Not Losing Weight? It could be your thyroid.

by Jenny Legan, Home Bodies Trainer to
greater Portsmouth NH

There are few things more frustrating in our lives than failing to see our hard work yield the outcome that we feel we deserve. The same holds true when we do all the right things to achieve a fitness goal, but don’t see the results we are entitled to. This can have a devastating impact on one’s motivation to continue to pursue their fitness goals.

Once it has been established that all the right things are being done to reach one’s fitness goals, a possible imbalance within the body’s biochemistry should be considered as a possible culprit. One such condition is hypothyroidism, which occurs when the thyroid is producing too little thyroid hormone, resulting in metabolic changes that lead to weight gain or the inability to lose weight despite diet and exercise. This condition is far more common in women than men, and if often seen in menopausal women.

Although a telltale sign of a hypothyroidism is the failure to see results despite appropriate diet and exercise adherence, there are other symptoms that are often present. These commonly include fatigue and loss of energy, depressed mood, constipation, intolerance to cold, brittle and dry hair, skin, and nails, puffiness in the face and extremities, as well as menstrual and sleep disturbances.

If a thyroid condition is suspected, it is crucial to see a physician. Although certain symptoms can point to the possibility of a hormonal imbalance like hypothyroidism, only a doctor will be able to make an official diagnosis by testing thyroid levels within the blood. The good news is that hypothyroidism can be treated with medications that mimic what the body would naturally produce on its own. Once levels of thyroid hormone are restored to normal levels, the symptoms caused by the metabolic effects of hypothyroidism should improve. The end result of treatment is that the individual should finally begin to reap the long overdue and well deserved benefits of a fitness program.