Losing Weight With Hypothyroidism

Losing weight with Hypothyroidism
isn’t easy, since thyroid hormones regulate metabolism, the rate that
food is broken down and converted to energy, our bodies just don’t burn calories like most people do. For healthy people, the weight-loss formula is simple – eat less, move about more and voila! – they start losing weight. For Hypothyroid patients this just isn’t the case.

It is unfortunate that we can become nutrient-deficient chronic
dieters and exercise addicted but continue to put on body-fat. Throw in a
few other negative lifestyle factors, such as chronic stress, chronic
fatigue and sleep deprivation and you might see the mirror image of
yourself.

The Thyroid Diet book by Mary Shomon is a must have book for losing weight with Hypothyroidism. I have had this book in my arsenal since the day of my diagnoses and have never looked back. In the book you will find a someone that has been down the same road as you and has found ways to incorporate losing weight in spite of her disease.

She shares dietary changes to make, discusses herbs and supplements and offers several different eating plans and food lists as well as some wonderful recipes. You will also find worksheets to track your success.

Are you ready to nourish your body and mind by learning techniques for losing weight with Hypothyroidism?
Great! But are you ready to toss caffeine out too? Relying on caffeine
to provide an energy boost is a false promise you make yourself. In
essence, caffeine does give you a short-term energy blast, by over
stimulating the adrenal glands into consistent “fight or flight” mode,
which could lead to stressful eating, sleepless nights and adrenal
fatigue.

Tweaking your lifestyle by avoiding caffeine, varying healthy choices
of whole foods, exercising and getting a good night’s sleep are
techniques that encourage losing weight with Hypothyroidism.

Sleep deprivation not only contributes to fatigue associated with Hypothyroidism,
but recent studies show lack of sleep promotes weight gain! Getting 8 hours of sleep a night is not only ideal but gives your body time to recoup and replenish. Sometimes 8 hours seems unrealistic so do your best and try to keep the same bedtime routine every night.. Turn off the television and the computer and try deep breathing to help you fall asleep.

One of the best techniques for healthy sleep is daily exercise.
Another benefit is the more you get your body moving, the more pounds
you will shed and the better you feel about losing weight.

Most doctors advocate walking as the best exercise for losing weight with Hypothyroidism.
If you can’t seem to get motivated to walk, try enlisting an exercise
buddy to share your pain. You may find that very soon benefits, such as
the release of feel-good endorphins, will outweigh your reluctance and
you’ll look forward to walking with your friend.

I took up vinyasa yoga 2 years ago and found not only a great exercise but an ability to calm my mind, body and spirit. If you haven’t explored yoga yet give it a try. It has truly been one of the best gifts I have ever given myself and losing weight and far in the process has been an extra bonus!

The next technique is eating correctly by learning which foods help
or harm your condition. There are certain vitamins, minerals and herbs
proven to nourish you. If you are aware of and satisfy your
bodies needs, it may not be necessary to follow a structured hypothyroidism diet plan.

After you’ve been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism,
your doctor should run tests to determine what vitamins and minerals
you are lacking. If he or she hasn’t, make sure to bring it up in your
appointment.

I personally take quite a few vitamins and supplements to make up for what I am lacking. I feel strongly that this has helped
contribute to my immune system being stronger and has helped me with losing weight.

Consider the following options:

• Tyrosine is a compound the body uses to make hormones.
  Mustard greens are high in tyrosine. Bean sprouts, oats, spinach and
  sesame seeds also contain the compound.

• Russian researchers have discovered that raphanin, which is a chemical contained in radishes, helps balance your hormones!

• Thyrosine is contained in walnuts, particularly in green walnuts,
  which has long been known to support thyroid function. Turkey is
  thyrosine-rich. Avocado, lima beans, yogurt and lentils supply this
  amino acid.

• Selenium helps regulate metabolism and serves to help detox the body
  of oxidative stress. (Smoking and air pollution are some causes of
  oxidative stress.) Include tuna, whole grains, garlic and onions in your
  meal planning.

• Lean protein is a key building block for optimal nourishment. Make sure you are consuming enough lean protein from sources such as fish, chicken and turkey. I try to choose organic free range options as much as possible.
• Cinnamon speeds up your metabolism. Add some cinnamon to a smoothie, soup or chili to add a little sweetness and keep your metabolism on fire. Anything that helps me with losing weight is worth a try!

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