Does the 5:2 diet work for patients with hypothyroidism?

[FancyPants54]

Do people taking Levothyroxine have any success for weight loss and health using the 5:2 diet?

I've heard it said that we need carbs and calories to convert T4 into T3. But not sure if we could still get away with doing the 5:2.

[Hidden]

Just my personal view since we are all so very different but I would feel unwell with such reduced food on the 2 days.

There's much talk about fasting and the health benefits, I don't doubt, but whether these benefits outweigh the negatives for us hypos is questionable.

The best I can do is to not eat beyond 7 at night till breakfast about 8am!! But I do focus on what I eat - no refined sugar, no grains etc. Plenty of fats, protein and veggies.

[FancyPants54 in reply to Hidden]

The trouble for me is that I don't leave work until around 7pm on a good day. It was 9.30 on Friday. Then I need to eat.

[Hidden in reply to FancyPants54]

Yes work schedules don't always help do they 😣

I find in those situations I tend to eat all the wrong things - usually something I can just scoff and too much because I'm soo hungry. The only way I can get around that is planning - a bit boring but effective and being grain free means a lot of planning, but it does pay dividends.

Have a Google of Bitten Jonsson- she has a great view on sugar addiction. Worth watching some of her YouTube stuff.

In the past before hypo dx I found restricting myself meant that when I had no willpower I binged, big time. That's just me though, others have more willpower.

[Sewnsew]

I’m trying the 5:2 diet, been on it for just one week. I have to say it’s probably the healthiest I’ve ever eaten. I’ve been on a bit of a sugar binge for ages and just needed to get it out of my system, I was eating and craving sweet things all the time. I’m eating healthily every day and restricting calories on 2 days. Lost 4lb this week but it’s early days. I think I’ll find it a bit easier now you can have 800 cals on the 2 days rather than the 500 they originally specified. I need to be careful not to go too low with the calories as it will trigger a migraine.

[FancyPants54 in reply to Sewnsew]

Oh well done! I've been on a terrible sugar binge. I don't understand it. I used to be sugar-free before I hit menopause and all the hell that has brought with it.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to FancyPants54]

Sugar craving can be due to candida

Gut infections are much more common when hypo, or can be cause of being hypo

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

hypothyroidmom.com/is-yeast...

naturalendocrinesolutions.c...

[FancyPants54 in reply to SlowDragon]

I don't think that's me. I eat a ton of home fermented foods for gut bacteria and health. No signs of candida either.

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Is there a good, proven method to treat candida? I have seen various supplements on Amazon, but wonder if they are any good?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Sorry no idea.

[Hidden in reply to FancyPants54]

What a relief to hear...I had my last(latest?) period six months ago (am 49), and I have been craving sugar ever since. Reading what you say makes me think there is a connection between menopause and sugar cravings!

[FancyPants54 in reply to Hidden]

For me, I think it's because I feel so generally unwell and have so little energy. My body is craving energy and just seems to scream for high carb food all the time. On the odd day when I feel suddenly and inexplicably well (happens for 1 day every few weeks) I have no interest in high carb or sugar foods. I reach for colourful salad and protein. It's very weird.

Brain fog is the worst, I just keep eating. Can't stop.

[Hidden in reply to FancyPants54]

Interesting, so many things seem to be interconnected so all affected at the same time...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You are only recently diagnosed and started on Levothyroxine

50mcg is only a starter dose. Have you had bloods retested 6-8 weeks after starting?

Dose should be increased in 25mcg steps, retesting after each dose increase

TSH should be around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range

Essential to have optimal vitamin levels too

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

Dieting is not a good idea while levels are stabilising

[FancyPants54 in reply to SlowDragon]

I have just had bloods retested, using all the criteria mentioned. However, they were tested through my private menopause hormone doctor and I'm now getting resistance from her clinic to send me a copy of the results! I'm stressed and cross about it today. I don't want to book an appointment and turn up blind to be told everything is normal! I could do without the fight and stress that it brings.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to FancyPants54]

If you paid for them, you are entitled to printed copies. politely insist on a copy to be emailed to you as you need them before your appointment

On NHS everyone is entitled to printed copies too, but GP has to review first before they can be released

[FancyPants54 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes, I've paid for them. I know I'm entitled to them. It's so frustrating that they don't want me to see them.

This is why I've been stuck on a bonkers dosing system (until I started doing it my own way in February) for nearly a year!

25mcg every other day to start, for months. Then 25mcg every day, with Sundays off, for months, then 25mcg one day, 50mcg the next day, with Sundays off (I felt very poorly on that by Christmas), then chuck some Naturethrioyd into the mix and send me hyper for Christmas and January. Then tell me to stop taking meds altogether... I just lost it at that point and decided I was taking 25mcg every day for a while. I ground to a halt and felt awful so began taking 50mcg a day every day and I've been on that ever since and feel much more stable, just worn out and tired. I'm scared she won't let me increase if I'm honest. She was so determined I must, MUST, have 1 day a week with no meds.

If the worst comes to the worst, can I buy Levo somehow?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to FancyPants54]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies. Plus absolutely essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12.

Essential to test thyroid antibodies, FT3 and FT4 and vitamins

Is this what's been tested??

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting.

If on Levothyroxine, don't take in the 24 hours prior to test, and if on T3 or NDT don't take in 12 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances too, especially gluten. So it's important to get antibodies tested.

[FancyPants54 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes I know all the above SlowDragon. I've done all that repeatedly for years. So far there has not been any sign of antibodies.

I still haven't received a copy of the latest labs from the private doctor. This is driving me to stress. They are actively not sending them or they are incompetent. Not sure which. So far I've requested them 3 times.

I have to nip to my GP surgery later today to collect my latest iron panel and Vit. D results.