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Hi I would just like to know if anyone has anyone successfully lost weight after being diagnosed with hypothyroidism? I am 5ft 4 and on 175 mg of thyroxine and 11st 3 lbs. when I was first diagnosed I was on 50mg and just over 10st. My lifestyle is no different and if anything I watch what I eat even more so. I'm not a junk food lover, eat wholesomly, very rarely have sugar and have cut right down on my carbs. I'm not a massive exerciser but I'm not sat down all day either and spend a lot of time on my feet. I would be interested to know how and what anyone has done to lose weight as I'm feeling quite large!
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debbie03785 Cwhite1
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Cwhite1 debbie03785
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LAHs Cwhite1
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When I first went on Levothyroxine after my thyroidectomy I just couldn't lose any weight. I was just like you, I wasn't a big eater, I had a very active life, etc, etc.
My GP and I (not my Endo at that point) were actively trying to find my correct dose and he was very generous in letting me self adjust according to my symptoms. We cranked up my T4 (I was on L-T4, i.e. mono therapy) to a point where I felt normal (if not "great"). I wasn't expecting this but my weight suddenly began to drop without my doing anything. It hit a "respectable" 145 lbs and then plateaud(sp?). I think that I had just crossed the threshold into HypER from HypO, just a little tiny bit - not to the palpitation, jittery phase but just accross that threshold.
When my doctor retired and that first pill was discontinued then I had to go on a different Levo with an overly cautious Endo who reduced my dose (because my TSH was too low in her (misguided) opinion) and on piled the weight again! 35lbs in three months!
I am now on a crusade to see if I can repeat my first experiment - and I will report back here. Factors which are very important in this endevour are that you must be at an optimal T3 otherwise your metabolism will be low and you determine that by taking your basal temperature every day (i.e. first thing in the morning before you do anything). If it is below 98.0 then that is the problem, low metabolism. It is my theory, and I could be wrong, if you boost your T3 you will boost your metabolism and therefore be able to lose weight.
But, like I say, you have to be very careful, do this in small increments, keep an eye on your pulse, if it goes too fast step back a dose.
My conclusion is that weight gain is a result of undermedication.
Cwhite1 LAHs
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LAHs Cwhite1
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L-T4 monotherepy is just a short hand way of saying Levothyroxine T4, the mono therepy means that it's only T4 that you are getting (from the pill).
At 125mcg (L-T4) I was not getting enough T4 for my "feeble" T4 to T3 conversion (in my liver since I have no thyroid) to produce enough T3 for me to feel normal. I bumped this up to 130mcg, my T4 was high but it enabled me to make sufficient T3 to feel normal.
Last August I was finally able to get a doctor to prescribe me Armour Thyroid. This has all of the T's in it, T4,T3,T2 and T1 plus other things that I don't know much about. I have been taking 1 1/4 grains (75mg) but I have had no movement in weight loss so I am bumping it up to 1 1/2 grains (90mg) to see if I can repeat my previous success. I should also add that, yes, you have to excercise as well, I have added one hour to my exercise "routine". I spend one hour on my bike, walking or heavy duty gardening. But ease into it slowly, I put my back out my first week which set me back four days!
Just FYI sometimes (if you are reading about all this) conversion in the liver is refered to as conversion in the periferal organs.
Cwhite1 LAHs
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shellyC19 Cwhite1
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Great Question! My name is Shelly and I am a nurse in the USA. I have had thyroid problems since 1987.
The answer is a yes and a no for me. Having Hashimoto's disease has caused a Hypothyroid condition.
I do watch what I eat also. I try and walk as my exercise. I did lose 30 pounds doing it. It is very hard to fight against the body holding onto weight. I get weighed and one month I am down 5lbs....and the next month it can come back.
I am also a Diabetic so it makes another whammy for me. The thyroid meds only replace what we do not have, and you would have to have a high level of them to lose weight in big amounts. So the medication will not make you lose weight but will help keep the metabolism working better.
It would be wise to make sure you do not have any Diabetes going on as that can cause problems with weight. Also as we age our metabolism does slow, so make sure you have your thyroid level checked every 4-6 months. Sometimes we need to have the hormone level adjusted.
Keep at it, eat low carbs and do exercise. Let us know how you do.
Stay well, Shelly
Cwhite1 shellyC19
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shellyC19 Cwhite1
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It took about 3 months. Just walking. I started slow at first. Then increased the time, until I got to 30 mins. My doctor said it was the best exercise and just do walking. Don't try any hills but just walk as much as you can.
So start in your neighborhood walking around and then increase it slowly. I did walking around the neighborhood so in case you feel you can't go too far you can get back.
I also got a pedometer, it tells you how many steps you take and that is helpful. Move the dinner to your lunch. Do not eat a big meal and then go to bed. So make your breakfast and lunch your bigger meals and dinner very lite. It is a new way to think, but it helps the body burn the calories off more in the day when you are active vs. night.
Also no soda or junk foods and watch for hidden carbs in Alcohol like beer.
Shelly
Cwhite1 shellyC19
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Catherine
tris132 Cwhite1
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PS I'm also posting this on a new thread.
Cwhite1 tris132
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tris132 Cwhite1
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Cwhite1 tris132
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LAHs Cwhite1
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An Interview with John Dommisse, MD
Unique Theories About Hypothyroidism Treatment
MS: Have you found any kind of treatment program that helps thyroid patients effectively lose weight?
JD: In addition to optimizing both the FT4 and FT3 serum levels, I find that correcting blood-deficiencies of chromium and manganese optimally; correcting a high free-insulin level (Syndrome-X) with a hi-protein, lo-carbohydrate diet; correcting many nutritional deficiencies optimally; and encouraging plenty of exercise, even walking, will usually achieve total or partial excess weight loss that can be sustained indefinitely.
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I then looked up sources of Chromium and Magnesium in food:
Foods with Chromium:
The recommended daily allowance of chromium is 50 to 100 micrograms. Some foods rich in chromium, besides broccoli, are whole grain cereals, nuts, mushrooms, rhubarb, Bengal gram, kidney beans, Soya beans, black gram, betel leaves, bottle gourd, corn oil, brewer's yeast, pomegranate and pineapple.Oct 7, 2014
Foods with Magnesium:
High magnesium foods include dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, fish, beans, whole grains, avocados, yogurt, bananas, dried fruit, dark chocolate, and more. The current daily value (DV) for magnesium is 400mg.
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