Have you ever wondered what the connection between your thyroid and weight could be? Your thyroid and its health play a vital role in your weight!
Today, we’ll review some of the myths and facts regarding weight gain in connection with your thyroid.
Extreme Weight Fluctuations? Your Thyroid Could be to Blame!
Your thyroid and the hormones it produces play a vital role in your metabolism. The American Thyroid Association put it nicely when they said, “There is a complex relationship between thyroid disease, body weight, and metabolism.”
A steady metabolism allows for maintaining a healthy body weight. When your thyroid and its hormones are out of sync, a chain reaction begins, leaving you with extreme weight fluctuations.
Depending on what kind of thyroid problems you’re dealing with can leave you with different issues. Let’s go over the most common thyroid problems and how they can affect your weight!
Hyperthyroidism and Weight Loss
Because people with hyperthyroidism usually have a faster metabolism, weight loss is a common consequence. When your thyroid is overactive, your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) increases. This can lead to a greater need for calories to maintain your original body weight, and weight loss is bound to happen without the extra calories.
Hypothyroidism and Weight Gain
On the other hand, Hypothyroidism is a disorder that causes your thyroid to produce fewer hormones. This, in turn, decreases your BMR, which leads to a slower metabolism. Depending on how severe your hypothyroidism is, the amount of weight gain can differ from one individual to another.
Knowing the facts about these two thyroid disorders and their role in weight gain and weight loss can be extremely beneficial! Yet, how can you be sure the thyroid facts you find are accurate?
Thyroid Belly Myths
Maybe you’ve decided to start on your thyroid health journey, but all the information you’re finding contradicts one another! We’re here to set the record straight and debunk all the thyroid belly myths flying around.
Myth: Hypothyroidism will always cause obesity.
Although Hypothyroidism makes it much easier to become obese, using the adverb “always” is just not correct! When you educate yourself on thyroid health and choose to eat right and exercise in a way that supports your thyroid, weight gain will have less of a hold on you.
Someone with an “ideal BMI” can also have hypothyroidism, so the condition can not be diagnosed strictly by body weight.
Fact: Excess body fat can contribute to hypothyroidism!
This might shock you at first, but let’s explain why this is a fact. When your body has excess fat, it can cause changes to your hormones. Remember! Your thyroid plays a big role in distributing hormones, and too much body fat can encourage hypothyroidism!
Our bodies store extra estrogen in our fat, and having high estrogen can block our thyroid hormones.
This is especially common in women in perimenopause since they are ovulating less and producing less progesterone to balance the excess estrogen.
Myth: Your thyroid problems are in control of your life.
At times, you might feel like your thyroid problems are taking control of your life, but…
Fact: You can be in control of your life, despite thyroid problems!
How? Let’s talk about that!
The Real Reason You’re Gaining Weight
You aren’t gaining weight because you’re lazy, not doing enough, or aren’t strict enough with your diet. You’ve been trying to make these changes for a LONG time, and so far, you haven’t seen results.
Instead, not only are you not losing weight, but you’re gaining even more.
If this sounds like you, there is more at play than diet and exercise.
You likely have a metabolism problem that goes hand in hand with your thyroid disorder.
So how can you start losing weight? You have to maintain balance, and your efforts have to be not only sustainable but effective.
Our team creates custom meal plans and workout plans designed to work WITH your body not AGAINST it.
In the meantime, here are a few things you can do to make lifestyle changes gradual and enjoyable.
Go on hikes! If walking around your neighborhood feels a little dull, go on hikes! Not only does it exercise different parts of your body, but it also allows you to take a moment to appreciate nature! It’s also gentle enough not to stress out an already overburdened thyroid.
Meal prep. People tend to eat unhealthily because there’s just not enough time! That’s why meal prep is so important when planning a sustainable diet. It allows you to create your own healthy portions while enjoying yourself as you do. Our custom macros service will help you get started!
Find different exercise routines. Keep your workouts interesting by mixing them up once in a while! Whether that be a leg day or working on upper body strength. Add workouts you enjoy to the mix!
Take breaks! Creating a plan, you’ll want to stick to means creating a plan with breaks. Maybe that means taking the day off when it comes to working out. Or maybe it means having dessert a few times a week. . Either way! It’s ok and important to give yourself grace.
Many health experts say sticking to a diet or workout routine all starts with the kind of mindset you go into it with. Remember the reason you choose to start a diet, workout routine, or both.
Some healthy key mindsets needed for success can be simplified like this:
Don’t compare yourself. This is your journey. Focus on how far you’ve come! When you focus on this, you’ll be encouraged to keep going!
Take baby steps. If you jump in too fast and expect too much from yourself, you’ll trip. When you take smaller steps, you’ll get farther, faster! Make sure every step you take will challenge you but doesn’t overwhelm you.
Enjoy it! Enjoy the process. Yes, at times, it might be difficult to go for that morning run, skip dessert, or put in that extra 10 minutes to finish that workout.
It makes sense that a positive mindset might be hard. Don’t give up! As time goes by and you see your progress, it will get easier. Remember that what you put into it is what you’ll get out of it!
Work with a coach. Having an accountability partner will make all the difference in your weight loss journey. Get tips, encouragement, and a step-by-step, customized plan that works!
Get Customized Weight Loss Support!
Knowing the difference between thyroid disorders and their role in weight gain, weight loss, and your mental health can help you to make a health plan that works!
Here at TeamArodFitness, we are excited and ready to help you make that plan! With our custom strength training program, we’ve created a plan specially made for ladies like you who struggle with thyroid health so that you can feel your best while seeing results! Get in contact with us today!
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