The Fat Loss TroubleshootThis is your place to troubleshoot your fat loss problems from nutrition to training. This section is led by Leigh Peele, author of "The Fat Loss Troubleshoot," the ultimate fat loss manual. If your results have slowed or stalled this is the place to come for advice for all your fat loss needs.
I have been on thyroid meds (Synthroid) for 20+ years. My last two lab tests have shown I am low in one of the thyroid hormones (T3) Coincidently, during this time I have been really struggling with trying to lose weight despite faithfully tracking/weighing/measuring, etc.
Doctor has suggested adding a T3 medication (Cytomel) to my Synthroid and wondering if anyone out with thryoid problems have taken this combo and if you saw any changes in weight.
If you're deficient, it can certainly be causing you problems in that area.
That is encouraging. Yes, my level is a few counts below the bottom of the "normal range". My general doctor only tested the TSH and T4 hormones but I went to an endocrinologist and he ran a full panel plus Vitamin D (low there too) Apparently Vit D is related to thyroid function so now am on a D supplement as well...
I will start the Cytomel tomorrow. Fingers crossed it helps.
Lara it really seems to me that you need to focus more on a rebuild and resting program before you jump into lower your body composition. Mix a proper refeeding with the right medication usage and you shouldn't have any problems.
When people with thyroid/hormone issues short change the recovery and treatment, they short change their results.
A snip from Metabolic Repair...
Quote:
All Your Eggs In One Basket
Before I step into the program section I want to give a brief rundown of what has been covered so that this makes some sense and all comes together. A hot list for you:
Hormones really drive our metabolic system
Over training has more consequences than just injury or depression
Stress really can KEEP you fat
Thyroid dysfunction can be reversed to increase energy production
Leptin levels can be raised by eating
Estrogen is not the enemy, hormonal imbalance is
Water retention can hide your fat loss
Fluid balance usually means fat loss victory as well
Digestion is more than just a bowl of fiber a day
Not everyone can beat themselves into the ground and get back up from it.
Not everything is black and white
Take home point…
Taking care of yourself, taking care of your mind and your body is what leads to optimal fat loss. Balance is what keeps you losing. Being impatient goes against fat loss and will just prolong the process.
Lara it really seems to me that you need to focus more on a rebuild and resting program before you jump into lower your body composition. Mix a proper refeeding with the right medication usage and you shouldn't have any problems.
When people with thyroid/hormone issues short change the recovery and treatment, they short change their results.
A snip from Metabolic Repair...
Ok Ok I think I am going to get MRM. Now I wish I woudl have gotten the "set" when I ordered FLTS!
The low T3 was a suprise to me. All these years and now I wonder if my other doc ever checked it"? Or if this is a new thing?
Leigh can dieting/overtraining inhibit thyroid levels even if someone is on medication? Also, my weight is up from eating too much the last few months. Wouldn't that overeating have been enough of a "re-feed" or does it need to be more structuerd then just plain eating over maintenance for a while?
Leigh can dieting/overtraining inhibit thyroid levels even if someone is on medication?
Yes. There are some ladies here that can attest to that too. The majority of women that I did case work on were women that were already taking medication but it wasn't doing anything. It was nothing more than a "sugar pill".
Quote:
Also, my weight is up from eating too much the last few months. Wouldn't that overeating have been enough of a "re-feed" or does it need to be more structured then just plain eating over maintenance for a while?
It depends. Depends on how aggressive you were in the past, how much resting you have done and how good with the refeeding you were. It doesn't just take calories, it takes a certain kind of calories from fat and carbs.
This is a specific thing and there is nothing black and white about it. Once hormones for female especially get out of whack it takes a focus and care to put them back on track.
The best thing you can do is get the facts and feel safe about eating, hence why I wrote the book.
Leigh can dieting/overtraining inhibit thyroid levels even if someone is on medication? Also, my weight is up from eating too much the last few months. Wouldn't that overeating have been enough of a "re-feed" or does it need to be more structuerd then just plain eating over maintenance for a while?
Contest-prepping bodybuilders often take extra T3 exactly to counter-act the normal metabolic slowdown.
But if you're only on a replacement dose (12.5 to 25mcg/day, give or take), you won't see magic.
Thyroid meds aren't a 'magic' pill or anything and I know plenty of women who despite thyroid meds still suffer from a too low metabolism.
I'm on thyroid meds (T3-only) as well, and the baffling part is that my maintenance isn't low at all, not even w/o T3. At least not as long as I'm getting in enough food. Yet, once calories drop, hell breaks loose. I'll lose a huge amt of wt for 1-2 weeks and then.. nothing.
When I got tested last year, my natural T3 levels were sub-range, even though I was eating at/over mtn (approx 2300kcal). After building up to 25mcg gradually, I've chosen to take 12.5mcg/day as this made me feel best, since 25mcg made me feel too wired (even started overeating from it). Right now though, when dieting at a stupidly small deficit (5-10%), I'm back on 25mcg again as lab results came back below range again.
It's pretty weird how some can do big deficits with little repercussions and others just can't do it. Find out what deficit you can sustain w/o suffering and stick to it, w/o looking at others who seem to be able to pull off so much more.
I wouldn't even THINK of taking more as the side-effects aren't worth it for me.. besides, there will be a repercussion afterwards when dropping back to lower intakes. It's just medication, nothing more nothing less. No magic.. well at least not in wt loss, only in how you feel! Which is.. magik!
My specialist sent me to the cardiologist first as he discovered I had a heart murmur which indicates a leaky valve.
Fortunately it was nothing to worry about, except that I need to be careful not to do strenuous exercise when having an infection, as I run a bigger risk for inflammation (endocarditis).
Since then though I've paid waaaaay more attention to the cooling down ! Used to stop at the highest intensity and cut the cooling down back to just 1 minute, since I figured I'd be doing more cooling down when walking/cycling home. WRONG!!! You've got to do it on the spot so that the excess blood flow will slowly diminish.
Anyways, even though this cooling down stuff is off topic, it is important to bring it up as I must not be the only foolish person thinking that 'cooling down' doesn't apply to him/her because of post-workout SS cardio activity.
Lara,
Just a comment--have you researched Armour thyroid? It's a natural thyroid replacement from pigs, and contains T4 as well as T3, unlike Synthroid which only has T4. I tried Synthroid at first, but didn't get any good results. The Armour took away my achiness, tiredness, and has helped with weight loss. Worked for me. Armour Thyroid and Thyrolar: Alternatives to Synthroid and the Other T4-Only Drugs
Elisabeth
Lara,
Just a comment--have you researched Armour thyroid? It's a natural thyroid replacement from pigs, and contains T4 as well as T3, unlike Synthroid which only has T4. I tried Synthroid at first, but didn't get any good results. The Armour took away my achiness, tiredness, and has helped with weight loss. Worked for me. Armour Thyroid and Thyrolar: Alternatives to Synthroid and the Other T4-Only Drugs
Elisabeth
Yes, I have thanks. I am not comfortable with the pig factor as I don't eat pork. But I know many people have great results with it.
Changes in Thyroid Meds and Fat Loss Question?
Linear Mode
