Struggling With Weight Gain Issues And Your Thyroid Gland

Losing weight is challenging, but possible, when you have hypothyroidism.

Would you know if your thyroid gland slowed its production of thyroid hormone?

Symptoms of hypothyroidism, decreased thyroid hormone synthesis, are hard to spot. Although approximately 10 million Americans have been diagnosed with thyroid disease, thousands more go undetected, misdetected, and not treated properly. Many times the symptoms-including weakness and fatigue, weight gain, persistent constipation, or thinning hair-are often mistaken as other illnesses or simply the progression of aging, hence its nickname byphysicians as "the great mimicker".

At the base in the front of your neck sits the thyroid, a small butterfly-shaped gland that plays a huge role in the endocrine system, which creates, distributes, and regulates hormones in the body. The hormones T3 and T4 regulate the body's metabolism, produced by the thyroid gland they help the cells by providing them energy.

When the balance of chemical reactions in your body is disturbed by not enough of these hormones being produced by your thyroid many times it results in a slow metabolism. THe clinical symptoms directly related to this metabolic upset can be frustrating, the most common being weight gain.

If levels of thyroid hormones are low, you burn fewer calories per day. Every calorie counts higher, sometimes twice as much, when the thyroid gland is underactive. Losing weight becomes very difficult.

Attempting to lose weight and have an underactive thyroid, consider these seven things:

1. Talk to your doctor

If you have the symptoms of hypothyroidism it is important to see your physician. Diagnosis through a blood test will determine if synthetic thyroid hormones are needed.

It's important to note that taking the thyroid hormones will help normalize hormone levels, but they won't necessarily cause you to lose weight. Diet and lifestyle changes must still be followed to help shed the pounds (more about this below).

2. Avoid foods that hinder thyroid hormone absorption

Foods that hinder thyroid hormone absorption should be avoided when taking thyroid hormone. The absorption of thyroid hormone can be hindered by dietary calcium or iron. Many doctore recommend taking thyroid medicaiton immediately upon rising and to allow two to three hours before eating calcium or iron containg foods. It may be surprising what foods and supplements may have iron and calcium such as antacids, calcium-fortified orange juice, and multivitamins.

Foods that are designated as goitrogenic, (they interupt thyroid function) should also be avoided. A list of common goitrogenic foods include non-fermented soy foods, legumes such as lima beans,and raw cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. Reduce the amount of goitrogens by cooking or fermenting these foods.

3. Eat quality protein to balance meals

Basal metabolic rate (BMR)-the rate that your body burns calories-is most effected by muscle tissue. To rebuild and restore muscles need energy, even when you are at rest or sleeping. Therefore it is key to preserve muscle when on a weight lose journey. Faster metabolism, more muscle mass, hugher BMR, and greater energy expenditure can be obtained by consuming meals higher in protein compared to carbohydrates and fats. The thermic effect of food (the digestion and absorption) of protein requires more calories than fat and carbohydrate combined.

4. Use wisdom when choosing calories

When on a weight lose journey every calorie is important. This is even more emphasized when dealing with a sluggish metabolism. Empty calorie sources of refined carbohydrates quickly spike blood sugar and leave you feeling hungry and fatigued so stay away from sugary drinks, white-flour pastas and breads. Consuming meals loaded with deitary fiber rather than refined carbohydrates will satisfy your appetite and keep you feeling fuller, longer. Hypothyroidism-induced constipation can be helped as well with dietary fiber as it bulks, solidifies,and softens stools.

5. Get moving, even if it is only for a short time

The fatigue that often accompanies hypothyroidism can hamper motivation to exercise; however, physical activity-especially resistance training- is a major contributor to metabolic stimulation and muscle growth, which can fuel weight loss. High-intensity interval training (HIT) is a great option if you are challenged by time or motivation. Exercise hard for 30 seconds to several minutes then recover for one to five minutes in intervals and you are doing HIT. Longer, continuous exercise is no match to HIT when it comes to the benefits of improving body composition and metabolic health.

6. Sufficient vitamins and minerals daily is a must

Eat sufficient amounts on iodine and selenim to ensure a healthy thyroid. Iodine can be found in sea vegtables and iodized salt. Selenium can be found in animal products, seafood, dairy, and Brazil nuts. Supplementation is a great way to assure you are getting ample amounts.

Also for those with thyroid disorders and other autoimmune problems there is evidence that vitamin D is key. Vitamin D is important to so many things in the body from bone to brain health, ensure you are getting enough through diet, supplementation or soaking up the sun.

7. Beauty sleep and plenty of it

It is always important to get enough sleep when you are trying to release weight but particularly when you have a thyroid disorder. Often sleep deprived people will eat high-calorie foods in an effort to increase alertness. Using unhealthy foods to self-medicate your fatigue is catastrophic to both your trim figure and your health. Without enough sleep insulin sensitivity goes down and can thereby cause a metabolic meltdown. Seven to nine hours each night of quality shut-eye is what the average adult requires.

Reaching your weight-loss goals even if you have hypothyroidism is very do-able. Action, persistence, and a positive attitude will have you to your health goals in no time.

Thyroid And Weight Loss