Hi
I desperately need to lose weight. My friend, who has a healthy thyroid, has had good results on this diet. I'm seriously thinking of doing it, combined with intermittent fasting, not just to lose weight but for the overall health benefits.
Has anyone tried it? Has it worked?
Anne
Are you on an optimal level of thyroid replacement? That in itself may help the weight issue.
When you say you "Desperately" need to lose weight is that for health reasons (such as being clinically obese) or because you are desperately unhappy with your present weight? Or both?
Most of us would like to lose weight of course, it's just that if you are not optimally treated for hypothyroidism even the best diet is unlikely to help.
Also, restricting food intake is likely to make thyroid issues worse not better. I fasted for several days back last year (nourishing drinks such as milk and soup, but no solid food). I felt quite good, but gradually became more and more "Pleasantly lethargic", and realised I would have to stop.
It took some time to get back to my previous slightly undermedicated hypothyroid state.
Long term food restriction would probably have the effect of lowering the HPT (hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid) axis. Meaning your metabolism would become even slower than before.
Hi,
Thanks for replying. I need to lose weight as I am unhappy with being overweight, something I have never been throughout my entire life. If anything I've been skinny. I just don't feel like 'me' anymore. Plus it's bad for my health generally. I have arthritis and I know carrying extra weight doesn't help.
As far as I know my thyroid levels are fine. My GP is happy with them, although I do have a low white blood cell count. Nothing sinister has shown up in tests. Previous attempts to lose weight have been unsuccessful. I lose a bit, then it just reappears, even though I'm still dieting. I may still try it, just for a couple of weeks, to see what happens.
Anne
Just because GP says results are ok doesn't necessarily mean they are
How much Levothyroxine are you currently taking?
Do you always get same brand of Levothyroxine
Do you always take Levothyroxine on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after
First thing is, do you have any actual blood test results? if not will need to get hold of copies. You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.
UK GP practices are supposed to offer online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.
In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet
Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also 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).
Come back with new post once you get results and ranges
As I and others have said, a low calorie diet is likely to make things worse.
What other hypothyroid symptoms do you have? Post your results and folks here can advise you better. It seems likely that you are undermedicated, however "Happy" the doctor is with your results.
If your weight gain isn't too extreme try to come to terms with it for now. Hopefully an increase in medication will help anyway. Even though it doesn't always, the main thing is to recover your health. Which dieting will NOT do.
I used to be extremely skinny until aged around 40, then gradually put on weight over a number of years, and went from a bony size 14 (I am quite big boned) to a "Cuddly" size 16-18. It's annoying but I don't stress about it. Fat or thin I just want to get and keep my hypothyroidism under control so I have more energy.
It's quite likely that your arthritis is also at least partly due to being undermedicated, or to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Hypothyroidism affects the body's ability to absorb nutrients such as iron and vitamins D, B12 and Folate. Do you take any supplements? If so, which and how much?
Is that 800 calories a day? Not enough. Your friend may have had good results with it, but it's not sustainable, even for her - and it could even affect her healthy thyroid. And, long-term, she could end up putting it all back on, plus extra.
Certainly you, as a hypo, need more than 800 calories a day. Low-calorie diets can negatively impact conversion and make you even more hypo, meaning that you put on even more weight, rather than losing it.
Hi,
Thanks for replying. When I've tried dieting previously I lose lots at first, then I put it all back on, even though I'm still on a restricted diet. I wondered if combining intermittent fasting (basically just skipping breakfast, eating only between noon and 8pm) with 800 calories a day for a couple of weeks would kick start some weight loss, then follow up with a Mediterranean type diet.
Anne
Not if you're under-medicated it wouldn't, no. And, as I said, 800 calories a day will probably do more harm than good. I've only ever once tried 800 calories a day, and I did it for 11 days. I put on three kilos.
Hi . 800 calories is not healthy or sustainable for weight loss especially for hypothyroidism or anyone. Your losing muscle not fat . It’s portion control,cut out sugars. Incorporate some form of exercises ie walking,running/etc . I’m hypothyroid ,exercise and slim 58 yrs old .
I think that the best diet is a lifelong commitment. So for me it’s low carb and home cooked meals. Sat nights are indulgent nights so for me that might be a rice or pasta dish or a big baked potato with all the trimmings. Once you get into low carb it’s really easy and sunstainable.
I think restrictive diets put out bodies into shock and that’s hard to recover from with a Thyriod condition as it will lower conversion rates and ultimately do more harm. Even people with good Thyriod function can mess it up for a time and they quite often put on twice what they lost.
One of my favourite people to start with was Zoe Harcombe, she talks about not mixing fats with carbs at meals, good if your still a fan of carbs. But in general she has a good knowledge of diet.
A year ago your post showed you were very under medicated with TsH over 6
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Presumably you had 25mcg dose increase in Levothyroxine after that?
Likely to need further increase by now
Getting full Thyroid and vitamin testing
The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly in 25mcg steps upwards until TSH is under 2 (many need TSH significantly under one) and most important is that FT4 in top third of range and FT3 at least half way in range
All four vitamins need to be regularly tested and frequently need supplementing to maintain optimal levels
NHS guidelines on Levothyroxine including that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine.
Intermittent fasting and thyroid reaction
Underactive thyroid and Intermittent Fasting (16:8)
The Fast Diet
Intermittent fasting affecting thyroid values
