To feel like this about my body?

[JustGiveMeGin]

I have been diagnosed in the last few years with an under active thyroid which I am on medication for, I have been overweight to some degree for most of my life.
The medication I take has not had any affect on my weight (and little effect on most other symptoms, recently the dose has been increased) .
I guess I know I am unreasonable but I see friends and colleagues tucking into delicious food seemingly without a care in the world and still remaining slim/healthy, I have to restrict calories, fat and sugar to even maintain my weight. To lose weight I almost have to starve myself (not exaggerating at all, friends can't believe how little I have to eat to lose even a pound!)
I am averagely active but just so sick of thinking about every morsel that goes in my mouth...aibu?

I feel you OP. I put on weight when medicated and despite getting off it and losing some weight, I still feel revolting.

I am so disgusted by everything about how I look, most of which I can't control, that I think I get some sort of control feeling from calorie counting. It's miserable though. I can't imagine enjoying choosing some food and then enjoying eating it.

YANBU for feeling fed up.

Averagely active? That usually means no where near active enough. Have you done research into your TSH and T3 levels? In the UK we medicate less than other countries do so you might feel better on a higher dosage of levythyroxine. That said, I don’t know anyone who has lost weight like magic once they’ve started taking it. I suggest you look carefully and what/how much you are eating and how much exercise you are actually taking. Do you get your heart rate into fat burning zone? If you are restricting fats it probably makes you feel hungrier. Try low carb/high fat plus intermittent fasting.

I have an under a under active thyroid

I am underweight (BMI 17). I eat a lot but no junk at all. I work out 5x a week. I feel good.

Ok so I’ve always been under eight, as see my family BUT I felt awful pre meds

If you’re still feeling awful, you need to adjust your levo.

I have been on 50/75/125
The sweet spot for me is 100

Underweight
Not under right

Eight!

I have battled with my doctor to up my meds, they have just agreed to up them to 100.
To the poster that picked me up on my averagely active comment and gave me some advice....thats kind of my point, my friends/family/colleagues are not doing anything more than me but they can eat without putting weight on!
I'm sick of having to go the extra mile just to stay a reasonable weight (by no means slim).

Hi OP, can't offer any help but just want you to know you're not alone. I have an underactive thyroid and PCOS. I weigh everything, limit carbs and eat very little. It's so easy for people to say "be more active!" But the lethargy associated with underactive thyroid is often overwhelming. I know it's not easy to always be switched on about what you eat and how much you move, or to see other people dieting on a daily limit of calories that would be an absolute dream of a day for the likes of us, but you're not alone. It's a pain in the arse but ultimately it's what we deal with. Sending you a big hug because I know it does get really tough sometimes.

YANBU, it's shit. Do you actually know what all your thyroid results are? As a previous poster said, sometimes doctors think that as long as your TSH is within the realms of normal then everything is fine, when in fact you'd feel much better if it was kept at the lower end.

Why don’t you see a nutritional therapist OP? You don’t have to live like this! I am one or search the BANT website for a list of people in your area x

That sounds rubbish OP :(

I know someone in your situation too, underactive thyroid and in order to lose weight she literally has to eat like 800 calories a day. It's miserable and I really feel for her. She is overweight and it is absolutely nothing to do with her lifestyle. She just has to work that much harder. It's really shit.

No advice that you won't have already heard but I sympathise.

@JustGiveMeGin

I have battled with my doctor to up my meds, they have just agreed to up them to 100. To the poster that picked me up on my averagely active comment and gave me some advice....thats kind of my point, my friends/family/colleagues are not doing anything more than me but they can eat without putting weight on! I'm sick of having to go the extra mile just to stay a reasonable weight (by no means slim).

How on earth do you know all your friends family and colleagues aren’t doing more exercise than you?

Some good ideas thank you x
It's nice to know I'm not alone (although I wouldn't wish this shit on anyone). The comment about lethargy was spot on, I work a 50 hour week and have two children. Sorry but climbing a mountain or going on a bike ride are not high on the list of priorities, I barely sleep as it is so unless I can magic up some extra energy from somewhere that won't change (and no, exercise doesn't give me a buzz or make me feel great, I just feel even more knackered)
I know I am being defeatist but I have genuinely had enough of feeling crap and just about having the energy to pootle through life

@Lassy1945 General conversation, they are certainly not in the gym everyday.

I have under active thyroid too & I am not constantly watching my weight. However, weight gain is usually the first sign that my meds need adjustment so you should request a further test. You need to do some research into your condition to fully understand the implications.

The time of day you take your meds affects the body’s uptake. Before bed is optimal as uptake not inhibited by digestion of other food stuffs); otherwise first thing but no food or drink for 30 minutes (except water). Sounds like your dose needs adjustment anyway if you are still symptomatic.

Certain supplements can inhibit uptake of levothyroxine. Vitamin D in particular needs a 4 hour gap. We are also prone to vitamin deficiency. You should ask your GP to do a full blood test for iron, B12 & general vitamin levels. I show as normal for iron but my GP advised extra iron supplements because the standard levels for the general population are a little low for those of us with hypothyroidism. After 6 months, my hair stopped falling out quite so profusely. Are you taking supplements? A good multivitamin, vit D, B12, vitamin C, iron is a good place to start. B12 made a great difference to energy levels & mental alertness.

When it comes to diet & exercise, most people don’t exercise enough anyway & there are certain foods which don’t serve us well with hypothyroidism. In addition, I think it requires a change of thinking towards diet & exercise: to make positive changes for your health rather than because you feel overweight. The former is positive & will inspire you to take care of yourself, the latter is extremely negative & will result in failure because it feels like punishment. You need to stop the comparison with family & friends: it’s akin to self sabotage - they don’t have your condition so it’s a waste of time & energy. I significantly reduced gluten & carbs & eat regular small meals & snacks. Plenty of healthy fats, protein & oils for healthy joints (we’re prone to joint inflammation). Make sure that you are drinking enough water. And exercise needs to be a regular sweaty experience, not just getting in a set number of steps. I do a mix of yoga, cardio & strength workouts 6 days a week & make sure that I am as active as possible throughout the day.

[quote JustGiveMeGin]@Lassy1945 General conversation, they are certainly not in the gym everyday.[/quote]
You don’t need to be in the gym every day either OP. All we need is a 15 minute workout, at home. There are tons of free workouts online.

I’m hypothyroid and lost 25kg (85kg to 60kg) doing 5:2/intermittent fasting. It is doable. Step one is getting meds sorted though.

@EssentialHummus I have to have my bloods done in 5 weeks to see how I'm going on the new dose, I will try and get and appointment to go through the other points people have raised, I don't think my doctor has a brilliant understanding of the condition and just wants the figures in the normal range regardless of how I feel.
I have taken everything on board and will try to get out of this foul mood im in and crack on with doing something about it

Sorry, @EssentialHummus forgot to say bloody well done!

Thanks! It was very slow/steady weight loss over 18 months, but I really found 5:2 easy to stick with. There is a lovely supportive group on here.

@EdinaMonsoon

Exactly.

@Lassy1945 & @EdinaMonsoon do you have a thyroid condition at all? Sometimes the lethargy is unbelievable, did I mention i also have a full time job and two children? 15 minutes a day is not so easy as it should be!

Interesting point someone made above re interaction with other vitamins. I have just switched to taking my levo in the morning, but along with my iron & vit d liquid..... I will stop that and will have to stagger it. I just liked taking them all together so I didn't forget one! Perhaps that's why I've felt more tired recently!

@JustGiveMeGin If you read my original response to your post, it states that I have hypothyroidism & have done for 18 years. I know what it’s like to be caring for a newborn & a toddler whilst suffering from crippling inflammation, pain & fatigue. I also continue to suffer with intense joint inflammation as a result of it. I have two DC & run my own business. My point is that you won’t begin to feel better by relying on medication alone. It is a life long condition which unfortunately requires significant lifestyle changes to manage effectively. GPs are notoriously bad at helping us with it so we need to research & help ourselves. YANBU to feel fed up with it but YABU to not want to help yourself in any way & get cross with people like me who have the condition themselves & have tried to offer help. You have received some good advice on here but it’s not the response that you want.

@blueluce85 According to BNF, iron is best taken with a 4 hour gap when taking levothyroxine. I’ve also just spotted on there that there may be an interaction with HRT decreasing the efficacy of thyroxine too.

@EdinaMonsoon sorry, must have been too tired to read properly. Sounds like you are sorted which is good. I did say further up that I was in a bad mood and would crack on eventually 🤷‍♀️