Getting Older & Thyroid & Weight

   Not sure this is the place or that I'm doing this right by posting a new topic, but I've been recently diagnosed with an underactive thyroid. I've been taking a dose of 50 of Synthroid. I've been losing lately, but this morning I've suddenly gained 2.5 pounds.  I'd be interested in getting feedback from the group of others taking thyroid meds-- reasonable weight loss amount, any suggestions, any better or different meds that I might ask my dr about or anything!!

Thanks!
Deanna

I don't take thyroid meds, but I'd say that a sudden jump in weight is due to water retention.  Did you eat lots of salty foods? 

Please keep us posted!
Claire

i take synthroid.. .175 mgs or 175mcg (i know high dose!  ack!) and i didn't notice a gain with mine.. in fact mine is helping me lose weight for the first time in a long time.. i think i'd have my level checked again if it continued.. it could be that you need to have your doseage adjusted.. it took my doctor a full year to get mine right.. with getting blood drawn every 6 weeks (it takes 4 weeks to feel the full effects of the medicine)  wait till you've been on it for 6 weeks then call your doctor.. :)  

Hello, Deanna!  I take Levothrytoxine, 150mcg daily.  I really don't know that I have noticed whether it has helped me one way or the other,  but I'm sure that it has kept me from getting to be enormous by helping to keep my metabolism up. I know I must take most of the responsibility for being overweight.  As I have been following my eating plan here on this site, I have been losing steadily at the rate of about 10 pounds a month (47 pounds lost so far).  I am doing my best to keep my metabolism reved up by eating the same calories each day that it will probably take to maintain my ideal weight, about 1800.  I also eat six or so times a day, eating a variety of healthy foods with lots of fruit and vegetables, lean protein, etc.  I am also working out with weights, walking on my treadmill and outside, doing exercise (aerobic and Pilates) videos. (Not all on the same day!  I switch them out to keep from getting bored.  I move a little each day, sometimes more, sometimes less)  This seems to be working well for me.  I plan to see my Dr in the next couple of weeks for my yearly and it will be interesting to see if my meds will change because of my new, leaner state.  Right now I am also taking medication for high blood pressure, which will most likely need to be reduced or illiminated entirely, I am hoping.

I would highly recommend this type of eating program to anyone who is wanting to lose weight.  It made the most sense to me.  I am sure that I am getting the maximum nutrition that I can for my body to support it during my weight loss and I will most likely be eating this way the rest of my life.  It also allows me to eat the types of food that would most likely be "forbidden" ones if you restricted your calories to a lower level.  I rarely experience cravings for these foods because I can just fit a serving of them into my calorie level once in a while and go on.

Now, all that said, I would also recommend to anyone beginning to eat like this, that they give themselves some grace for a few weeks because they might initially experience a weight gain as their body goes from borderline starvation mode to eating what it really can if your metabolism is fired up.  I really don't think my experience would be that unusual if others could just free themselves from the thinking that the only way to lose weight is to really restict their calorie level.  Just think of all the great, healthy foods people may be doing without when they really don't have to!  I want to be able to eat as much good food that I can while I am losing, and it is really working for me.  Even though my weight loss is at about the maximum that is recommended, no one can say that I am starving myself to do it, especially if they could look at my food log!  I am for sure not depriving myself!  My weight loss may slow down some as I get closer to my goal weight, but I really don't care.  I am already more than halfway there so I will keep doing what I am doing.  There will only be a small adjustment near the end because I am already following the calorie guidelines for my ideal weight of 135.  I have been there in the past and know that it is the right weight for me to be.  I am a little older now, so that might make a little difference, but now much.

If I can encourage anyone to follow the way I am eating and exercising, I will, because I feel very strongly that it is the healthiest, most satisfying way to go. 

Also, I wouldn't worry about a couple of pound gain at any one time, unless you experience two or more episodes like that in a row!  I have found that most of the time this is water weight gain and it all comes out right within a week or so, showing a dramatic loss.  I don't let it bother me because I am in this for the long haul and I know I must be patient.  Within the past couple of weeks I had about nine days where I was up and down around 183 pounds, but I kept eating like I know is right and last Thursday I finally dropped to 178 pounds and have dropped to 176.5 since then.  I am back up to 178 today (high-sodium Easter ham!  Drat!) but I know that if I keep going like I have been, I will soon begin to show a loss on the scales again.  Even while I am carrying water weight, I am still losing fat, so once the sodium level comes down, it will all be good again.

Deanna, I apologize for the long rant, but I hope what I said is an encouragement to you.  Peggy

Peggy,
thanks for your long rant.  I know this is the right thing to do. It just gets frustrating taking three steps forward and two steps back. I know from my weight watcher days that the tape measure tells you more than the scale. I just need to remember all that I've learned through the years. I don't know that much about sodium and water weight? I also very much appreciate the info about thyroid meds, etc. I think I will make another appointment w/the dr.

I know that this forum and the support it gives is very very important also.  Thanks to all who have posted!

Peggy.... I also  enjoyed reading your note.

I just visited my Doc today for my yearly exam.  Blood pressure is down where it needs (still on meds for it)  to be and we will see sometime next week how the bloodwork went.  I don't know if my thryroid meds will need to change or not.  I think I will have to keep an eye on the blood pressure as I lose more weight.  Most of my life I have had low blood pressure for my age so I'm looking forward to that again without medication.  Doc was please at my weight loss.  I was able to share about Calorie_count.com with the nurse and Dr.  Most all of the women who work at the clinic I go to are overweight, some of them even obese.  They all know that they need to do something but are doing nothing, so I told them what I was doing.  Hopefully that will motivate them.  If I can do this, so can they!  I'm looking forward to seeing them on this site!