There are many ways to lose weight- you need to eat healthy foods, limit your portions, and work out regularly. But if you have hypothyroidism, your underactive thyroid gland may hinder your efforts. Hypothyroidism can make it harder to lose weight if it is not treated well since the thyroid is a big part of how the metabolism works. Weight gain is often the first sign of low thyroid function. Getting treatment for hypothyroidism is the most important thing you can do to lose weight and improve your health.
But making a few changes to how you eat might help you lose weight faster. Of course, losing weight is never easy, but Leonor Corsino, MD, an endocrinologist at the Duke Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery in Durham, North Carolina, says that people with well-controlled hypothyroidism shouldn’t struggle to lose weight more than anyone else.
Use these 10 weight loss tips to help shed excess pounds faster if you have hypothyroidism.
1 Eat small meals more frequently
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Beaudoin says that digestion slows down when you have hypothyroidism. She explains that eating smaller, more frequent meals with a balance of macronutrients- quality proteins, complex carbs, and healthy fats helps keep blood sugar stable and keeps you from having the highs and lows that come with big, highly processed meals.
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2 Move around a lot
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Corsino says that exercise is an important part of a healthy diet because it helps burn calories. But Austin says to consider each individual. He states that exercise can worsen hypothyroidism if a person is already very tired. On the other hand, a person who has managed their hypothyroidism well and has enough energy should exercise regularly.
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3 Don’t avoid calories
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Even if you’re worried about your weight, eliminating calories from your diet is not a good idea. Experts say it’s important to get enough calories because not getting enough calories can make you feel stressed and cause your body to increase cortisol production. So, instead of your weight decreasing, you might see an increase. Not avoiding calories is one of the most important ways to lose weight.
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4 Take your prescribed thyroid medicines
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Corsino says that thyroid hormone medications should be taken first thing in the morning on an empty stomach with a lot of water. Please don’t take it along with other medicines, and wait for at least 30 to 60 minutes before eating breakfast. If you take your medicine correctly and your thyroid level is still not where it should be, it could make it hard for you to lose weight. Talk to your doctor about changes to your treatment that might help you.
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