You are trying to shed all that weight but to no avail. This brings me to an important question – Did you get yourself checked for thyroid? If yes, thyroid weight loss is a worry for patients and they have a hard time losing it.
While it is certainly difficult, it is not impossible – not if you put your efforts in the right direction. The thyroid is an endocrine gland in the shape of a butterfly, located above Adam’s apple.
Smaller in size, it plays a significant role in our body by producing thyroid hormone using dietary iodine that helps to regulate metabolism, temperature, heartbeat, and digestion.
Fluctuations in the thyroid gland can produce either low thyroid hormone or excess of it. When your thyroid production hits low, it can lead to hypothyroidism, which is a major culprit for weight gain.
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Hypothyroidism and weight gain
Most people do not undergo diagnosis on time, and by then they have already put on a lot of weight. A person with hypothyroidism finds it hard to lose weight as compared to a normal heavy person.
The reason for this is that people with this condition have a slower rate of metabolism due to which they experience fatigue and the inability to be active throughout the day.
Even if they are doing exercise and if not done right, their efforts will go in vain. Here is a list of several tips on how you can shed thyroid weight with a healthy and smart approach.
Ways to approach thyroid weight loss
Proper medication
First, consult your doctor about the type of drugs you should have. Any thyroid condition needs proper medical treatment. Without the right medication, your thyroid will not heal itself.
Make sure you take your medication at the right time as prescribed. While medications have their part to play, it is also not wise to depend solely on them.
Do not go for a weight loss drug-diet because weight gain is just a symptom. The right diet and medication go hand in hand to help your thyroid heal and lose thyroid weight.
Avoid Goitrogens
Cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, kale, spinach, turnip, radish, cauliflower, and broccoli are goitrogen-rich foods. Although these are very healthy, they are not suitable for hypothyroidism.
It is not advisable to avoid goitrogens entirely. The recommended way to consume goitrogens is appropriately cooking and steaming them. Do not consume them raw since they slow down the thyroid even more.
Exercise
With thyroid comes an affected metabolism meaning slower burning of calories and fats. This means weight gain over time. Therefore, make sure you exercise.
Exercise stimulates a healthy metabolism rate that will help you burn the fat. Do not overdo yourself in the exercise department. Keep your time for exercise limited to about 30 minutes.
Sleep
Sleeping less has known to slow down the rate of metabolism. Proper sleep is when you get at least 8 hours of rest. Those who sleep less than 8 hours are likely to put on more weight since your metabolism crashes down.
A good number of hours of sleep also helps you bust some stress, which is also a symptom of hypothyroidism.
- Also read: How much sleep do I need?
Gluten sensitivity
Hypothyroidism, sometimes, comes in the disguise of an autoimmune disorder, which happens as a response to the unhealthy or leaky gut.
You will find yourself sensitive to gluten or, say, on consuming gluten, you might feel bloating, nausea and fatigue in your body.
In that case, cut down on all the gluten products. Gluten also contains goitrogens in them thus making it more advisable to not go for them. Try cutting the gluten-rich diet for at least three months, and you can compare the results afterward.
Avoid sugar
Consuming moderate to complex carbohydrates is healthy for you, but the ones with simple carbs (added sugar and refined starch) do not sit well with your weight loss diet plan.
Avoid having junk food, alcohol, cold drinks, flavored drinks or juices, white bread, and cereals.
Hydration
One more way to make your metabolism go faster is enough water. When people exercise, they forget to up their water intake. Drinking enough water helps you not only shed weight but lower water retention as well.
Fiber
When you schedule yourself for thyroid weight loss plans, make sure you include fiber-rich diets in your regime. Fiber and water is a sure shot way to get there.
Plan your diets well with fiber-rich foods such as apples, flax seeds, almonds, carrots, or oats.
Small yet frequent meals
make a habit of eating small yet frequent means, a golden principle of weight loss. Make sure to take the required amount of protein, complex carbs (not simple carbs), and healthy fats in your diet.
Conclusion
The thyroid makes weight loss an all-the-more challenging task. While you may feel like giving up sometimes, the reward and satisfaction will only come to you when you chase your goal to the end of it. Stay motivated!