Question about underactive thyroid

[Tiggeroo]

I am very overweight. I have been tested twice for my thyroid because I have other symptoms of an underactive thyroid. I do not believe I eat nearly the amount of calories to explain the weight gain or where it is now. I always assumed the problem was that I did too little physically.
However, two months ago I began walking every day. I also eliminated nearly all sugar, white flour and anything processed or high in fat. Six weeks ago I began working with a personal trainer. I do weights, abs and other things with him 3x per week. !-2x per week I go to the gym and do 45 minutes of eliptical and bike. The rest of the days I do 45 minutes of walking with a heart rate monitor where I aim for 80% of my mhr. However, I am losing little weight. Could I possibly still have a problem that was missed? If so how can I find out? If you were diagnosed with a thyroid problem how did you find out?
The other symptoms I have are hair loss, facial hair, lack of energy, and very heavy periods.

 

[OceanAnnie]

It does sound like you have a number of the symptoms for hypothyroidism.

Here is a good source:

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/hypothyroidism-topic-overview

HTH!

 

[tinkntraining]

Your symptoms definitely fit the "typical symptoms" for an underactive thyroid....but could be symptoms of other ailments, too. Sounds a little like early menopause, but you don't mention your age. When was your last thyroid test? I ask this because, like you, I had a normal thyroid test about 3 years ago. Last year, started having similar symptoms and dr ordered another thyroid test. BINGO! Underactive thyroid. Put on synthroid and feeling a lot better. I guess your thyroid could stop working at anytime -- depending upon when you had the test, maybe it's time to check it again. Sorry about the furstration in the weight loss -- sounds like you're doing all the right things. Sometimes, when you're firming up, it takes awhile to see the weight drop on the scales. But, I'd bet you're losing inches. Hugs to you.

 

[NY Disney fan]

Are you keeping a food diary of everything you eat? This makes a big difference as well. It would also help your doctor figure things out as well.

 

[Tiggeroo]

i just started. I don't think I"m wrong about the amount of what I'm eating but you never know. I've also started measuring my food. What got me started on this was listening to how those heavy people on that tv weightloss show eat. I am nowhere near that realm.

 

[NY Disney fan]

Curious..how many calories are you taking in daily?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

i just started. I don't think I"m wrong about the amount of what I'm eating but you never know. I've also started measuring my food. What got me started on this was listening to how those heavy people on that tv weightloss show eat. I am nowhere near that realm.

I was surprised at how little I ate when I did a food diary. I thought I was taking in more calories than I was.

Food diaries are essential.

 

[Tiggeroo]

I haven't counted calories in a while. I guess that is telling. But I"ll keep a record of what I'm eating this week and calculate the calories. My original goal wasn't to count calories. I elminated processed sugars, hfcs, transfats, most bad fats, white flour products sticking to complex carbs, and processed foods. I rarely break this but on Sunday I had 3 glasses of wine at a party so that I'd consider a major splurge.
A typical day is oatmeal with a handful of blueberries and a few almonds on it and non-fat milk. Lunch is salad with tuna or chicken on it and homemade dressing with very little oil. Dinner last night was broiled salmon in teriyaki sauce and broiled brussel sprouts in olvie oil salt and pepper. In between I had an apple and some pretzels. I usually have some brown rice too. My goal is to get in 6-7 veggies and two fruits a day. I"m also trying to eat something every 3 hours now. I have found that I'm doing better eating smaller portions but more often. I also think it is possible that I eat too little as odd as it sounds.

 

[NY Disney fan]

I also think it is possible that I eat too little as odd as it sounds.

If you don't eat enough calories your body is going to hold onto that fat. If you eat 5-6 times a day (small meals) your body can relax and start losing that weight.

 

[mjkacmom]

I don't know your age, but sounds like it could be perimenipause (sp). I'm 41, eat 1/2 of what I ate 10 years ago, heavy periods, facial hair, and keep gaining weight. I put in about 4 miles on the treadmill (fast walking/jogging) 5 times a week. My thyroid tested normal. Guess I'll just have to really watch what I eat.

 

[Cool-Beans]

You find out by going to your doctor and giving them a little bit of blood.

Muscle weighs more than fat, so it may even out on the scale for a while...but you should start feeling it in your clothes after six weeks of dieting and exercising. If you haven't yet, you should soon.

A lot of people say that those who are hypothyroid start losing weight like crazy when it is corrected, but most of the time that simply isn't true. You still have to diet and exercise.

Best of luck to you!

 

[Tiggeroo]

I am definitely in per-menopause but these symptoms have been going on for over ten years. I only now care more because I'm getting so serious to get the weight off. I thought since i was doing so little before and had so much to lose that once I got serious the weight would just come off. At least in the beginning. In the past when I've done WW I've always lost a bumch of weight the first couple of weeks.
My trainer says it is because this time I am gaining muscle weight. If I had no weight to lose I'd be gaining pounds. He also wants the diary because he thinks I probably am not eating enough for the training level I"m at.

 

[JessicaR]

Do you know if your free T3 and T4 were included when testing your thyroid? Its not unusual for some doctors to just test and treat based on the TSH, just very wrong. Also some doctors aren't aware that the TSH lab standards have changed. It certainly sounds like a thyroid issue.

Reading about all your exercise activity and diet changes should be enlightening to your doctor!

 

[NY Disney fan]

Ask your trainer how many calories you *should* be eating. If you are overweight you should eat at least 2000 per day (more or less). As you lose the weight, that caloric number will be going down. That's why skinny chicks (who want to remain skinny), eat about 1200-1500 per day. They have to maintain that. But if you are overweight and training, you can't eat 1200-1500 per day, you have to eat more. Once you reach your goal and need to maintain, you will have to eat less.

 

[Tiggeroo]

I don't need a referral so I just want to find a decent endocrinologist to get an eval done.If I do that and he says I'm fine I'll go with it. I definitely am not getting 2000 cals a day.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

He also wants the diary because he thinks I probably am not eating enough for the training level I"m at.

There you go. If you are starving yourself while trying to lose weight it will not work.
You have to be taking in the right amount of calories for your body weight and workout to lose weight.
Your body needs to energy to burn calories.

Keep at it and see doctors to make sure you do not have something that is overlooked. Good Luck to you!

 

[KAMLEM]

These also sound like the symptoms of PCOS. Have you seen your OB/GYN?

 

[Tiggeroo]

These also sound like the symptoms of PCOS. Have you seen your OB/GYN?

\
yes I have and they said no to this. I also have carpal tunnel and mental fogginess. Both can be explained by other things like peri-meno.

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

I have PCOS, and have the same symptoms. Have you been checked for that?
I have to work VERY hard to stay at happy weight.

 

[corinascot]

I was diagnosed as hypothyroid (underactive) about 9 years ago. And my TSH was very, very high so I was VERY hypothyroid. It took a year to get the correct synthroid dosage correct. I hate to tell you, but I didn't lost any weight even then. My doc says it's unusual to lose lots of weight.

My metabolism has slowed down SO much as I've aged. I swear I eat 1/10 of what I ate in my 20s (I'm over 50.) And I have to exercise twice as much. I'm sorry, it's just a sad fact of life.

Good luck to you. Keep at your regime. Sometimes when you start working out and reducing calories nothing happens for weeks and then, BINGO, you lose of bunch of weight, then level out and then it happens againg.

I was a skinny minny who gradually put on 50 pounds til I took it off when I was 45. It was tough.