Hi all I'm trying to lose weight me and my husband same diet mostly and he has lost 2.5 stone ive lost a few pounds. It's totally demoralising and I give up I have not long had a baby but issues around recurrent miscarriage and comfort eating my bmi is now over 40.
So I'm a bit lost I've gained weight very easily since my hypothyroidism but losing it is painfully hard. Just for information I eat a gluten free almost vegan diet.
Any advice is appreciated
I would look at your carb intake... try to avoid white carbs (bread, rice). It’s the little snacks and high calorie drinks (like orange juice or pop) that can add on weight quickly too. It sounds like you don’t eat takeaway or ready meals which is really good! Just be sure to get your VitD and B12. I make veggie soup and when I want a snack I have a bowel of that. It also keeps me hydrated. And of course, regular exercise... even if it’s just a short walk a day. You just can’t get away from that... it’s so important. Set realistic goals and don’t take on too much at once... small steps. But most importantly, don’t be hard on yourself! Having Thyroid Disease or hypothyroidism is hard work on every level!! It’s taken me many years to get on top of it. It’s an on going battle but It is possible to loose weight and feel better. Not sure this helped but I wish you all the best. You’re certainly not alone. 🤗
Hello thank you for your reply. I am gluten free and I don't drink fruit juices I drink water mainly and red Bush tea as caffeine effects me really badly, I don't have take out ever or eat ready meals I do eat crisps and dark chocolate more than I should though 😯
Soup is a brilliant idea and I've done well in the past with that thank you.
I do need to exercise more my body took quite the pounding in my last pregnancy I developed sinus tachycardia and was advised to minimise exercise as my heart rate was already sky high. So that became the norm I've also been having problems with my joints since having baby I had blood tests done and my immune markers where up but not enough to be arthritis I'm waiting on nerve testing on my arms as well along side signs of coeliac disease. (blood was taken but not tested typically and I'm now gluten free.
Sorry to ramble but thank you for taking the time to answer x
I think you should be excited that you lost a few pounds, congrats on that Im jealous.
Don’t compare your weight loss to your husband since men and women will lose weight at a different rate even on the same diet “unfair”!
Keep going you got this!
Thank you x
I have managed to lose 1.5 stones by following the LCHF diet even though I am 76 and have an under active thyroid. Come on over to the forum and we’ll get you started.
Di
Hello thanks for your reply we have looked in to a low carb diet but decided against it as a family of five I didnt want to be cooking all different things for all of us.
I don't avoid fat I use mainly olive oil eat linseed almonds chia seeds but I do have carby food such as potatoes brown rice etc I'm also gluten free but I do have a sandwich or a roll a day and I'm not sure how carb rich the replacements are.
I actually have a book I purchased recently about low gi but I'm yet to get round to reading it maybe that will help thanks again for your reply x
My husband is 6’6” and unfairly only weighs 75 kgs when dripping wet. He eats the carbs I don’t, it’s as easy as that. I fill up on veg instead of potatoes, boiled eggs for breakfast, celery, ham etc instead of bread for lunch.
Once you have the mind set, you will find your way.
D
How much levothyroxine are you currently taking?
Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine
When were thyroid and vitamin levels last tested?
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking
Essential to have OPTIMAL Vitamin levels
If vegan and Hashimoto’s highly likely to have low B12, iron and/or ferritin unless supplementing regularly
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
Ask GP to test vitamin levels
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .
Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
If/when also on T3 or NDT make sure to take last half or third of daily dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test
Is this how you do your tests?
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Medichecks Thyroid plus vitamins including folate (private blood draw required)
medichecks.com/products/thy...
Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3
£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off if go on thyroid uk for code
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...
Medichecks - JUST vitamin testing including folate - DIY finger prick test
medichecks.com/products/nut...
Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays
Add any results and ranges if you have them
Or come back with new post once you get results
Hi my bloods were tested in June no low vit d or b12 as I take spray vit d and a high dose b complex. My iron was normal hemoglobin but the stores ferritin were low to be expected on a veg diet.
I was told my tsh was within range can't remember the exact numbers I had a nuclear ab1 or something test which was the outside range at 1.4 but not enough to suggest arthritis. Everything else I was told was normal a coeliac test was supposed to have been completed also but for reasons not known to me it wasn't. I cannot remember everything that was tested bit thanks for your reply
So you need to work on getting ferritin optimal...at least around 70
So you tested negative for coeliac?
Strictly gluten free diet helps or is essential for thousands of Hashimoto’s patients
Hashimoto's frequently affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first
healthcheckshop.co.uk/store...?
Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet
(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)
Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse
chriskresser.com/the-gluten...
amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
drknews.com/changing-your-d...
restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...
Non Coeliac Gluten sensitivity (NCGS) and autoimmune disease
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/296...
The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/300...
The obtained results suggest that the gluten-free diet may bring clinical benefits to women with autoimmune thyroid disease
nuclmed.gr/wp/wp-content/up...
In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned
restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...
Despite the fact that 5-10% of patients have Celiac disease, in my experience and in the experience of many other physicians, at least 80% + of patients with Hashimoto's who go gluten-free notice a reduction in their symptoms almost immediately.
Initially I lost a bit of weight on the 5:2 - then it stopped. More recently, I have kept weight stable with Intermittent Fasting (where you eat all your calories in a restricted "time window" (in my case between noon and 7pm) which, after more than 2 years, is now a way of life.
But in my experience you won't lose weight unless your free T4 and free T3 are both nice and high in range - and even then it will be slow and much harder than for your husband, because your metabolism is basically shot. Agree that real food and minimal white carbs is the way to go. Don't do "diet shakes" which contain soy - in fact avoid all soy/tofu etc anyway as these stop your levo working properly. If you don't eat red meat, make sure your ferritin is high enough and you are supplementing anything else that needs to be boosted.
Good luck x
Hello I've tried 5-2 and 16-8 and it didnt especially work but weirdly I find not eating easier than eating!🙄 lol plus I'm still breastfeeding a little at the minute and the verdict is out on fasting while breastfeeding. Thank you for your reply
I believe that the most important thing is to get your thyroid levels optimal before you can lose weight.
Have you got your latest results. Call your GP surgery and ask for a print out. We are all entitled to this.
Your TSH needs to be below 2.5 and your T3 near the top of the range. Are you on T4 medication only? You could check if you’re converting well or not through your blood tests.
I was on Levothyroxine T4 medication only for years and struggled to lose weight with any cutting back or dieting and exercise. Since finding out I’m a very poor converter T4 to T3 and now on T3 medication I’ve lost 3.5stone without really trying. I feel so much more energetic and alive.
Also with dieting be careful you don’t run down your vitamins B12, D, Ferritin and folate. These need to be high in the range to help your body convert T4 to T3.
It’s all about a good level of T3 in your body to feel healthy and lose those extra pounds. I’m living proof of it.
Like you I lost weight on T3 which I bought myself and the Dr didn't like it ,when I asked if I could go on T3 and told him I felt 💯% better in myself mentally and healthy , so he sent me for a blood test and said I couldn't have it as my results were showing some high reading in brain activity , something like that , he wouldn't prescribe it ,no doctors at my practice will . But just had my routine bloods so hoping they read well .
lorrainewilson64
Your results from your post 7 months ago showed under medicated
Sounds like b******t from GP
You are legally entitled to copies of your blood test results
When taking T3 you need to test TSH Ft4 and Ft3 together ..
Plus vitamins obviously
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .
Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
If/when also on T3 make sure to take last half or third of daily dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test
Is this how you do your tests?
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Medichecks Thyroid plus vitamins including folate (private blood draw required)
medichecks.com/products/thy...
Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3
£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off if go on thyroid uk for code
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...
Medichecks - JUST vitamin testing including folate - DIY finger prick test
medichecks.com/products/nut...
Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays
I think only an Endocrinologist privately or NHS can prescribe T3. Or a psychiatric Dr as low T3 can effect ones mental state in some cases.
I like you, feel 100% better on T3 plus a small amount of T4. My NHS Endo threatend me that if my TSH goes suppressed that he’ll withdraw my prescription. I said that wouldn’t it be better if you helped me manage my doses rather than making me ill again. Then I’d be turning up at the GP’s again and them not knowing how to treat me all over again.
There are some evil and mean minded endocrinologists out there working for the NHS. I haven’t met a good one. The only one I trust is my private only Endocrinologist who prescribed T3 for me and I believe saved my life.
Hi i agree about endos mine took me off Levo completely and made me pretty I'll to prove if I was definitely hypothyroid. My tsh went above range so back to the Levo x
Hi i take Levi only I'm not sure how well I convert to be honest when the blood was tested I was more concerned about the pins and needles in my hands and feet and the constant leg pain after having my baby 8 months ago. So i didn't ask specifically for my tsh to be done x
With regards to vitamins I take iron in form of a under tongue spray Same with vit d I alternate the d with a calcium supplement I also take a high dose b complex so my folate and b12 levels are good. I don't take anyting else maybe my Levi needs looking at again
I’m on paleo ketogenic and lost nearly three stone where normally I absolutely struggle to lose any weight . I know your vegan so not helpful advice from me but carbs are the killer and sugar
Yeah keto as a veggie/vegan isn't simple lol x
You sound like me - same diet, but my partner still ate a daily chocolate bar, and had bigger portions and did less exercise. He lost 3 stone, I lost 6lbs. Doctor just told me different people lose weight differently.
Losing weight by just calorie counting will never really work for us with thyroid issues - reducing calories lowers your T3 levels, and if your levels are already low, it's a perpetual circle.
Nutrient deficiencies are usually a big part of the issue, I found this post on common nutrient deficiencies helpful yesterday: instagram.com/p/CEAFqUznTGV...
You need to fix the nutrient deficiencies, fix the thyroid hormone deficiencies, fix any digestive issues and hopefully then the weight will start to shift. I find paleo is the diet that makes me feel the most well.
Hello thank you see I've been having really awful digestive issues since having my baby 8 months ago they were bad before that but got like 100% worse actually I've felt just generally unwell since then to be honest. Being gluten free has made me feel a bit better but eating fresh coconut the other day had me doubled over in pain again 😑 x
I think Isabella's post might be relevant to this - I heard someone explain once that when women have a baby, their bodies give away quite a large proportion of their enzyme reserves, often leaving mum with insufficient amount for herself. That causes gut issues, weight gain etc. If you were already depleted, it'd only get worse.
Supporting your pancreas with digestive enzymes, digestive bitters or (I think) apple cider vinegar might help you.
That's interesting thanks for the info I will look into that
Hi Nettiboo,
just to commiserate with you, last year on holiday my Husband and I both got food poisoning,throwing up etc! couldn't eat a lot afterwards.When we got home he had lost over half a stone and I had not lost a single pound!
Since the pandemic, I have lost half a stone due to stress, now my Mum is in hospital due to breaking her hip and I can't go and see her, so even more stress! Seems to be the only thing to make me lose weight.
Oh I'm very sorry to hear about your mum fingers crossed covid stuff improves soon and you can see her again 😊. Funnily I put on more weight when stressed as I'm a comfort eater and vivid got me very stressed especially having a small baby so i gained nearly 2 stone in lock down I've lost 7lb going gluten free then I've stopped again. X
I’ve managed to lose three and a half stone with Slimming World, after many years of trying to do it on my own. I’m delighted , the meals are great, and it’s changed the way I think about food. My husband joined with me ( he wasn’t as heavy) and he lost one and a half stone from December to April. It took me a year to reach my target.
I wish you every success with your weight loss, it is possible!
Brilliant to hear well done x thank you
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