We had originally shared this post in December, but since we have gotten A TON more questions about this, we decided to re-share this post! We also wanted to share this article we read that really explains why we eat the way we do, and maybe it will be helpful to y’all!
This article shares 8 foods to avoid if you have a thyroid condition, like us. We follow most of these! It does a better job (than we would) of explaining why you should avoid these foods.
We wanted to open up about something that got us into eating healthy and working out so consistently! Many of y’all probably didn’t know this, but we used to be personal trainers a couple of years ago before we started this blog. As much as we love fashion and putting outfits together, we are also super passionate about healthy eating and working out. We both suffer from an autoimmune condition called Hypothyroidism.
It all started during our junior year of college. We started feeling extremely tired, sluggish, and bloated all of the time (yes, those are symptoms that you could have any day really, but ours were almost constant). This went on for another full-year. Finally, our senior year of college (about 4 years ago), we had had enough. We felt absolutely TERRIBLE. We knew something had to be wrong with us, and that we weren’t just imagining it.
Growing up, we did eat healthy foods at home with an abundance of fruit and vegetables. We were active and played tennis and were gymnasts. When we reached high school, our main food group consisted of fast-food, pizza, Mexican foods, desserts, pasta, etc. We weren’t as physically active in high school, but like most people that age, we could eat all of that and get away with it. Those were the days, right?!
When we started college, we contintued to eat the same way, except almost EVERY meal was eaten out. Nothing was prepared at home (how things have changed!). Eventually, this led us to gain weight (probably 10-15 pounds). This doesn’t seem like a huge amount, but when you’re 5′ 1″, it really shows!
We started to watch what we were eating, but still didn’t really know or understand what to eat and how much to eat. By the time we were juniors in college, we had started cooking more and eating out a little less. We started working out and lifting weights a little more, too. Although we felt like we were eating healthier and caring more about what we looked like on the inside we still felt so tired and sluggish. By 3 PM each day, we would be ready for bed, despite getting 8-9 hours of sleep each night.
We would workout, but often times we felt like we just couldn’t even make it to the gym. In addition to that, we felt “swollen” everywhere, our digestive system was out of whack and not doing what it was supposed to do regularly (yes, that part sucks!), our skin was very dry (especially our heels), our hands and feet would fall asleep a lot, amongst a bunch of other really odd symptoms. Fun, right?
After bugging our dad (who is a cardiologist), we finally got a blood test. It showed that we both had severe Hypothyroidism.
What Is Hypothyroidism?
Hypthothryoidism is also referred to as underactive thyroid disease. With this condition, your thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. Your thyroid does SO much for your body including controlling how your body’s cells use energy from food (metabolism). Your metabolism affects your body’s temperature, heartbeat, and how well you burn calories. When your thryoid is underactive, your body makes less energy, and therefore, your metabolism becomes sluggish.
What Is The Treatment For It?
The treatment for this thyroid condition is to take medication, which we take daily. We also check our thyroid every couple of months to make sure our levels are still normal.
How Do You Get a Thyroid Condition?
We still aren’t sure how or why we got this condition, but it can be due to a variety of factors such as heredity, sex, and age. We know that it is common to experience a range of food sensitivities, especially to dairy and gluten. The primary cause of Hypothyroidism is Hashimoto’s disease, which is an autoimmune disease that causes your system to mistakenly attack your thyroid.
What Should You Eat To Feel Better?
After reading the studies and articles, we decided to cut out some of our favorite foods like pizza, bread, pasta, cereals, basically everything we were used to eating on a daily basis, and eat a gluten-free diet. While this did alleviate some of our symptoms, we still did not feel completely relieved.
We read a lot about the Paleo diet, and how following it can be beneficial for those suffering from Hypothyroidism. The Paleo diet focuses on eating fruits, vegetables, lean meats, seafood, nuts and seeds, and healthy fats. Compared to other diets, it eliminates dairy, grains, processed foods, legumes, starches, and alcohol. The goal of this diet or lifestyle is to remove the triggers that promote inflammation and intestinal permeability. The foods that are approved in the Paleo diet calm the inflammation in the gut and support healthy gut flora. We have also read that this can be benefical for others suffering from other autoimmune conditions.
We ate strict paleo for about 6 months and felt so much better. Now, a a few years later, we eat about 80% paleo and grain-free. We allow ourselves to enjoy other gluten-free and dairy-filled treats occasionally!
In case you all have missed these posts, we have covered some of our favorite snacks, and some other great posts to help you all out;)
We hope that some of this will help you if you’re struggling with these symptoms or suffer from the same thyroid conditions. You can always email us if you have any questions!
{ Swiftly Tech Long Sleeve Crew | Speed Short Mesh | Cardio Squad Tank II | Mesh Leggings Similar Here and Here | Free To be Zen Bra | Sunglasses }
*information courtesy of www.webmd.com
Eiren says
I am also an identical twin! 🙂 and have congential hypothyroidism (born without). My sister was born with one and doesn’t struggle with any thyroid related issues.
I can TOTALLY relate on the want to be in bed stuff. Do you both stay stagnant on your med doses? or do they fluctuate? Right now, my hormones seem to be in a state of flux, which puts me over the edge with tummy troubles and feelings of required 2 pm naps. Even though my body hasn’t really changed, the dose that used to be “high” for me, is now too “low”. WEIRd! I am craving hypothyroid homeostasis. lol.
I have to thank you for sharing your story, because i started doing extensive research earlier this year, and decided to try the paleo lifestyle and not fear the “fat”. I think this, in combo with a few other things, has definitely helped to relieve some of the digestion issues that i’ve had. So i just wanted to say thank you for inspiring me to give paleo a try!
Double Dose Fitness says
So happy you reached out! That’s so interesting! Yes, so we were both on the same dose for several years, (pretty strong, actually) but over the last months, we started feeling super tired, so we got a blood test, and we needed a higher dose again.
We definitely know the feeling! It’s not fun at all! The naps, the digestion, everything!
Yes! We definitely suggest trying paleo! It removes things that inflame your body, so it will give your digestive system a chance to heal. Then, over time, we suggest at the very least, gluten free. We eat gluten free and introduced some dairy recently. Feel free to reach out! We are def not experts, but we’d love to help in any way we can!
Gretchen (fitquestmom) says
I have hypothyroidism too and have since I was 20…discovered it in college the same time they finally diagnosed my endometriosis.
It has helped me so much to go gluten and dairy-free. In a weird way I think we are lucky because having those issues has forced us to pay more attention to our health. My parents used to tell me that the irony was that I would probably end-up being healthier than my friends who had no medical issues because I was forced to pay attention to my health from such a young age.
Double Dose Fitness says
Really? We didn’t know that! Yes! That is so true! We couldn’t agree more. When we got diagnosed with Hypothyroid was when we started actually caring what we put in our body and working out!
Eliza says
Thanks for this informative post! I’m curious–when you got the blood test, did you just get your TSH tested, or did you get other levels (T3 and T4) tested also? Thank you!
A Double Dose says
of course! So, we always get the whole thyroid panel checked–TSH, T3, T4, and reverse T3 tested!
Jessica says
I am a newer reader but also was diagnosed with Hashimotos/hypothyroidism in my late 20s. I can trace the beginning symptoms back to college as well and can relate on so many levels to your story. I didn’t get serious about the diagnosis or my diet (also Paleo – GF/DF) and supplements until about a year and a half ago. What a difference! I’m now working with a functional medicine doctor to identify my “root cause”. Might I suggest two books that totally shifted my paradigm? “Hashimotos Thyroiditis – Finding and Treating Your Root Cause” by Izabella Wentz and “The Thyroid Connection” by Dr. Amy Meyers. I’m thoroughly impressed that you 1) knew enough to get blood work for the diagnosis and 2) initiated the dietary changes on your own without any prompting. I wish I had made changes years ago before I had learned the hard way and hit rock bottom before getting serious about changing. Thank you for sharing!! Love your blog and appreciate you opening up about this!
A Double Dose says
That is so awesome! Good for you! I definitely want to check out that book1 thanks so much for stopping by and for sharing!:) Xo
Heather says
Have you been tested for MTHFR gene (and ideally the other 30 genes in the methylation cycle?)
Autoimmune conditions often spring from this deeper root. A healthy diet n lifestyle are key but you might find longer lasting health if you treat your methylation cycle also. Theres a TON of misinformation on it like everything else but I was a lifelong fitness/ good nutrition chick and at 38 I collapsed anyway. This has been the addition that is helping me get back up.
Love your blog for over a year now!!
A Double Dose says
No, we actually haven’t, but we definitely want to look into it! Thanks for sharing that and for stopping by! Xo
Kaylin says
I also have thyroid disease, and started to really notice in college. I can’t believe I didn’t know that about you two. Thank you for sharing your story. I used to see it as unfair and was upset my friends could eat whatever they wanted but then recently I realized it has made me be so aware of my body and what I put in it that is a blessing in disguise. Keep up the great work you girls are inspiring and gorgeous
A Double Dose says
Aw, thank you so much! That is so true! You’re too sweet! Thanks for stopping by! xo
Monique says
I’m so glad you guys shared this post. I took a blood test earlier this year ago and was told it’s possible y thyroid might be off but I put it off making excuses that nothing was wrong and now I’m starting to notice how bloated and tired I feel and some of my skin has gotten a little darker out of nowhere. I think I will take this more seriously and look into eating right and visiting my physician for a follow up blood test! Thanks for pointing this out to me just how inportant it is and not to be afraid to speak out.
A Double Dose says
Thanks so much Monique! You should definitely look into it! So glad to help and please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have! xo
Paula says
Hey girls,
I just found your website not that long ago and I really love everything you guys do! I wanted to reach out because I also have hypothyroidism and even though I take medication I still feel sluggish and tired. I want to try eating paleo, so I was wondering if you help start out or how to find recipes. Thanks for your help!
A Double Dose says
Hi Paula!
Thanks for stopping by! We have definitely been there, and still have some days where we feel yucky! We hope eating paleo helps out a little bit! As far as recipes, if you search for grain free on our blog, you should find some under ‘recipes’! Also, pinterest is great! We share a ton on our pinterest page: http://www.pinterest.com/adoubledose or if you search ‘paleo’, a ton should come up!
rosie molina says
first from one twin to another, thank you for sharing your story with everyone. I also found out I have a thyroid issues. Finding a good doctor is hard. ugh..by chance do you ladies recommend anyone in dallas? and if you also don’t mind me asking, which medicine do you take?
its been a lot of reading lately on this and a lot of decisions to make in regards whether to remove my thyroid or not ( I have nodules on my thyroid but they are not cancer) yay!! that’s good news. I have decisions to make and want to research as much as I can! 🙂
My twin and I, love your blog! Thank you for all that you do.
twin #2
rosie
A Double Dose says
Aw, of course! so glad you found this post!! We actually do not have a doctor in Dallas, but if we find one, we will definitely share! We do take Armour every day and eat mostly Paleo.
Oh wow! That is crazy, but so happy you hear it is not cancer! Best wishes for great health and you feeling better. Glad to help in any way! Your sweet words mean so much to us! Xo
Meisha says
IM SO glad I found your blog I love reading your posts! I have all these symptoms but when I got my blood test done my doctor said my thyroid was abnormal but not enough to do anything about it. I’ve been eating gluton free but it doesn’t seem to make a big difference in always tired and sluggish and forever bloated which does NOT compliment crop tops. Any advice?
A Double Dose says
Hi Meisha! So glad you found us!
You are too sweet! That means so much to us! That can be so frustrating, so we can totally understand. I would really suggest eliminating grains and dairy for a little bit. If you do some reading on SIBO and Leaky Gut, you will see what we are referring to. We ate like this for a few months, and it helped a lot!