Question:
Does having throid disease slow weight loss after gastric bypass?

My sister and I have both had gastric bypass. She is almost a year out, and has not lost any weight for 5 months. She takes synthroid for her thyroid disease. Does having thyroid disease stop or slow weight loss? She does cheat alot by eating alot of chocolates, but blames the stop in weight loss to her thyroid. I have made it to goal in 9 months & she still weighs 200lbs. What can I do to help, or is it really her thyroid?    — SkinnyBird (posted on March 29, 2009)

March 29, 2009
When I was in office practice I checked thyroid function in my patients on Synthroid every 3-6 months depending on how stable they were. If she hasn't lost weight in 5 months and hasn't had her thyroid checked it could be that her current dosage is too low and that is affecting her weight loss by slowing her metabolism. You can still lose weight it just means you have to take in a lot less calories. However if it has been checked and is at therapeutic levels then I would have to say that the chocolate may be contributing most of the problem. Either way the excess calories of the chocolate intake aren't helping, especially if we aren't talking about a rare indulgence but a regular part of her diet. There is no miracle cure that lets us eat anything. I would suggest she check with the doctor managing her thyroid to make sure that whether a dosage adjustment might help then also with her surgeon and/or nutritionist to go over current eating habits and exercise to see if they can help get her weight loss back on track. Good luck to you both. Kevin
   — hapkidodoc

March 29, 2009
Hi I have thyroid also, i do not cheat, i exercise everyday and still losing weight slow. I lost 21lbs the frist week then it took five weeks to lose 5lbs and did not lose anything for 5 or 6 months lost 10 lbs and have not lost anything in the last three weeks. Its very hard. I had lap band what did the two of you had.
   — JANIECEMOM

March 29, 2009
I have hypothyroidism and have been on synthroid for years. I have lost a 100 pounds but hit a plateau after a year. I still have 70-80 pounds to lose. After Reading about the 5 day pouch diet and getting back to basics, I found hypothyroidism was not the problem - snacking was. Google 5 day pouch test to find the website! If you read all about how your system works since bypass surgery, it is different. One thing - maybe you can't eat as much in one sitting, but you can snack all day long if you allow yourself. Carbohydrates, such as crackers, chips, rice, potatoes, etc. will literally destroy the weight loss progress. Also, there are 'slider' foods that will prevent you from losing weight - things that used to be recommended as a snack foods for dieters prior to WLS such as popcorn & pretzels, etc. are no longer recommended after the surgery. Basically, eat lots of protein to keep the matabolism moving and the hunger down and lowering the carbohydrates! I also recommend a Free website - Fitday. You can actually input what you eat and in an instance, see on a pie chart exactly how much protein, carbohydrates and fat you are eating. It is amazing - You may think you are eating the right foods, but the chart will say it all!. Good luck.
   — BonnieP

March 29, 2009
28 months out -- have been taking synthroid for 4 years --lost all excess weight and have maintained since 1 yr out -- i have my thyroid checked every 6 months along with my vitamin/mineral levels -- i eat a diet of protein first, fiber second and don't eat rice, pasta, or bread -- i will eat a forkfull or 2 of potato when we go out to eat -- other than that i don't buy white carbs -- but i haven't had a problem with losing or maintaining -- stop the chocolates
   — RCassety

March 30, 2009
I have hypothyrodism and have been on medication for almost 3 years and I've lost 228 lbs. If your sister hasn't had labs done in awhile I would start there, I have mine every 3 months to make sure my medicine is still working. Also, it's a good idea to limit chocolate as a special treat because it has no nutritional value and can cause weight gain. Debi
   — DEBI R.

March 30, 2009
I have hypothyrodism and have been on medication for almost 3 years and I've lost 228 lbs. If your sister hasn't had labs done in awhile I would start there, I have mine every 3 months to make sure my medicine is still working. Also, it's a good idea to limit chocolate as a special treat because it has no nutritional value and can cause weight gain. Debi
   — DEBI R.

March 30, 2009
I eat dark chocolate in moderation (I get high quality stuff and keep in the freezer for a tiny piece when the urge hits...then I just nibble on a small square rather than scarf an entire chocolate bar down YUCK! Too much dark chocolate)...SF cocoa and chocolate protein bars and chocolate protein drinks and powders, SF pudding, etc!...My point is, there are good chocolate choices and if she is eating full fat, full-sugar, milk chocolate, she needs to change her options...I enjoy chocolate like the majority of women...I just had to learn to make the best choices...I was hypothyroid before surgery and on meds...For whatever reason I didn't need meds for 4 years post op...Then suddenly I had a weight gain of 3 lbs for no good reason...I felt sluggish and my hair started falling out...So I thought I was anemic again and went in for labs...Found out my I was back to being hypothyroid...Got back on meds and my weight gain stabilized and I lost my 3 pounds, no problem. I'm still working on the right dosage, and need to go get labs again because I am still not feeling the energy I normally get in spring time...I hope she is not using her thyroid as an excuse without taking responsibility for the chocolate munching...She should be able to eat some in moderation...but all my weight gains have been sugar and or simple carbs! See if you can get her to try better choices of chocolate and get her thyroid checked regularly. (I'm bad at getting rechecks myself...so I need to take my own advice as well!)
   — .Anita R.

April 8, 2009
Was in the midst of thyroid cancer and trying to get my levels stablized. Lost 80lbs and then stopped.Reaching 4yr anniversary and have gained 45lbs. Thyroid does indeed complicate weight loss, hormone function and so many other functions in the body.Frustration does not begin to describe my feelings, especially since I just recently saw a new surgeon to discuss a revision and was told that my pouch has NOT stretched; therefore, weigh gain is due to something else. Good luck.
   — amistique569