Exercising followed by tiredness ... - Thyroid UK

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Exercising followed by tiredness ...

Wired profile image
15 Replies

Hi. On Levo 100mcg daily and have been so for a couple of years now.

I've decided to build my strength and fitness (with also the aim to lose some weight) and have embarked on HIIT exercise programmes x 3 times a week and then swimming about half a mile a week. I'm fine, and in fact enjoy it, for the first 3 to 4 days of the week then I hit this awful tiredness that doesn't go away even with lots of sleep and an extra nap. I've been on the exercising for 3 weeks now and wondered if I should cut down some of it?

Advice/comments most appreciated. Thanks :)

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Wired profile image
Wired
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15 Replies

Hello Wired,

If you are happy and well......go for it.

However, if you tire really quickly or suffer muscle cramps, etc you probably need to reduce a little and build up more slowly.

Unless you have been well medicated for years & years, you could still be suffering a few deficiencies left from before starting meds when your body was struggling to cope without thyroid hormone.

As people with thyroid problems, we are more vulnerable to tiredness and need to consider that. Perhaps you could alternate cardio exercise with yoga or Pilates.

flower007

lisabax profile image
lisabax

I have read that when hypo we should adopt a different approach to exercise and that high impact is not appropriate. I'm sorry I can't remember where I've read this but you could do a search on the Internet or maybe look at the TUK forum to see what's been posted in the past or write a new post. Hope this may be of some help! LB

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply tolisabax

You've probably read it on here, lisabax.

The problem with exercise is that it uses up your T3. So, if you haven't got enough to start with, that is going to leave your body in dire need. Getting tired, Wired, is the first hint that you should ease up!

Besides, in no way, shape or form is it going to make you lose weight if your excess weight is due to hypo. It's just going to make you more hypo.

To exercise successfully, building strength and muscle, ALL your hormones need to be optimal : testosterone, HGH, thyroid, estrogen, etc etc etc. Plus you need optimal nutrition. Why do you think body builders take all those hormones (not a good idea) and drink protein shakes? Do you have any nutritional deficiencies? Have you had your vit D, vit B12, folate, iron and ferritin tested?

To lose weight you need all those to be optimal, plus your adrenals to be working properly - optimal cortisol and sex hormones. And, especially, T3. How is your T3? If your T3 is low, your HGH will probably be low, and if your HGH is low, you can exercise till the cows come home, but your muscles will be absorbed and replaced by fat.

There is so much more to think about than just exercising and diet. And if you go throwing yourself into exercise without taking the other things into account, you can do much more harm than good. Concentrate, first, on optimising your T3 and the rest will follow. Such a shame that doctors Don't know that!

in reply togreygoose

I stopped all aerobic activity several years ago as every time I exercised I felt drunk, even my blood sugar levels were 4.7.

I know realise this was because the T3 wasn't getting into my cells.

I do yoga and pilates but miss swimming dreadfully.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to

No reason why you shouldn't do some gentle swimming. But Don't forget, the chlorine in the swimming baths isn't going to do your thyroid any good!

in reply togreygoose

The present state I'm in greygoose, I think I would sink.

I'm far too busy reading about the links to mental illness and Hashimotos.

We were only discussing the other day about whether Hashi attacks other cells apart the thyroid. There is loads of evidence showing how it attacks the brain. I have just posted some.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to

OK. I didn't see that.

Glynisrose profile image
Glynisrose

When you exercise you use up T3 and if you are not replacing it fast enough then you will automatically feel tired.

Wired profile image
Wired

Thank you for your input. That makes a lot of sense. I clearly need to pace myself some more and get my bloods done for the T3 results.

Thanks again.

in reply toWired

I don't have the energy for much exercise. But I do find if I've had a busy week I can keep going as long as there are commitments I have to fulfill, but as soon as they are done the wheels just drop off. Sometimes a weekend isn't enough to recover. I try now to schedule commitments with a day of little physical activity (except dog walking) in between. You might try day on/day off with your exercise?

Wired profile image
Wired in reply to

I think that's my new plan Humphrey. I'm going to rest this week, as I need some energy for work. Hopefully by next week my hormones would have sorted themselves out and I will workout and leave two days in between, and so on. See if that makes a difference.

faith63 profile image
faith63

If you have not lost weight, by now, i would say that you are still hypothyroid. The weight gained is mostly fluid and if you were on the right dose, you would lose weight. I exercised 7 hours a week and gained the whole time, while i was very hypo.

Wired profile image
Wired in reply tofaith63

Hi Faith. My body was changing shape (I make a rule of not weighing myself anymore) and my belt went down a notch on my jeans. So my body was reacting to the exercise in a positive way, I'm just so fatigued and depleted now. Obviously too much too soon. I'm very frustrated with my body at the moment.

faith63 profile image
faith63 in reply toWired

I am very frustrated too. I think, the autoimmune issue, has its own symptoms. After all these years and having done everything i can think to do, i have all but given up hope of feeling and looking like i used too. I hope you continue to improve. It is a terrible thing to endure.

Wired profile image
Wired in reply tofaith63

It really is and there is a lot of psychological issues to it with the acceptance of certain things. However, I know there are some athletes with thyroid problems, so they do it somehow! I'm realistic about not having the body I once had, but where I am at now is a long long way from that and being somewhat closer to it would be nice lol. In addition exercising just makes me feel better, it always has.

I slept 12 hours last night and have a day off from work, so planning on staying in bed watching movies. I can't bear this fatigue when there is a life out there for me to live. Thanks for your support.

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