Weight loss and hypothyroidism, synthroid medication

Dear heag13, your response to eating properly and regular fitness routine although would work for normal people (who are not on synthroid) does not work for me and I've been on synthroid 150mcg for 30 years. I cannot loose a pound no matter what I do, I have tried everything. I practically have to stop eating and exercise 3 x a times a day to see any weight loss at all unfortunately and then because of the lack of eating, my immune system becomes compromised, and I pick up colds and viruses and am sick all the time (even with vitamin supplements) because my body is undernourished.   I have never been a big eater, and I work out daily, and very active.  But no matter what I do, no matter what, I only seem to maintain my weight. I must add that as soon as I started synthroid within a year I gained over 50 lbs.  I have been 50 lbs overweight since I started synthroid for my hypothroidism and I am a "very" active person. There must be another reason some of us on synthroid has a weight gain problem.

I too am tired of people commenting about exercise and eat right to loose weight, I do that! No success for me no matter what. Synthroid obviously has the reverse effect on my metabolism, so what other hormone imbalances do I possibly have that medical science hasn't identified that could be associated?  Hmmm.   So in responding to your comment, about eating right and exercise, I must say that your answer would fit the "status" quo individual, which in my case and Arlene's case,  is not the answer. Some of us on Synthroid suffer from weight gain, and someone needs to find out why!!! Thanks

i am on 125 mcg of synthroid a day . i went ahead and started taking 250 mc11
g on my own. will this hurt me?

Hi There i know for 100% sure if you take any calcium supplements within 1 hr of your thyroid meds it will wipe out any good effect of the meds. so please make sure you take the calcium at opposite ends of the day. Your doctor should have told you that !!!!

For those of you saying you gained weight on synthroid: you ARE eating too many calories and NOT exercising enough.

It's the law of science. You're eating more than you think, and you're eating above maintenance. Just cause you're "active" and eat "healthy" doesn't mean you'll lose weight. You must eat at a deficit. Don't use hypo as your excuse.

There's nothing wrong with you, you just have a disadvantage compared to others.

And yes, I'm hypothyroid, so I DO understand!!!! - unless you stop seeing yourself as the "victim" your "woe is me" attitude won't get you anywhere.

Erin, the law of science may be true, but there's no cure for ignorance. If only we were all made the same, had the same hormone levels, were prescribed the exact dosage you were given, had the same doctor, and responded to the medication as you did, then you may have something. Otherwise, stop invalidating other people's feelings and minimizing their struggle. Everyone is different. For many, hypothyroidism is a series of continual adjustments in medication that in itself can drive you insane and make you feel like you will never reach a "normal." If you have incompetent doctors who do not listen to your symptoms and base their diagnosis on numbers and reached levels as "cured," then you'll find yourself on an emotional rollercoaster. Good luck to everyone. Remember, you are your best advocate. If your doctor is not listening to you, keep looking until you find the right one and get your life back.

The point of taking synthroid is to have your thyroid levels back in the normal range; therefore, your thyroid is acting as normal. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at a very young age, 6 yrs, and am now 31. I have been on synthroid the whole time and my weight has never been an issue. If I gain it is because I reduced my activities and ate more. I understand everyone's body is different but if you are on synthroid and you are still gaining then your dosage is wrong or you are misdiagnosed. Synthroid regulates you level so they act "normal". I would get another doctor.

Here the deal. I have hypothyroidism and from my experience, taking synthoid alone does not make me lose weight. I started charting all my exercise and began keeping track of every calorie that I consumed. Through hard work, I lost 20lbs one month, and then 10lbs for three months in a row....but I had to work my ass off....literally. Now that I am down to my optimum weight, I still have to do all those things in order to maintain. This is a life long commitment. Losing weight is basic mathematics...but people with thyroid disorders just have to work harder at it. I can't have a chocolate bar a day and expect to lose weight, or eat cheese cake, chips pasta, drink booze or have other garbage. I can treat myself once a week, but cardio has had to become my best friend, not just weight training. The answer for me was diet and excercise, but I have to work out at in intense rate and eat a lot of veggies. Do I wish that I could eat the same c**p as the hubby? Sure I do! But I can't and that is just reality. Lean meat, veggies, some fruit, no bread, little sugar, no pasta, no salt, some lentils, some dairy, low fat, no butter, and most importantly.....no packaged food, no fad diets, no pills,....those do not work. All that with cardio and weight training have been my solution to the problem. It is tough to lose weight with hypothyroidism but it can be done with vigilance. Do I like tracking everything? No, but that is reality....just like a diabetic must track their blood sugar. With hard work, you can do it. It just takes some time to figure it all out.

What medication is he taking for the things that he has? like the heart troubles, digestive issues etc.

I understand ur frustration, I to am hypo and on meds and watch what I eat and walk/jog most days and have a very hard time keeping my weight down, so I know what u r going through.

LOL love your post. I had thyroid cancer and had the whole thing removed and have gained weight since but i also have a herniated disc and am presently off on disability. The weight gain happened for a lot of reasons so it will be just as difficult to lose it. I am okay with that though, eventually I will be the healthy weight I am striving for. It will just take a lot more effort and a lot more time than the ordinary person. Good luck to you as well.

hello, I am new to this board. Just had a TThyroidectomy 8/28/12. Never knew I had a thyroid problem until diagnosed with thyroid cancer. I'm frustrated about the weight bc I worked so hard over the last 4 years to lose 40 pounds on WW and now my weight is starting to come back on me. I haven't changed my diet nor my exercise habits (in fact even started exercising a little more since the surgery bc I am afraid of gaining now), and since being on the synthroid (started out at 150 bc hypo of course when they removed thyroid; then became hyper and they reduced it (never lost any weight from being hyper), and now I am starting to gain. I gained 6 pounds in 4 weeks from one doctor's visit to the next! Freaked out over this. Son getting married in a few months and I don't want to be a blimp walking down the isle! So, I totally understanding where you are coming from about the frustration and how people need to be more considerate about this disease. Now, I have a question -- can you take any kind of diet supplement when you are on synthroid? I am scared to try it and haven't talked to my doctor about it yet Go back in on Dec 3 for next blood draw. Will ask then. I so don't want to gain this weight back again. I am short and the weight just makes me look even shorter and dumpier. Now that will look attractive walking down the isle! :(

Hello fellow hypothyroid sufferer. A slight increase in your thyroid med Synthroid will enable you to keep your weight ideal. I mean SLIGHT increase. Your practiconer has to work with you to find your ideal dose.

I am changing to a endroronogist, to see if they know more about hypothroidism than some GP's.

I wish you the best and sympathize with anyone who has Hypothyroidism..

cbock wrote:

Guest wrote:

I'm sure she never thought of diet and exercise, what a revelation! I am on synthroid (the recommended dose) and it is VERY difficult for me to lose weight. Having a metabolic disorder like hypothyroidism isn't helped by snarky comments that intimate that diet and exercise must be the reason it's so tough to lose weight! If you do not have hypothyroidism, take your comments to another discussion board that is about weight and fitness in general. If you do take synthroid, then you know how frustrating it can get not being able to drop the weight without double or triple the amount of effort it should.

I'm SO tired of "normal" people commenting about how we lazy folk just need to get off our fat butts.

I understand ur frustration, I to am hypo and on meds and watch what I eat and walk/jog most days and have a very hard time keeping my weight down, so I know what u r going through.

i'll recommend you go for ayurveda treatment...i m also suffering with hypothyroid and taking ayurvedic medicine. Kanchanar Guggul and Varnadi Kashyam morning and evening before breakfast and dinner. it definitely help controlling weight. i m sure these medicines are available online.

i'm glad to hear that you are able to remain at a healthy weight but you need to be a little bit more understanding that just because your body is giving you those results does not mean that every one with hypothyroidism will have those same results. EVERYONE'S body is different. first of all, everyone has a different severity of hypothyroidism where one's levels might be slightly higher at a 6 and another one's levels might be at a drastic 10. second of all, every one who is taking synthroid might have a different prescription and their body might react differently. i have had hypothyroidism since i was 17 years old. i have been on a strict diet and workout regimen for 3 years now. i don't remember the last time i looked at a carb and it's incredibly frustrating that my whole life revolves around this. i can't enjoy going out to restaurants and haven't truly felt comfortable in my skin. around my friends i am known as the fitness guru because of how much my life consists around diet and exercise. my friend followed the same workout and exercise regimen that i did and went from a 160 to 113 in a matter of 6 months while i remained at a steady 140 for 3 years. I just recently lost weight and went down to a 123 all from stress: a death in the family, moving, a bad breakup, and school. It's absolutely horrifying to think that my body only reacts and loses weight when i'm in distress. You are 100% right that NO ONE should abuse their medication but like i said, just because your body is giving you the results you are looking for does not mean everyone with hypothyroidism will react the same way. granted, a lot of people with hypo complain and don't do anything about changing their lifestyle but then there is also a lot of people with hypo that put in the work and eat healthy and work out like crazy and still can't lose the weight.

I am currently on Synthroid .200mg/day. I was diagnosed around age 12-13 and currently 36. I have had some ease in gaining weight and difficulties losing weight, among other side effects from hypothyroidism. Eating right and exercising regularly does help. I DO NOT recommend thyroid med as a solution for weight loss for those whom have not been diagnosed with a thyroid disease, but I do feel it assists with weight management for those whom have been diagnosed. For limited time frames, I recommend simple things like walking faster, rather than slower, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking/jogging to short-distanced places instead of driving there (by the time you get in your vehicle, seat belt, adjustments, traffic, etc, it's not much more time to just walk it out), and parking towards the back of a parking lot, rather than wasting that same time as well as gas on a closer space to the building. Other things that I do: cleaning or doing other activities more often at home, if flying when traveling, walk fast to get to the assigned gate and if there's spare time walk around the airport during layovers. I have a pt job on the weekends at a hardware store, which also helps me some on staying active. If I am lacking sleep and I really need it and I can't sleep when trying, I have taken Melatonin for assistance, which is a natural substance in the body. However, if i take it, it is a small amount, as I don't want it to knock me out (like I have heart from other sleep aids).