LISTEN TO THE PODCAST – Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
In this episode of the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast, we’re talking about thyroid-friendly fitness and nutrition with personal trainer and functional nutrition coach, April Rodriguez.
The conversation is packed with insights that can transform the way you think about exercise and nutrition, especially if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or discouraged on your journey.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
- Overexercising Can Backfire with Hashimoto’s
April explains that intense workouts like HIIT or Orange Theory can leave women with Hashimoto’s feeling inflamed and fatigued for days, or even have flu-like symptoms. Instead of pushing harder, she encourages strength training with progressive overload that meets the body where it’s at — supporting muscle gain without burnout.
- Exhausted After a Workout? That’s a Red Flag
If a workout leaves you depleted instead of energized, it’s likely working against you, not for you. April recommends checking hydration, adding electrolytes, adjusting meal timing, and possibly shifting to a lower-intensity routine while tuning in to how your body responds.
- Calorie Restriction Can Worsen Thyroid Function
Chronically undereating can backfire, especially with hypothyroidism. April uses a “feed phase” approach, gradually increasing calories to optimize thyroid health, metabolism, and insulin sensitivity — often helping clients lose fat by eating more.
- Pre/Post Workout Fueling Matters
April recommends fueling with 25–30g of protein and ~25% of daily carbs both before and after workouts. She avoids high-fat meals pre-workout for better digestion and energy. This helps with recovery, lean muscle building, and balanced blood sugar — key for thyroid health.
- Blood Sugar Monitoring is Critical
Women with thyroid issues often struggle with blood sugar regulation. April uses glucometers or continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) to detect hypoglycemia or insulin resistance. This helps tailor workouts and nutrition to stabilize energy and support fat loss.
- Progress Comes from Personalization
April custom-builds fitness and nutrition protocols based on thyroid labs, symptoms, and biofeedback — not cookie-cutter plans. Red flags? If your coach doesn’t ask about your thyroid or ignores symptoms like fatigue or hypoglycemia, they may not be the right fit.
Guest Resources/Connect with April Rodriguez
Freebies
Supplements We Discussed
Other Tools and Resources
- Try MyFitnessPal or Cronometer for tracking food intake.
- Continuous Glucose Monitor – A wearable medical device (prescription required) that allows you to see your glucose in real-time.
- Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology – Cookbook and nutrition guide for Hashimioto’s
Books and Articles About Thyroid Health
- The Fundamental Gut Health Protocol
- Blood Sugar Balance and Thyroid Health
- Are Your Adrenals Sabotaging Your Health?
- How to Lose Weight With Hashimoto’s
- The Best Diet For Hashimoto’s
- 11 Strategies to Overcome Hashimoto’s Fatigue
This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to align their fitness and nutrition with their thyroid health, offering hope and practical advice to navigate the challenges of Hashimoto’s.
Get the Full Episode Transcript
Let’s Connect!
- Follow me on Instagram:@izabellawentzpharmd
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Got questions? Drop them in the comments! 🙂
About Our Host
Dr. Izabella Wentz
Dr. Izabella Wentz is a compassionate, innovative, solution-focused integrative pharmacist dedicated to finding the root causes of chronic health conditions. Her passion stems from her own diagnosis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in 2009, following a decade of debilitating symptoms.
Dr. Izabella Wentz has written several best-selling books, including the New York Times bestseller Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause, the protocol-based #1 New York Times bestseller Hashimoto’s Protocol: A 90-Day Plan for Reversing Thyroid Symptoms and Getting Your Life Back, the Wall Street Journal bestseller Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology: Nutrition Protocols and Healing Recipes to Take Charge of Your Thyroid Health, and her latest book, Adrenal Transformation Protocol.
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About Our Guest
April Rodriguez is a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach who specializes in helping women with hypothyroidism lose weight, regain energy, and feel confident in their bodies again. After being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism herself, April knows firsthand how overwhelming and discouraging the journey can feel — especially when it seems like all your fitness efforts are working against you. Determined to find a better way, she transformed her frustration into a mission: to guide other women through sustainable fitness and nutrition strategies that support thyroid health without extremes. Her approach focuses on nourishment, not restriction — and often includes more food, not less. April is a wife, mom of 3, business owner, and overcomer of Hashimoto’s and secondary infertility.
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