Thyroid and Weight Loss

[BabyGotBack]

I was diagnosed with hypothyroid about six years ago while pregnant with my first child. I was put on Synthroid and eventually everything 'leveled out' and I have been on the same dose for a couple years. However, I still have some issues that keep cropping up, including difficulty losing weight, so I went to see a new doctor.

The new dr. said that my thyroid condition had nothing to do with any weight issues (which I COMPLETELY disagree with--look at all of us out there with the same complaint!) And that I need to just lower my calories. When I told him I had tried cutting my calories down to 1,200 a day plus faithfully working out 4 x's a week and had not lost a pound, he told me I should cut my calories to 800 a day. I was already starving on 1,200 calories and he wanted me to cut 400 more?! He said, "a calorie is a calorie" and if you drastically cut calories you will lose weight. (But at what price? Being constantly hungry, always thinking about food, irritable, tired....??) I asked him then how Atkins worked for me several years back b/c I was definitely eating more than 800 calories a day; I wasn't starving, I was satisfied and losing weight consistently. I don't actually know how many calories I was consuming since we don't really count calories on Atkins, but I know it was more than 800, or even 1,200...... He just continued to claim that a calorie is a calorie. Needless to say, our doctor / patient relationship was short lived and I have now gone back to what I know works for me; Atkins.

I would be curious to know if anyone has discussed weight issues with their Endocrinologist or have tried any other avenues (herbal or otherwise) to improve thyroid condition.

[Alexa]

Hi there,

I had almost exactly the same conversation with a Dr. This was about a year and a half ago - I had hypothyroidism since I was 18 had gained 40lbs in a year and nothing would shift it even though I watched calories and run 4 times a week - he just told me to try harder! So I understand your frustration with that!

It is so annoying when Drs think because your dose is right that you will automatically lose weight - I know 6 people with disease and it has not happened to any of them.

As you already know Atkins works great for people with thyroid issues, good luck getting back into it.

As for your other questions I've never spoken with an endo - you need some sort of special issues (like fertility) to be able to do that in the UK as far as I know. I did have a book called, um let's see, hmm I think I've given it away but it was something like 'How I Cured My Thyroid' - it was based on getting rid of any toxic type substances from your home, useing natural chemicals Drinking lots of water and lots of vitamin supplements. I took some of it on board - I always try to avoid lots of chemicals but I didn't really get on with it. Some people might. It also had stuff on getting the most out of medication.

'Thyroid Power: 10 steps to total health' was more useful to me but I felt it applied more to US patients who have access to more kinds of medication.

As for me I feel much more energised, positive, fit and healthy on this WOL - it is almost exactly the same as before I got the condition

[BabyGotBack]

Alexa,
Thanks for the info and book references. Doctors can be SO frustrating! At that same appointment he said, "I've been doing this 30 years, I know what I'm doing" and I wanted to say, "yah, well, I've lived in this body for 37 years and I think I know when something's not right with it!" And as in your case, a young woman gaining 40 lbs. in one year is a red flag that something is not right.

I also feel like I'm not looking for a magic bullet, but if there are any outside obstacles keeping from getting to my goal weight I certainly want to take them out of the equation!

I am optimistic about my future -- even thought it's been a bit of a rough start. I'm losing the weight quickly on Induction but the energy burst has not hit me like it did the first time.

Thanks for the support!

[sallyseachange]

Thanks for giving us your story. Very frustrating for you!

I'm sure you'll do well on Atkins Baby... but it sounds to me like you should consider changing doctors if you haven't already done that!

[LooseShoes]

Hi, congratulations on going back to Atkins. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at age 5, so I've lived with it nearly all my life. There's just something about Atkins that makes me feel so good and have so much more energy than I had before. I don't know about you, but I get the feeling most doctors are fairly clueless about thyroid conditions. My advice is to do research yourself. The internet has a lot of resources on thyroid conditions. A good library ought to have some resources, too. My experience is that it's easier to take care of our condition if you take responsibility to inform yourself about it. Congratulations for making that step!

I do take fish oil and flax oil supplements. I think they make me feel better. I also take a good multivitamin. I don't know of anything that specifically helps the thyroid condition. I do know that I, like you, couldn't lose weight the low fat, low calorie way. I've been doing this WOE for almost 6 months now and have lost 57 pounds. I feel good and look better. Exercise helps so much, too.

I haven't seen an endocrinologist since I was a kid, so I have no info there.

Good luck and post often, the support here will help you be successful, too!

[hrgillespie]

Big Hugs to you on the frustrations with your endo. I can tell you from experience there are wonderful ones out there!!!!! It took me two before I found a great one and I have stuck with him ever since. He is actually even an Atkins advocate which is amazing in the medical field. I know that it is easy to use a thyroid disorder as an excuse for weight gain because I lean on it a little myself. And the truth of it is that it does effect how you metabolise your calories. So yes in that sense it does have an effect on how you lose. The key is to find something that counter effects the slow metabolism and go with it ........ Hello has anyone heard of Atkins????? I know the disclaimer says that the Atkins lifestyle is not a cure for Thyroid disease and thats true but when used effectively with the right meds and the right doc it is amazing what a difference it makes and this coming from a gal who has tried everything there is to try!

I will tell you the key to success with weight loss and thyroid disease turely is to get your metabolism working right. This means ............ eating right, drinking lots of fluids, and excercise .......... does this sound familiar?

I have a few other tricks up my sleeve that my doc has shared with me that has truely made a very big difference in my life and my battle with my thyroid and my weight. I am still learning what works and doesn't work for me and it is totally individualised so you have to try and try and try and when you find what works stick with that!

Good luck to you ......... keep on keeping on!!!!!!

Heidi

[BabyGotBack]

Thanks, Heidi. I just talked to a friend that is using a combination of meds for her hypothyroid and she says it's made a big difference, so I'm going to schedule an appt to see her dr. There is hope!

I agree, I try not to use this 'condition' as an excuse--I just want to make sure I am doing everything I can to have all the odds in my favor. It's so great that your dr. agrees with DANDR--I don't even like to bring it up b/c I don't want to hear all the nay-saying and have doubts put in my head. Atkins is really misunderstood by most people---who think you're not allowed to have ANY vegetables at all. So not true! In fact, I eat MORE veggies doing Atkins than I do living a high carb/ high sugar lifestyle.

You mentioned tips and tricks from your doctor. Such as.....?

[hrgillespie]

One of the biggest things he taught me was to take my thyroid medicine on an empty stomach it allows for the best absorbtion. Also take it in the morning. Another thing to remember is not to take your thyroid medication with any form of Calcium ........ it causes it not to absorb in your body properly. Also if you change the amount of fiber in your diet it may effect the absorbtion of your thyroid meds so have your blood tested regularly.

This is an awesome site it answers alot of things you might not know .....check it out

http://http://thyroid.about.com/gi/d...d-drug-faq.htm

Anyways I HTH it helped me alot to avoid things I was doing that effected how my meds worked for me.

Heidi

[BabyGotBack]

Thanks. Yes, I can get lazy with taking it on an empty stomach (it's so inconvenient), but I've been making sure to do everything by the book the past several weeks. I'm also making it a point to take my vitamins with dinner so there isn't a chance of interfering.
Thanks for the info!