Hypothyroid symptoms – Weight Gain

Is your thyroid making you put on weight? Why is it so difficult for people with an underactive thyroid to shed weight?  Hypothyroidism and putting on weight are very much related, and is also one of the most common thyroid problems.  When you happen to be hypothyroid, your slowed metabolism and changes to your endocrine system will make losing weight feel like a losing proposition.   

Generally, thyroid weight gain is common in women undergoing menopause as there is a change of hormones in the body. 

 It can become extremely frustrating as well as discouraging. It feels like anything you do just does not seem to really make any difference.

Take heart, it will.

Once you start to get your levels back to normal, helping kick start your metabolism again should be a priority.  Exercise, and eating supporting foods can greatly help that to happen.  You don’t have to go crazy.  Like we talked about in nutrition, just start to make one small change at a time, and before you know it – off comes the weight.

To fight your thyroid weight gain, try to avoid refined foods that contain high amounts of sugar.  They raise your blood sugar levels really high and cause your body to try to bring the levels down really low.  This in turn makes you feel that energy crash, which in turn makes you want the sugar boost again.  This can be a huge contributor to weight gain. All calories are not created equal.  Calories from white foods will not fill you up like calories from saturated fats such as from nuts.

We all love our comfort food.  Try some of these low fat swaps to help you stay on track.

Lasagna – Amy’s Light & Lean Spinach Lasagna

Pizza – Kashi Mushroom Trio & Spinach

Chicken Pot Pie – Blake’s Chicken Pot Pie

Mac & Cheese – Annie’s Homegrown Deluxe Shells & Wisconsin Cheddar

Mashed Potatoes – Ore Ida Steam N’ Mash Cut Russet Potatoes

Small bursts of exercise are always helpful also.  Your cells have to reset themselves into fat burning mode.  This doesn’t mean you have to go to a gym. 

You can start to incorporate small things everyday.  Park farther away at the store so you walk more.  Make an extra trip up and down the stairs when you have to get something.  Lift your detergent bottle a few times with each hand before you put it down.

All these little things help to start burning calories.  You can always visit a nutritionist to help make a very specific plan on how to get you back on the right track as well.  The weight may start to come off slow, but that is a good thing because when it comes off slowly, it will stay off as long as you continue on your path to health.