Talk to me about weight loss and thyroid

[gwynhyvar]

Okay, this is what I know:

1. I eat low carb (<20 g carbs/day, not net)
2. I can't lose weight, lost 6 lbs initially, now stuck for weeks
3. I've tracked calories, fat, carbs, protein, etc yadda
4. Recently diagnosed hypothyroid, suspect CFS in there too
5. Started taking d-ribose blend for CFS, it's helping but not as much as I'd hoped

Here's what I want to know:

1. Is there a certain protocol that those of you that are losing weight are following? I've seen JUDDD, and some others listed

2. Assuming my next doc visit we will go on (most likely) Cytomel, will this help my fatigue and start to stimulate weight loss???

I know, know, know 10,000 reasons why eating low carb is good for me, from triglyceride levels to lowering inflammation, and so on.

However, my mind starts to go to the, "If I'm not losing weight anyway, why not just eat..."

Can anyone share what they are doing and how it's helping? I'm not looking for a magic pill (although maybe getting my FT3 levels up will be that pill?), but I'd like to see some progress, somehow.

[thewoman]

Gwyn, here is an article about those of us with CFS and difficulty with weight loss: How CFS, Fibromyalgia, or stress can make you gain weight - Highly Effective Treatments for Pain and Fatigue | Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients | Find Articles at BNET
Dr. Teitelbaum attributes the problem mostly to yeast, low thyroid, adrenal stress, as well as the fact that those of us with CFS or fatigue issues often get less exercise. Its an interesting read; I need to return and read it a 2nd time myself.

Like Gwyn, I would also like to hear what successful people with low thyroid are doing. I have eaten very low carb for 2 years to manage a bad digestive condition. I've counted calories, not counted calories (my endo told me not to and I nearly died!) I lifted weights, ran and danced my a** off! I was in ketosis about 75% of the time. Very few frankenfoods because I can't digest them. I never lost more than half a pound a week. I'm speaking in past tense, because after the 2 years, I crashed; couldn't do much more than come home from work and crawl into bed. I gained back 25 of the 35 lbs I worked so hard to lose in only 10 weeks.

Now I've been diagnosed with PCOS, I'm insulin resistant, and I'm being treated for low thyroid and taking iron supplements and anti-fungals as well as taking Metformin. I am hoping that this will make a difference. I know I have to get back to my previous level of exercise, but it is tough as my energy level isn't there yet. I've learned now that keeping my carbs so low may not be the best idea with the low thyroid. So I'm concerned about what I should be eating!

So not to hijack this thread, but to throw my voice in to the chorus! Is there a specific program that works best? I prefer to be grain-free to keep the belly aches away; I currently get carbs from nuts and green veggies. Lactose is iffy although I used to love my heavy cream. What kinds of carbs are good kind for someone who can't eat lots of fiber or fructose? Or is it best to keep the diet as it was, and focus on getting the exercise back to prior levels, hoping that the thyroid treatment and iron will fix an imbalanced playing field?

Thanks so much!

[inatic]

I have hashi's hypothyroid. If you arent well optimized on all your hormones, you're in for a battle.

For the most part im fairly well optimized on thyroid meds.. it took nearly a yr and sometimes i still have to adjust my dose.

I wt train and and do some cardio and stay active. at nearly 48, im in the best shape of my entire life.

i lost all my wt eating carbs.
There are many carbs one can eat that dont contain gluten. br rice, oatmeal (there is gluten free ones too) crm of br rice, rice cakes, sweet potatoes ( i eat white too) to name a few. Veggies and fruit too. I havent cut any foods out.

[gwynhyvar]

thewoman, that's what I want to learn as well... I prefer to avoid gluten, and luckily I don't seem to have issues with dairy (fingers crossed!) but there are many things I enjoy that aren't processed, that I would add back to my diet if the key piece is indeed thyroid-related and not just "low carb" per se. Sweet potatoes, for one.

I have read Dr. Teitelbaum's book From Fatigued to Fantastic and I am re-reading it again. That's how I happened to ask my doc about the d-ribose. I'm on week 2 with it and it is helping, but not like I had hoped.

How crazy am I to have committed to walk a marathon for charity, when I have CFS and hypo??? I may have to drag myself across the finish line! Seriously, how can I exercise when doing so makes me so tired I can barely function for the next week??? Aaaargh!

I'd love to hear everyone's opinions on this... Please, chime in!

[watcher513]

You don't say what your lab results were for the thyroid tests.

[Leo41]

You suggest that your T3 is low, and if it is, that's your problem. Your weight loss will be a problem until you're optimized, and you want a T3 that's 2/3 to 3/4 of the range--never below the half-way point. Your fatigue is probably also from low T3, if yours is low. (I know because I've 'been there.')

However, in your situation, I would not do intensive exercise; you're just stressing your body unnecessarily.

[gwynhyvar]

Terry, the lab results that I have so far are here.

Leo, thanks. I figure that's really my missing piece. Now at least I know why it's been so hard to get the weight off.

[inatic]

looking at those labs you are very low in thyroid hormones. Did they script any or are you still using selinum?

supplements wont do what hormones need to do.

i second Leo's recommendation to not exercise heavily nor diet too hard because you'll force your calories down to low and get stuck there.

[gwynhyvar]

I am still on selenium, d-ribose, and l-tyrosine (the last two mostly for fatigue). My next visit we will review my latest FT3 labs, and I'm going to ask for meds.

Thanks for the advice on the exercise and dieting. I'm eating low carb, but not controlling calories. The exercise is walking, 2-3 miles a few times a week, so hopefully that won't overdo until we can get the meds thing figured out.

[thewoman]

Gwyn, shoot me if you don't like me riding your coattails on this thread; just thought it was easier b/c I have some of the same types of q's!

I want to know if pushing myself to get to at the activity level where I used to be is wise, and if I should be eating the few carbs that are ok for my stomach condition. Also not looking for a magic pill, but as I got hit with this fatigue and weight gain overnight I'm hoping that the journey back to energy and a reasonable weight won't be overly long.

I just started on one grain of NDT and I'm taking Metformin now for IR. I'm waiting for my Poly Iron 150 order to arrive from Amazon. I also have progesterone cream from my doctor and he gave me a B12 shot. I don't think my labs are as low as Gwyn's. Can't seem to force myself to moderate exercise more than 2-3 times a week.

T4 Free: 1.12 (Range 0.93-1.7)
T3 Free: 3 (Range 2.57-4.43)
RT3: 342 (Range
T3 Total: 99 (Range 80-200)
TSH: 2.64 (Range 0.27-4.2)

Ferritin: 20 (Range 13 - 150)
Iron % Sat: 28 (Range 20 - 55%)
Vitamin D 39.5 (Range: 32 - 100)
B12: 566 (Range 211 - 946)

Testosterone, Free, Se: <0.6 (Range 0.9 - 4.8)
Progesterone 7.95 (Range 1.7 - 27)
Estrogens, Tot. Ser: 234 (Range 156 - 350)

[Leo41]

Neither one of you want to 'push' yourselves in terms of either diet or exercise until you get yourselves optimized.

With a low T3, no supplement will help you--you need to get the hormones, and you need a T3 that's at least 2/3 to 3/4 of the lab range.

I can relate because when my T3 dropped below the lab range, I was incredibly fatigued and gained 10 lbs in 2 weeks, although I was eating at a level where I was previously losing! It's really incredible what an absence of T3 can do.


I hope you both get some meds soon. When I got my T3, my fatigue vanished almost overnight--within 48 hours--although I had to lose those lbs the same way as any weight gain, and that was frustrating.

[gwynhyvar]

Leo, I've been on the fence as to whether I should try to move my doc appt up a week or two if she has room. I think you've pushed me off the edge. Going to call and see if she can squeeze me in or do a phone visit. I don't want to wait until March if I can help it.

ETA: and no, of course I don't mind. The more information I have, the better, and why clutter up the board with numerous posts when we can aggregate the info???

[2bflawless]

Without proper medication (not vitamins) I mean proper thyroid medication no matter what you do you will not lose a single pound. I gained weight steadily while on Atkins + low cal.

Move up your doctor appt and get the meds!

[thewoman]

Thanks all for the replies and thank you Gwyn for sharing your thread.

Since I'm already taking T4 and T3 I'm going to try and "go with the flow" so to speak and push myself just a little with the exercise. The fatigue has started to lift just ever so slightly so I'm going to see what I'm capable of. I realize this whole thing takes time. SO not fair considering how things came screeching to a halt!

I was a little worried about the low testosterone but the doc says we should address the thyroid first and see how these other hormones pan out.

[gwynhyvar]

thewoman, I've been having decent results with d-ribose to raise my energy. I'm using the Corvalen brand, which is 5g per serving (powder), and I'm taking 2 servings/day. Takes a while (2-3 weeks) to ramp up, and I'm finishing week 2 and feeling better. I know nothing will replace getting proper meds, but since you're on meds, maybe this might help? Just a thought. It's seeing me through right now.

[thewoman]

Oh, wow, I'll look into it! Thank you very much for sharing the info. I had read of this supplement on Dr. T's site, so I'll definitely take a deeper look!

Originally Posted by gwynhyvar

thewoman, I've been having decent results with d-ribose to raise my energy. I'm using the Corvalen brand, which is 5g per serving (powder), and I'm taking 2 servings/day. Takes a while (2-3 weeks) to ramp up, and I'm finishing week 2 and feeling better. I know nothing will replace getting proper meds, but since you're on meds, maybe this might help? Just a thought. It's seeing me through right now.

[2bflawless]

TheWoman: If you are feeling fatigued - careful with pushing the exercise. Baby steps. I love lifting weights and had to taper back since being diagnosed. If I overdue it I pay for it.


What are you taking for your T3 and T4? How much? Your T3 looks very low. Did yo just begin taking it? When do you test again?

I am diabetic now but was first diagnosed with IR back in 03/2008. I take 1500mg of Metformin a day and have to keep my carbs VLC in order to lose weight and feel well. Anything over my carb limit and I feel awful.

[thewoman]

2bflawless: The fatigue was awful in August when all this craziness started. I would come home from work and just crawl into bed and that was my life. Its definitely better now than it was. I feel I have to push myself a bit, because after 5 months I have broken the "exercise habit" and now that I'm a little less exhausted than I was, its hard to know what part of feeling like I can't workout is fatigue and what part is just not wanting to.

I did just start taking thyroid meds; literally 4 days now! My doc just started me out on 1 grain of compounded thyroid, with both T3 and T4. I will see him again in 4 weeks; I'm guessing he will talk to me about my symptoms, adjust my dose up or down and then ask me to get labs again for the next follow up.

This IR news was really devestating. Considering the transformation my diet has undergone in the past few years - from vegan to very low carb! I've been on Metformin for two weeks and have worked my way up to 1000mg daily. When my SIBO is under control I do okay on a wider variety of carbs digestive-wise, but I can only lose weight with them if I'm very, very active. So now I'm just super confused; I don't know if I should go VLC or if I should try to eat the few carbs I can digest okay, which are really limited to chestnuts, potatos (no skin) and berries.

[2bflawless]

Wow, your post sounds like me back in August!

Give yourself time to feel better. I had to stop lifting for about 6 weeks while I was getting my medication straight.

I was eating VLC (under 20 grams total) and taking 1000mg of Metformin for over a year and a half and still developed diabetes. I am doing much better with 1500 mg of Metformin but the only way I feel better is keeping my carbs at my limit which happens to be under 10grams. There are days I go a bit over and am still OK but if I go way over I am laid out on the couch the way I was before treating my thyroid.

I find if I keep my calories high and my carbs low I feel terrific. I now can lift 3-4x a week and feel great. Give yourself time you will get there.

[thewoman]

2bflawless: Before I started posting here in the thyroid threads I did a lot of reading and I definitely thought your story sounded familiar to me. It was very inspiring to see that you were able to bounce back the way that you did! Glad you're sharing about the IR/diabetes too. Its scary stuff! I had no idea this was going on with me. Its good to hear your take on the carbs; I suppose ultimately we have to find what works for us. I think I might be like you - the lower the better. I used to have much better workouts in ketosis than out; I just don't think I've ever been able to metabolize or digest carbs so well.

I don't want to push things too hard; its very difficult to be patient. My husband and I saved up for a long time to go on our very first vacation together and the trip is a month away. When we bought the vacation package, I was a size 5 (because I worked hard to get there) and feeling up to hiking or any other adventure that we might get into. Now I'm going to have to buy new clothes to wear, and I am also afraid that I'll be exhausted and bloated the entire time too. Going through the routine with the regular doc, then saving up to see the holistic doc, then getting all the right tests took so much time, now I'm finally on meds, and I know it takes time just to find the right levels, etc. This is truly a test of patience.

Thanks so much.

[nonstickpam107]

thewoman: don't mean to 'butt in' here, but I see you are going to start taking PolyIron150. You have to put that iron SIX HOURS away from any thyroid or it will bind the incoming thyroid. And it might bind it ANYWAY...therefore, you want your doctor to take a close look at FT4, and FT3 you might need more based upon that binding factor.

Your doctor is a smart one! He knows that the introduction of testosterone is also going to bind your T4 to T3 conversion (you generally start with progesterone and estradiol, NOT testosterone, and see how that 'binds' things up. It's a 'give and take'. One time the BHRT (or iron) is introduced and the next, you raise thyroid, than add another hormone, then raise thyroid, based on FT's.

Calcium supplements should be four hours away from taking thyroid, and iron six hours.

Pam

[thewoman]

I don't think you're butting in; I appreciate the advice. I was planning on taking the Iron at night before bed (10PM-ish) as that should put enough distance between it and the thyroid (which I take first thing in the morning 7 - 8ish and again at 2.) Good to know about the binding issues; if that is the case, would it ever be a better idea to just skip it? I am assuming the answer is no, since you mention the give and take. We need to get my ferritin up (at 20 now.) I'm not taking any calcium; I appear to be okay in that department at this point.

That is AWESOME to hear about my doctor. I really like him so far. I was a little curious about the testosterone but since I really don't know a lot about hormones I wanted to trust his protocol. I think he's rad and would certainly recommend him if anyone wants a good holistic MD in NYC.

Originally Posted by nonstickpam107

thewoman: don't mean to 'butt in' here, but I see you are going to start taking PolyIron150. You have to put that iron SIX HOURS away from any thyroid or it will bind the incoming thyroid. And it might bind it ANYWAY...therefore, you want your doctor to take a close look at FT4, and FT3 you might need more based upon that binding factor.

Your doctor is a smart one! He knows that the introduction of testosterone is also going to bind your T4 to T3 conversion (you generally start with progesterone and estradiol, NOT testosterone, and see how that 'binds' things up. It's a 'give and take'. One time the BHRT (or iron) is introduced and the next, you raise thyroid, than add another hormone, then raise thyroid, based on FT's.

Calcium supplements should be four hours away from taking thyroid, and iron six hours.

Pam

[nonstickpam107]

Give his name please, and his whereabouts..I've had over a DOZEN people just this past month ask me for NYC thyroid doc...he's a real gem! Tell him thanks for me! He makes my 'volunteer job' easier.

And yes, you DO have to take the iron! It'll make you feel better down the road!

Pam

[thewoman]

His name has been floated through these forums before - Dr. David Borenstein, located in Brooklyn, NY. Doctor Borenstein - Rehabilitation Center

He's very thorough and very kind. I pay out of my pocket to see him (he does accept insurance, just not mine) and its worth it.

[nonstickpam107]

Yep, shoulda known!! You are so very right..he IS 'worth it'. Thanks for the name drop...a newbie from NYC could have come in and wouldn't have seen it before.

Pam

[gwynhyvar]

Morning! Have my Team in Training kickoff party today. Get to meet my fellow marathon walkers and our walk coach, along with tons of other people, all biking, running, walking, and hiking to help the Leukemia and Lymphoma society (fund research for a cure for blood cancers). So excited!!!

Won't be on the computer much till the afternoon. Have a great day!

[thewoman]

Good luck! Have a great training and party!

Originally Posted by gwynhyvar

Morning! Have my Team in Training kickoff party today. Get to meet my fellow marathon walkers and our walk coach, along with tons of other people, all biking, running, walking, and hiking to help the Leukemia and Lymphoma society (fund research for a cure for blood cancers). So excited!!!

Won't be on the computer much till the afternoon. Have a great day!

[2bflawless]

Thewoman:

I find that my energy returned after being properly medicated for over 6 weeks with both T3 and upping my Metformin from 1000mg to 1500mg and going VLC. Once I dropped my levels lower from 30-20-10 I felt so much better and still do. Try seing how foods affect you physically rather than what the scale says. Stick to that protein and fat and add the carbs in slow...like a small salad with each meal (lunch and dinner) for a day or two and see if you feel any better. I felt better after a couple of days of eating this way and just kept getting better.

I hope you are able to enjoy your vacation. You have a month and you just started your meds. It can happen! You have a great doc!

Positive thinking, my dear, positive thinking!

[thewoman]

2bflawless: Thanks! I am trying to very much take it one day at a time. I had a lot of energy today and got a good workout in, and even though I haven't been perfect dietary-wise, I have had a good week with digestion too. My husband even told me he thought I already looked thinner today. So things may indeed look up. Or at the least I have a really smart husband.

I think your approach is a good one. I think I will do the meat/egg/green veggie thing for a while and slowly add more carbs in, seeing where I am with my threshold. This is what I did for digestion, I can probably do it for metabolism too.

[miscmissy]

Just wanted to introduce myself. I also have hypothyroid and take Armour Thyroid just switched back because you can''t get in the united stated anymore and so I had to get it from Canada. I can't remember what my numbers were but I will find out next time I go for another test in a month.

I have a terrible time losing weight too. I do susanne somers somersizing because I get constipated easily. to much information. Anyway I eat carbs at breakfast and not the rest of the day and as long as I can stick to that my weight does come off just very slowly. I also work out 4 to 5 times a week at the gym for 1 to 1.5 hours.

I hate being fat and I need to lose 60 lbs. one slip up and it takes me a week or more to fix it.