How to Lose Weight if You are Suffering from Hypothyroidism and Weight Management in Dallas-Fort Worth

Hypothyroidism affects one in 10 Americans and is one of the most common causes of weight gain.

The thyroid is one of the most important endocrine glands in the body.

Thyroid hormones are responsible for controlling growth during early development and metabolic rate. 

Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland cannot produce enough hormones to meet the body’s needs.

The thyroid hormone thyroxine plays a pivotal role in regulating the metabolism of your body.

If you have a less than optimum secretion of this key hormone, you can expect your metabolism to slow down significantly, causing you to gain weight.

Many people with hypothyroidism struggle to lose weight despite working out and controlling their diet.

What to look for with hypothyroidism

A thyroid that is not producing enough thyroid hormones can cause several symptoms.

The symptoms may include fatigue, weight gain, dry skin, and constipation.

Many people with hypothyroidism also have an enlarged thyroid gland, called a goiter.

However, not all people with hypothyroidism have a goiter. Diagnosis of hypothyroidism is typically made based on symptoms and a physical examination.

However, blood tests may be ordered to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment of hypothyroidism typically involves taking levothyroxine, a synthetic form of thyroxine.

Thyroxine is the hormone produced by the thyroid gland.

By taking levothyroxine, patients with hypothyroidism can replace the missing hormone and improve their symptoms.

How hypothyroidism affects your weight

Thyroid hormones are important for regulating metabolism, and as a result, people with hypothyroidism often have difficulty losing weight.

In fact, weight gain is one of the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism.

However, it’s important to remember that everyone’s body is different, and not everyone with hypothyroidism will experience weight gain.

In some cases, the weight gain may be modest, while in others, it can be significant.

Can you lose weight if you have an underactive thyroid gland?

It is important to understand that you can lose weight even if you suffer from hypothyroidism.

However, you might have to struggle a bit more than someone with a normally functioning gland.

Most people with hypothyroidism can lose weight if they follow a strict diet and keep a physically active lifestyle.

In the following sections of this post, we will talk about some of the best ways to lose weight if you have an underactive thyroid.

Tips on losing weight if you have an underactive thyroid

One of the easiest and safest ways to lose weight if you have an underactive thyroid is by controlling your diet and eliminating certain foods.

1. Eliminate sugar

One of the biggest culprits of weight gain due to hypothyroidism is sugar. It is well documented that sugar causes inflammation and can cause weight gain, amongst other health issues.

If you have an underactive thyroid, eliminate sugar from your diet as much as possible. However, eliminating refined sugar might not solve the problem.

Most simple carbs that you eat are also converted into sugar in your body.

So, even if you eliminate refined sugar, it might not be enough until you reduce your intake of simple carbs as well.

Try including complex carbs rather than simple ones if you want to lose weight.

2. Use intermittent fasting

Intermittent fasting can be a great tool at your disposal to lose weight, whether you have hypothyroidism or not.

However, it can be a great tool to lose weight if you have an underactive thyroid.

Intermittent fasting, otherwise called time-restricted eating, is an eating plan that involves eating for a few hours during the day and fasting for the rest of the time.

One of the most common ways to do intermittent fasting is by eating only during an 8-hour window from 12 pm to 8 pm and fasting for the rest (16 hours) of the day.

There is more than one way to practice intermittent fasting, but this is the best method for an underactive thyroid.

However, it is important to note that intermittent fasting is not for everyone. If you have other health conditions such as diabetes, don’t start intermittent fasting without letting your physician know.

3. Exercise every day

Everyone knows the importance of exercise in regulating your body weight. However, it is even more important to be physically active if you have any hormonal imbalance issues such as hypothyroidism.

Several studies prove that exercising regularly can stimulate your thyroid and can even cure hypothyroidism.

While you can do any exercise you want, most endocrinologists suggest that doing low-impact cardio exercises coupled with some weight training works best to lose weight.

It would be best if you aimed to exercise for at least 30-45 minutes a day, five days a week.

Every person is different, and it might be difficult to predict how much weight you will lose on exercise alone.

Still, most people with hypothyroidism can expect to lose anywhere between 4-8 pounds a month if they follow a well-planned exercise regimen.

If you cannot work out, consider the new Emsculpt NEO platform, which can help you burn fat, build muscle, and improve your core quickly without surgery or medication and with no downtime.

4. Get your nutrients from the right place

It is critical to have a diet consisting of essential nutrients if you have a hormonal imbalance.

When it comes to hypothyroidism, your body needs some key nutrients to function properly.

Here are some of the nutrients that might help you to lose weight-

a. Iodine

Iodine is the key ingredient in the thyroid hormone thyroxine. Recent studies reveal that iodine can help lose weight in patients suffering from hypothyroidism.

b. Selenium

Another key micronutrient that is useful to help lose weight if you have a deficiency of thyroid hormones is selenium.

It is known to improve the biomarkers of hypothyroidism and can help you lose weight as well.

5. Practice stress-relieving techniques

Stress can be a big hurdle in your weight loss journey, more so if you have an underactive thyroid. Stress can slow down your metabolic rate, making it difficult for you to lose weight.

If you want to lose weight, practice stress-relieving techniques such as yoga and meditation.

Getting peaceful and sound sleep is also a great way to keep stress away.

Lack of enough sleep can cause a disturbance in hormonal levels in your body, further complicating your hypothyroidism situation. Hence, getting at least 8 hours of sleep every night can be crucial for the success of your weight loss efforts.

Medical weight loss

Losing weight can be a difficult and frustrating process, but it is often an essential part of managing hypothyroidism.

Patient’s can choose from one of many weight loss centers to find a clinic that best suits their needs.

A medical weight loss program provides patients with the resources and support they need to lose weight in a safe and healthy way.

These programs may involve weight loss surgery but many programs are non-invasive and can produce results with no surgery.

In addition to helping patients lose weight, medical weight loss programs can also help to improve some of the symptoms of thyroid dysfunction.

As a result, medical weight loss programs can offer patients with hypothyroidism significant benefits.

How Prime MD Plus can help

Prime MD Plus is a weight loss and medical spa center that can help patients lose weight and improve their appearance with the latest weight loss medications and non-invasive treatments.

The clinic is run by a board-certified internal medicine and geriatrics doctor who can provide nutritional counseling and health education to help patients achieve their weight loss goals.

The clinic offers weight loss medications, nutritional counseling, and healthy weight management programs. 

In addition, the clinic offers non-invasive treatments with Emsculpt NEO to burn fat and build muscle with no downtime or minimal effort.

These treatments can help patients achieve their desired results without surgery or other invasive procedures.

Final words

Contrary to many people’s thinking, it is still possible for you to lose weight even if you have an underactive thyroid.

It might not be as easy for you to do so, and it might take additional effort, but with a balanced diet and exercise routine, you can lose weight.

It is also crucial to keep taking your thyroid medication as prescribed by your doctor.

If you are making any drastic changes in your diet or exercise routine, make sure to inform your doctor about any abrupt changes.

If you follow the advice given in this article, you should see an improvement in your weight loss journey.

Prime MD Plus provides you with professional medical treatment for weight management in Dallas-Fort Worth to lose weight non-invasively, with or without medication.

To learn more about losing weight effectively and the conditions we treat, check out primemdplus.com to schedule an appointment.