Blog

The 5 Stages of Dealing with Hypothyroidism

If you feel like you might be struggling with thyroid issues, I know it can be a lonely and frustrating feeling. It doesn’t have to be that way, however.

By shedding light on the five stages of dealing with hypothyroidism, I hope to convey that there is help for your symptoms. It’s possible to come out on the other side feeling healthier, stronger, and more like yourself again.

Stage Zero

This is where there is nothing in your wheelhouse that would suggest you have a thyroid condition. You might feel tired. You might have a little bit of depression or sadness, or just a feeling that all is not right in your world.

You might be a little bit anxious here and there. Maybe your weight doesn’t come off as easily as it used to. And then you think, “I just need more willpower” or “I’m getting older.”

On the other hand, when these issues are happening routinely, there could be something connected to your dysregulated or dysfunctional thyroid gland way before a diagnosis even happens. Note that this stage can last a really long time, and it looks a bit different for everyone.

Stage 1

This is where your fatigue becomes more of a regular routine—to where you actually think, “Gosh, I might be depressed, or I might actually have anxiety.”

You start to exercise more. But you notice you’re still struggling with your weight.

“So, I will just reduce more calories,” you think. You start putting your calories and exercise expenditures into some kind of app, maybe to the point of disordered eating—adding to your feelings of anxiety and depression.

It becomes a vicious cycle. And you also might notice that you’re getting sick more often.

Stage 2

Now you finally seek out help, because you have some awareness that all of this isn’t normal. Hoping for a thyroid diagnosis, you get tested, and your doctor runs various labs. Everything comes back “normal,” and they brush off your feelings, saying this is just what happens when we age.

Oh, and by the way, there’s a medication for that—antidepressants, anti-anxieties, weight loss medications, medications to deal with blood sugar imbalance. You name it.

The problem, though, is the meds don’t actually deal with the root cause of what is going on, and you’re not even aware of what that might be.

Stage 3

You keep struggling. You become more of everything that I’ve already mentioned: more depressed, more anxious, more dissatisfied with your body composition.

You might crave more. You might exercise more but feel more tired from that. You aren’t able to manage stress very well.

At this point, you might get diagnosed with:

A gut health disorder or an autoimmune condition like celiac disease
Clinical depression, meaning another antidepressant
Anemia, and you start taking over-the-counter iron, leading to side effects like nausea and constipation

Stage 4

You go back to the doctor. At this point, you might be on several medications. Maybe you finally find someone who will actually test more than just one thyroid marker. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a full panel.

You might finally get a diagnosis of hypothyroidism with an option to take medication. Maybe you decline because you don’t want to take more meds. Then your symptoms worsen.

You might end up with an autoimmune thyroid condition called Hashimoto’s. So you start taking the medication that you got from your thyroid diagnosis, and you begin to feel a little bit better. Eventually, it’s not doing the trick because you have not dealt with all of the other things that go into supporting the thyroid gland.

Stage 5

When you find someone like me who will actually help you, this is stage five. Here’s where you will finally get the help you need to overcome thyroid fatigue, depression, anxiety, and lack of motivation.

And whatever you’ve told yourself, you don’t have to restrict calories. You don’t have to over-exercise to get your energy back. You don’t necessarily need to be on an antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication.

I’m not saying you should never be on those medications. I’m saying that in order to overcome the symptoms that you’ve been struggling with for 10 or 20 years, we have to dig deep to get to those root causes.

I invested in someone who actually understood what I was going through and told me that what I was feeling was legitimate. Within a short amount of time, the light at the end of the tunnel became brighter and brighter and brighter.

Out of all the things I’ve said, I want you to know that there is hope. With my help, you can emerge feeling amazing and live a full, energetic life once again.

Be sure to sign up for a free guide to fight fatigue with five easy ways to conquer your sleep and banish fatigue for good by clicking on this link.

The 5 Stages of Dealing with Hypothyroidism Read More »

Top 5 Issues Thyroid Patients Deal With and What To Do About It

When you’re dealing with thyroid issues, it can be quite frustrating. I’ve talked to so many people who have just given up. We’re told that fatigue, weight gain, depression, anxiety, and feelings of hopelessness are “fine” because there are meds for all of that, and most of us have tried all of them at one time or another.Yet they rarely work in the long term, and it just keeps us on this hamster wheel, a vicious cycle that never gets resolved.In my experience of recovering from thyroid cancer and now absent a thyroid gland, I have no choice but to take medications. I’m grateful I have that option, but meds aren’t the only answer if you have a thyroid condition.Here’s a look at the top five issues you might be dealing with as a thyroid patient and what you can do about them.

FatigueYou might think it’s just normal to feel exhausted all the time, especially if you lead a busy life with a job, kids, household responsibilities, and so on. You might explain it away that you’re tired because you’re constantly running around.The fatigue associated with thyroid conditions is different from feeling tired after a busy day, however. It’s debilitating, like the feeling you might have while pregnant (for those of you who can relate to that). Your body is constantly tired and in pain.
Weight Gain

For someone with a thyroid condition, the typical “calories in, calories out” model of weight loss and maintenance doesn’t work. Exercising to burn calories, tracking every gram of food, and obsessing over calorie counts never worked for me, and I would venture to guess it’s not working for you either.Anybody who’s ever relied on this old model might think they can burn fat either by reducing caloric intake and/or through exercise. This method does not work for all, however, and you might have found yourself frustrated when the weight doesn’t budge even when you’re diligent.Poor Gut Health

Most of the people I work with have major issues with acid reflux, constipation, bloating, diarrhea, or some combination of these issues. It’s common for thyroid patients to struggle with digestive upset and lack of absorption of nutrients due to low stomach acid.Oftentimes, people take over-the-counter medications to mitigate these symptoms. Over time, their body grows dependent on OTC meds, and they’re afraid to stop taking them because when they do, symptoms return.No one has ever advised them to change how they’re eating in order to resolve the underlying issues. Well, let me be the one to say there are better options than taking OTC meds for the rest of your life.

Depression and Anxiety

Also common among thyroid patients is depression and anxiety. Some people present more depressed with low energy and feelings of hopelessness. Others are more anxious, tired, wired, worried, and even panicked.Now, we all know there are times in life when we have reasons to be more anxious or depressed. What I’m talking about is long-term, chronic feelings of depression and anxiety. Like fatigue, it can also be debilitating.

Aches and Pains

Aches and pains could present as headaches or pain in the feet, knees, or just muscles in general. What I see clinically and biochemically is a cluster of nutrients that are deficient, stemming from gut health, inflammation, lifestyle factors, certain foods, and medications. Those deficiencies just lead to more and more of these symptoms.Side note: Some people may try to combat the anxiety, stress, and pain they feel by drinking alcohol, but alcohol makes matters worse and inhibits thyroid function.

Finding Solutions

If you try to resolve all of these issues at once, you may get overwhelmed and quit. So the first thing you can do when dealing with one or all of these issues is to find someone who actually wants to help you get to the root cause of your symptoms.That’s how I work with people. I look at what we can do to support everything underlying so that you can actually resolve your symptoms and come out on the other side, feeling like you were supposed to feel.No, you don’t have to give in to your symptoms as though they’re some kind of “new normal,” nor can you simply order a wellness test online and think you’re going to figure it out on your own. It takes the patience and guidance of someone like me who’s lived what you’re going through or has helped people like you.Aside from that, here are some basics I recommend incorporating into your life:

●     Add meditation into your life. Start with five minutes a day, and stick with it.
●     Move away from eating processed foods, and focus more on whole foods as much as you possibly can.
●     Eat your macros in balance. Start by making sure you get ample amounts of protein at each meal, a good 4 to 6 ounces.

If you follow these tips, you should notice a big difference in two weeks’ time. Don’t feel like you have to do it all, but start somewhere, and you will start to regain balance and normalize.Care to get on a call to talk more? Schedule your FREE Thyroid Breakthrough Session today by clicking here.

Top 5 Issues Thyroid Patients Deal With and What To Do About It Read More »

How Does Alcohol Affect Thyroid Function?

It’s safe to say that over the past couple of years, people may have been reaching for alcohol more often than usual. Whether due to boredom, anxiety due to the pandemic, or the celebration of a return to in-person gatherings, the drinks have been flowing.

Unfortunately, along with that, there’s the potential for anxiety, depression, decreased thyroid functioning, and other health issues.

While drinking in moderation can work for some people, it can also be problematic under certain circumstances. If you’re struggling with autoimmune thyroid issues, for example, alcohol isn’t going to be your friend. It’s also not helpful if you have undue stress in your life, in which case alcohol may make matters worse.

Why Alcohol and Thyroid Don’t Mix

Alcohol directly affects what’s called the hypothalamus pituitary axis, aka HPA. People who consume alcohol on a regular basis are directly affecting this pathway, messing with important brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine. In time, because our bodily systems are interconnected, chronic alcohol consumption can negatively impact your thyroid.

So if you’re having a glass of wine as you cook dinner or enjoying a glass among friends, how much is too much?

It depends. If you suspect you’re experiencing the negative effects of alcohol, including anxiety, depression, or an underperforming thyroid, it might be beneficial to cut out alcohol, at least for now. Let’s take a closer look at why.

Alcohol Is a Known Toxin

Alcohol, whose key intoxicating ingredient is ethanol, is known to have a direct, toxic effect on the thyroid gland. Consider for a moment that one of the treatment options for thyroid cancer is ethanol ablation, which can kill off the part of the thyroid gland that is not functioning well.

That should tell you something, right?

So if you are someone who is struggling with getting your thyroid optimized, medications leveled, and symptoms in check, you would do well to avoid alcohol, even in moderation. Although ironically, moderate alcohol consumption can actually reduce thyroid cancer risk, you might want to avoid drinking until you can get your thyroid optimized.

So what can you do instead of popping the cork? I’ve got five tips:

1. Remove alcohol completely to get to the root of your thyroid problems.

When we drink, the alcohol has to be processed by the liver, and in part, so do your thyroid hormones. Your liver will prioritize processing alcohol and eliminating the toxin from your system over hormone conversion. This means your hormone conversion will be put on the back burner for several hours after drinking alcohol.

2. Work to improve your liver health.

Fill your plate with healthy, whole foods, with a focus on colorful, antioxidant-rich plant foods that help with detoxification. Add turmeric to your foods, combined with black pepper to aid absorption. Oh, and drink filtered water.

3. Do a specific liver detoxification/gut health protocol.

I’m not talking about a colon cleanse here; a safe, carefully designed detoxification will help you clean out your body and improve gut health so you can start from scratch. I guarantee if you clean up your liver and the foods you’re eating, a lot of your symptoms will start to fall away.

4. Carefully experiment with alcohol.

I’m never going to be one to say that no one should ever drink alcohol again, because that’s not realistic for a lot of people. Barring any addiction issues, you may wish to experiment with alcohol to add it back.

However, you need to pay close attention to how alcohol impacts your sleep, your day-to-day functioning, and other factors. How did you recover the next day? What kind of alcohol were you drinking?

5. Use better quality alcohol.

Organic wines and clear liquors are slightly better options than, say, non-organic wines that have additives or drinks that contain added sugars. Vodka and soda with lime is a better choice than vodka with a sugary mixer, for example. With sugary drinks, you’re not only processing the alcohol, but also the fructose, putting extra load on your liver.

Really, it’s a matter of trial and error, and then sticking with what makes you feel the best. For some people, drinking a couple of times a week isn’t a big deal, but for others, it’s too much.

In part, it’s a matter of building new habits that support your thyroid and overall health. If you regularly consume alcohol and you’re experiencing signs of thyroid dysfunction, such as brain fog, anxiety, depression, or poor gut health, consider abstaining for a while. You might just find that you feel so amazing, you no longer crave that nightly drink.

Be sure to sign up for a free guide to fight fatigue with five easy ways to conquer your sleep and banish fatigue for good by clicking on this link.

How Does Alcohol Affect Thyroid Function? Read More »

How Can Nature Improve Your Thyroid Health?

Nature is powerful medicine—one that supplies us with many of the essentials we need for healing and overall wellness. By simply getting out into nature, we can improve many aspects of our lives, including our thyroid health.

If you’ve been feeling fatigued, overwhelmed, stressed, and unable to manage your weight or your emotions, one of the first moves you can take is simply stepping outdoors. Shifting your lifestyle habits to allow for time in nature can be beneficial for your hormone health, along with mental wellness.

Below, I explain some of the ways you can elevate your thyroid health by incorporating the great outdoors into your daily routine.

Get Your Vitamin D

When temperatures are freezing, it might not sound appealing to venture outside. However, even 10 or 15 minutes spent outdoors in the sun can do wonders for your vitamin D levels.

Vitamin D, which needs to be absorbed through the skin, goes a long way toward improving your thyroid health as well as balancing your immune system, among other benefits. This is why it’s so important to get out into nature all year long whenever possible.

Enjoy Mindful Moments in Nature

In the hustle and bustle of life, it’s easy to get caught up in all of your responsibilities, spreading yourself thin and never being fully present in each moment. Getting outside has a way of forcing you to be mindful as you take in the sights and sounds around you.

To practice mindfulness in nature, be proactive about using your senses as you walk or hike. Even if you’re just strolling through your neighborhood, mentally note the things you can see, hear, smell, feel, or even taste. Maybe pack a picnic with your kids and make a game of it—or try it as a solo activity from time to time.

Be Mindful of What You Listen To

If your walk is an exercise in staying present, that means it’s not a way to catch up on your calls, texts, or the latest true-crime podcast—which, by the way, isn’t exactly the best way to unwind and alleviate stress.

Instead of feeding anxiety with thoughts of death, destruction, or your long list of responsibilities, try playing some peaceful music or a guided meditation. If your mind tends to wander, the gentle background noise will help you stay present.

Notice the Details

As you’re out and about in nature, take pictures of anything you notice while engaging your senses. It could be a tiny raindrop on a leaf, the intricacies of a snowflake, or the petals of a beautiful flower. Maybe you catch a squirrel running up a tree or a cat lounging in the grass.

Over time, you’ll gather quite the collection of pictures. What things were you drawn to? What did you find interesting? Over a period of months or years, you’ll see what types of things caught your eye in nature.

Be Curious

As you investigate nature, you’ll come across things you’ve never seen before. It could be an unusual bird or maybe a plant you’ve walked past 100 times.

So what do you do? Get curious! Look things up. What did you see? Why was it there, or what is its purpose? You can always download an app that identifies plants and animals in nature, or journal about your experience and let your mind wander.

Clean Up

Masks, water bottles, wrappers, and other garbage tend to accumulate in nature unless someone picks up the trash. Make a point of taking along a small trash bag and collecting any trash you see on the ground.

For the sake of the land, the neighborhood, and Mother Earth herself, it’s a good feeling to leave nature better than when you found it.

The Benefits Are Manyfold

The goal of walking in nature isn’t to break a big sweat or work toward a specific calorie burn. Rather, the point is simply to spend even 15 or 20 minutes engaging in an activity that will calm your system, reduce stress, lower blood pressure and blood sugar, and reduce anxiety over time.

By engaging in outdoor activities with mindfulness, you’ll be doing something soothing and restorative for your body. You might even be spending more time with friends or family as you get outdoors together.

There might not necessarily be a direct correlation between time spent outdoors and thyroid health, but ultimately, all of these cumulative benefits will help your thyroid function better.

Be sure to sign up for a free guide to fight fatigue with five easy ways to conquer your sleep and banish fatigue for good by clicking on this link

How Can Nature Improve Your Thyroid Health? Read More »

What Is the Best Protein for Thyroid Health?

If I could impart one tidbit of wisdom about thyroid health to my audience, it would be this: If you’re not getting enough protein in your diet, the deficiency can wreak havoc on your thyroid function. Made from amino acids, proteins are your body’s building blocks—fueling essential bodily functions and the production of antibodies and hormones, including thyroid hormones.

And the thyroid affects every cell in the body.

Considering how vitally important protein is for proper thyroid functioning, I wanted to spend some time discussing the best proteins for thyroid health. Through my research and personal experimentation with different kinds of proteins, I’ve found that there are two basic types of proteins to consume in order to enhance, improve, and optimize thyroid functioning.

First and foremost, don’t buy the cheapest thing at the local big-box store. Unless you’re confident that the product doesn’t contain questionable ingredients like additives and fillers that could negatively impact your health in other ways, you don’t want to buy your proteins based on price alone.

Grass-Fed Protein

This leads me to the first type of protein to include in your diet: I recommend grass-fed/grass-finished beef protein containing no antibiotics, no hormones, and no other additives as one of the best types of protein for thyroid health. This type of beef protein is available in a protein powder and should be free of common food allergens that are used as fillers, such as corn, soy, and wheat.

Vegan-Source Protein

Vegan protein powders, made from pea protein, are another source of protein I like to use. Because pea protein has a low reactivity for most people, there are generally no issues with sensitivity to it like you would see with, say, soy or whey protein. Indeed, because they’re not dairy-free, certain whey proteins can be highly inflammatory—despite their widespread promotion by fitness professionals. It can trigger blood sugar surges and spike insulin, which are also factors for people dealing with thyroid issues.

Product Recommendations

The following products are those that I personally use and recommend—I’ve done the legwork to identify what works and what doesn’t in terms of thyroid health. Of course, feel free to conduct your own research to find which of these products, or any others, work best for you. Check your nutrition labels to make sure you’re getting high-quality protein with minimal ingredients; if you can’t pronounce it or don’t know what it is, that’s a sign of a poor-quality protein.

PurePaleo

A beef bone broth protein, PurePaleo comes in unflavored, chocolate, and vanilla. These simple flavor options differ from some of the crazy flavors you might find on store shelves—which likely contain unhealthy additives that can negatively affect your thyroid.

PurePaleo contains no artificial sweeteners, nor anything that’s inflammatory or that can impact you negatively. If you’re looking for a bone-broth protein, start with the ones that are the cleanest possible like PurePaleo. Depending on the flavor you chose, PurePaleo contains between 21 grams and 27 grams of protein per serving.

OptiCleanse GHI

The second option I recommend is OptiCleanse GHI, which, for me, is kind of the full deal. It’s packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other ingredients that are anti-inflammatory and support gut health and detoxification.

OptiCleanse GHI comes in convenient single-serve packets of 10, making it easy to grab on the go or portion out your protein. It contains 26 grams of protein per serving—plus, it tastes amazing!

Protein Powders Help You Meet Your Protein Needs

If you’re looking for an easy way to fulfill your daily protein needs, both of the above protein powders are solid options. You can mix and match the two in different flavors, or even mix the two together.

As you’re working toward your daily protein intake, strive to include 4 to 6 ounces of protein at each of your three meals a day, plus a snack with 2 to 3 ounces of protein as needed. Let your body guide the way for you with regard to how much protein to consume at each meal.

And while it’s always best to eat real, whole foods, clean protein powders can be a great way to up your protein, improve blood sugar and stress on the body, and help your thyroid function overall. If you’re purchasing any of these protein powders, be sure to use code ROCK10 at checkout to receive a discount.

PUREPALEO

Unflavored – https://rockbottomwellness.ehealthpro.com/products/purepaleo-protein-unflavored

Vanilla – https://rockbottomwellness.ehealthpro.com/products/purepaleo-protein-natural-vanilla-810-grams

Chocolate – https://rockbottomwellness.ehealthpro.com/products/purepaleo-protein-chocolate-810-grams-per-container

Opticleanse GHI:

To order, go here: http://www.wholescripts.com/register/rockbottomwellness/

Search for Opticleanse GHI and look for the Chocolate, Vanilla or Chai Flavor.

What Is the Best Protein for Thyroid Health? Read More »