Thyroid Problem? Yeah, Me Too

Hello, again!

It has been quite a while as I have been away, and also been ill *sad face*. But, I have finally got round to posting something, and this post is a particular interest/bug bear of mine. Plus, it is very close to home! 

Possibly one of the biggest excuses I hear when people try to avoid going to the gym and changing up their lifestyle, or when they are hiding that their diet is utter sh*t and 'cannot understand' why they are gaining excessive weight,  is that they 'think' that they have a 'thyroid problem'. But guess what?

SO DO I. 

And here I am to debunk one of the most frustrating excuses and myths, using my own experience, so you can get up, get diagnosed (if absolutely necessary), get to the gym and rejig your lifestyle! 

  I have congenital (from birth) hypothyroidism and I am currently on 175mg of levothyroxine (T4) This basically means that my thyroid gland, just isn't working properly. When I was young, it was even questioned by medical professionals if I even had a thyroid gland, or if I had one and it just refuses to work. But we did not go through with the scan (I dunno why, I was only three and didn't make the decision ahaha).

What is thyroxine and how does it effect weight?

Thyroxine is the hormone produced by the thyroid gland and is responsible for overall normative growth and development. Whilst my thyroid gland either is non-existent or just refusing to work, I am not heavily disabled and have grown and developed properly due to the medication I am currently taking. There were a few difficulties when I was very young, but this was due to medical professionals trying to get my dose absolutely bob on, and this something that is done annually. 

 I'm not going to bore you with how an underachieve thyroid affects the brain, heart, etc. Let's get straight to the excuse and how an underachieve thyroid affects your weight. Essentially, those who have an under-active thyroid are more prone to gaining weight due to a low metabolism, whilst those with an overactive will find it easier to shed weight due to a high metabolism. This has been backed up with research, and if you want to read more about it then go ahead to the British Thyroid Foundation 's page. 

There is also a really complex relationship between energy levels, calorie expenditure and thyroid levels. Low thyroid levels are also associated with poor energy levels if left untreated, which means it is far more difficult to expend consumed calories through vigorous, or sometimes, even basic physical activity. But, contrary to popular belief, a majority of weight gain associated with an underachieve thyroid is due to salt and water accumulation rather than excessive fat gain. 

Excessive fat gain is associated with very severe hypothyroidism, so you would definitely be experiencing more symptoms rather than just weight gain if you have a 'thyroid problem'. Other symptoms include;

• Sensitivity to the cold
• Puffy/swollen face
• Muscle weakness and soreness
• Dry skin
• Fatigue
• High cholesterol
• Swollen/stiff joints
• Thinning hair 
• Depression 
• Swollen thyroid gland (found in the neck)

So before pinning your weight gain on the old thyroid excuse, make sure you are aware of all the symptoms rather than just focusing on your weight gain and get it checked out by a professional before playing the blame game.

Regardless...

When you take your medication on a daily basis as prescribed, your thyroid will function/be supported as a normal thyroid gland should be. As my thyroid is under control, I can work out and exercise like any other athlete should be able to. I continue to push myself and test boundaries. 

 The two main factors that determine your weight and body image are your diet and your exercise. If you are overdoing the calories, then I am sorry but your weight gain is due to your diet, not your thyroid. If your energy levels are decreasing, it's more likely you're not eating the right foods to fuel you for your workouts or day-to-day business. Not your thyroid. Feeling unmotivated to go to the gym? Again, not your thyroid's fault. That's something YOU need to change and only YOU have power over.

 Like I said, there are many symptoms and if you are experiencing multiple symptoms of hypothyroidism then you should speak to your GP and they will administer the appropriate treatment. Once this has been arranged, there is still nothing stopping you from leading an active lifestyle. 

I hope this post has been informative for you and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to message me or whack them down below in the comments! 

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Thank you so much for reading this post! I hope you stick around for more and get some motivation out of this blog. Make sure to follow now so you don't miss a thing and I will be writing the next post as you read this, so keep your eyes peeled!  

Liv xo