thyroid disease weight gain

Since being diagnosed with auto-immune thyroid disease in 2002, I have gained 60 pounds.  I eat no cake, cookies, chips, pretzels etc and only take in about 1100 calories a day.  I have also stopped eating potatoes and bread six months ago.  Still, I cannot lose weight.  Any suggestions on how someone hypothyroid can lose weight?

[Renee Radenberg]

Hypothyroid disease slows down our metabolism and it does become difficult to loss weight. You did not mention whether you were hypothyroid medication or not.
I suggest you have your MD do blood work on your thyroid levels for the proper medication (to regulate the thyroid); go on a healthy diet and exercise program. An exercise program would be walking for ½ hour. 4-5 times a week. Healthy eating habits include all the food groups, including high fiber Carbohydrates, with moderate portions. Research has indicated that the combination of thyroid medication, healthy eating, and exercise will result in weight loss.
Best of luck to you and thank you for visiting the forum.

[nerdgirl272]

omg girl, you have no idea how hard it was for me to lose 50 pounds!  when i was first diagnosed hypothyroid in 2001, i put on considerable weight, my top weight being 197 and im only 5'4"!!  I have recently lost most of the weight i put on, and the only way i was able to do this was by almost completely cutting carbs (rice,pasta,potatoes,bread) out of my diet, i stopped drinking anything that wasnt water, and i exercise like a fiend!  oh and i dont eat after 7p.m. any more.  I know it sounds strict, and it is, but when you are hypothyroid, you have to be.  the healthier the better too. i eat lots of salad and fruits and veggies.  I hope this helps.  I know it was the only way i was able to take off the weight and keep it off.

good luck to you
take care
nerdgirl272

[nerdgirl272]

by the way, im assuming you are a woman only because i looked at the dr's picture above and thats what i typed like a dork!  so if you are a man, i do apologize.  it is wrong of me to assume!

[monotreme]

Thanks for the advice!!  I am on thyroid medication so I guess I will start being even stricter about what to eat.  I was so glad to hear that you did lose the weight nerdgirl.  Congratulations to you!!  I know how hard that would be>

[kitcurious]

If you are really only eating 1100 calories a day you may want to increase your exercise instead.
In order to lose weight people generally need to work out 5 times a week for 60-90 minutes a session. If you don't eat enough you won't have enough energy to burn calories.

[kitcurious]

Also, weight attributable directly to the thyroid is generally between 7-20 pounds, much of it water.