I have met many women who complain that they've gained weight over months or years, despite having maintained an active lifestyle and limiting their food intake.
They often ask if they have an underactive thyroid - and since many people develop a mild hypothyroidism that may contribute to elevated cholesterol levels, considering the thyroid is certainly worthwhile. If untreated, this condition may progress to overt hypothyroidism, which is associated with dry skin, brittle nails, fatigue, weight gain, constipation, and heavy periods.
Let's take a moment to brush up on the thyroid gland.
The thyroid is located front and center in the neck but is placed low, between the clavicle bones. This gland releases two forms of thyroid hormone, T3 and T4, which circulate in the blood and help control metabolism.
Another hormone, TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) tells the thyroid when to release its hormone. TSH is released from a gland within the brain called the pituitary. So when your doctor checks a set of labs, she will either see levels for all three hormones or just the TSH alone, since that number can very sensitively reveal abnormalities within this complicated system. (Note: TSH is typically elevated in hypothyroidism and decreased in hyperthyroidism.)
If tests reveal you are suffering from hypothyroidism, then you will likely be started on replacement therapy. This medication takes weeks before its full effect is felt and so it is important not to overshoot the dose required to get the thyroid functioning normally, since an overactive thyroid can cause problems, as well.
Unfortunately, in most cases of weight gain, the thyroid is not the cause. Over and over again, I have checked thyroid function tests only to find normal results, much to the chagrin of the patient wishing for a quick and easy solution to her weight problem.
The reality is that our lifestyles discourage physical activity and expose us to all kinds of high-calorie foods loaded with fat or sugar or both.
Here's what many people fail to realize: to avoid weight gain, calories consumed must equal calories burned. To lose weight, calories burned must exceed calories consumed.
So, the day-to-day choices you make are the ones leading to the weight that you are today. Also, remember that the weight fluctuations you experience daily and even month to month are not as important as your weight's trends from year to year. Crash diets that help you drop a lot of weight in a short time have limited impact on your weight over the years and may even lead to more weight gain after you discontinue the diet.
Controlling your weight is not that hard if you practice some healthier habits consistently, every single day. Here are some simple ways to help you lose weight over the course of six months:
- Decrease your alcohol consumption
- Switch to low-fat milk
- Cut out sodas, even diet
- Eat a healthy breakfast
- Keep healthy snacks on hand
- Fulfill cravings with smaller servings
- Add an additional day of exercise per week
- Increase your exercise by 10 minutes and do it most days of the week
- Always use the stairs
- Park far from the store entrance and walk
So make a few changes and check your weight in a few months. You might be surprised!