What I Learned as a Nutritionist Living with Hashimoto’s Thyroid Disease
(And How I Now Help My Clients Better)
If you’d asked me years ago what Hashimoto’s thyroid disease felt like...
I would have described it clinically.
Now?
I’ve lived it.
And it changed everything. Not just how I feel, but how I work with clients every single day.
It Started in 2010… and I Knew Something Wasn’t Right
I began feeling… off.
Not just tired — completely wiped out.
Even after 10 hours’ sleep, I was exhausted.
I was:
Struggling to function day to day
Unable to lose weight despite training hard and eating well
Dealing with a puffy face
Constantly run down with a rubbish immune system
Experiencing acne, cold hands and feet, brain fog
👉 I knew this wasn’t normal.
And as a nutritionist, I also knew something else:
Basic thyroid testing doesn’t tell the full story.
“Your Thyroid Is Fine” (But I Knew It Wasn’t)
My GP tests came back “borderline normal”.
But I wasn’t convinced.
Because here’s the truth:
👉 You can have “normal” results…
👉 And still have an under-functioning thyroid.
I pushed. I questioned. I advocated for myself.
Eventually, I was prescribed a very low dose of levothyroxine
(essentially just enough to tick a box).
And yes… it helped a little.
But I still didn’t feel like me.
2012: When Things Took a Serious Turn
Then things escalated.
I started:
Feeling dizzy regularly
Experiencing repeated fainting episodes
Back to the doctors I went.
This time, my TSH was 36 — extremely high.
👉 My thyroid function had plummeted
👉 My metabolism (BMR) had slowed dramatically
👉 My heart rate dropped to 41 bpm
Which meant:
Oxygen wasn’t reaching my brain properly
Hence the fainting
It was scary.
Finally — The Right Dose Changed Everything
My medication was increased to 150mcg levothyroxine
And the difference?
✨ Huge.
Energy came back
Weight stabilised
Immunity improved
I felt like myself again
For years, I thought…
👉 “Right, that’s sorted.”
2025: When the Symptoms Came Back
Fast forward to late 2025.
I was:
Fit
Active
Busy with career, kids, life
I’d even run a marathon in April 2026
But something wasn’t right again.
I felt:
Flat
Low in mood
Unmotivated
Exhausted
👉 Not my normal high-functioning, driven self
This time though…
I knew exactly what to do.
The Test That Changed Everything
I ran my own, Well Woman 360 Test UK — a full hormone and thyroid panel.
Not just TSH.
Not just T4.
👉 The full picture.
And there it was:
Extremely high thyroid antibodies
Clear signs of Hashimoto’s thyroid disease
A conversion issue (T4 → active T3)
💡 This had never been picked up before.
Because the NHS had only ever tested:
TSH
T4
👉 Not T3
👉 Not antibodies
The Missing Piece: T3
My consultant endocrinologist prescribed combined T3 + T4 therapy
And within 4 months?
I was back.
Energy restored
Training again
Thriving
The Frustrating Reality (That Needs More Awareness)
Here’s the difficult bit…
Most NHS practices won’t prescribe T3
So I had to:
Go private
Fund my own treatment
💸 At £135 per month
And honestly?
That’s a huge barrier — especially in a cost of living crisis.
👉 There are ongoing efforts by thyroid charities to change this
👉 Because many people could benefit from T3 support
What I Changed (And What’s Made a Real Difference)
Alongside medication, I made targeted changes based on my results.
Important: this is my protocol — not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Key areas I addressed:
Energy + Mitochondrial Support
Acetyl L-Carnitine
Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA)
👉 Support cellular energy + metabolism
Stress + Hormones
(My results showed low cortisol, DHEA and testosterone)
Magnesium glycinate
Methylated B vitamins
👉 Support stress response + energy regulation
Inflammation + Immune Support
High-strength Omega 3 (EPA)
N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)
👉 Reduce inflammation + support immune balance
Liver Support (crucial for hormone + thyroid conversion)
Targeted liver support supplements
👉 Helps:
Detoxification
Hormone clearance
T4 → T3 conversion
Gut Health
High-quality probiotics
👉 Because:
Gut health influences immunity
And autoimmune conditions start here
Actionable Diet Tips for Supporting the Thyroid
If you’re struggling with thyroid-related weight issues:
1️⃣ Eat enough protein
20–30g per meal
Supports metabolism + hormone balance
2️⃣ Balance blood sugar
No “naked carbs”
Always combine:
Protein + fats + fibre
3️⃣ Support key thyroid nutrients
Selenium (Brazil nuts)
Zinc (meat, seeds)
Iodine (eggs, seafood)
4️⃣ Reduce inflammation
Focus on:
Whole foods
Healthy fats
Plenty of vegetables
5️⃣ Don’t overtrain or undereat
Both can worsen thyroid function
Try:
[High Protein Meal Ideas]
[Gut Health Recipes]
[Anti-Inflammatory Diet Guide]
The Biggest Lesson I’ve Learned
Testing changes everything
Because guessing:
wastes time
delays progress
keeps you stuck
Now, with my clients, I don’t rely on assumptions.
To create fully personalised plans, I use:
If You Feel Like Something Isn’t Right...
Trust yourself.
Advocate for yourself.
Because I’ve been there:
Feeling dismissed
Feeling exhausted
Feeling like I should just “push through”
You don’t have to stay stuck.
You might like to read this blog next: Thyroid Health & Weight Loss: Why You’re Not Losing Weight (And What to Do About It)
Frequently Asked Questions About Hashimoto’s
What is Hashimoto’s thyroid disease?
An autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the thyroid, disrupting hormone production and metabolism.
Can you have normal thyroid tests but still feel symptoms?
Yes. Many standard tests miss key markers like T3 and thyroid antibodies.
Why is T3 important for thyroid health?
T3 is the active thyroid hormone responsible for metabolism, energy and fat burning.
Can thyroid problems cause weight gain?
Yes — slowed thyroid function reduces metabolism and can make fat loss difficult.
Should I take supplements for thyroid health?
Only based on testing. What works for one person may not be right for another.
If anything in this article sounds familiar, your body may be trying to tell you something. The good news is, you don't have to figure it out alone.
Take the free Find Your FIT Quiz to discover which test or programme suits your symptoms, or book a free 15-minute Personalised FIT Health Review with Becki for a direct, no-obligation conversation about where to start.
About Becki Hawkins
Becki Hawkins, BSc (Hons), mBANT, CNHC, is the founder of FIT Nutrition & Testing Clinic and a Registered Nutritional Therapist with over 20 years of experience. She specialises in evidence-based personalised nutrition and functional testing, helping clients uncover the root causes of digestive issues, hormonal imbalances, and unexplained symptoms. Becki combines clinical expertise with culinary creativity, translating complex test results into practical, delicious nutrition plans that work in real life. Her approach is simple: test, don't guess. Because guessing doesn't heal. Knowing does.