The Amazing Thyroid - Weight loss Connection

Your thyroid dictates the rate of your metabolism. Any malfunction or disease afflicting your thyroid may cause you to have noticeable fluctuations in your weight. A malfunctioning thyroid will cause you to either gain weight or lose weight beyond your control. To make matters worse, you could find that losing weight is almost impossible no matter what pill or plan you try.

It's a mystery why sellers of diet plans and remedies fail to mention this amazing gland that can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Those that plan diets do not take into consideration how the thyroid controls the body’s metabolism which, in turn, affects how well the weight loss program works. Most experts and even media add to this misinformation by recommending that the best way to lose weight is exercise and cutting calories. Both of those will work effectively when done in a tandem and if your thyroid is functioning properly.

Many people suffer a condition called hyperthyroidism and are not aware of it. "Hyper" means "overactive" which means the thyroid is pushing the body’s metabolism into hyper drive. If this is the case, then that person will probably lose weight fast. This may seem like a positive effect for those who wish to lose weight but, in fact, this is actually hazardous to their health.

Aside from the medical difficulties such a disease brings, one will also notice weight problems as a result. These people have trouble keeping on weight and may notice weakness and bulging of the eyes. This disease may need special treatment from doctors.

Then there is a condition known as hypothyroidism. Of course, "hypo" means "slow" and the effect is the slowing of the body’s metabolism until the body gains weight at an abnormal rate. Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism have one common side effect. Both cause a general weakness in the body especially in muscle strength and overall energy level. Without special treatment, both may cause serious health problems in the long run.

To add to the problem of weight gain or weight loss is a caloric intake. Eating too many calories or too little calories with a malfunctioning thyroid can further throw the thyroid out of whack. You actually work against yourself by not getting the thyroid back to normal with a doctor's supervision.

You must be careful when adjusting your caloric intake. Yes, cutting calories helps you lose weight but drastically cutting calories will trick the body into a hoard mode, that is when the thyroid slows the body's metabolism to adapt to the lesser amount of available caloric energy.

If your body enters this mode, your body will work at such slow metabolism that losing weight becomes nearly impossible. The technique here should be to reduce calories without the thyroid slowing your metabolism. Only then can weight loss be long lasting.

The key to any weight loss plan is balance. You cannot go all day without eating and then gorge yourself with one big meal. This practice really plays havoc with the thyroid. This is why an imbalanced meal is highly discouraged among those that seek to lose weight. The sudden loss and then increase of calories will cause an imbalance in one’s energy consumption directly affecting fat deposit. In effect, by starving yourself you confuse your body. It simply doesn't know when the next meal is coming so it slows the metabolism and stores fat for later use.

You can get off this merry-go-round. First, have your thyroid function checked by a physician. There are tests that can determine its function.

If your thyroid passes the test, here is a simple mathematical formula to help you arrive at the right amount of calories you will need per day to get nutrients in the right balance, maintain health while reaching your weight target.

First of all, multiply your weight in kilograms by 30. If you only know your weight in pounds, divide it by 2.2 to get to get the kilogram figure. Then divide the kilogram number by 30 to arrive at the number of calories that will maintain your current weight per pound of weight.

For example if your weight in pounds is 150, divide it by 2.2. That will give you a figure of 68.18. This is your weight in kilograms. Multiply this by 30 and you will arrive at the amount of calories you will need per day to maintain 150 lbs.

With this knowledge you can gradually start cutting calories to reduce weight. This is a long term deal. Start by cutting 100 to 200 calories per day until your body adjusts. Then cut another 100 calories and so on. You will begin to see gradual weight loss and you will not be starving your body. And, don't forget exercise as part of your weight loss regimen.

You may consult a nutritionist to help you develop a weight loss plan tailored to your lifestyle. Many health centers off this service either free or through your health insurance.

In the end it all comes down to math. If you consume more food than your body needs, it stores the excess as fat.

Now is a good time to start studying the back of food cartons. Try to keep your diet at a 40% protein, 25% fat, and 35% carbohydrate meals based on your caloric needs you determined using the formula. You should spread your total caloric intake more than three meals a day for optimum results.

While it may be simple computation to get at numbers, do not forget the earlier mentioned fact that the body adapts to its condition. Expose it to extremes and you may find yourself getting extreme results, perhaps, results you never wanted.

Gaining a sleek body can be easy with the right knowledge. Now, you have that knowledge. But, remember, always consult a medical professional before you apply any advice which may detrimentally impact your health.