need to lose weight

[Millie1971]

hi I have an under active thyroid and finding it so hard to lose weight I was wondering if you have any ideas to help me

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Welcome to the forum Millie1971

So we can offer better advice, can you tell us more about your thyroid condition, eg when you were diagnosed, ongoing symptoms (other than the weight increase you mention in your post), current medication & dosage, plus blood test results (with ranges in brackets) for:

TSH

FT3

FT4

Plus any antibody and key vitamin tests (ferritin, folate, vitamins D and B12)

In the first instance, do ask your GP for the above tests. We don’t recommend supplementing key vitamins without testing first (and sharing results with us).

If your GP is unable to complete all the above (eg if TSH is within range, some surgeries may not be able to access FT4 and FT3 tests), you could look to do this privately, as many forum members do, for a better picture of your thyroid health:

thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

[Millie1971 in reply to Buddy195]

hi Buddy in 26 /2/2025 these were my test results 1.02 ml serum Sh and 16.9pmol t4 level

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Millie1971]

What’s the range on Ft4

Was test done early morning ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

These don’t show the full picture

Is your hypothyroidism autoimmune

How much levothyroxine are you taking

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Absolutely ESSENTIAL to test vitamin levels at least once a year

What vitamin supplements are you taking

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test

If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal

Monitor My Health (NHS private test service) offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65

(Doesn’t include thyroid antibodies)

monitormyhealth.org.uk/full...

10% off code here

thyroiduk.org/testing/priva...

IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

In days before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg) and continue separate B12 if last test result serum B12 was below 500 or active B12 (private test) under 70

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to Millie1971]

Please supply ranges for these- as they can vary between laboratories. Also ask GP (in first instance) for other tests mentioned

[JoBarr31]

in my experience I really only started to lose weight once my stress was addressed. “conscious connected breathing” really helped as I had a lot of stored “trauma” held in my body which needed to be released. Once my body felt safe the weight came off - this is my experience though, everyone has their own story and opinion. I can recommend an amazing breathworker in London who practices CCB - DM me for info if you’re interested ☺️