Hypothyroidism and weight loss?
is there anyone out there who has hypothyroidism and managed to lose a couple of stone or more? nothing seems to work for me and im close to giving up - any advice would be great!
User Comments
- I'm hypothyroid and have lost 22 pounds in the last 4 months. But it is very hard and I can tell you you're not going to want to follow my diet.
no bread, pastries, white rice, white pasta
no gravy, sauces, mayonaise, vinegar
no chocolates, sweets, sweeteners
no cheese or milk (lactose-free milk, rice milk are ok)
no alcohol, fizzy drinks or fruit juice, just water
You can eat fresh vegetables, organic meat, fish, eggs, nuts, yoghurt, wholegrain rice/pasta and beans
I get chronic thrush so I follow the anti-candida diet, it is the only thing that makes me lose weight. I dieted the normal way for 6 months before that and lost nothing.
If you want to take a less severe route you can follow the diet recommended by Mary J Shomon in her book 'The Thyroid Diet'. But I didn't find that the results were that significant. You might find that her diet works for you though.
If you want to talk about it further you can email me.
- Have hypothyroidism
- How much weight can I expect to lose once the hypothyroidism is treated?
Since much of the weight gain in hypothyroidism is accumulation in salt and water, when the hypothyroidism is treated one can expect a small (usually less than 10% of body weight) weight loss. As in the treatment with hyperthyroidism, treatment of the abnormal state of hypothyroidism with thyroid hormone should result in a return of body weight to what it was before the hypothyroidism developed. However, since hypothyroidism usually develops over a long period of time, it fairly common to find that there is no significant weight loss after successful treatment of hypothyroidism. Again, if all of the other symptoms of hypothyroidism, with the exception of weight gain, are resolved with treatment with thyroid hormone, it is less likely that the weight gain is solely due to the thyroid. Once hypothyroidism has been treated and thyroid hormone levels have returned to the normal range on thyroid hormone, the ability to gain or lose weight is the same as in individuals who do not have thyroid problems.
Can thyroid hormone be used to help me lose weight?
Thyroid hormones have been used as a weight loss tool in the past. Many studies have shown that excess thyroid hormone treatment can help produce more weight loss than can be achieved by dieting alone. However, once the excess thyroid hormone is stopped, the excess weight loss is usually regained. Furthermore, there may be significant negative consequences from the use of thyroid hormone to help with weight loss, such as the loss of muscle protein in addition to any loss of body fat. Pushing the thyroid hormone dose to cause thyroid hormone levels to be elevated is unlikely to significantly change weight and may result in other metabolic problems.
- Im a nurse and my best advice would be to go to weight watchers. It works very well and is an excellent way of life to keep the weight off.
I lost 1 stone in 6 weeks. If I can do it you to can.
Good Luck x
- My mum had a partial thyroidectomy many years ago and never really managed to get her weight under control, even though her diet was pretty good and she was on thyroid treatment. All she mananged to do was keep her weight stable...;
- When I was first diagnosed,I cut my fat intake to 35 or under. (70 is the average for women.) I lost 4 stone that way. I also exercised every day and walked everywhere. It can be done-but it takes determination because your body has to get used to having the thyroxine hormone again. You may just have reached a plateau. Don't give up-just eat healthy and try to keep active. Good luck!
- Hi ALice
Here are some ideas to help the healing process.
Cause: Hypothyroidism can be caused by food allergies, excess stress, environmental toxins, insufficient exercise, B vitamin deficiencies, lack of iron, lack of digestive enzymes, liver disease, hormone imbalances, and/or parasites. All of these factors need to be screened for and addressed before lasting relief can be achieved.
Sulfa drugs, lithium, synthetic estrogen, and antihistamines can exacerbate hypothyroidism symptoms. In addition, if you are on thyroid medication, increase calcium supplementation to reduce the risk of bone loss.
Low thyroid function may also be due to Hashimoto`s disease, a condition in which the body becomes allergic to its own thyroid gland and forms antibodies that attack it, thus lowering thyroid hormone output.
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Natural Cures
Diet: Eat an organic, whole foods diet, emphasizing foods that are naturally high in iodine such as fish, kelp, vegetables, and root vegetables (such as potatoes). Also, increase your daily consumption of foods rich in vitamin B complex, such as whole grains and raw nuts and seeds, and foods rich in vitamin A, such as dark green and yellow vegetables. But avoid foods that slow down production of thyroid hormone, such as cabbage, Brussels sprouts, mustard greens, broccoli, turnips, kale, spinach, peaches, and pears.
Herbs: Mild cases of hypothyroidism can be helped by herbal bitters such as gentian or mugwort, while constipation due to low thyroid function can be improved by yellowdock, butternut, or cascara sagrada. St. John`s wort can also be helpful.
Homeopathy: Calc carb. in a dose of 1M once a day is very useful for treating hypothyroidism and improving overall thyroid function.
Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is the application of water, ice, steam and hot and cold temperatures to maintain and restore health. Treatments include full body immersion, steam baths, saunas, sitz baths, colonic irrigation and the application of hot and/or cold compresses. Hydrotherapy is effective for treating a wide range of conditions and can easily be used in the home as part of a self-care program. Many Naturopathic Physicians, Physical Therapists and Day Spas use Hydrotherapy as part of treatment. I suggest several at-home hydrotherapy treatments.
Lifestyle: Regular aerobic exercise can play an important role in helping to regulate thyroid hormone production.
Nutritional Supplementation: Organic thyroid glandular extracts can help restore normal thyroid function, but should only be used under the supervision of your physician. Other useful nutrients include vitamin A, vitamin B complex, essential fatty acids, iodine, kelp, calcium, magnesium, and zinc.
Alternative Professional Care: If your symptoms persist despite the above measures, seek the help of a qualified health professional. The following professional care therapies have all been shown to be useful for treating hypothyroidism include: Acupuncture, Biofeedback Training, Cell Therapy, Detoxification Therapy, Environmental Medicine, Homeopathy, Magnetic Field Therapy, Naturopathic Medicine, Osteopathy, Qigong, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Yoga.
Best of health to you
Cheers