Let’s be clear, there is no harm in putting on a little bit of weight. Sometimes life means you have been exercising less or eating more, and that’s absolutely okay. It’s just the way the cookie crumbles. However, if your diet and exercise regimen has stayed the same but you have noticed you have put on some weight around the middle, there may be an underlying cause. Hypothyroidism has long been known to cause weight gain in patients.

Hypothyroidism is when your thyroid glands do not produce enough thyroid hormones. When the glands are functioning properly, the hormones produced regulate how your body uses energy. But when the little gland isn't working well, you can suffer from a slew of issues like changes in body temperature and yes, weight fluctuations. Also, thyroid hormones regulate your metabolism and thus, low levels of hormones would mean slower metabolism and faster weight gain.  If you have found difficult to keep the weight off, these tips will make losing weight with hypothyroidism easier.

Watch Out For the Symptoms and Start Treatment

The first step is to get yourself tested for hypothyroidism and start treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms such as fatigue, sensitivity to cold and unexplained weight loss, dry skin and constipation, it is time to see your doctor and get a blood test done to determine your thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). After diagnosis, you will be prescribed synthetic hormones to restore normal levels of TSH. From Thyroid to Ovarian Cancer: Some Essential Health Tests For Women in Their 40's

Don't Bet On Medications for Weight Loss

Your weight won't magically reduce once you start taking the treatment. Unfortunately, normalising thyroid will not reverse your weight gain.  A few months after the treatment, get yourself tested again and if you notice that your TSH levels are normal, you still have to work towards dropping your pounds. There is information circulating on the web that suggests that certain medications or combinations of medications can lead to weight loss quicker than others, but none of that has been proven true.

Up Your Strength Training Game

Research also suggests that thyroid hormone affect how your muscles function. So, if you are diagnosed with hypothyroidism, you will have a harder time building and maintaining muscle. So rev up your strength training routine to torch more calories.  Each session must last for an hour and engage all your major muscle groups.  Aim for three sets of each exercise and try to complete 8 to 12 repetition of each set.

Pace up Your Cardio

Cardio is essential for weight loss especially if you have a thyroid condition. You must do more resistance and cardio. So aim for around 30 minutes to an hour of cardio activity five days a week. You can opt for any cardio activity as long as you are sweating and getting your heart rate up. Running and Weight Loss: How Often Should You Run To Lose Belly Fat?

Eat More Protein

Along with proper exercise, protein is key to building muscle. So if your ideal weight is 60kg, you should have 70 to 90 grams of protein daily. A good rule is to build your meals around protein, but also include lots of veggies, healthy carbs like fresh fruit and whole grains, and healthy fats like avocados and olive oil.

And finally, do not forget to re-check your TSH levels and weight with your doctor. The dose of thyroid medication is related to your body weight, so your medication may need to be adjusted when you lose or gain weight.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 08, 2019 12:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).