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Weight Loss Forum / General Topics / March 2004Thyroid and dieting
A question for those of you (Chris, Ig, anyone else?) taking thyroid... I realize that the thyroid regulates metabolism; did you notice any difference in weight or calorie need when you started treatment, or was it every bit as difficult to lose/not gain as when you weren't taking it? PCP said my thyroid was normal, but I felt very, very out of whack and went to an endocrinologist for a final opinion. Lab results aren't in yet but since I had tons of symptoms of hypothyroidism and my thyroid was slightly enlarged on one side, he decided to start me on Synthroid to see if it helps (I start tomorrow with no idea what to expect). Weight loss isn't my main goal (feeling better is!) and I don't expect pounds to miraculously melt off with no work, but I was wondering my metabolism might eventually speed up a bit and make maintenance slightly easier. Thanks for any insight, Alison > A question for those of you (Chris, Ig, anyone else?) taking thyroid... > > I realize that the thyroid regulates metabolism; did you notice any > difference in weight or calorie need when you started treatment, or was it > every bit as difficult to lose/not gain as when you weren't taking it? I have been on thyroid meds for 11 years, since my thyroid surgery that removed 2/3 of thyroid. I have always been overweight, before and after the surgery. The purpose of supplementation is mainly to suppress thyroid function. So I have no comparison data. That said, when you have more thyroid hormone in your blood, you do spend more energy due to being warmer, fidgeting more, being more energetic etc. Ihave not increased my thyroid medicine to lose weight, and decreased it recently as I lost a bunch of weight and did not need as much hormone. > PCP said my thyroid was normal, but I felt very, very out of whack and > went to an endocrinologist for a final opinion. Lab results aren't in yet > but since I had tons of symptoms of hypothyroidism and my thyroid was > slightly enlarged on one side, he decided to start me on Synthroid to see > if it helps (I start tomorrow with no idea what to expect). synthroid does not work for me, it feels like I am not taking anything. I take Armour instead. I used to take smuggled Russian thyroid hormone, derived from cows, which worked well. Armour is just as good for me. Synthroid feels like I am taking a placebo. > Weight loss isn't my main goal (feeling better is!) and I don't > expect pounds to miraculously melt off with no work, but I was > wondering my metabolism might eventually speed up a bit and make > maintenance slightly easier. Well, you know, appetite is also part of the equation. If you have "high metabolism" but are hungrier, high metabolism is not as helpful. i > A question for those of you (Chris, Ig, anyone else?) taking thyroid... > > I realize that the thyroid regulates metabolism; did you notice any > difference in weight or calorie need when you started treatment, or was it > every bit as difficult to lose/not gain as when you weren't taking it? It made a huge difference for me. Before I went on the thyroid replacement, I was maintaining at 175 lbs on about 1800 calories/day, and working out 3 times a week, doing weights and insane amounts of cardio. I knew I should have been losing weight, and didn't understand why I wasn't. Then I started gaining even more weight, and eventually got so sick and exhausted I couldn't work out anymore. I finally realized something was very wrong and got treatment for it. When I went on the thyroid, I was able to work out again, and I started losing the weight. I still had to diet and exercise, but I was finally getting some results for all my work. > PCP said my thyroid was normal, but I felt very, very out of whack and > went to an endocrinologist for a final opinion. Normal isn't optimal. The normal ranges are huge, and what's normal for you might not be normal for someone else. > Lab results aren't in yet > but since I had tons of symptoms of hypothyroidism and my thyroid was > slightly enlarged on one side, he decided to start me on Synthroid to see > if it helps (I start tomorrow with no idea what to expect). I've never taken Synthroid (I take Armour) but I know a few people who take it, and it seems to work for them. I've heard that some people don't do well on it though, and need to take some T3 to feel normal (either Cytomel added to the Synthroid, or a combo drug such as Armour or Thyrolar). > Weight loss > isn't my main goal (feeling better is!) and I don't expect pounds to > miraculously melt off with no work, but I was wondering my metabolism > might eventually speed up a bit and make maintenance slightly easier. Right. It won't be magic, but it does make things easier. You'll be able to get the same results with a little less effort, or better results with the same effort. What you won't get is better results with no effort. >> PCP said my thyroid was normal, but I felt very, very out of whack and >> went to an endocrinologist for a final opinion. > Normal isn't optimal. The normal ranges are huge, and what's normal for > you might not be normal for someone else. That's what my endo says, and why he says that hypothyroidism is actually kind of widespread and undiagnosed in much of the population. He's pretty into treating symptoms regardless of lab results for that reason. >> Lab results aren't in yet >> but since I had tons of symptoms of hypothyroidism and my thyroid was >> slightly enlarged on one side, he decided to start me on Synthroid to see >> if it helps (I start tomorrow with no idea what to expect). > I've never taken Synthroid (I take Armour) but I know a few people who > take it, and it seems to work for them. I've heard that some people > don't do well on it though, and need to take some T3 to feel normal > (either Cytomel added to the Synthroid, or a combo drug such as Armour > or Thyrolar). Once again, just like my endo said (you know your stuff!). He's starting me on a low dose of Synthroid (T4) and in a couple of weeks, after a progress report, he's going to add in some T3--not Cytomel, though, since he likes to prescribe it in smaller doses to start out with (so he has his own low-dose stuff compounded locally). >> Weight loss >> isn't my main goal (feeling better is!) and I don't expect pounds to >> miraculously melt off with no work, but I was wondering my metabolism >> might eventually speed up a bit and make maintenance slightly easier. > Right. It won't be magic, but it does make things easier. You'll be able > to get the same results with a little less effort, or better results > with the same effort. What you won't get is better results with no effort. That's what I'd like. I like exercise, but I am sick of running 8 miles a day, 7 days a week, on 1200 (maximum) calories and gaining, and everyone here on a.s.d (and in "real life") is sick of me complaining about it! I'd really just like to feel a bit more normal. Thanks so much for the info! -Alison, hoping for the best >>>Lab results aren't in yet >>>but since I had tons of symptoms of hypothyroidism and my thyroid was [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Once again, just like my endo said (you know your stuff!). Heh. Sounds like your endo knows his stuff! Unfortunately, a lot of them don't. They think that normal labs mean you're normal, T3 is dangerous and unnecessary, etc. >>>Weight loss >>>isn't my main goal (feeling better is!) and I don't expect pounds to [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > day, 7 days a week, on 1200 (maximum) calories and gaining, and everyone > here on a.s.d (and in "real life") is sick of me complaining about it! That must be so frustrating. Getting the thyroid problem straightened out should help a lot. > I'd really just like to feel a bit more normal. > > Thanks so much for the info! You're welcome, and good luck. Hope you feel better soon. > -Alison, hoping for the best >> That's what I'd like. I like exercise, but I am sick of running 8 miles a >> day, 7 days a week, on 1200 (maximum) calories and gaining, and everyone >> here on a.s.d (and in "real life") is sick of me complaining about it! > That must be so frustrating. Getting the thyroid problem straightened > out should help a lot. I think it just may. I've been on the Synthroid now for 5 days, and though my head says that's way too early to feel ANY difference, I think am seeing some subtle changes. I'm keeping my fingers crossed... >> Thanks so much for the info! > You're welcome, and good luck. Hope you feel better soon. Thanks, to you and everyone, for the good info, advice, and support. It's nice to know that people out there understand. -Alison >>> That's what I'd like. I like exercise, but I am sick of running 8 miles a >>> day, 7 days a week, on 1200 (maximum) calories and gaining, and everyone [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > though my head says that's way too early to feel ANY difference, I think > am seeing some subtle changes. I'm keeping my fingers crossed... try counting your pulse in the mornings, and see if synthroid increases it. i >>> Thanks so much for the info! > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > -Alison > try counting your pulse in the mornings, and see if synthroid > increases it. > i Thanks--I will try that tomorrow. I was getting excited that my resting heart rate was decreasing (it's 60 now--used to be much higher) because I thought it was all the exercise getting me in shape, but I guess it may have been my thyroid too. Temp's still the same (97.4-97.6 in the morning, 98.1 at night), so I'll keep tabs on that too. It sure is funny how much a thyroid does. -Alison >> try counting your pulse in the mornings, and see if synthroid >> increases it. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > thought it was all the exercise getting me in shape, but I guess it may > have been my thyroid too. Both have an impact... > Temp's still the same (97.4-97.6 in the morning, 98.1 at night), so I'll > keep tabs on that too. > > It sure is funny how much a thyroid does. it's like a furnace regulator... i >> That's what I'd like. I like exercise, but I am sick of running 8 miles a > day, 7 days a week, on 1200 (maximum) calories and gaining, and everyone > here on a.s.d (and in "real life") is sick of me complaining about it! [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > -Alison, hoping for the best I hope it works out for you Alison. Your posts have been hitting close to home with me and my endocrine problems. It's possible when I see my endo on Monday that he'll tell me it's a thyroid thing as my thyroid has always been pretty much the lowest it can be and still be considered "normal." Every doctor I've seen, including this one has said that my symptoms are very consistent with thyroid problems, though I did have some labs that indicate the adrenal glands are also involved. Anyway, I cannot imagine how you can run 8 miles a day, 7 days a week and still have knees. I feel like a slacker doing only 15 miles this WEEK, but my knees have been a bit sore after running and so I'm trying to cut back a bit and avoid injury. I think it's due to the excess weight from my last bout with edema, I haven't been able to get rid of it this time around even on 1200-1300 cal/day. People in my RL really don't care to hear me complain about my weight problems because I look slim and fit to them. That's why I come here and whine. BTW, what is normal? Jenn I only lost 20 pounds when I got on the medication. The rest has been exercise and changing how I eat. The point was with a bad thyroid I didn't have the energy to exercise and every time I tried to increase my routine, I got sick. That's over, now that I am on the meds and exercise regularly I've had one cold in two years. But I think it was wrong of the doctor to start you on meds before the results came in because being hyperthyroid can cause heart problems. > A question for those of you (Chris, Ig, anyone else?) taking thyroid... > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > Thanks for any insight, > Alison >A question for those of you (Chris, Ig, anyone else?) taking thyroid... > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >Thanks for any insight, >Alison When my condition was diagnosed and I began taking synthroid, I didn't lose any weight as a result of this. In fact, it mainly seemed to increase my appetite at first. But it seemed to make it more possible to lose weight when I reduced my caloric intake. Previously, it seemed very difficult to lose even when I ate little. So I guess I think it made my body more responsive to dieting. Chris > I realize that the thyroid regulates metabolism; did you notice any > difference in weight or calorie need when you started treatment, or was it > every bit as difficult to lose/not gain as when you weren't taking it? I started low dose synthroid generic about mid-1980s. I read about weight loss but didn't get any. Maybe my dosage is too low for loss but it is enough so I no longer have the symptoms. A low carb caution - Induction level carb intake causes T3 output to drop starting week 3. Folks on thyroid pills should NOT use ANY excuse to extend Induction. |
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