Help with hypothyroidism and losing weight!

[Cronos]

Hi, everyone, I'm hoping some of you can help me with this issue. My girlfriend has hypothyroidism (hashimotos disease I believe), and has been on ELTROXIN (LEVOTHYROXINE) her entire life. Her current dose is 250mcg/ day, and she recently decided to take on dieting and exercise to the next level in an attempt to lean out some for the summer. This has been the first time in her life that she has taken diet and exercise so seriously, and I have been extremely proud of her dedication and perseverance. Problem is, I believe her hypothyroidism might be interfering with her weight loss. She started her strict diet and exercise 2 weeks ago, and stepped on the scale today, and she told me she hasn't lost a POUND! She was so upset and devastated, I felt so bad for her. I myself have been living the fitness and health lifestyle for 14 years SOLID, and I am in great shape, and I feel I am quite educated on exercise and nutrition, so this frustrates me as well, because I helped formulate her diet and exercise, and she's not making the progress that she should. I am however, NOT educated in training and creating meal plans for someone with hypothyroidism, so I am reaching out to anyone on here who knows how to help. I would greatly appreciate any and all input.

Thanks!

[old mechanic]

I have i thyroid problem also. Ire you sure of that dose?? that seems like a lot! i take .212 and i weigh 265lbs.
that are her tsh# t-3/ t-4 and free #.

[SEOINAGE]

I have i thyroid problem also. Ire you sure of that dose?? that seems like a lot! i take .212 and i weigh 265lbs.
that are her tsh# t-3/ t-4 and free #.

Yeah need to know her t3 and t4 numbers etc. I'm mostly concerned about her t3. She should be able to lose weight just like anyone else if her medication is doing its job, but it might not be and there are other thyroid medication alternatives that could be better, but need to see blood work.

[Cronos]

I have i thyroid problem also. Ire you sure of that dose?? that seems like a lot! i take .212 and i weigh 265lbs.
that are her tsh# t-3/ t-4 and free #.

Ya, I'm looking at the labels right now. She has to take one pill that is 0.2mg and another pill that is 0.05mg, both being the ELTROXIN as I mentioned. How would I/she be able to figure out her t3 and t4 levels? Bloodwork the only way?

[Cronos]

What other alternatives?

[steroid.com 1]

Tell her to go here: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

Probably the best Thyroid website on the internet...she will find a lot of help here.

[Sgt. Hartman]

Get a full thyroid panel done. It doesn't matter how much thyroxine she's taking, if her body has issues with converting it to the active thyroid hormone T3 then the hypothyroidism continues. A lot of people take products like Armour which is a combination of T4 and T3 for this reason.

[Cronos]

Thanks so much for the helpful answers! I will look into that site and also tell her to get a full thyroid panel. Just a couple questions?

Is it possible that her eltroxin is not converting to T3 as you suggest? Even though she gets bloodwork done every 6 - 12 months? (no scheduled dates, she just goes in for new bloodwork whenever she's been feeling really tired, as per DR recommendations)

Is this ARMOUR OTC, or prescription only?

Thanks!

[steroid.com 1]

It's possible the eltroxin is not converting to T3 or she has high resistance.

Yes, Armour is prescription only.

Try adding in 200mcg of Selenium and 600mg of Iodine to her daily supplements...both are excellent for Thyroid health and function.

[HRTstudent]

Maybe I'm going the simple route, but is she counting calories?

In 2 weeks, just eating clean and following a strict diet virtually everyone will lose weight rapidly. Water weight alone goes quickly.

I just feel like it's probably wise to look at the nutritional side before going on the wild goose chase that can be the ideal thyroid. That's harder to achieve than the ideal test/e2/shbg ratio!

[Cronos]

It's possible the eltroxin is not converting to T3 or she has high resistance.

Yes, Armour is prescription only.

Try adding in 200mcg of Selenium and 600mg of Iodine to her daily supplements...both are excellent for Thyroid health and function.

Will do!

[Cronos]

Maybe I'm going the simple route, but is she counting calories?

In 2 weeks, just eating clean and following a strict diet virtually everyone will lose weight rapidly. Water weight alone goes quickly.

I just feel like it's probably wise to look at the nutritional side before going on the wild goose chase that can be the ideal thyroid. That's harder to achieve than the ideal test/e2/shbg ratio!

I appreciate the input, but yes, she/I was directly counting cals. She went lower than I told her too though, thinking that if X amount of cals makes me lose weight, then X amount more will make me lose more weight faster, which I try to explain isn't always the case, because the body can go into "starvation" mode so to speak. She was taking in any where from 500-800 cals a day, comprised roughly evenly between pro/carbs/fats. This is why I felt so bad she didn't lose any weight! She followed through with this strict diet for 2 weeks! Funny thing is, I SWEAR to god she looked lighter, at LEAST 5 lbs or so, and I suspected maybe 10 lbs. I'm open to any and all suggestions from a nutritional standpoint as well please. I've heard some people advocating gluten free for hypothyroid? I'm personally gonna try a new plan that has ample fibre in it as well, as that "area" of her personal life got off track as well on her low cal diet for the 2 weeks

Thanks again everyone, and please keep the knowledge coming, it's much appreciated!