Sluggish metabolism, finding it hard to lose weight – do you have a thyroid imbalance?
You may already know that your thyroid fires up your metabolism which in turn has a major impact on your ability to lose weight.
When your thyroid is low, your metabolism is sluggish, making it much harder to shed those extra kilos, you may even feel too tired to try. As your energy drops you are more likely to start craving sugary foods for energy.
A sluggish thyroid not only makes it extremely difficult to lose weight, it can also cause fluid retention, a slow heart rate, mood changes, overwhelming exhaustion and constipation.
How To Lose Weight With An Underactive Thyroid
It is possible to boost your metabolism, feel better, and lose weight when your thyroid is low
First and foremost it’s very important to get your thyroid checked properly to gain a better understanding of how your thyroid is functioning.
I recommend getting complete thyroid blood tests done. Here is your quick checklist: thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free T4, free T3, reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies. If your doctor won’t do comprehensive testing, I can organize a Dried blood test through an Integrative Pathology Company that I use in my clinic.
“According to the Australian Thyroid Foundation, a thyroid disorder will affect 1 in 7 Australians”
Triiodothyronine (T3) + Weight Loss
When it comes to weight gain T3 deserves a special mention. T3 is your most potent thyroid hormone. It has the ability to really rev up your metabolism. Low T3 can be due to the T4 not converting to T3. Thyroid medication such as Thyroxine is T4 only.
If you are already taking Thyroxine, there are specific nutrients that will help with this very important conversion, not only for weight loss but also for many other possible symptoms that could be affecting your day-to-day lifestyle.
If you have asked your doctor to check your thyroid function and it has come back “normal” yet you still suffer many of the typical underactive thyroid symptoms, you may be in the range of “sub-clinical” thyroid. That is, you have many of the symptoms but not bad enough yet to be prescribed medication. There are professional strength natural supplements that can support your thyroid function which will help with these symptoms and may prevent your thyroid from getting worse.
Secondly, once you have your blood test results it’s very important to investigate WHY your thyroid is working below par.
When you discover the reasons why you have a thyroid problem you can start to solve it. This could save years of suffering and heartache.
A holistic perspective seeks to find the underlying causes and then treats all aspects of your health. Rather than simply treating your thyroid symptoms, an individualized treatment plan will help you get your thyroid health back on track.
As your thyroid recovers your metabolism will pick up. This will help you lose weight, and you will finally begin to live life with vibrant health and vitality.
