Stop Blaming Oprah For Your Ugly Belly Flab
June 5, 2010 by Jamin Thompson
Filed under Recent Posts, weight loss
Q) Jamin, I’ve heard that a slow thyroid can cause you to have a sluggish metabolism. What does that mean and what are the chances of me getting that?
A) I’ve heard it a thousand times, people blaming their belly fat on a sluggish thyroid.
Hey Jamin, I heard on Oprah that it is probably my thyroid, Oprah has a sluggish thyroid and can’t lose any weight, I have the same condition!
Not so fast my friend.
Chances are your thyroid is functioning just fine, but in case you have your doubts I will help you figure it out here TODAY.
The “doctor” is in!
Ok, so I’m not a real doctor (I don’t even play one on tv lol) but I WILL break everything down for you scientifically.
Back in 2007, Oprah Winfrey broke the news that her constant struggle with her weight was due to a thyroid condition. Consequently millions of women across this great nation of ours all of a sudden decided to point the finger at their thyroid as the reason they could not lose their “baby fat”.
Nice excuse ladies (and some gents), but is that truly the reason?
For those of you who have no idea what the thyroid is or what it does let me explain really quick. The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland located at the frontal base of our necks. It’s primary function is to regulate various aspects of our metabolisms from cell growth, to weight loss and gain, to reproductive function. It does this by way of the thyroid hormones: triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4).
It is the body’s internal thermostat, and it regulates body temperature by secreting the two thyroid hormones, which control how quickly the body burns calories and uses energy.
Do You Have A Sluggish Thyroid?
A slow thyroid is a condition called hypothyroid. When someone has hypothyroid, thyroid function is significantly decreased and the thyroid hormones lose their effectiveness. Essentially, it is the result of an underproduction of thyroid hormone.
This can happen for several reasons and there is no standardized treatment because every case can be unique. If you do have a slow thyroid it is imperative that you work closely with a good doctor or endocrinologist so they can figure out what is going on quickly.
Ever since Oprah made her thyroid problem public, people (women especially) have been blaming their weight gain on the thyroid. Don’t get me wrong, weight gain is definitely a symptom of hypothyroid, but if you TRULY have hypothyroidism you need to also have at least a few of these other symptoms as well:
• Low basal body temperature: < 97.8F
• Palpably enlarged thyroid gland
• Thick and swollen tongue
• Dry, flaky and rough skin
• Cold hands and feet to the touch
• Constant constipation
• Dry, brittle, thinning hair
• Swelling or puffiness under the eyes
• Slow heart rate, even though the person is not an athlete
Other symptoms can include chronic fatigue, loss of appetite, elevated cholesterol, heavy periods, painful premenstrual periods, fertility problems, muscle cramps, muscle weakness, slow speech, memory loss, fatigue, depression, low libido and irritability.
If you constantly feel cold when other people feel hot, you may be suffering from reduced thyroid function, but the most common symptoms are fatigue and intolerance to cold.
Now before you go run off diagnosing yourself, just remember, many of these symptoms mimic other medical conditions like menopause or andropause so keep in mind that our bodies are not closed systems, we have several hormones that work with each other to maintain a normal metabolism. If just one hormone is out of sync, several others can be negatively affected. Plus, many of these same symptoms can be attributed to a bad diet and poor nutrition choices.
I Still Think I May Have A Slow Thyroid…What Tests Can My Doctor Run On Me To Check?
When you go to the doctor, he will evaluate your symptoms and check to see how many of the symptoms from above you have. Your doctor will also perform a blood test to check for TSH, which is thyroid stimulating hormone. TSH is secreted from a part of your brain (your pituitary) that tells your thyroid to produce T3 and T4. If your thyroid is not making enough T3 and T4, your TSH levels will probably be elevated.
According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists 2006, normal levels of TSH should be between 0.3 and 3.0 mIU/L…BUT, other scientists believe that TSH levels above 2.0 mIU/L are considered “subclinical hypothyroidism” and should not be taken lightly; it may represent early hypothyroidism so keep that in mind.
Note: Even a tiny drop in thyroid function registers as a distinctly elevated TSH level. Most endocrinologists believe that TSH levels go up when a person is in the earliest stages of thyroid failure.
Some doctors will take it a step further and measure your levels of free T4 hormone levels, and thyroid antibodies. Also, if you have symptoms of hypothyroidism but normal TSH levels, the doctor can also perform a thyroid scan to check for suspicious structural thyroid abnormalities.
An iodine absorption test may also be done. With this test, you’ll drink a small amount of radioactive iodine. An x-ray then shows how much of that iodine was absorbed by the thyroid. A low reading may indicate hypothyroid.
Self Help Tip: You can test yourself for an underactive thyroid using the following technique. Keep a thermometer by your bed at night, when you wake up, put the thermometer under your armpit and hold it there for 15 minutes. Try not to move or talk. Motion can give you a false reading. If your temperature reading comes back at 97.6° or lower that may indicate a sluggish thyroid. Do this test for 5 straight mornings, and if you consistently have low readings, consult your doctor.
So What If My Tests Come Back Positive? What’s The Treatment For Hypothyroidism?
If you are diagnosed with overt hypothyroidism (which isn’t all that common), your doctor will treat you with pharmaceutical thyroid hormone replacement.
On the other hand, if you’re found to have subclinical hypothyroidism (which is more common), your first line of treatment is nutritional:
- Iodine insufficiency is one of the main culprits – approximately 150 µg/day of iodine can prevent hypothyroidism. Iodine is found in fish, iodized salt, dairy, whole eggs, strawberries, molasses and sea vegetables (kelp, dulse). However, with fears of salt intake, cholesterol in eggs, mercury in fish, and removal of iodine from food products, our consumption of iodine has decreased over the years. You can check your body iodine levels with a urine test.
- Goitrogenic foods should also be avoided; these foods interfere with thyroid function and include soy foods, cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, turnips, etc), and legumes. If you love broccoli, the good news is that cooking inactivates goitrogenic compounds found in these types of vegetables. Also avoid kale, peaches, radishes, mustard greens, Brussels sprouts, and pears.
- Selenium is also important for normal thyroid function: onions, mushrooms, grains and brazil nuts are good sources.
- Additional helpful nutrients include: Kelp, L-Tyrosine, Vitamin B complex, Brewers yeast, Essential fatty acids, Iron, Vitamin A with mixed carotenoids plus natural beta-carotene, Vitamin C with bioflavonoids, Vitamin E, and Zinc.
- Helpful Herbs: Goldenseal, Bayberry, Black Cohosh, Genitan and Mugworm Extracts.
- Be sure to include these helpful super foods into your diet: parsley, prunes, raw seeds, apricots, and dates.
- Water is important: drink steam distilled water only.
Tip: Avoid fluoride (including that found in tap water and toothpaste) and chlorine. Fluoride, Chlorine, and Iodine are all chemically related. Fluoride and Chlorine block iodine receptors in the thyroid gland, which results in reduced iodine containing hormone production and eventually hypothyroid.
So What Are The Chances My Tests Come Back Positive? Is Hypothyroidism Pretty Common?
Statistics show that about 1 to 10% of adults have subclinical hypothyroidism – the more common cause of unexplained weight gain without severe overt hypothyroidism symptoms. It mostly occurs in women over 50, and people with low iodine intake.
An estimated 5%, or about 13 million people in the United States are affected by Hypothyroidism, 90% of whom are women. Women between the ages of 30 and 50 are at the most risk for developing this condition, and statistics show that 1 in 8 women will develop a thyroid condition at some point in their lifetime.
But like I said earlier, don’t jump the gun here and just go blaming your weight gain issues on your thyroid.
Here’s the MOST LIKELY reason for weight gain.
Ok so before you jump to the conclusion that your thyroid is the issue, let’s check to see if you’re doing everything you need to do to get the body looking tight.
You should be:
• avoiding sugar and alcohol
• exercising regularly
• weight training
• sitting less
• eating regularly
• eating a balanced diet based on whole, natural, unprocessed foods
• taking a good multivitamin and mineral supplement
• taking an essential fatty acid supplement (or eating foods high in EFAs)
If this isn’t the case you may want to look into getting your thyroid function checked to see if the results match the clinical symptoms of hypothyroidism. Most of the time though, your thyroid isn’t the problem…99% of the time you either aren’t exercising or eating properly.
If you need a solid exercise program, enlist the help of a certified personal trainer in your area. If you need help with your diet, you may want to look into consulting with a certified nutritionist or dietitian who can help you fix your poor eating habits and correct dietary insufficiencies.
If you would like an online nutrition program that you can easily follow on your own I highly suggest The Diet Solution Program by my colleague Isabel De Los Rios.
Of course if you need a workout program, my Six Pack Abs Program will get your body “beach ready” in 60 days or less! 
For all of you out there who are struggling with either aspect (nutrition or exercise) let me just say that when you make the commitment to change your lifestyle and stick with the plan, failure is not an option. Weight loss just HAPPENS. The belly fat will just MELT AWAY. The old clothes will FIT AGAIN.
Keep in mind that there are no quick fixes or miracles, you’ll need more than a few days to lose the weight. Remember, you didn’t gain the weight in a week and you damn sure won’t lose it in a week either. I don’t care what the infomercials and miracle cleanse people tell you, it ain’t happenin!
Just stick with the program, and make these changes become lifelong habits. Just because Oprah has the problem, doesn’t mean you’ll suffer the same fate.
Until next time, stay lean
Jamin Thompson
PS – If your thyroid is not the problem (which I bet it is not) your metabolism may just need a “jumpstart”. I suggest you check out a very helpful dietary supplement from Prograde called METABOLISM.
It can help you burn more calories and get you into the negative fat balance territory which is where you will actually lose fat. But don’t take my word for it, try it for yourself and see what kind of results you’ll get.
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