The FastDay Forum

I don't know if this has been discussed s I am new to the 5:2 Diet forum..

I am 'borderline' for diabetes and have an under active thyroid..
I know that this plan will help with the blood sugar but has anyone experienced any change in thyroid health..

I am resisting thyroid medication at the moment to see how I can help myself with natural therapies..

Wendy in Oz

Wendy there is a lot about thyroid here. What city are u in? I take porcine thyroid extract (known as Armour in USA) rather than thyroxine as my Dr(s) believe it is closer to the human thyroid in T3/T4 combo rather than synthetic thyroxine which is T4. This is controversial and a lot of conservative doctors won't listen I have good thyroid doctors in Perth & Sydney if u r close to either and want their names. They are both GPs not endocronologists, but specialise in Thyroid & other hormone treatments

I have hypothyroidism and I take T4. Since this is not my only health problem, I can't risk not taking medication but I'm happy because the blood tests show vast improvement so I might stop them soon.

So, to answer your question I did notice a change but I'm also taking my medication as prescribed. I'm pretty sure though that the change wouldn't have been the same if I wasn't on 5:2, since I've had problems with my thyroid before and I know pretty-much how long it takes for the medication to kick in.

Make sure that you do monitor your thyroid pretty closely if you aren't taking medication. We had a very bad incident with my mum, who lost lots of weight and passed out even though she was checked and OK a couple of weeks (she had hyperthyroidism). Thyroid is a cheeky bastard -as they say in Scotland- and can take nasty turns with no previous notice.

GMH's advice sounds good; if there is something that is similar to our hormones instead of the chemical ones it might be worth it to check it out!

Thanks for the replies..
I did read quite a few where people either had no thyroid or were already taking medication..
I just want to avoid it if possible..
I also don't want to take animal extracts.(apologies to you GMH)
Believe it or not I was watching a show with Dr.Oz recently and he was talking about thyroid tapping while humming..sounds bizarre but it's meant to stimulate thyroid function.. you could google it if interested..I'm going to do that..
My whole point in going the 5:2 diet is to not end up on medication in my old age..
My GP is very alternative and ok with me giving things a try first..
Oh ..I am in Ballarat..VIC..

http://renegadehealth.com/blog/2011/02/ ... -exercises

If this link doesn't work just google

Humming your thyroid to health

It is one's right to try and deal with an illness with no medication, as long as they know exactly what they are doing.
If you understand the risks and check your thyroid often then perhaps you'll be lucky and not need medication. Personally, I got so many side effects after my thyroid went mad that I would swallow coal if I could make them stop...

[Tracieknits]

Well my thyroid seems to be getting healthier!

I have Grave's Disease, which is a hyperactive thyroid. I take medication to slow my thyroid down to normal.

Back in March, I was noticing some hypothyroid symptoms, especially being just freezing cold. My levels were checked and my doctor told me my thyroid was too low and to decrease my medication.

Six weeks later, they checked my bloods again. I hadn't heard anything, so I assumed they were normal - but I just got my results in the mail (after two weeks of waiting) and they are only *just* barely over the normal level for T4, and my TSH hormone is higher than I'd like to see it (barely in normal, at the top of the range). So I'm going to call my doctor again.

It seems like my thyroid is calming down a lot and I just don't need nearly as much thyroid suppressing medication any longer! I've been fasting twice a week since January 8. I have only lost 9 pounds but at least with my low thyroid levels I haven't gained any weight.

I have to say, it's a bit disheartening to be doing all this work for what feels like nothing. But then again my thyroid getting back to healthy and getting off medication probably shouldn't be considered "nothing."

[Tracieknits]

Well my thyroid seems to be getting healthier! (sorry for the cut and paste - yes I did just post all of this in the other thread too)

I have Grave's Disease, which is a hyperactive thyroid. I take medication to slow my thyroid down to normal.

Back in March, I was noticing some hypothyroid symptoms, especially being just freezing cold. My levels were checked and my doctor told me my thyroid was too low and to decrease my medication.

Six weeks later, they checked my bloods again. I hadn't heard anything, so I assumed they were normal - but I just got my results in the mail (after two weeks of waiting) and they are only *just* barely over the normal level for T4, and my TSH hormone is higher than I'd like to see it (barely in normal, at the top of the range). So I'm going to call my doctor again.

It seems like my thyroid is calming down a lot and I just don't need nearly as much thyroid suppressing medication any longer! I've been fasting twice a week since January 8. I have only lost 9 pounds but at least with my low thyroid levels I haven't gained any weight.

I have to say, it's a bit disheartening to be doing all this work for what feels like nothing. But then again my thyroid getting back to healthy and getting off medication probably shouldn't be considered "nothing."

My thyroid was removed 35 years ago. Since then, my replacement level has stayed pretty steady over the years, even through some drastic weight loss (divorce) and creeping weight gain (age). But I will pay more attention now, and report back the next time I get my levels tested. Hadn't considered this an issue, so this thread is a very useful heads up. Thanks all!
mikita

I am loosing weight in a very steady way, even though I have an underactive thyroid, I am on Eltroxin 75mg daily. I am on 4:3 diet, and I have lost 7,5 kg in 6 weeks and 5 days. and just found out today for the first time in many years, my BMI is 29,9 - UNDER 30 !!!

On My fastday I eat about 400 calories and on normal days I do calorie cycle (Zig-zag), so I don't eat the same amount every day, lower like 1200 in weekdays and more i weekends. For me so far it is working this way

Hello
I too have a thyroid complaint (Hashimotos Syndrome)
I take 175mg Thyroxine daily and have just started 5.2
I will be pleased if I can loose weight.
Having had a family, and now approaching menopause age, I feel that I need to reduce by 2 stone to keep healthy.
I have found all the posts on the forum really encouraging and will keep reading!
What sort of weight loss do most people get weekly?
Good luck all!

[Betsysgr8]

Welcome to the forum Thelovelysqueaky! The forum average is 1 lb a week. It's not really that fast but it does work. I too have an underactive thyroid (graves) and I'm able to stay near the forum average, just a tad under 1 lb a week. If you look at my progress tracker, you'll see a blib in the weight loss where my medication was adjusted and I didn't lose and actually started to gain. But lost that gain and back on track losing again.

Hi there!

I started 5:2 nearly five weeks ago. I actually put on half a pound in my first week, however I lost an amazing 2.5" from my waist. The next week I had 3lbs off and another half an inch from my waist. The next week I had only half a pound off and another half an inch. I was away for a girlie break last week so had a bad weigh in with 1.5lbs on!!

So all in all I only have a pound off in 4 weeks, but since my thyroid has meant I've been gradually putting weight on and on and on, then I suppose it is a small victory. LOL

I'm going to try to be more careful about what I eat on feed days as up to now I've been kind of logging out a bit.

I do feel like I have a bit more energy tho which is great. On my fast days I do feel a bit more tired but nothing major, oh and before the sun actually made an appearance last week, I found I was colder on fast days. But these are all symptoms of the delightful underactive thyroid that we have to live with. LOL

Some of u might be interested to know that the Scottish Parliament are carrying out an inquiry into thyroid treatment and it effectiveness.

i too have an underactive thyroid and was on 125mcg of levothyroxine daily, since being diagnosed hypothyroid 4 years ago i have gained 2 stones in weight which no matter what diet i was on i still gained weight, weightwatchers, slimming world and scottish slimmers, and attending high impact classes at the gym i still gained weight. this really affected my mood and confidence, as im sure you can all relate to, this is my 2nd week on 5 2 and i lost 3 lbs in the first week, tomorrow will be my 4th fast day and then will weigh myself on friday, to say im delighted is an understatement!

[janeg]

Hello yvonne and welcome to the forum. That is a real bummer what your medical history is doing to you. So please that you are seeing results and hoping it continues for you. Best of luck and do keep dropping in for hint, tips and to let us know how you're getting on