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Hashimoto's and the Hormonal Wall.
As a pharmacist, I see this constantly: patients who eat 1,200 calories, exercise 6 days a week, and still gain weight. The culprit is often an underactive thyroid, most commonly caused by an autoimmune condition called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
The Thyroid Gland: This is your metabolic thermostat. It produces hormones (T4 and T3) that tell every cell in your body how fast to burn energy.
Hashimoto's: This is an autoimmune condition where your body's immune system mistakenly attacks your thyroid gland. It's like someone is constantly tampering with your thermostat.
The Result (Hypothyroidism): When the thyroid is damaged, it produces less hormone. Your metabolism slows down dramatically. You feel cold, tired, constipated, and you gain weight despite eating very little.
The Oestrogen Connection: Oestrogen dominance (common in perimenopause or with certain birth controls) can increase Thyroid Binding Globulin (TBG), which "traps" thyroid hormone so it can't be used. You produce the hormone, but it's locked in a cage.
Pharmacist Note: If you are counting calories and gaining weight, you do not need a stricter diet. You need a thyroid panel. Pushing harder with exercise when your thyroid is low is like stepping on the gas when the handbrake is on. You're just burning out the engine.
The Technique - work with your biology.
If you suspect a thyroid issue, you must change your approach from "burn more calories" to "reduce inflammation and support conversion."
Support the Conversion: The thyroid produces T4 (inactive). The body must convert T4 to T3 (active) in the liver and gut.
Leverage Point: Selenium (2-3 Brazil nuts a day) and Zinc are crucial cofactors for this conversion.
Reduce the Immune Attack: Since Hashimoto's is autoimmune, the key is calming the immune system.
Leverage Point: Gluten is a common molecular mimic for thyroid tissue. For some, gluten triggers the immune system to attack the thyroid. A trial elimination can be a powerful lever.
Lower Cortisol: High stress = High cortisol = Low Thyroid.
Leverage Point: This is where your breathing practice as discussed previously becomes non-negotiable.
🥋 Black Belt Move
“Leverage, Not Force”
In Jiu-Jitsu, if your opponent is bigger and stronger, you cannot "force" them to move. If you try, you exhaust yourself and lose. The Black Belt uses Leverage—finding the mechanical advantage where a small amount of pressure in the right place moves a massive amount of weight.
If you have a thyroid or autoimmune issue, "forcing" the issue with extreme diets and excessive cardio is a recipe for disaster. It raises cortisol, which further suppresses thyroid function and increases inflammation. Instead, you must use Leverage.
Patient Experience
Thyroid failure..
Helen (54) sat across from me in my treatment room, a spreadsheet in hand. Three months of green-light eating. Daily movement. Perfect sleep hygiene. And a weight graph that looked like a flat line. "I feel like I'm screaming into the void," she said. "Everyone says, 'Try harder.' But I'm exhausted from trying." I asked two questions: "Are you cold when others aren't?" and "Have you lost words mid-sentence?" She stared at me. "How did you know?" Two weeks later, her blood work confirmed it—elevated TSH, low free T3, high reverse T3. Her thyroid wasn't the enemy. It was doing exactly what it evolved to do: slow everything down because it thought she was starving.
We started low-dose levothyroxine. Added selenium-rich foods (Brazil nuts, sardines) and adequate protein to support T4-to-T3 conversion. Dialled back the aggressive calorie restriction that was spiking her reverse T3. Six weeks later, she messaged me: "I'm still not where I want to be. But for the first time, my body feels like it's on my team." That's the difference between force and leverage. Force is trying harder when the engine is broken. Leverage is fixing the engine.
Wisdom from the Sensei:
"Your body holds deep wisdom. Trust in it. Learn from it. Nourish it. Watch your life transform and be healthy."
Bella Bleue
Action point!
This Week's Action: Key Lab Markers
You cannot guess about the thyroid. You need data. This week's action is to educate yourself and, if necessary, advocate for yourself when you visit with your Doctor.
The Prescription: If you have symptoms (fatigue, hair loss, feeling cold, unexplained weight gain, brain fog), ask your doctor for a comprehensive thyroid blood test.
Key Lab Markers to Discuss:
TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone): The most common test. It's the brain yelling at the thyroid. High TSH usually means the thyroid is lazy (hypothyroid). Low TSH usually means it's overactive.
Optimal Range: Many labs say "normal" up to 4.5 or 5.0. However, many people feel symptomatic above 2.5.
Free T4 and Free T3: These are the actual hormones. You want to see these in the upper half of the reference range. Low T3 is a huge red flag for poor conversion.
Thyroid Antibodies (TPO and TgAb): This is the smoking gun for Hashimoto's. If these are elevated, your immune system is attacking your thyroid. This changes the entire treatment strategy.
The Challenge
Review: Look at any blood work you've had in the last year. Were these markers checked? Were they actually optimal, or just "in range"?
Advocate: If you suspect an issue, schedule a check-up. Write down these three markers and ask for them specifically.
Observe: This week, pay attention to your body temperature (a sign of metabolic rate). If you are consistently cold when others are warm, it's another clue.
You are not broken. You may just have a broken thermostat. Fix the thermostat, and the rest of the system works.
This newsletter provides a springboard for a your weight loss journey, hopefully you have appreciated something new to try and apply to your life.
By incorporating these tips and tricks into your routine, you can cultivate a happy and healthy lifestyle.
Until next time
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