100 Episodes Later: What I've Learned About Thriving with Hypothyroidism - Ep. 100

Dry, itchy skin. Persistent rashes. Hives that keep coming back. If you’re living with thyroid issues and struggling with your skin, you may have wondered: Could these things be connected? In Episode 105 of Thyroid-Healthy Bites, I’m joined by clinical nutritionist Jennifer Fugo, MS, LDN, CNS, founder of Skinterrupt and host of the Healthy Skin Show, to explore the thyroid-skin connection and what your skin may be trying to tell you. Jennifer shares how her own experience with debilitating skin issues inspired her work helping people with chronic skin conditions. We discuss the connections between thyroid health, eczema, psoriasis, and chronic hives, as well as her 16-point Matrix approach to looking beyond the skin for contributing factors. We also dig into histamine overload, food allergies versus sensitivities, and why restrictive diets aren’t always the answer. Jennifer shares practical considerations for dry, itchy skin, her perspective on targeted supplementation, and why making peace with food and coming into partnership with your body matters. In this episode, we discuss: The thyroid connection to dry skin, eczema, psoriasis, and hives Histamine overload and possible contributing factors Elimination diets, food sensitivities, and when restriction goes too far Practical care for dry, itchy skin Nutrition, supplements, and stress support CONNECT WITH JENNIFER: Website: https://www.healthyskinshow.com/ Healthy Skin Show Podcast: https://www.skinterrupt.com/listen/ Free Fix Your Skin Webinars: http://www.gutskintriggers.com/  HYPOTHYROID CHEF RESOURCES: Explore the Website:https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/ Free Thyroid-Friendly Grocery Guide:https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/grocery Get the THYROID30® Cookbook:https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/cookbook  Learn more about the Thrivers Club:https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/membership   💛 Enjoyed this episode? Please follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone navigating hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s. Your support helps us reach more Thyroid Thrivers looking for evidence-informed, practical guidance.   Disclaimer: This content is for educational and informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, health care, medications, supplements, or exercise regimen.

If weight loss feels harder than it used to—especially in your 40s, 50s, and beyond—you’re not imagining it.  In Episode 104 of Thyroid-Healthy Bites, I’m joined by sustainable weight-loss expert Ashley Fillmore, founder of Metabolic Fix and host of the Cheers to Your Success podcast, to talk about why midlife weight loss can become more complicated, and what a healthier, more sustainable approach can look like. We talk about chronic dieting, metabolic adaptation, strength training, body composition, stress, sleep, perimenopause, hypothyroidism, and why doing more isn’t always the answer. Ashley also explains her “repair, rebuild, results” approach, why preserving muscle matters, how to think beyond the number on the scale, and what women should know about finding the right support when they feel stuck. In this episode, we discuss: Why weight loss often gets harder after 40 How thyroid and hormonal changes can affect weight loss Chronic dieting, undereating, and metabolic adaptation Ashley’s Repair → Rebuild → Results framework Why eating more and exercising less can sometimes help Strength training and why muscle matters Why too much exercise may work against you Body composition vs. scale weight GLP-1 medications as one possible tool—not the whole plan How to find qualified, experienced support CONNECT WITH ASHLEY: Metabolic Fix: https://www.metabolicfix.com/ Metabolic Fix Phase Assessment: https://www.metabolicfix.com/phase-quiz Metabolic Fix ONE Coaching Program: https://www.metabolicfix.com/one Ashley's Cheers to Your Success Podcast: https://www.metabolicfix.com/podcasts/cheers-to-your-success Ashley on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashley_fillmore1/ HYPOTHYROID CHEF RESOURCES: Learn more about the Thrivers Club:https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/membership Explore Ginny's Website:https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/ Free Thyroid-Friendly Grocery Guide:https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/grocery Get the THYROID30® Cookbook:https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/cookbook   💛 Enjoyed this episode? Please follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone navigating hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's. Your support helps us reach more Thyroid Thrivers looking for evidence-informed, practical guidance.   Disclaimer: This content is for educational and informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, health care, medications, or exercise regimen.

Want healthy habits to finally feel easier...and stickier?  In this special episode of Thyroid-Healthy Bites, I’m opening up the Thrivers Club vault and sharing one of our members-only trainings with you completely free: The Relish Workshop. The Relish Ritual is one of the 8 Daily Rituals of Thyroid-Healthy Living within my THYROID30® framework, and it focuses on how celebration, connection, identity, and small, consistent actions can help healthy choices become your “new normal.” In this workshop, you’ll learn why willpower isn’t the answer to lasting change, how identity shapes habits, why smaller habits are easier to sustain, how celebrating small wins reinforces progress, why support matters, and how to recover from setbacks without starting over. Note: Throughout the workshop, you’ll hear me speaking directly to Thrivers Club members since this is the original members-only training. Download the free Relish Field Guide: https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/relish Learn more about the Thrivers Club: https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/membership Explore Ginny's Website:https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/ Free Thyroid-Friendly Grocery Guide:https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/grocery Get the THYROID30® Cookbook:https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/cookbook 💛 Enjoyed this episode? Please follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone navigating hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's. Your support helps us reach more Thyroid Thrivers looking for evidence-informed, practical guidance. Disclaimer: This information is for educational and inspirational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor or other qualified healthcare providers before making changes to your diet, health care, or exercise regimen.

Your thyroid labs are “normal”… so why do you still feel exhausted, foggy, frustrated with your weight, or just not like yourself?  In this episode of Thyroid-Healthy Bites, I’m joined by thyroid and hormone health expert McCall McPherson, PA-C, founder of Modern Thyroid Clinic, to explore why so many thyroid patients continue to struggle even after they’ve been diagnosed and treated. We talk about why TSH doesn’t always tell the whole story, “normal” vs. optimal thyroid lab ranges, thyroid antibodies and Hashimoto’s, and why some patients do well on levothyroxine while others may need a different approach. We also dig into how to sort out thyroid symptoms from other health issues, the role of nutrition and lifestyle, why weight loss can be so challenging with thyroid disease, GLP-1 medications, and how to find a thyroid specialist who can help you get the care you need.     If you’ve ever been told “everything looks fine” when you most definitely do not feel fine, this conversation is for you.   HYPOTHYROID CHEF RESOURCES:  🌐 Learn more at Hypothyroid Chef: https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/ 🛒 Free Thyroid-Friendly Grocery Guide: https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/grocery 🦋 Join the Thrivers Club: https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/membership 📚 THYROID30® Cookbook: https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/cookbook   CONNECT WITH McCALL: Modern Thyroid Clinic: https://www.modernthyroidclinic.com/ FREE Thyroid Lab Guide: https://learnwithmccall.com/thyroid-lab-guide McCall’s Book, Take Back Your Thyroid: https://book.modernthyroidclinic.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mccallmcphersonpa/   💛 Enjoyed this episode? Please follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone navigating hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's. Your support helps us reach more Thyroid Thrivers looking for evidence-informed, practical guidance. Disclaimer: This information is for educational and inspirational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor or other qualified healthcare providers before making changes to your diet, health care, or exercise regimen.

We often think of health interventions as inherently good or bad. But according to Dr. Eric Balcavage, the better question is whether an intervention matches the current state of your body.  In this episode of Thyroid-Healthy Bites, Dr. Balcavage explains why an intervention has to match the physiology of the person receiving it. A body that's well-rested, adequately nourished, and resilient may respond very differently than one that's under chronic stress, under-fueled, or already struggling to adapt. This is the foundation of what he calls State-Based Medicine—a framework that helps explain why the same intervention can help one person but backfire in another. Together, we discuss: What State-Based Medicine is, and how it changes the way we think about hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's Why there is no one-size-fits-all approach to thyroid health Why thyroid symptoms can persist despite medication How stress, sleep, blood sugar, nutrition, exercise, and gut health influence thyroid physiology When "healthy" habits like restrictive dieting or overexercising can actually increase stress on the body Signs you may be under-fueling or placing too many demands on your body The importance (and limitations) of comprehensive testing If you've been searching for the "perfect" thyroid protocol, this conversation offers a refreshing new perspective. Instead of asking, "What's the best diet, supplement, medication, or treatment?" Dr. Balcavage encourages us to ask a different question: What state is my body in, and what does it need right now?   🔗 RESOURCES: 🛒 Free Thyroid-Friendly Grocery Guide:https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/grocery  🦋 Join the Thrivers Club:https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/membership  📚 THYROID30® Cookbook:https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/cookbook 🌐 Learn more at Hypothyroid Chef:https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/    🔗 MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Listen to my first interview with Dr. Eric Balcavage (Ep. 32):https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/blog/the-thyroid-treatment-debacle-with-drs-eric-balcavage-and-kelly-halderman  Dr. Eric Balcavage's website: https://drericbalcavage.com/  Dr. Eric's new book, Is This the Hill?: https://drericbalcavage.com/hill  The Thyroid Debacle by Drs. Eric Balcavage and Kelly Halderman: https://amzn.to/4waucdM  Dr. B's Thyroid Answers Podcast: https://drericbalcavage.com/thyroid-answers-podcast  Free Thyroid Labs Decoded Guide: https://drericbalcavage.com/thyroid-labs-decoded  Free Fitness Factor Assessment: https://drericbalcavage.com/fitness-factor-assessment  Follow Dr. Eric on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drericbalcavage/    💛 Enjoyed this episode? Please follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone navigating hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's. Your support helps us reach more Thyroid Thrivers looking for evidence-informed, practical guidance.   Disclaimer: This information is for educational and inspirational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor or other qualified healthcare providers before making changes to your diet, health care, or exercise regimen.

Weight loss can feel like one of the biggest uphill battles for women with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's. Even when you're eating well, exercising, sleeping, and taking thyroid medication, the scale doesn't always respond the way you'd expect.  In this episode of Thyroid-Healthy Bites, I'm joined by functional nutrition and thyroid specialist Dr. Joni Labbe to explore what we can do beyond Ozempic to support healthy metabolism. We discuss emerging research on gut health, blood sugar, inflammation, and lifestyle factors that influence weight, while also keeping the conversation grounded in self-compassion and realistic expectations.  In this episode, you'll learn about: Why weight loss is often more challenging with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's What GLP-1 medications have taught us about appetite and metabolism The role of Akkermansia and butyrate in gut health Berberine and blood sugar support Saffron's emerging role in mood and metabolic health Hydrogen-rich water and where it may fit into metabolic health How sleep, stress, and nervous system regulation affect weight loss Foods and lifestyle habits that support metabolic health Functional medicine testing for stubborn weight loss resistance 🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS: Dr. Joni Labbe's website: https://www.thyrosisters.com/ Schedule a complimentary Thyroid Clarity Call: https://www.thyrosisters.com/clarity-call/  Dr. Joni's book:Thyroid and Menopause Madness - https://amzn.to/3TdgLMy  Listen to my first interview with Dr. Joni: The Thyroid-Gut Connection (Ep. 45) - https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/blog/the-thyroid-gut-connection-with-dr-joni-labbe  The THYROID30® Cookbook: https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/cookbook  Free Thyroid-Friendly Grocery Guide: https://hypothyroidchef.com/grocery-guide Learn more at Hypothyroid Chef: https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/    Disclaimer: This information is for educational and inspirational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor or other qualified healthcare providers before making changes to your diet, health care, or exercise regimen.

🎉 Episode 100! 🎉 In this special solo episode, I'm sharing 8 hard-won truths I've learned from living with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's, interviewing experts, writing a cookbook, building the Thrivers Club community, and helping thousands of thyroid patients navigate their own healing journeys. We'll talk about: Why thyroid-friendly food and lifestyle are really about supporting the whole body Why "normal" thyroid labs don't always mean you feel normal The limitations of TSH-only testing Why the conventional standard of thyroid care still leaves many patients struggling The role of stress, nervous system health, and self-care in healing Why there is no one-size-fits-all thyroid diet The importance of learning to trust your body The often-overlooked power of support and community Most of all, this episode is about hope, agency, and learning to trust yourself again. Whether you've been listening since Episode 1 or you're joining me for the first time, thank you for being part of this journey. Here's to the next 100. 🦋 🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS: Order the THYROID30 Cookbook: https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/cookbook Explore the Thrivers Club: https://hypothyroidchef.com/membership  Get my Free Thyroid-Friendly Grocery Guide (and join my free newsletter!): https://hypothyroidchef.com/grocery-guide What Do Your Thyroid Test Results Really Mean? with Mary Shomon - Ep.88: https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/blog/what-do-your-thyroid-test-results-mean    Disclaimer: This information is for educational and inspirational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor or other qualified healthcare providers before making changes to your diet, health care, or exercise regimen.

Mickey Trescott, MSc, is an author, nutrition professional, and one of the pioneers who helped build the Autoimmune Protocol community from the ground up. Her brand-new book, The New Autoimmune Protocol, is the first major update to AIP in over a decade—and this conversation is one I've been wanting to have for a long time. If you've ever been curious about AIP, intimidated by it, or tried it and struggled to sustain it, this episode is for you. We get into what's changed about AIP, what the latest AIP research supports, and how to approach this therapeutic tool in a way that's flexible, personalized, and built for real life. In this episode: Why AIP needed to evolve What the research says about AIP The biggest misconceptions about AIP Core vs. Modified AIP Reintroductions and personalization The essential Transition Phase Common AIP pitfalls and mistakes How AIP can help people with Hashimoto’s and autoimmune thyroid disease Practical tips for getting started 🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS Mickey's Website: https://theautoimmuneprotocol.com/  Connect with Mickey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickeytrescott/  Download Mickey's Free AIP Foundations Series: https://theautoimmuneprotocol.com/foundations/  Get Mickey's new book: The New Autoimmune Protocol - https://amzn.to/4ukQZn1  Learn More About Hypothyroid Chef & THYROID30: https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/  Join the Thrivers Club: https://hypothyroidchef.com/membership  Free Thyroid-Friendly Grocery Guide: https://hypothyroidchef.com/grocery-guide     Disclaimer: This information is for educational and inspirational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor or other qualified healthcare providers before making changes to your diet, health care, or exercise regimen. Disclosure: This description contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!

For women living with thyroid issues, menopause doesn't just pile on—it amplifies everything. The two are deeply connected, each one making the other harder to manage. And when you're already running on empty, knowing what to do can feel out of reach without the right support. Getting through this season of life takes more than information. It takes education, empowerment, and the kind of support that helps you not only know better, but DO better. In Episode 98, I'm sitting down with Dr. Sandra Scheinbaum, Ph.D., founder of the Functional Medicine Coaching Academy, to talk about healthy aging in menopause and beyond. Because the right support really can change everything. In this episode: Why midlife often becomes a health turning point The overlap between thyroid, hormones, and how you feel Why "more willpower" isn't the answer (and what is) The gap between knowing and actually doing How health coaching supports real, lasting change A mindset shift that changes how you think about aging well Whether you're navigating thyroid issues, perimenopause, menopause, or just want to feel vibrant into your 50s, 60s, and beyond, this conversation is worth your hour. RESOURCES & LINKS Connect with Dr. Sandi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsandi/  Functional Medicine Coaching Academy: https://fmca-tracking.tracknow.info/s/jzNSC   Dr. Sandi's book Your Health Coach Will See You Now: https://amzn.to/4bQ428c  Join the Thrivers Club: https://hypothyroidchef.com/membership  Free Thyroid-Friendly Grocery Guide: https://hypothyroidchef.com/grocery-guide   Disclaimer: This information is for educational and inspirational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor or other qualified healthcare providers before making changes to your diet, health care, or exercise regimen. Disclosure: This description contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!

If you're living with thyroid issues and you’re confused, tired, inflamed, stuck, or burned out, this episode is for you. In this companion episode to my THYROID30® Cookbook, I’m taking you inside THYROID30: the whole-food, whole-health system I created to help Thyroid Thrivers build sustainable habits, reconnect with their bodies, and feel better for good. We talk about why extreme approaches and chronic restriction often backfire, why gentle, consistent habits are the real needle-movers, and how the 8 Daily Rituals of Thyroid-Healthy Living form a grounded framework for supporting your energy, digestion, mood, sleep, and resilience. THYROID30 is NOT a diet. It’s a middle path — a calmer, more sustainable way to nourish your body, rebuild trust with yourself, and create a thyroid-friendly lifestyle you love, that loves you back. 📘 UPDATE (Feb 3, 2026): The THYROID30® Cookbook is now officially available wherever books are sold! The pre-order bonus mentioned in this episode has ended, but you can learn more about the book—and how to participate in THYROID30 inside the Thrivers Club here: 👉 Order the THYROID30 Cookbook here: https://www.hypothyroidchef.com/cookbook   Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet, treatment, or health practices.