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Weight gain despite weight watchers...still hypo

Prior to being diagnosed I started to lose weight on weight watchers. I didn't lose very fast but it still came off. Once I started medication I reached my goal. Well my thyroid has beena roller coaster and I was actually getting to the optimal ranges and started gaining despite the fact that I continue to follow my weight watchers points. I even dropped to weight loss points and continue to slowly gain. I had a set back in November and my tsh was high and T3 was low. We increase my synthroid and added just a 1/4 grain of armour and I still continue to gain. I refuse to starve myself and I eat an average of 1200 calories a day. My doctor told me not to go any lower than that or my body will go into starvation mode. BUT, I hate that I can't wear my clothes because I am gaining. Does anyone have any tips?
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Avatar universal
Hi. Looks like I've just joined the hypotyroid wagon. For the last 2 months I have been working out and eating better but I would get no result. I am a size 12 and have been that size for atleast 10yrs. I am so scared of gaining weight. Does anyone know how much you usually gain. I am still going to work out and watch my carbs. I'm just freaking out about gaining so much weight. I'm 32 and feel like my world is ending. I am not under any medications yet. I guess that they are checking my blood levels and I should know something by tomorrow. Someone told me that Armour is better than Cyntroid any advice?

Helpful - 0
158939 tn?1274915197
My sister had a TT, Hashi's, and is diabetic and has lost over 60lbs since about October.  She *really* watches her carbs and goes to the gym every day (stay-at-home mom with a 5 year old in preschool).  Man, I wish *I* had time to go to the gym every day.  :-)
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Avatar universal
Wow, thanks so much for all of this incredible advice. I think I am going to check out the thyroid diet book. I have a HORRIBLE time craving carbs. I did go to the doctor yesterday and here are my latest labs:

TSH 1.537  (.350-5.5)
Free T4 1.07  (.61-1.76)
T4  9.8  (4.5-12.0)
T3  143  (85-205)
Free T3  2.5 (2.3-4.1)

Since my T3 stays low we decided to take another approach. I have felt my best when it is in the upper 3's and so we are going to try all armour and taking teh synthroid out. He plans to add some synthroid if my T4 drops in 5 weeks when I re-test. Maybe this will make a difference. I am going to work on cutting back on carbs. I've been on WW for two years and I am ready for a spiced up diet.
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Avatar universal
This weight gain talk is so depressing, especially because I've always been fit, I've always worked out VERY hard, and my diet has been pretty good.  So there's not that much I can change.  I've read so many articles stating most Hypo patients only gain 10-20 pounds.  Is that true?  Not many people get back to their "normal" self?   I'm 35-40 pounds from my target weight.  Are there any success stories out there?  I've been looking, but I can't find them.  

On a more positive note, I've been using the BODY FOR LIFE cookbook this week.  It's very "zone like," balancing carbs and protein.  The recipes are really good (the meatballs are THE BEST I've ever had and the enchilada soup is delish) and their pretty quick and easy to prepare.  As of this morning I've lost 4 pounds.  WOO-HOO.  Watch me gain it right back tomorrow.  :(  I don't trust this recent weight loss for some reason  It seems like as soon as I lose 2 pounds, i gain 3.  In a year I've gone from a size 6 to a size 14.  UGH.  

GRAVESLADY - doesn't synthroid speed up your metabolism?  Isn't that what makes you lose weight?
Helpful - 0
158939 tn?1274915197
Have you had your blood sugars checked?  A disproportionate number of thyroid patients (especially hypo) have glucose tolerance issues.  Low carb diets work best for those who have glucose intolerance.  Diets like The Zone, South Beach, and Atkins (in moderation) are all carb control diets.

Here's a link to some highly credible, healthy, low-carb diets from the American Diabetic Association and the American Dietitians Association:

http://www.diabetes.org/nutrition-and-recipes/nutrition/overview.jsp
http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/nutrition.html

Here's also some diet recommendations for thyroid patients with weight control issues:
http://thyroid.about.com/cs/dietweightloss/a/zonediet.htm
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/b/a/257562.htm?nl=1

I have to lose 10lbs that I put on post-RAI so I'm on the diet train with you.  Keep us posted!
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Avatar universal
hello all,
Gotta agree with you Danishcat, cuz I read about the book "The Thyroid Diet" by Mary Shomon and went and got a copy...sure enough when following her card sensetive plan 4 days ago I have already lost a 1lb. and feel better (a bit more energy. I am not hungry at all on her plan and it makes good "body" sense...its the first sign of HOPE SINCE THYROID I have had....you all should try it!
Lisa
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Loosing your weight (Wow, good for you!), then going on that roller coaster, and not fitting into your clothes must be very frustrating! 1200 calories is going into starvation mode. As a result, your body will slow down your metabolism making it even more difficult to loose weight.

How long has it been since you had your medication change? With your roller coaster ride, you may need more time to get stable.  I suggest you try Mary Shomon's book "The Thyroid Diet".  Weight Watchers is a very good program, but may not be totally suitable for the specific needs of thyroid patients. Hang in there!
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Avatar universal
Weight, diet, nutrition and vitamins are all new chapters in themselves.  And an old/new story.

One thing that I have found personally is that levels or med types do not reflect weight loss.
I don't know how long you have been into thyroid and taking into consideration that we are not all alike.  It takes a while for our system to adjust to everything our body has gone through. How long is individual, it could be years (10 yrs for me). After a while our system will settle down and adjust to the weight situation.  You might lose some but not all and then stabilize.  It will still take work/diet, probably a life style change forever. So select a diet with a maintenance program that you can live with. Sometimes after being on a diet for a while our body sort of gets lazy, stuck with the same diet, like being immune.  So choose two diets that you can alter when one stops working for you, then back to the other diet, when the second stops working.
If your health permits, Tyrosin foods helps to burn calories, in fact 200 more calories can be eaten if eaten in Tyrosin. L Tyrosine is a non-essential amino acid that the body synthesises
tyrosine may be to control appetite and fatigue. It is also suggested that tyrosine may help with allergies and headaches. This amino acid aids in the production of melanin (pigment of the skin and hair) and in the production of the adrenal, thyroid, and pituitary glands.
Vitamin B6, folic acid, and copper are necessary for conversion of L-tyrosine into neurotransmitters .  Certain medications may interact with L-tyrosine.  long-term use of L-tyrosine should be monitored by a doctor if you take it in pill form.
Dairy products, meats, fish, wheat, oats, and most other protein-containing foods contain tyrosine.
Glucomannan may help weight loss by occupying space in the stomach, thereby making a person feel full. One double-blind study reported weight loss averaging 5.5 pounds in adults when one gram of glucomannan was taken with a cup of water one hour before each meal for eight weeks.
Glucomannan is a purified fiber from konjac root that is available as a bulk powder or in hard-gelatin capsules. For weight loss 1 to 3 grams before each meal has been effective.  When using glucomannan and other dietary fiber supplements, it is best to start out with a small amount and increase gradually. It is recommended to drink at least 8 ounces of water each time any bulk-forming laxative, including glucomannan, is taken.  However, since intestinal bacteria ferment water-soluble fibers, a great deal of intestinal gas may be produced in individuals not accustomed to a high fiber diet, leading to flatulence and abdominal discomfort.
Stress is a hidden factor for weight gain and  chronic stress can lead to or,  metabolically  causes excess insulin release, which signals the body to store fat in the abdomen.
So try to be stress free as possible.  Exercise especially yoga is physically and mentally good for stress reduced exercise as well as cardio.


This is too long - so good luck!

GL
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Avatar universal
Do you track your blood test ranges....i know sometimes things work better depending on where the tsh/FT3 & FT$ are at....
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
A woman I know lost about 25 pounds after she read French Women Don't Get Fat. The book does not advocate exercise regimes, or any special diet, except that you only eat the best quality, best-tasting food you can find, drink lots of water, and try to walk as much as possible--for example, take the stairs instead of an escalator or elevator (no junk food, and the lifestyle change can be more expensive). I haven't tried it yet, but I like the philosophy.
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