What comes to mind when working with a Dietitian?
Meet Sammy: an exhausted hypothyroid momma of 4 who REALLY wanted to lose weight, but was too exhausted to even know where to start and what to do.
Sammy came to me feeling frustrated, defeated, and confused. Despite her efforts to eat well and stay active, her weight seemed to creep up steadily, leaving her feeling discouraged. She had seen multiple providers who just wanted to throw more and more supplements at her. Living with hypothyroidism added an extra layer of complexity to her weight loss journey, and between homeschooling her kiddos, moving across the country, building a home, and volunteering, her energy was TANKED! 😩 But Sammy wasn’t one to back down from a challenge. With determination and a positive mindset, she embarked on a journey to reclaim her health and confidence.
She had done the diets, the supplements, the this and the that, and STILL could hardly peel herself off the couch to make herself a balanced meal, not to mention feed her entire family of 6 breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
In fact, when she reached out, she’d already invested quite a bit of money, time, and energy into her healing journey living with thyroid dysfunction and was still feeling exhausted, bloated, and like her clothes kept getting tighter and tighter. She KNEW that she needed to make a diet shift, but wasn’t really sure what to do nor where to get the energy to get started
There is a bit of a pickle when it comes to making healthy meals to give you the best energy and boost your metabolism.
You need food to give you energy.
But you also need energy to make food.
What is one to do?
On paper, she was doing all the things to help her lose weight and gain energy, but it seemed to be having the opposite effect. What she needed was not another crash diet or more caffeine or more supplements or another bootcamp. What she needed was radical nourishment. We needed stop her from running off of fake fuel that slows metabolism, depletes nutrients, and tanks energy levels to running her metabolism like a well-oiled machine.
Truthfully, much of the time I spend counseling clients is guiding them to find ways to better nourish their bodies to fill nutrient gaps, balance blood sugar, decrease inflammation, and help to send the message of “safe”. A safe body is the only body that can optimize metabolism.
She was go-go-go all the time between kids, homeschooling, and the demands of life that she was running almost exclusively on “fake fuel”, and boy, did she feel it. She was eating her kids’ food scraps, going long spans of times between meals, only to find herself at the bottom of a bag of chips at the end of the day. So even though she was eating low calorie, it was HOW she was eating that posed the biggest problem.
So even before we started any supplements or fancy protocols, we got down to brass-tacks and realized that she could never out-supplement the way she’s been fueling her body for the past several years. Together, we did blood testing and hair testing to identify some major road blocks to her metabolism including blood sugar dysregualtion that had flown under the radar for who knows how long, major nutrient deficiencies, inflammation and poor thyroid hormone uptake by the cells.
We started with the foundations of food: eating the right foods, in the right amounts, at the right time and optimized:
Once those foundations were mastered, we got to add in the “fun stuff” like supplements and other therapeutic interventions.
Her biggest asset on her healing journey: consistency & knowing exactly what to do.
She reached out to me while she was on vacation and said that she’s lost 7 pounds over the last seven weeks without feeling like she was missing out on much. Learning and being confident and empowered around food allowed her to be consistent with her food choices which ultimately provided opportunities to flex her metabolic flexibility muscle to indulge when indulging felt like it was worth it!
Nutrition isn’t all or nothing. Positive effects of a nutritional approach are often rooted in plan that are realistic, sustainable, flexible, and personalized. Personalization comes from listening to each unique story, seeing how symptoms are woven in, and then getting objective lab data to confirm where extra support is needed. In this case, a few places:
Hypothyroidism, as many of you may know, can throw a wrench into the weight loss process. The sluggish thyroid function can slow down metabolism, making shedding pounds feel like an uphill battle. Sammy understood this all too well, but she refused to let her diagnosis define her journey. Instead, she chose to educate herself about her condition, seeking guidance from healthcare professionals and fellow hypothyroid warriors.
One of the first steps Sammy took was reevaluating her approach to nutrition. She shifted her focus from restrictive diets and scavenging scraps from her kids’ plates to purposefully nourishing her body with wholesome, nutrient-dense foods. By prioritizing proteins, colorful fruits and veggies, and healthy fats, she found a sustainable way of eating that supported her thyroid health and fueled her busy days. And yes, there was still room for the occasional indulgence—because life is all about balance, right?
Exercise wasn’t always Sammy’s favorite thing, especially when fatigue and sluggishness crept in. But instead of forcing herself to follow a strict workout regimen, she embraced movement in ways that brought her joy. Whether it was dancing to her favorite tunes, going for leisurely walks in nature, or playing with her kiddos, Sammy discovered that staying active didn’t have to feel like a chore. It became a form of self-care—a way to honor her body and boost her mood.
Throughout her journey, Sammy faced setbacks and moments of doubt. But instead of dwelling on her perceived failures, she practiced self-compassion and resilience. She learned to celebrate her progress, no matter how small, and to forgive herself when things didn’t go as planned. By shifting her mindset from one of self-criticism to one of self-love, Sammy found the strength to keep pushing forward, even on the toughest days.
Today, Sammy stands tall, proud of how far she’s come on her journey. While the number on the scale is certainly a victory, it’s the confidence, energy, and sense of empowerment she’s gained along the way that truly shine. Sammy’s story is a reminder that success isn’t just about reaching a specific goal—it’s about embracing the ups and downs, learning from every experience, and becoming the best version of yourself.
And there you have it, folks—a glimpse into Sammy’s incredible journey of losing weight with hypothyroidism. Remember, no matter what obstacles you may face, you have the power to overcome them. Keep believing in yourself, stay resilient, and never forget that you’re capable of achieving anything you set your mind to.
Disclaimer: While Sammy’s story is inspiring, it’s essential to remember that individual results may vary. Always consult with a healthcare professional before making any significant changes to your diet or exercise routine, especially if you have a medical condition such as hypothyroidism.
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