It’s Never Too Late: How a 69-Year-Old Lost 16lbs and Built Muscle

What if Hashimoto’s and type 2 diabetes didn’t mean fatigue, stubborn weight, and blood sugar chaos for the rest of your life?

In this episode of the Thyroid Strong Podcast, I sit down with my client MaryBeth, who shares her powerful transformation after decades of living with Hashimoto’s, type 2 diabetes, IBS symptoms, and constant exhaustion.

When I first met, Mary Beth was doing everything she thought she was supposed to do—working out, eating “healthy,” even using GLP-1 medications—yet her fasting blood sugars were still in the 180s, her A1C hovered above optimal, and weight loss felt impossible.

Fast forward to today:

1. Her A1C is 5.3
2. Her fasting blood sugar averages ~85
3. She’s lost 16+ pounds
4. She’s lifting heavy, eating more food, and feels better at 69 than she did in her 50s

This conversation offers an honest look at what actually changed—and why the work we did to address root causes, not just symptoms, made all the difference.

1. 02:15 – Life before we met, diagnoses, exhaustion, poor sleep
2. 03:50 – Waking up with blood sugars in the 180s and how that felt
3. 04:55 – “I barely ate… yogurt, salads, not enough protein”
4. 06:20 – Metformin, Jardiance, GLP-1s, and why A1C ≠ feeling good
5. 09:10 – Parasite exposure, gut work, die-off, and “the metal taste”
6. 12:05 – Deadlifting, muscle, form, and realizing how strong she was
7. 14:30 – Size changes, body recomposition, and redefining success
8. 16:40 – “You’re not too old. You need to lift more and eat more.”
9. 18:45 – “Exercise is first. Everything else fits around it.”
10. 22:05 – “I eat more now than I ever have—and I’m still losing weight”

If you’ve ever been told your labs are “fine,” your A1C is “good enough,” or weight gain is just part of aging with Hashimoto’s, this episode will change how you think about what’s possible.

Mary Beth’s story is proof that:

1. You are not too old
2. Your body isn’t broken
3. Eating more, lifting heavy, and stabilizing blood sugar can change everything

Do you need help?

Apply for 1:1 Root Cause Functional Medicine Coaching

👉 1:1 Functional Health Coaching – Dr. Emily Kiberd

🎁 Free Gut Masterclass:

How six of my clients healed their gut, lowered antibodies, and lost up to 40 lbs

Follow Dr. Emily Kiberd and Thyroid Strong:

📘Facebook: Thyroid Strong

📷 Instagram: @thyroid.strong

🎵TikTok: Thyroid Strong