Fasting and Hashimotos

[Katiethedubs]

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.

[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 in reply to kosmickaz]

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

[Katiethedubs in reply to kosmickaz]

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

[kosmickaz in reply to Katiethedubs]

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 in reply to kosmickaz]

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 in reply to Katiethedubs]

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

[deb25426 in reply to kosmickaz]

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

[Donnaca in reply to deb25426]

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

[Quasarlis in reply to Donnaca]

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 in reply to Quasarlis]

Yes that’s it

[Quasarlis in reply to Donnaca]

What’s the 16 in reference to then?

[Donnaca in reply to Quasarlis]

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

24 hours in a day

[KristinaCPH in reply to Quasarlis]

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

[kosmickaz in reply to deb25426]

Yes!

[newtohashis in reply to deb25426]

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]

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 in reply to fuchsia-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 in reply to fuchsia-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]

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

[Quasarlis in reply to JuliaWM]

Lemon detox? What is that?

[agnz in reply to JuliaWM]

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]

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]

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