Trying to Lose Weight with a Thyroid Problem

by Helen
(Norfolk)

I have been trying for a long time to lose weight but because I have an under active thyroid for which I take prescribed medication, no matter what I do my weight will not reduce.

As you can imagine this problem can be quite a downer sometimes, especially when I go away on holiday. I always try to cover myself up as much as possible when sitting on a beach, as I feel I can hear people thinking “look at that fat greedy cow” but I am very careful about what I eat so that has nothing to do with it.

My doctor referred me to a dietician and I did follow her advice and all the recipes on the information sheets she provided me with and although I did not put on any weight eating the food on the diet sheet, I certainly did not lose any of it either.

I have tried all sorts of diets and programs and have had a few small successes where I have lost between 5lbs and sometimes as high as 10lbs but this never seems to last, the weight always creeps back up again and I am right back where I started.

As I am only small boned and around 5ft 2ins tall, every half a pound I gain is noticeable and it is so frustrating and depressing when I have to get dressed up to go out for a meal or any social occasion as I always have to wear baggy clothes. I have done my best to buy nice flowing outfits but I cannot help feeling ugly and dumpy when I observe other women in their nice slinky outfits. It has got to the stage now where I try not to go out if I can avoid it.

If there are any other people out there who have a similar problem and were able to overcome it, I would be very interested in learning how they have done it as no one that I have spoken to or consulted on a professional basis seems to be able to give me any solution.

To a certain extent I have resigned myself to living with my problem but I suppose there is a part of me that will continue to look for a solution as I still day dream about losing my weight and regaining a more youthful figure.

I decided to tell my story here for two reasons really, the first is because as usual, I am hoping that someone may read of my problem and offer me the solution that has so far evaded me and secondly, because I thought it might be helpful to any other people who might be experiencing a similar situation and are feeling isolated, to highlight for them that they are not the only ones. There are others of us going through similar experiences.

HelenW
Norfolk