- Thyroid belly - what does it look like?
- Thyroid abdomen - causes
- Thyroid abdomen - how to get rid of it?
- Thyroid abdomen - exercise
- Thyroid abdomen - diet
The thyroid abdomen may be the result of hormonal disorders that are associated with diseases of the thyroid gland. If you want to get rid of your thyroid belly, exercise and diet may not be enough. First of all, it is necessary to regulate the hormonal balance. Check how to eliminate the thyroid abdomen.
Thyroid abdomenis a colloquial term for a belly that looks like a flattened ball. It is very common in people who suffer from hypothyroidism.
Do you suspect thyroid abdomen? Find out how to recognize it and what exercise and diet will help you eliminate it.
Thyroid belly - what does it look like?
A large belly may be a consequence of an underactive thyroid gland. Then the waist circumference grows, the belly sticks out, but in a characteristic way - resembling a flattened ball. The abdomen begins to expand just below the bust line (this is different than, for example, in the case of a beer belly, the lower part of which is the largest).
However, these are not all the symptoms of the thyroid abdomen. In fact, it can only be recognized when weight gain around the waist is accompanied by a general increase in body size, e.g. thighs, arms, hips. We feel heavy, as if the body is "inflated", swollen. So the abdomen is not the only part of the body that "grows".
In addition, in addition to a large stomach, we can observe symptoms typical of hypothyroidism, for example :
- frequent sleepiness and fatigue
- shortness of breath during exercise
- constant feeling of cold
- decreased concentration
- dry skin
- menstrual disorders
Thyroid abdomen - causes
The cause of the presence of the thyroid abdomen is a disturbed hormonal balance, or more precisely -deficiency of thyroid hormonescaused by the malfunctioning of this organ.
These hormones play a very important role in the body, namelyregulate metabolic changes . When there are not enough of them, the metabolism slows down, and we start to gain weight faster (because the body is less able to burn excess energy). Hence, it is possible that we eat the same as always, and yet we gain weight. Slow metabolism causes the accumulation of fat mainly on the abdomen, because this is where the most cells are locatedfatty acids.
But this is the end of bad news - not only the stomach but also the whole body gets fat, because substances called fibronectins and glycosaminoglycans accumulate in the body's cells. They show the ability to absorb water, which causes interstitial edema and we "swell".
Thyroid abdomen - how to get rid of it?
If you suspect you have a thyroid abdomen, start by doing some basic tests to determine if you are actually gaining weight from hypothyroidism.
You just need to go to your GP and ask for a referral for TSH blood tests. If the result is not within the norm, it indicates a malfunctioning of the thyroid gland and further diagnostics is necessary. You will likely be referred to an endocrinologist. It is also worth having an ultrasound of the thyroid gland to check if the gland is enlarged.
Going on a restrictive diet and torturing yourself with exercise won't make sense if your thyroid isn't working properly. It will be much harder for you to get rid of your belly with a slow metabolism. Therefore, treatment should be started first, and then you should focus on striving for a slim figure.
Thyroid abdomen - exercise
If you have a large belly due to an underactive thyroid gland, you should focus on boosting your metabolic rate. This way, your body will burn fat faster.
If you haven't exercised before, start with cardio workouts - e.g. brisk walking, elliptical exercising, cycling for half an hour a day 3-4 times a week. Try to keep the pulse within the range of 120-130 beats per minute during exercise.
Increase the duration of your training over time. You can also add extra abdominal exercises to help you strengthen your muscles and tone the skin around your waist. Do them before training your cardio.
Try:
- 7 Best Abdominal Exercises
- Exercises for a flat stomach and sides
- 8 effective exercises for the tire
After 2-3 weeks of such training, start adding intervals to your plan. It is a form of exercise that most effectively boosts the metabolism, and at the same time causes fat to be burned up to 24 hours after exercise.
See:
- Interval training at home
- Interval training - rules and variants
- Cycling interval training for women
Thyroid abdomen - diet
In order to get rid of the thyroid belly, it is necessary to combine training with a proper diet.Under no circumstances should you resort to harmful reduction diets, which can cause deficiencies of important nutrients and exacerbate the symptoms of the disease. Follow the menu for people suffering from hypothyroidism, drink plenty of water, and avoid simple sugars and fat.