Diet tips: Hi everyone, I have an underactive... - Thyroid UK

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Diet tips

Tiddler profile image
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Hi everyone, I have an underactive thyroid and suffer from weight gain (yo yo diet) I just can't keep the weight off, I have tried all the diets but not yet tried XLS Medical as I'm concerned about the iodine content, can anyone suggest a good plan? Please.

Thank you 😊

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Tiddler profile image
Tiddler
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shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

Levothyroxine when on an insufficient dose causes weight gain, i.e. due to being hypothyroid and low metabolism caused by hypo.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Do you have recent blood test results and ranges to add

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

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

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. When on Levothyroxine, don't take in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after test. 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 are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

teasel90 profile image
teasel90

If you want support and have not already joined, try the nhshealthunlocked weightloss forum. You'll find a few of us, on there, in the same boat. We are all going about it in different ways and it is a very long bumpy road, no quick fixes I'm afraid.

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply toteasel90

The following is from STTM and it is known that levo causes weight gain. Probably due to insufficient dose to covert to T3 and doctor keeping the TSH above 2.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

Countrykitten profile image
Countrykitten

Don't waste your money on XLS Medical. I tried it before I was diagnosed hypo when I couldn't lose weight. Since being on Levo for last 15 months my weight has crept up even further. We all need to get our medication right to have a chance of losing weight.

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