Lack of motivation to lose weight - hypothyrodism

[Sorina]

Hi everyone,

I'm reaching out to see how you keep yourself motivated to work out/lose weight while being on medication for hypothyrodism.

Any tips&tricks/suggestions?

Thank you x

[Paula101]

Hi Sorina

I still have trouble getting the weight off.

How are your particular energy levels?

I'm Hashimotos/hypo & because of my poor energy levels I only exercise gently by walking.

If I'm right & please someone feel free to correct me, if you are have low T3 then your cells are not optimally energised/charged, thus you'll completely knacker yourself using the teeny amount you do have. Then you'll be worse off than when you started.

Wouldn't it be great if we were born to be charged like a phone!

I'm less frustrated about losing the weight as I know it's part of my thyroid problem but I'm working towards it.

Walking or gentle swimming may be a good start.

[Sorina in reply to Paula101]

Hi Paula,

Thank you for your reply.

My energy levels are so-so. For example - I'd to to the gym for 7-10 days (1 day cardio, 1 day strenght with 1 day break after 4 days in a row of going to the gym) and then 'feeling low/lack of motivation' kicks in and I can't find the strenght to go back to the gym for 2 weeks. Then out of nowhere, the.motivation kicks in again for 7-10 days. Literally like a vicious circle.

I want to work out cause it feels good and it's healthy. Also I'd like to lose weight as I feel like I'm slighty overweight for my height (75.5kg vs 170cm).

[Ruby1 in reply to Sorina]

Perhaps you are starting from a very good base fitness but that seems way too much to me. Why not one day at gym and two days or more off until your body is coping with that? Then up it later?

Pre thyroid problems.. I used to run in my twenties and push myself all the time. Later in my 40s I discovered if I didn’t push myself so much I actually really looked forward to my runs. Perhaps if you cut back a bit it will be easier to enjoy the workouts.

I am a bit like you too though I often end up injuring myself because I have my keen moments. I have to hold myself back a bit.

[Sorina in reply to Ruby1]

Yes - I think you're right - I'm pushing myself a bit too much. I tend to do it out of frustration because it's so difficult to lose even 1 kg on hypo.

Thank you for your advice - I really appreciate it

[shaws Administrator in reply to Sorina]

If we aren't on an optimum dose of thyroid hormones, when we exercise frequently it can reduce our T3 in our body. T3 is the only active thyroid hormone and we may not feel so good if we do excessive exercises before our body is ready.

We can exercise gently until we are on a stable dose of hormones and have no clinical symptoms.

[Heloise]

Hi Sorina, Paula is correct. We hypos burn calories much slower than normal. We may also be estrogen dominant and insulin resistant. It would be better to attack the problem by correcting those. Too much exertion uses up your active T3. You actually need a lot of food which is nutrient dense so your body doesn't think you are starving. Low nutrition causes that. So first, I would look at my test results for FT3 and see if you are in the upper part of the range. I would try to eat good fats like coconut and avocado, nuts and avoid bad fats. Try to lower high sugar or carb foods and try apple cider vinegar before eating them. The unfiltered type will block some of the starch and add probiotics. Estrogen is found in lots of food especially those which are not organic since pesticides contain estrogen and meats contain hormones.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies. Plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12.

Essential to test thyroid antibodies, FT3 and FT4, plus vitamins

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting.

If on Levothyroxine, don't take in the 24 hours prior to test, and if on T3 don't take in 12 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances too, especially gluten. So it's important to get tested.

If you have Hashimoto's then often FT3 is too low. Improving vitamin levels and addressing food intolerances can help significantly

[Sorina in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for the tips. I will definitely look into it.

I did mention to my GP that I should be tested for other than just TSH & T4 (due to several symptoms + hypo runs on the family - my mom was diagnosed with Hashimoto's ) but he mentioned that doesn't think it's necessary since my TSH is at borderline (5.74) and T4 is within the range (14.9).

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Sorina]

A TSH of 5.74 is likely not borderline but above range, suggests you need treatment but especially if you have raised antibodies and then low vitamins likely

Always get tested as early as possible in morning and fasting to get highest TSH

Median TSH graph in healthy population

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

TSH daily variation

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Research into fasting or non fasting tests

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Sorry just realised you are actually already on Levothyroxine.

Is that correct?

If so you are extremely under medicated and need dose increase

Likely to have low vitamin levels as result

Official NHS guidelines saying TSH should be between 0.2 and 2.0 when on Levothyroxine

(Many of us need TSH nearer 0.2 than 2.0 to feel well)

See box

Thyroxine replacement in primary hypothyroidism

pathology.leedsth.nhs.uk/pa...

Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine,

"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l. In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l. Most patients will feel well in that circumstance. But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l. This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."

You can obtain a copy of the articles from Thyroid UK email print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor

 please email Dionne at

[e-mail]

Professor Toft recent article saying, T3 may be necessary for many

rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/fi...

[Sorina in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes - I'm already on Levo 75mg.

On the test results the note from GP says "abnormal borderline. Only discuss next time - not urgent action required." Unfortunately I can't attached the screenshot.

Also the TSH range listed is 0.27-4.20.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Sorina]

Then to have a TSH so high when on Levothyroxine shows you are very under medicated and need dose increase (may be more than one increase)

Suggest you make an appointment and request 25mcg dose increase in Levothyroxine

Retesting again 8 weeks after. Also get antibodies tested then p,us vitamins.

Or get tested privately if GP won't

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results

If your GP is reluctant to increase dose you could show him the Leeds endocrinology document. It clearly states TSH should be under 2 when on Levothyroxine

Also useful to have Prof Toft article, though they are more able to dismiss that as not official NHS policy document

If GP won't increase you may need to see different GP or an endocrinologist

Dionne at Thyroid Uk has list of recommended thyroid specialists.

[Sorina in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for this!!!

I have a blood test booked for Monday morning and when the results are back (very unlikely will be better than last time), I will book an app with my GP and bring all the documentation and ask for dose increase.

[Erussthom]

Hi Sorena

After 20 years of suffering from and being treated for Hashimotos auto-immune disease, I have had a significant improvement in all areas including weight loss -- all this after just 2 months of totally eliminating wheat and dairy products from my diet. (26 lbs so far and still dropping steadily.)

Good luck

Elaine

[Sorina in reply to Erussthom]

Yes - I did cut on dairy/wheat (not all yet) from my diet and I'm feeling much better (less bloating/stomach aches etc). It' a work in progress I may say