Underactive Thyroid and Dieting

Hello, S. I actully had an overactve thyroid and then I took care of it and it went to underactive but anyways I had trouble lossing wieght and all I did was walk daily about 2miles and took muilt-vitmans and eat what I want but in smaller sizes I went from 250 down to 185 thats 65 lbs and I was 250 in Nov. 07 and by April of 08 I was already down to 185 ,trying to lose more but still I feel good about myself hope it works for you

As frustrating as it is, be patient. People who lose weight gradually tend to keep it off longer than those who see the pounds fall off very quickly. You are doing great! Hang in there! I know you are a busy woman, but if you wish to lose weight in a healthy manner and keep it off, also try adding 10-15 minutes of exercise daily. You can even make it fun by including your kids and playing dance dance revolution or some active game where your kids can play along with you. Good luck! You can do it!

S., I don't think you can lose weight by diet alone...but the good news is exercise doesn't have to be something you dread. The weather is going to get nicer so its a perfect oppertunity to start adding exercise into your family routine. I have been trying to get out daily with my two youngest every night right after work and before dinner...some nights we go on a long walk and some nights it is only a short walk, but we all have fun.
One of the things I love to do is put on some up beat music and dance with my kids in the living room = ) Even that burns calories...and we all have a blast. Also the best advice I can give you about dieting is you can't eat it if it isn't in the house, and you can't deprive yourself either. So I make sure I have healthy snacks that I LOVE on hand. I am not to proud to admit that I have even been known to pre-measure so that I have ready made portion controlled snacks all ready to go so I am not tempted to even "Over indulge" even with a healthy snack. Drinking lots of calorie free liquids will help you stay hydrated and also make you feel full. I love the little packets that you can add to water bottles = )
Lots of luck...
B.

I don't know about the thyroid part, but I do know there are ways to "sneak" exercise into your daily routine.

Take the elevator instead of the stairs.
Don't save steps for your self ..... like take the clean laundry upstairs one room at a time so you are making multiple trips.
Take food out of the refrigerator one thing at a time so you are creating extra steps for your self.
Put music on and dance as you vacuum.
Do crunches or leg lifts while watching TV.
Swing those arms while you walk.
Be creative ! Just be sure you are always moving.

I wish you all the best.
:)

I have had Hypothyroidism for 18 years now, after the birth of our last son. Thyroid medicine does not make you lose weight but it helps balance you. Just "dieting" will be slow IF you do it right. The nutritionist should tell you the foods you should only eat in the morning and how much protein you should be taking at each 5 small meals during the day. (I'm on 25%) Don't DIET and deprive yourself instead change your eating habits to everyday healthy. Exercise is the key but doesn't need to take an hour out of every day. For example, yesterday I walked my stairs inside my split level house for 15 minutes then on the treadmill for 15 minutes. Use the stairs at your work instead of the elevator and drink lots of water every day!

It isn't IMPOSSIBLE to lose weight without exercising but the exercising sure makes it a lot easier. Unfortunately, an under active thyroid is going to complicate things too. I am sure your doctor has explained a lot to you about how the thyroid operates and why it is so necessary for it to be regulated. You may need to give it a little more time, for it to be fully regulated and you may need to talk to your doctor to see if the artificial thyroid levels need to be increased just a tiny bit. I have been on Levothyroxine for about 15 years now, due to Graves Disease. I can tell you that I started gaining weight about that time, now I can't blame it all on my thyroid, I fully admit that I over eat and under exercise...a dangerous combination!!!
Unfortunately I also think that our metabolism changes after we start having children...I used to be able to eat just about anything I wanted and not gain weight...those days are long gone.
I dont know how old your children are, but maybe you could incorporate some "exercise" into play with them...it would be beneficial for all three of you. Go to a park, take a walk, find some fun active games to play. It will help you with your weight loss goals and start your children on a healthy lifestyle.
Start a food journal...keep track of everything you eat for a week or two...(there are good calorie counting sites online....look at Calorie King or Spark People), you would might be surprised at how many calories are in otherwise healthy food. Dont think of this is a foot race or a sprint...think of it as a marathon...you need to develop a new way of thinking about food and exercise...and carry it with you for the rest of your life. (Easier said than done...I KNOW what I should be doing but that doesnt make me DO it!! I have lost...and then regained about 50 lbs in the past 2 or 3 years!!!)
Good luck honey!!!

The thyroid can cause all kinds of problems has I'm sure that you doctor has explained to you. One of those problems can be weight issues. I would suggest asking your doctor about this. It could be that you medication is too strong or not strong enough which is cause you to not loose weight. Also, if you are seriously wanting to loose weight, you have to find a way to include the exercise, even if it is sporatic through out the day. Go for a walk on your lunch break, take the stairs, park farther from the door so you have to walk more, exercise after you put the kids to bed for 30 minutes. Exercise does not have to be a solid hour of intense workout. Just find little ways to move more. If you really feel like you need a "workout", try finding time for two 15min workouts during the day instead of one 30min clump of time.

Usually the thyroid medicine will make U loose lots of weight .Just be patientfor a month or two.

I have an underactive thyroid and was taking Synthroid for years and no diet worked. I asked my doctor to switch to Armor Thyroid, and I tried the Rotation Diet again (google it or get the book from the library). I heard it is the only diet that works with hypothyroidism because it changes the calorie amounts before your body figures out what is going on. It worked for me, hope it does for you.

(Armor Thyroid is natural and it worked tons better for me, but you have to find what works for you. Synthroid is synthetic and doesn't let you loose much weight.)

Hi S.,
I have both too! Do you take a Rx for it? I would recommend a natural form like Armour Thyroid in place of a synthetic one like Synthroid. Also, there is a great book called "Overcoming Thyroid Disorders" by Dr David Brownstein. https://www.drbrownstein.com/home.asp I bought the book/dvd combo. He is "the" guy for thyroid issues.
Hypoglycemics need to avoid sugar, that's all I can say about that.
Take care,
J.

I have a similar problem. I have PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrom) and Wilson's Thyroid Condition. The Wilson's means my throid tests within the normal range, but that it is "off" a little. My doctor put me on Metformin (a glucose drug they use for diabetics) and hormones since they control the blood sugar. I started a low carb diet and lost about 35 lbs in 5 months. I did go to the gym, but that really just helped me tone. With the weight loss, I was able to get pregnant for the first time! I would suggest a low carb (very low, no white veggies, no pasta, no bread) and if you can possibly get an exercise video to use after the kids go to sleep, that would help a lot. I work 50 hours a week and my boyfriend works nights so I have no gym time either. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask!! Good luck.