Losing weight

[Cannylas]

Hi there I have an under active thyroid and recently started hrt. I have put a stone in weight on since January (when I started the hrt) my doctor has changed my tablets to kilofem. I also have the mittens coil and have vitamin b12 injections every 12 weeks. Any tips on losing weight? I eat healthy and excercise 3 times a week. I’m hoping that the change in hrt tablets will help but any advice would be great thanks. Sorry for the long post

[Aunds]

Hi Cannylas. I am hypothyroid and the only way I’ve lost weight is to be correctly medicated and then follow a Keto diet - high protein, high fat and no/very low carbs. Hope that helps for you.

[Cannylas in reply to Aunds]

Thank you

[Baobabs]

Yes I agree, you may be under medicated. I presume you have to take HRT?

[Cannylas in reply to Baobabs]

Hi yes I do. Blood test showed I was in the range. I suffered terribly with hot flushes. Thankfully they have stopped completely.

[Flynzer in reply to Cannylas]

Try gluten free. It worked for me.

[Baobabs in reply to Cannylas]

In range can mean anything.

[Panya]

Hi Cannylas,

I lost 88lb over a year with an undiagnosed extreme hypothyroid issue, so it can certainly be done, through normal weight-loss strategies. The trouble is, most weight-loss strategies (eat less, exercise more) are doomed because they are asking us to over-ride our immensely powerful satiety mechanisms with willpower, something that just can't be sustained indefinitely. Keto is successful to some extent (though in the longer term not so much so) but unhealthy unless you are in denial of the scientific facts. The way that really works, is optimally healthy and healing - and best for the planet besides - is to avoid the foods which are unnaturally high-calorie due to being processed/dried/refined in ways that make them so dense in calories that our normal appetite mechanisms can't judge them properly. Dairy is another extreme-high-calorie food group that is designed in nature to fatten up huge cows, and is just not a suitable human food. And the excessive quantities of animal protein that are considered normal now are also very high calorie. These foods range between 1,200 and 4,000 calories and their high calorie content makes them addictive, which keeps so many people trapped in craving and over-eating despite every attempt to control their eating.

Move towards eating lower calorie density whole plant foods. If you eat foods which average less than 567 calories per lb - non-starchy vegetables, starchy vegetables (potatoes, sweet potatoes, etc) whole grains (no flour products), fruits, beans and lentils - no products containing sugar, and no oil - you can eat unlimited quantities and still lose weight until you reach your correct weight. In fact if you really do this 100% it's virtually impossible to be overweight. It is sometimes known (accurately) as 'Lose Weight with a Full Plate'. Takes a bit of adjusting to but you can start by adding as many non-starchy vegetables as possible to your meals - yes, even breakfast! - and eat them before whatever else you eat. That alone will start to shift some weight.

[Cannylas in reply to Panya]

Thank you

[Emm555]

I couldn’t lose weight until I was correctly medicated and moved from T4 only to T4/T3 combo and then T3 only. I’ve lost 20kg on the Alevere diet in 3 months. It’s expensive and restrictive but the results make it well worthwhile. It’s similar to a Keto diet but more restrictive. When I stop it I plan to focus on a Keto style diet to keep the weight off. Too much exercise can be counter productive, I discovered. I’ve been investigated HIT (Michael Moseley book).

[SlowDragon Administrator]

There's nothing on your profile....are you hypothyroid and on Levothyroxine?

Common to need to increase Levothyroxine dose when on HRT

You need FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing 6-8 weeks after changing to new HRT

[Cannylas in reply to SlowDragon]

I have an appointment next week for blood test.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Cannylas]

How much Levothyroxine are you currently taking?

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all 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 special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

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 primary 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_...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

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

[Cannylas in reply to SlowDragon]

I take 75 one day and 100 the next. I also have a b12 injection every 12 weeks

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Cannylas]

Do you always get same brand of Levothyroxine at each prescription?

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.

Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription. Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.

Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Though it is the only one for lactose intolerant patients. Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet.

Getting vitamin D, folate and ferritin tested by GP if not been done

Or privately if necessary

Common for HRT to reduce conversion of FT4 to FT3

If NHS test doesn't include FT3 and FT4 you will need to test privately

Thyroid antibodies should be tested if never been tested. Look back through old test results for any thyroid antibodies test results

[magsyh]

Yes I agree you will need a higher dose of thyroid medication to counter act the estrogen it is most likely the cause of your weight gain. If they have given you a coil too that is double whammy as you have just cut off your natural progesterone too. All forms of chemical hormones mess with your thyroid function. You may find too that you have problems as your liver will be overworked to rid your body of the estrogen and you will feel tired and gain weight round the middle. If you are in England ask for utrogestan instead of the coil. I've never had a hot flush and I'm 61.

[K80t]

Taking HRT and levothyroxine means your thyroid levels should be monitored more closely. Also Do not take HRT at the same time as your Levothyroxine as the HRT interferes with thyroxine absorption. Take dosages hours apart. Just saying in case this hasn’t been mentioned. I was on HRT and no one told me this! It interfered greatly and I gained weight and had no energy. Took years before I discovered this as gp hadn’t known about interactions either. All the best.

[Cannylas in reply to K80t]

Thank you yes the doctor told me to take them four hours apart

[Hippyhappy234]

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