Weight gain: Hello Help! I'm am active person... - Thyroid UK

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Weight gain

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Hello

Help! I'm am active person (walk and run most days) eat a healthy diet and have been living with an underactive thyroid for many years now. I'm currently taking 100mg of thyroxine and have been for at least a year now. My most recent blood test show I'm functioning in the perceived normal range and no action to be taken, good news!

Despite of of this I'm steadily gaining weight, a little at a time and unable to shift the weight gain. Does anyone have any tips, advice, dietary guidelines that might help me to,shift the unwanted weight. I know this is a related problem for some people with an underactive thyroid and wonder if there are foods that could be hindering the problem or am I missing something? Confused yet again! Thanks

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12 Replies
shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

If you can get a copy of your latest thyroid gland blood test results and post here someone will comment upon them. What the GP's perceive as 'normal' may not be for us and we may need an increase in meds.

This is a link and there are several questions about weight - which is the most common question. Some of the links within the topics (more at the top of the page) may not work.

See the first question and then

Cursor to June 11, 2004 and

November 25, 2002

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

Latest blood test results, look within the normal range, Any advice would be appreciated!

I'm wondering whether Kelp would help or hinder?

Serum TSH level. 0.50mU/L (0.30-4.20U/L)

Serum free T4 level 17.0 pmol/L (12.00 - 22.00pmol/L)

I will check out the link now Shaw. Thanks

waveylines profile image
waveylines in reply to

Hi Baxter,

many people need their Ft4 to be near the top end of the range -yours is a bit lower than this so worth checking whether you need a slightly higher dose then you are presently taking. Secondly i have found reducing my grains when well medicated on thyroid hormones to be an effective way of managing weight -for some reason despite exercise i simply don't need much of those types of carbs -so i only have them at breakfast time. The weight i gain when eating more grains always goes on my middle -have no idea if this is the case for you but might be worth a nosey. x

in reply to waveylines

Thank you, yes the waist area is the problem! I will take your advice on the grains and see how it goes. x

greygoose profile image
greygoose

Kelp will only help if you are deficient in iodine. I would recommend that you don't take anything containing extra iodine without getting tested for deficiency.

Just as there are lots of questions on here about weight, there are also many questions and blogs about iodine which you might find helpful.

Hugs, Grey

in reply to greygoose

Thank you, I'm just getting to grips with the site!

PinkNinja profile image
PinkNinja

You may find, given your test results, that you may do better with an increase. Even a small increase of 25mcg can make a big difference for some people.

Carolyn x

in reply to PinkNinja

Thank you x

When on thyroxine only this does not mimic nature as the thyroid normally produces a little T3. So to compensate for this lack of T3 you may need to have a slightly higher T4 level and slightly lower TSH level than normal. Or if you want to copy nature take a combination of T4 and T3 and you may find you have less problems. 5-10ug T3 with enough T4 to keep your TSH around 0.5 is what seems to work for me best.

Heloise profile image
Heloise

Are you eating soy? This blocks the action of the thyroid and if you are reducing gluten, they often substitute with soy flour. Also raw cabbage and broccoli can interfere as well. Even though it is a fat, coconut oil has some good benefits toward less weight gain.

penny profile image
penny

I have found the 5:2 diet really good for losing weight but this does not take into account being correctly medicated.

Polyanna007 profile image
Polyanna007

Good morning from Polyanna007:

Jussi read yourquestion and from someone who gained 13 pounds from

ESI( steroid inj for sciatica) I found deleting Sugar from my diet did the trick after all else failed and did some type of exercise for thirty minutes at a gym three times a week took it off in thirty days an i am in my late 70's. Only used trainer twice to show me at my age and health what to do and what NOT to do. Just a thought if you still hae a problem you may want to try.good luck at any state .

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