LC and hypothyroidism — a losing cause?
Question:
I have a question, out of curiosity and sheer ignorance!: If you have an underactive thyroid, which causes weight gain, and you take medicine to bring the thyroid hormones up to normal, doesn’t it follow that you’d begin to lose the excess weight caused by the hypothyroid? — Peter
Nope. It only makes it somewhat easier to get the weight off through dieting. And that’s assuming you are on the right dosage. It can be a very slippery slope and very frustrating. It took me 5 years to get my levels correct and stabilized. It was another year before the weight came off. -Gina
Response:
I have no idea about your hyperthyroid difficulties but I just wanted to ask how much water are you drinking in a day?
Lots and lots of it. Probably five 16 ounce glasses a day. The hypothyroidism also meant an end to my caffeine usage, so I’ve been drinking lots more water of late. dale (236/230/190)
Response:
The hypothyroidism also meant an end to my caffeine usage, so I’ve been
Why did it do that?
Response:
No, you are correct, it isn’t always true. And I have multiple immune/endocrine disorders, including PCOS, insulin resistance, and Crohn’s, so I know what you are talking about. However, it IS sometimes true. It was true for me. And Dale sounded like he (she? I’m sorry, I don’t know for sure) needed a little encouragement. And this is a support group. Thus, the support. Nothing I posted was not true FOR ME. And if one person’s success helps him feel like hanging in there, then I offer it fully. I’m very sorry yours took longer, and that you had so much to go through in order to feel better. I’m still hoping Dale experiences the near-miraculous change I felt when my thyroid levels finally reached normal. And hope is sometimes just what a person needs. —Holly
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – That isnt always true. There is a news group filled with people with hypothyroidism that will agree with me. Hypothyroidism is an endocrine illness. When one part of the system is messed up, the others work harder to compensate. Depending on how long you have had the illness and how hard the other parts have been working, it may not be as easy as getting your thyroid levels right. I took synthyroid for 15 years. My levels were always normal on it, but I always felt bad. I switched to amourthyroid (natural T4, T3, and other T bits) and feel much much better. I also have insulin resistance, PCOS, and adrenal fatigue. Complicated (or caused) by lack of not enough treatment for my thyroid. I am endocrine challenged now. It isnt always easy, but there really isnt any other way for me. I have been low carbing since 1998. Good luck on your journey, essense First of all, when they do get the levels right, you will lose weight like crazy. I dropped my last ten pounds and finally hit maintenance in only about three weeks, after a YEAR of trying. That’s how well the stuff will probably work for you. So don’t lose hope. You’ve got the big light at the end of the tunnel!
Response:
However, it IS sometimes true. It was true for me. And Dale sounded like he (she? I’m sorry, I don’t know for sure) needed a little encouragement. And this is a support group. Thus, the support.
Yes, a little encouragement at this point is just what the doctor ordered. Well, actually the doctor just ordered a 100 mcg dose, so maybe that will do the trick as well 
Thanks again for the support. Oh, and yes, I’m a ‘he’. dale (236/230/190)
Response:
The hypothyroidism also meant an end to my caffeine usage, so I’ve been Why did it do that?
The brochure that came with my prescription said not to take caffeine with Synthroid. Plus, I was overdoing Diet Coke anyway and it was a good reason to quit. dale (236/230/190)
Response:
I have the same problem. I have been sticking to the program but haven’t lost an ounce. I’ve been on synthroid since late August. One doctor said my reading was low but another doctor said it is low-normal. I felt a bit of difference by the end of September but am dragging myself around now, not feeling like doing anything. My doctor said he would prefer me to take nothing and let us see what happens but I don’t want to feel that run down again. MSM
Response:
That isnt always true. There is a news group filled with people with hypothyroidism that will agree with me. Hypothyroidism is an endocrine illness. When one part of the system is messed up, the others work harder to compensate. Depending on how long you have had the illness and how hard the other parts have been working, it may not be as easy as getting your thyroid levels right. I took synthyroid for 15 years. My levels were always normal on it, but I always felt bad. I switched to amourthyroid (natural T4, T3, and other T bits) and feel much much better. I also have insulin resistance, PCOS, and adrenal fatigue. Complicated (or caused) by lack of not enough treatment for my thyroid. I am endocrine challenged now. It isnt always easy, but there really isnt any other way for me. I have been low carbing since 1998. Good luck on your journey, essense – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – First of all, when they do get the levels right, you will lose weight like crazy. I dropped my last ten pounds and finally hit maintenance in only about three weeks, after a YEAR of trying. That’s how well the stuff will probably work for you. So don’t lose hope. You’ve got the big light at the end of the tunnel!
Response:
Dale I have no idea about your hyperthyroid difficulties but I just wanted to ask how much water are you drinking in a day? Dani 250/203/160
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello; Glad to find this group. I turned 40 last fall and had a physical, which turned up hypothyroidism. Since then, the doctors have been trying to get my medicine dosage correct, unsuccessfully so far. I’ve also been concerned about my weight, and after I got a clean bill of health (except for the thyroid thing, of course) I decided to do Atkins, which I’ve been successful at in the past. So I started induction about three weeks ago. I lost about five pounds the first week (water weight, I know) and about one pound in the rest of the time. My ketones are kind of all over the place, but generally dark pink. I’ve started excercising this week (30 minutes on the treadmill every night.) If my clothes are any indication, I’m not losing inches either. So, my feeling is that I’m just spinning my wheels until they sort out my Synthroid dosage because without my thyroid, my metabolism is just obviating any improvements I’m making in fat burning. But does that mean going back to my old eating habits, trying to stick with this, or doing something else? Has anyone else been through this before? What did you learn from the experience? Thanks! dale (236/230/190)
Response:
Hi, Dale, I’m on Levoxyl, which is pretty much just another brand of Synthroid. Got diagnosed as slightly hypothyroid about six months ago and we just now are getting the levels right. First of all, when they do get the levels right, you will lose weight like crazy. I dropped my last ten pounds and finally hit maintenance in only about three weeks, after a YEAR of trying. That’s how well the stuff will probably work for you. So don’t lose hope. You’ve got the big light at the end of the tunnel! And you’re not just ’spinning your wheels’. When you are hypo, it is so easy to gain weight. Your whole body is trying to make you gain weight. So by working as hard as you are, you’re preventing your weight from skyrocketing. When your levels are normal again, you will have much less work to do. Right now by your numbers, you only have about 40 lbs to go. That will disappear so fast, you’ll be looking under the bed for it! Honest. :) So hang in there. Oh…and your mood will change. You really don’t know how easily discouraged and sad hypothyroid makes you until your metabolism comes back to normal. So when you’re feeling hopeless, try to think of how much better you’re going to be very soon. It helps. :) One last thing. I am a binge eater, no doubt about it. Have been all my life, but much worse over the last five years or so. Thyroid medications helped that, too. Cravings almost go away when your body isn’t thinking it’s starving all the time. So you have that to look forward to, also, if you need it. Hang in there! It’s only a matter of months now. —Holly
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello; Glad to find this group. I turned 40 last fall and had a physical, which turned up hypothyroidism. Since then, the doctors have been trying to get my medicine dosage correct, unsuccessfully so far. I’ve also been concerned about my weight, and after I got a clean bill of health (except for the thyroid thing, of course) I decided to do Atkins, which I’ve been successful at in the past. So I started induction about three weeks ago. I lost about five pounds the first week (water weight, I know) and about one pound in the rest of the time. My ketones are kind of all over the place, but generally dark pink. I’ve started excercising this week (30 minutes on the treadmill every night.) If my clothes are any indication, I’m not losing inches either. So, my feeling is that I’m just spinning my wheels until they sort out my Synthroid dosage because without my thyroid, my metabolism is just obviating any improvements I’m making in fat burning. But does that mean going back to my old eating habits, trying to stick with this, or doing something else? Has anyone else been through this before? What did you learn from the experience? Thanks! dale (236/230/190)
Response:
Hello; Glad to find this group. I turned 40 last fall and had a physical, which turned up hypothyroidism. Since then, the doctors have been trying to get my medicine dosage correct, unsuccessfully so far. I’ve also been concerned about my weight, and after I got a clean bill of health (except for the thyroid thing, of course) I decided to do Atkins, which I’ve been successful at in the past. So I started induction about three weeks ago. I lost about five pounds the first week (water weight, I know) and about one pound in the rest of the time. My ketones are kind of all over the place, but generally dark pink. I’ve started excercising this week (30 minutes on the treadmill every night.) If my clothes are any indication, I’m not losing inches either. So, my feeling is that I’m just spinning my wheels until they sort out my Synthroid dosage because without my thyroid, my metabolism is just obviating any improvements I’m making in fat burning. But does that mean going back to my old eating habits, trying to stick with this, or doing something else? Has anyone else been through this before? What did you learn from the experience? Thanks! dale (236/230/190)
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello; Glad to find this group. I turned 40 last fall and had a physical, which turned up hypothyroidism. Since then, the doctors have been trying to get my medicine dosage correct, unsuccessfully so far. I’ve also been concerned about my weight, and after I got a clean bill of health (except for the thyroid thing, of course) I decided to do Atkins, which I’ve been successful at in the past. So I started induction about three weeks ago. I lost about five pounds the first week (water weight, I know) and about one pound in the rest of the time. My ketones are kind of all over the place, but generally dark pink. I’ve started excercising this week (30 minutes on the treadmill every night.) If my clothes are any indication, I’m not losing inches either. So, my feeling is that I’m just spinning my wheels until they sort out my Synthroid dosage because without my thyroid, my metabolism is just obviating any improvements I’m making in fat burning. But does that mean going back to my old eating habits, trying to stick with this, or doing something else? Has anyone else been through this before? What did you learn from the experience? Thanks! dale (236/230/190)
I have a question, out of curiosity and sheer ignorance!: If you have an underactive thyroid, which causes weight gain, and you take medicine to bring the thyroid hormones up to normal, doesn’t it follow that you’d begin to lose the excess weight caused by the hypothyroid? — Peter Website: http://users.thelink.net/marengo
Response:
Thanks, Nancy, I appreciate the helpful feedback! I have to talk to my doctor today about increasing my dosage because the blood tests I took last week showed that things still aren’t right, and I’ll stick with the low carb eating regardless of what he changes it to. Thanks again! dale (236/230/190) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hang in there Dale! I take synthroid too as well as being a diabetic (insulin & Glucophage), all of which are supposed to booby-trap my diet….however, stick to your low carb WOE and you will lose weight, maybe not as fast as people here that don’t have other health problems but it will come off. I have only shown a trace (pink) on ketostix but it’s been good enough to drop 44 pounds since last fall. My insulin needs are only half what they were which really helps my weight loss but the synthroid has stayed the same. I think the secret to a low carb "diet" is to persist in it and don’t give up. Frankly it is the least painful way of eating I can imagine. Nancy the pink lady 209/165/139
Response:
Hang in there Dale! I take synthroid too as well as being a diabetic (insulin & Glucophage), all of which are supposed to booby-trap my diet….however, stick to your low carb WOE and you will lose weight, maybe not as fast as people here that don’t have other health problems but it will come off. I have only shown a trace (pink) on ketostix but it’s been good enough to drop 44 pounds since last fall. My insulin needs are only half what they were which really helps my weight loss but the synthroid has stayed the same. I think the secret to a low carb "diet" is to persist in it and don’t give up. Frankly it is the least painful way of eating I can imagine. Nancy the pink lady 209/165/139
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello; Glad to find this group. I turned 40 last fall and had a physical, which turned up hypothyroidism. Since then, the doctors have been trying to get my medicine dosage correct, unsuccessfully so far. I’ve also been concerned about my weight, and after I got a clean bill of health (except for the thyroid thing, of course) I decided to do Atkins, which I’ve been successful at in the past. So I started induction about three weeks ago. I lost about five pounds the first week (water weight, I know) and about one pound in the rest of the time. My ketones are kind of all over the place, but generally dark pink. I’ve started excercising this week (30 minutes on the treadmill every night.) If my clothes are any indication, I’m not losing inches either. So, my feeling is that I’m just spinning my wheels until they sort out my Synthroid dosage because without my thyroid, my metabolism is just obviating any improvements I’m making in fat burning. But does that mean going back to my old eating habits, trying to stick with this, or doing something else? Has anyone else been through this before? What did you learn from the experience? Thanks! dale (236/230/190)
Response:
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