Help Yourself Lose Weight by Normalizing Your Body Temperature

Can you guess the number one New Year’s resolution? It’s to lose weight. Also in the top ten: staying fit and healthy and quitting smoking. So whether it is with fresh determination or growing dismay–or both–during this time of reflection, we tend to know our priorities and what we need to do.

The problem is actually doing it. Research shows that only 8 % of people achieve their New Year’s resolutions. The statistics for weight loss are especially disheartening. Even the most optimistic success rate for sustained weight loss is only 20 %. As for stopping smoking, about 25 % of people who use nicotine replacement or other drugs are successful. (For those who don’t, success drops to 4-7% per attempt.)

People tend to blame themselves for their failure, but there often is more going on physically than most people and their doctors realize. Slow metabolism can be a real issue for people who are trying to lose weight, exercise and quit smoking. People who cut back on calories even modestly can have reduced metabolism.  And people who quit smoking often have a drop in metabolism that can lead to weight gain.  Exercise is often recommended to counteract this, and it will often increase metabolism. The problem here, though, is that people who need it the most are the most likely to feel too wiped out and depressed to even try to exercise.

So slowed metabolism can easily sabotage all your good intentions for getting in shape after the holidays.

Here’s how you can help yourself lose weight. First, check your body temperature.  (For complete instructions on how to take your body temperature accurately, see “How are body temperatures measured”.) If it is consistently below 97.8 F (36.56 C) chances are good you have slow metabolism.  If it is consistently low despite having normal thyroid tests (a condition called Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome) there’s a good chance that low metabolism is hampering your weight loss efforts.

Low metabolism is often caused by low levels of T3, the active form of thyroid hormone. Some people have trouble converting T4 to T3, a problem many doctors simply don’t recognize.  T4 is the most commonly prescribed form of thyroid replacement hormones such as Synthroid. But T3 is also available  as a drug (liothyronine sodium, brand name Cytomel)  and some people do better when they get T3 instead of T4, or in addition to T4.  T3 is usually even better tolerated and more effective when administered as a sustained release compounded (made by pharmacists) medication.

You can discuss taking a course of T3 (active thyroid hormone) with your doctor.   Your doctor can call us at 800.420.5801 to get more information about how to use T3 and to discuss your individual case.  The object of T3 therapy is to normalize your oral body temperatures to average 98.6 F. (37 C.) during treatment.  Herbs,  good nutrition and lifestyle changes (like more sleep!) can help support healthy temperatures that are already in the normal range.

Normalizing a low temperature can help you have the focus and energy to start eating better and exercising. This will help to launch your health into an upward spiral. Over time, your improved health habits may help your metabolism maintain at normal on its own.

REFERENCES

Agnihothri RV, Courville AB, Linderman JD, et al. Moderate weight loss is sufficient to affect thyroid hormone homeostasis and inhibit its peripheral conversion. Thyroid. 2013 Jul 31.