation we have got bigger, Jamie included.
A controversial new report says the current government advice is making us bigger, and that the food industry is telling us what to eat. The report says that it isn't butter, milk and other fat that is to blame and the problem lies elsewhere.
Join Jamie as he investigates these weighty issues and makes himself a guinea pig for a diet that aims to make us rethink the way we try to control our waistlines.
bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b...
Very interesting. Have you heard of Zoe Harcombe? She did an eating regime that included butter etc. Seemed to work for a lot of people.
Yes, I've seen her name mentioned before but haven't investigated her regime in detail.
I thought the interesting thing about Jamie Owen's experience was that not only did he lose weight, but his cholesterol went down too.
The programme first aired last autumn I believe. It would be interesting to see a follow up soon on whether he managed to maintain that eating regime and lose any more weight.
I joined slimming world and it worked for me, i didnt have a huge amount to loose but i am now back into a size 10 instead of a 14 which is great, i also do aqua aerobics once a week and lots of walking
Dotti
in reply to dotti
Well done Dotti, that's a fantastic achievement. I did weight watchers and diet chef and put on weight but this was when I wasn't medicated. I did lose some when we went on holiday and we were swimming for hours a day. Also doing aqua aerobics once a day. I think I am going to start swimming regularly once the baby is born and old enough to be left with family for a few hours x
I've pinched ideas from Slimming World, especially the use of an oil spray for cooking. I use an olive oil spray or add in calories from normal oil, which is a big sin for me!
I looked into T3 and exercise and it seems that only intense cardio really affects it. Plus the feel good factor for me makes it worth it.
I may join if I struggle on my present regime. Weight loss is just hard, for anyone.
Congratulations on your weight loss
Thanks KatieKatie
It feels great to be a lot slimmer my main problem was weight gain round my middle a right muffin top, and that has reduced drastically
Dotti x
in reply to dotti
Oh yes I had a lot of that also, luckily a lot came off for me with meds but still have a way to go. It's nice to hear of someone who managed it though..there is hope for us all haha x
I have lost 5st calorie counting, I use myfitnesspal. It's been a process of several years but that is because is have had 2 major surgeries and 2 rounds of ivf in that time span. I'm currently trying to lose the last stone after a year of maintaining my weight.
I haven't cut any foods out but I am careful with soy, fortified cereal and I don't tend to eat brassica's (but I don't like the taste of them anyways). I agree with other posters though, you have to be optimally medicated. For me that means a TSH at the lower end of the reference range (it was just below the last time it was tested) and at FT4 at the higher end of normal (just at the top of the reference range). I am one of the lucky ones that does fine on levothyroxine alone and take 175mcg a day. Good luck.
Tried lots of diets only one that worked for me was the 5:2. Bit difficult the first two weeks but fine after that. Lost 11b per week on average.
Hi
I found the Cambridge diet works for me - shake for breakfast and lunch followed by a normal evening meal - try to cut out sugar only one piece or no fruit - look up GI diet on the web it will point out the low sugar fruit and veg - and go for walks - hope this helps
google Danette May... she is on Facebook and on her web site......I'm am currently doing the 30 day challenge its amazing how you feel and inches, pounds gone so far
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
Weight loss or weight gain on ndt?
I'm curious if anyone has lost or gained weight on ndt, assuming the dosage is correct, given that...
Weight loss needed fast!!!
Does anyone have any suggestions or even better solutions to losing weight. I am about a stone or...
weight loss - is it possible?
(measured), some probable nutrient absorption issues...
Has anyone been able to permanently lose...
Levothyroxine dosage and weight loss.
150mcg. levo.
She has been dieting and has lost 3 stone in weight, now weighing 10 stone 3lb....
Weight Loss Surgery and Hypo
and T3. She tried everything to lose weight all the diets you can think of, she also tried...
Trying everything but no weight loss!
Hashimoto and Weight Loss?
Carbimazole & Weight Loss?
Thyroid and weight loss
