Fasting and Hashimotos : Hello, what are people’s... - Thyroid UK

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Fasting and Hashimotos

Katiethedubs profile image
23 Replies

Hello, what are people’s views on fasting when on levothyroxine? I’ve been doing the 16/8 fast but was considering a longer period and just wasn’t sure whether it was advisable given my thyroid health.

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Katiethedubs profile image
Katiethedubs
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23 Replies
kosmickaz profile image
kosmickaz

I am hypothyroid too and been fasting since nov (I had a 2 month break in between). So far lost 6kg. Do your research, but fasting is amazing for the body and after about 18 hours you go into autophagy (research this) which is very good for health (reduces inflammation etc).

There is a documentary on you tube called the science of fasting. I would check it out. I am sold!!

kosmickaz profile image
kosmickaz in reply tokosmickaz

I have been fasting up to 23 hours per day too. This week I lost 4 pounds.

Katiethedubs profile image
Katiethedubs in reply tokosmickaz

Thanks this is really helpful- what do you do 23hour stretches and how often?

kosmickaz profile image
kosmickaz in reply toKatiethedubs

I clean fast so water or black coffee and eat in an hour to two hour window basically. I have only been doing these longer fasts for about a week and do vary it up a bit (slightly shorter some days). Before that when I started last nov I was doing 16:8 and was only losing up to a pound per week - which wasn’t very inspiring. I fast for longer now and the results are much better plus I do some light exercise (fasted usually) -a fast walk or 20 minutes of yoga or beginners cardio (davina McCall). Start with a bigger Eating window and see how you get on.

🤞for you! You can do it!! I have got another 10kg to go before I am at target but I know with this system I can do it. Try it!!

Katiethedubs profile image
Katiethedubs in reply tokosmickaz

Thanks! I’m gonna give it a go, was also looking at a 48 hr fast once a month but perhaps I’ll work up to that!

kosmickaz profile image
kosmickaz in reply toKatiethedubs

Yes I wouldn’t start that straight away!! Build up to it. Give your body chance to adjust would be my advice!

deb25426 profile image
deb25426 in reply tokosmickaz

Does overnight, and fasting till lunchtime count as fasting? Eating between 12 noon and 8pm?

Donnaca profile image
Donnaca in reply todeb25426

Yes it does, that’s intermittent fasting which is the 16/8! Sleeping is part of the majority of the fast

Quasarlis profile image
Quasarlis in reply toDonnaca

What is 16/8? I remember seeing an actor from East Enders on loose women taking about intermittent fasting and that he only ate every 8 hrs or something ... Is the 16/8 that?

Donnaca profile image
Donnaca in reply toQuasarlis

Yes that’s it

Quasarlis profile image
Quasarlis in reply toDonnaca

What’s the 16 in reference to then?

Donnaca profile image
Donnaca in reply toQuasarlis

16 hours of not eating and 8 hours of eating equals 24..

24 hours in a day

KristinaCPH profile image
KristinaCPH in reply toQuasarlis

no not every 8 hours. You can eat in a window of 8 hours. Then 16 hours with no eating.

kosmickaz profile image
kosmickaz in reply todeb25426

Yes!

newtohashis profile image
newtohashis in reply todeb25426

Yes, that's what I do and I have lost 15 pounds since the beginning of Lent when I started. It has also re-energized my body. I now take daily walks or ride my bike for an hour. I sleep much better too, especially since I do not eat anything after 6:30 in the evening.

fuchsia-pink profile image
fuchsia-pink

As I said in another post a couple of days ago, I've been doing the 16/8 [actually 17/7 in my case] for almost two years. No weight loss, but weight stable. It's pretty easy to get used to and make part of your life rather than a "diet".

kosmickaz does a stricter version, sometimes called OMAD [one meal a day] which I did for a month last summer - lost (and have since kept off) 4 kg, but stopped as my blood pressure, always low, got very very low and I started so feel faint.

Remember that very strict diets long-term and being hypo aren't a great combination

Katiethedubs profile image
Katiethedubs in reply tofuchsia-pink

Thanks fuchsia, that’s what I wondered- do you know why that is? 16/8 doesn’t seem particularly harsh, I did it for a few months and lost about a stone but since lockdown I’ve started having breakfast again with a latte for breakfast to see me through with the kids at home😆. I’ve not gained weight actually but I feel a bit bloated and like I have put on weight but that could also be the consequences of additional wine!

kosmickaz profile image
kosmickaz in reply tofuchsia-pink

If you’re stable and well on medication people should do well on fasting - but it’s important to listen to your body and go with that.

JuliaWM profile image
JuliaWM

I do the lemon detox fast once a year to keep my weight down, and have no problem despite having Hashimotos.

Quasarlis profile image
Quasarlis in reply toJuliaWM

Lemon detox? What is that?

agnz profile image
agnz in reply toJuliaWM

I just did it for 7 days! The first 2 days were hard but then I finally felt like the brain fog I’ve been carrying since my Graves diagnosis (since my thyroidectomy and being on L-thyroxin it’s a bit less) was lifted! I’m thinking of doing this annually too and incorporate some shorter fasts in between

Newmummy82 profile image
Newmummy82

I find this thread really interesting as I was a convert to the 5:2 diet before I got pregnant and was a size 8. Even used to do 48 hour water fasts which were gruelling but had such a positive impact. Since having my baby and developing Hashi’s I’ve gone up to a size 12 and was just considering starting fasting again but was a bit scared about how my body would respond now I have Hashi’s. I now get faint and shaky if I go too long without food and have low blood pressure generally so am cautious. But I think I might start to slowly ease myself back into it now and see how I get on!

Pumpkin04 profile image
Pumpkin04

I fast every day for 15 hrs Im also doing the Hormone Fix Diet (its a keto green diet) by Dr Anna Carbeca. Lost 7.5lbs in just over a week and feel good so far

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