I often heard friends and family talk about their thyroid conditions and how they can’t lose weight because of it, but I never knew exactly what they were talking about.
I recently became curious about the condition of Hypothyroidism and how it affects a person's ability to lose weight and I wanted a simplistic answer to a very medical-filled answer. Here is what I found on Hypothyroidism and its role in weight loss.
What is Hypothyroidism and its Symptoms?
Hypothyroidism is when your thyroid hormone is not be produced at a sufficient level in the bloodstream. Basically, your thyroid gland is not being as active as it needs to be for it functions normally. This causes symptoms of low metabolism and energy level, low libido, fatigue, sensitivity to the cold, possible depression, constipation, and memory loss.
How Does Hypothyroidism Affect Weight Loss?
When your thyroid is not working properly it affects your whole body's ability to perform properly. Digestion of food is not done right so more food is stored as fat. Since a person does not have enough energy to do proper exercise the fat is then not burned off.
If a diet is not ideal then more water is retained and weight gained which will put pressure on your heart and muscles to compensate. One thing leads to another and another until it gets to a point where managing becomes very difficult.
What Can Be Done To Improve Overall Health With Hypothyroidism?
People that have a thyroid condition do not have the luxury to indulge very often in their diets and the act of exercise becomes extremely important to help keep a high metabolism.
However, a lot of this could be for nothing if the right medication is not being prescribed. Consult and keep in close contact with the Endocrinologist to make sure your TSH levels are normal and you have the right mixture of medication. You might even want to see if anti-depressant medication could help with depression and energy levels.
After getting your medication squared away start exercising! There is nothing better for a person with a thyroid condition could do that will help speed up your metabolism and counter the effects of the disease better than consistent daily exercise.
Most doctors want you to do at least 30 minutes a day of cardio exercise. Make it a daily part of your life like taking a shower or brushing your teeth. I suggest increasing the intensity of your workouts as you get in better shape to avoid the plateau effect.
When it comes to your diet try and eat a normal amount of calories but change the types of foods you are eating. Switch your diet to focus on chicken, turkey, fish, non-starchy vegetables, legumes, and certain grains. People still need to eat carbohydrates, but simply make it a part of a diet instead of focusing on a diet.
Eat more chicken salads, tuna wrapped in whole grain, fresh veggies for snacks. Crystal Light instead of Coke, and so on. Get creative in your meals and you will find that there are still plenty of meals that you can enjoy.
Losing weight is hard but it is even harder for a person with a thyroid condition, so there is very little latitude in diet and exercise. Concentrate on improving your general healthy eating habits and find some activities that are fun to do and continue to build on them. If you can do that you will find results that will to permanent lifestyle changes.
CAUTION: Now I need you to pay very close attention to this
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