Hi! Am about to embark on Slimming World, have lost weight with it prior to being hypothyroid and GAINED with it 😟 just before I was diagnosed. Anyone had any joy doing this type of diet with an under active thyroid?
I have been on some kind of diet my entire life. Think what I’m actually looking for is a miracle 😂
The summer is looming.....
I am ashamed to admit I have no idea what Slimming world is, but if it's a low calorie diet and you've been on many such diets in your life you could end up with damaged metabolism and even more problems losing weight. Being hypothyroid of course can make weight loss even more of a challenge.
Only to complement my earlier post; I found a link to the following article on the website of US doctor of osteopathy Westin Childs (restartmed.com) where he writes that very low calorie diets will damage metabolism and make permanent weight loss almost impossible:
Hi! I’ve done them all, from A to Z, lost gained, and gained again. In early fifties I decided to quit diets and find a lifestyle...on 5:2 with Kate Harrison I discovered I could lose weight steadily when I put my mind to it, and break even when there were bad times in my life, but I have yet to gain and go back to the size 18 jeans! Currently at size 16 and heading for 14! I gave up the house scales too and just have the obligatory GP check for med review.
I have had hypothyroidism diagnosed from 6 months old and my Mum has monitored my weight throughout my formative years, and put me on the diets. (I gave up on WW and SW when I had to pay for weeks I had to take off to care for my daughter in hospital.)
I’m not saying 5:2 is for everyone, and it isn’t a quick fix as some want it to be, but it has helped me - and my daughter - and I’m happy to stick with it. It’s flexible and it doesn’t require a mortgage to buy the food!
I hope you find something that works for you, and if it’s 5:2, welcome to the fold!
Cheers!
Hi thanks for the reply! I’ve dallied with the 5:2 but I have type 1 diabetes also and it’s too tricky to balance. I’ve been hypo for 6 years and could lose happily with hiit exercise and healthy eating but I think at 42 the menopause is throwing yet another spanner in the works. Hmmmph.
Hi again and yes, menopause has a lot to answer for! I couldn’t imagine how difficult Type 1 affects you but only know from family it isn’t good. I hope you find something that suits you and wish you all the best. As mentioned (by one of the admins I think) having your thyroid meds at optimum level makes all the ‘other stuff’ fall into place. Thinking of you!
PS...forgot to add, still lost weight despite little or no exercise as mobility limited! 👍🏻
If Slimming World is based on people worrying about CICO (calories in, calories out) and the food eaten is low fat and high carb then it is not likely to be easy to stick to and is unlikely to have long-term good effects.
I would recommend the Diet Doctor website instead which advocates a low carb, high fat diet or ketogenic diet, and it suggests that people DON'T count calories.
It may still be hard to lose weight if people are hypothyroid, but at least many people end up actually feeling healthier on the diet.
I find the less I eat the more weight I put on! Guess it’s like looking for the Holy Grail!
Di
Same!! That’s why I thought I’d give slimming world ago- it’s based on free food as it’s not strictly calorie based watch this space, I’ll post if it works
Look forward to hearing how you get on!
You will only lose weight once Thyroid levels are optimal
How much Levothyroxine are you currently taking?
Do you always get same brand of Levothyroxine at each prescription
How long on current dose?
Presumably, as you are type one diabetic, which is autoimmune, your hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto's and diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies
Low vitamin levels are EXTREMELY common with Hashimoto's. Vitamins nearly always need regular supplementing to maintain optimal levels for good thyroid function. Essential to test vitamin levels BEFORE starting any supplements
What are your most recent blood test results and ranges for thyroid and vitamins and have you ever had thyroid antibodies tested?
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw). This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
Is this how you do your tests?
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins
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 special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random
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 are very common too, especially gluten.
So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...
Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
List of hypothyroid symptoms
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
Hashimoto's frequently affects the gut and then often leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.
Type one Diabetic may also find strictly gluten free diet helpful (see Tge autoimmune resetnplan by Susan Blum)
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first
Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet
(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)
Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse
chriskresser.com/the-gluten...
amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...
drknews.com/changing-your-d...
restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...
But don't be surprised that GP or endo never mention gut, gluten or low vitamins. Hashimoto's gut connection is very poorly understood
Thanks so much for the info, I am looking into all of the tests you’ve mentioned. I do eat very healthily and I think my problem is under eating for a very long time.
Thyroid disease is as much to do with poor gut function as the thyroid
It isn't how nutritious your diet is, but how little nutrients you may be absorbing
If hypothyroid we almost always have low stomach acid. We need high stomach acid to break down food to absorb nutrients
I take pro and pre biotics, have daily doses of kefir and I make my own kombucha. I take, b12, co-q 10, have been prescribed iron for low ferritin, take biotin, zinc and cod liver oil. Am I missing anything?
Yes....just guessing levels is not adequate
You need folate, ferritin, B12 and vitamin D retested regularly
If taking any supplements containing biotin then these must be stopped for 7 days prior to all blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results
endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...
endocrinenews.endocrine.org...
We frequently need supplements for
Vitamin D (and often magnesium too)
When was vitamin D last tested?
When supplementing B12 it's recommended we supplement a good quality daily vitamin B complex (which contains biotin) to keep al, B vitamins in balance
Ferritin needs to be at least half way in range. Eating liver or liver pate once a week, plus a daily good quality vitamin C may help improve iron absorption. Other iron rich foods too like spinach
If you have Hashimoto's then trying strictly gluten free diet for 3-6 months is always worth trying. Get coeliac blood test first
Essential to test FT3 and FT4 at each and every TSH test
Thank you! I’m going to invest in some thorough tests 👍
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw). This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
Is this how you do your tests?
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins
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 special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random
I’m on it!! 🙏🏻 I’ll post results for advice once it’s all complete
Common for conversion of FT4 to FT3 to get worse at menopause
If you take levothyroxine you may need an increase in dose as levo is proven to increase weight if not on an optimal dose due to the condition lowering our metabolism.
Well apparently I’m on healthy range but I’m looking into having the full private blood test. Somethings got to work! I’ve put in 2 stone in the last year
I've never done this type of dieting.
What I did find useful before I started taking thyroid hormones, was to count my nutrient intake rather than calorie intake, cut out empty carbs & starchy food with little nutritional value, avoid all processed foods especially chemically processed fats like margarine or chemical sweeteners.
I started intermittent fasting as restrictive eating hours 6 years ago, which reduced my weight. For 6 days a week, I don't eat until late morning/lunchtime, then stop early evening & just drink water inbetween. I find easy to stick to this especially as it fits in with taking meds & supplements on an empty stomach at either end of the day. As long as I eat enough protein & lots of high fibre low GI foods I don't get hungry. Some people prefer the 5:2 type of intermittent fasting where people eat only 500 calories on two non-consecutive days of the week, then anything they want (as long as it's healthy) for the other 5 days. There's lots of information about both ways of eating on't'interweb as there are health benefits aside from weight loss,
I'm far from thin as my body has decided not to let me drop down to my younger clothes size. If I eat the hours most folks eat, I gain weight easily, & put on at least 3 kilos from eating a hearty breakfast & dinner a few weeks ago, though that'll come off within a month or so back on my normal eating routine.
It’s so interesting. I don’t eat processed food ever, I’m ridiculously healthy. I have been doing 16:8 for all my life. Something has massively changed. I’m pre menopausal and have been told I don’t eat enough and I’m storing fat and slowing my metabolism. Using slimming world as a base I’m going to start crab cycling. Healthy carbs on the days I work out and lean protein on the other days. Hoping it might fire up my metabolism if the body typing is right I am endomorphic 🤷🏻♀️
How are your micro-nutrient levels & gut health?
Have a nosey around the admins posts & Chris Kresser's website for nutritional information, just in case you're missing something.
I'm assuming you take thyroid hormones as you're on here, so they may not be optimal, or you may need a top up of female's hormones. Deficiency in anything, I think, causes the body to go into crisis mode & store fat rather than use it as energy.
I take zinc, COD liver oil, b12, co-q 10, magnesium as supplements. I’m on 150 levo, insulin for type 1 Diabetes and sertraline for anxiety and depression (caused by chemical/hormonal imbalances due to thyroid) I’m guessing gp’s are useless at linking stuff up 🙄 I eat a plethora of fruits veg whole grains nuts needs (obv with in reason). Drink kefir and make my own kombucha which I have daily and supplement with opti bac probiotics.
I’m due for my blood check up but will also have a thorough private test too.
I went on holiday with my girl friends a few years ago and they couldn’t believe how healthily and how little I ate compared to them. I’m not a moaner I put so much effort into keeping as healthy as possible. It is just so frustrating the nhs don’t think we need additional help if the results are in range and you are just surviving. 😑
That is odd then!
Maybe the sertraline is impairing your thyroid hormone conversion?
Do you have a decent female GP tp talk to, & ask about other hormones as it could be a perimenopausal thing? My weight varies, but I went up a full size that I've bobbed around, though I eat much more than I did 10 years ago.
I'm at a bit of a loss to suggest what else aside from suggesting you try HRT &/or NDT.
Maybe post your blood test results & see what they flag up?
Just ordered very thorough test and I’ll
Post the results once I have them.... would NDT be something that could be prescribed from the GP or would I have to go private do you know?
The sertraline initially took my appetite away and I lost weight but have gained it back plus some. It’s saved my life so not willing to come off it but have read if your T3 is wrong it causes the symptoms for which I am on the sertraline!! (Anxiety, pmdd, body dysmorphia).
Agh. Again gps do not link symptoms, rather keep them and treat them as separate entities.
You could badger your GP or endo, as some people get it, but unless there's a miracle, you'll need to buy your own.
I had all sorts of women's issues which my HRT miraculously sorted, followed by further improvement of similarly long term issues when I took NDT two years later. I don't know how I functioned at all previously, the improvements were so good. It might be a leap of faith to try something different that could work better for you.
It's a pity our GPs don't treat us holistically, or even understand the connections between our body's components.
I’m only under an Endo for my diabetes, never seen one for thyroid. I am going to insist I get referred clutching my private test results and screaming blue murder lol. We only live once and I just want to feel normal!!! I miss normal 🤪
Could yur disbetes meds be affecting you?
Not sure what normal is as I've been too far removed, but I certainly feel better than permanently cold, sluggish, & murderously perimenopausal.
I’ve just ordered the thyroid check ultra vit from the medical check website. Thanks again for the advice.
Good luck!
Depression is common symptom of being hypothyroid
email Dionne at Thyroid Uk for list of recommended thyroid specialists. Vast majority of endocrinologists are only Diabetes specialists. You need a thyroid specialist
First step is to get full Thyroid and vitamin testing, so come back with your results once you have them
Many of us spent years, or decades under medicated or in need of addition of T3.
Gluten intolerance is extremely common and vitamin deficiencies almost guaranteed
There are medics who understand the complexities of this disease
The gut is almost always involved
Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine,
"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.
In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l.
Most patients will feel well in that circumstance. But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.
This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."
You can obtain a copy of the articles from Thyroid UK email print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor please email Dionne at
tukadmin@thyroiduk.org
Professor Toft recent article saying, T3 may be necessary for many otherwise we need high FT4 and suppressed TSH in order to have high enough FT3
rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/fi...
The cost of T3 is a huge factor in NHS denying thousands of patients
british-thyroid-association...
New NHS England Liothyronine guidelines November 2018 clearly state on pages 8 & 12 that TSH should be between 0.4-1.5 when treated with just Levothyroxine
Note that it says test should be in morning BEFORE taking Levothyroxine
Also to test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin
Also that having type one diabetes is significant factor
As soon as I get my results I’ll be able to see where I need to go. I will definitely email Dionne- I very much appreciate your advice. I read so much on my condition but often find conflicting opinions. Very happy to have found this forum. My poor husband must be bored to tears with me
It would be a NO from me 😬 I’m an avid believer that the calories in calories out has no scientific bearing on how our bodies truly react/behave.
All such diets need to be binned immediately! It’s great that you don’t eat processed food. As a diabetic I’d be looking at very low carb meals so that I didn’t need to inject as much insulin (also as you know known as the ‘fat’ hormone)
There’s so many good meals without carbs that I’d just keep my insulin for the wine in my life 😂
Lasagna made with butternut squash layers instead of pasta sheets.
Spag Bol on a bed of spiralled courgette.
Chilli on a bed of spinach.
Carbonara and broccoli
Salmon and teriyaki sauce
Sausage and steak slow cook stew.
Chicken and pea soup
Butternut squash soup
Oh my I could list sooo many foods that you could fill your face with and never once count a calorie 🤗
My go to person on how we eat is Zoe Harcombe. She knows what’s she’s talking about. I also liked Joe Wicks recipes but I usually just end googling low carb meals.
All this food is the type I eat!! I eat very low carb most of the time to reduce my insulin and if I do have carbs they are usually a whole grain like quinoa or buck wheat. But a very small
Portion. I hoping the blood tests I’m having will hi light what’s going on.
You sound just like me. I’ve just given up on SlimmingWorld. My friend I was going with was steadily losing weight but I stayed the same. My husband is always amazed at my healthy diet and weight and I enjoy parkrun every Saturday so am otherwise well but about 4 stone overweight. As the post above I have had success wit a carb free diet in the past - time for me to give it a go too for the summer. Keep us posted.
I’m doing the bare bones of slimming world but not eating as much as they say you can and sticking to free protein rather than carbs- read about endomorphin body type. It makes sense to have some carbs when you work out to feed your metabolism to fire it up. I just store fat. I’ll lose half a stone then slowly put it back on. I can’t go on not eating, I’m tired and moody, starved my self all my adult life and it can’t be good. Hoping this is gonna work (my husband also cannot believe how little I eat and I’m 3/4 stone over weight too) so so frustrating. It literally rules my life and want to ditch the obsession!!! I’m 42 in a couple of weeks and I n ow the menopause will hit me hard. Need a healthy body and mind and I think that will come from a healthy attitude to food. Hopefully 🤷🏻♀️
Thanks - I’ll have a read on body type. I have just been leant a book “lean for life” and will read over the weekend. I’ve been on Levo for 26 years and am now 52. I’m also fed up of slim friends who seem fine on latte and toasted sandwiches when we meet in the coffee shop whilst I have black coffee alone. If you unlock any secrets - be sure to let me know.
Well I can confirm, doing slimming world a week, sticking mainly to the free protein but having a little carbs and I have lost 6lb!!!!!! Eating more than I have for years. I’m hoping this carries on. I’ll let you know next week x
That’s great - keep going. After a year of perseverance with it I was only 2lb down. I hope it works out for you. I am going to give the book I mentioned a go. Best wishes
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