• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Login

Dr. Whitney Young ND

  • Home
  • About
  • Shop
  • Blog
  • Events
  • Work With Me
  • Home
  • About
  • Shop
  • Blog
  • Events
  • Work With Me

How To Exercise For Your Thyroid

July 26, 2017 By //  by admin

how to exercise thyroid

Is your current exercise routine sabotaging your thyroid health?

If you have a thyroid condition, you may be experiencing one or more of the following when it comes to exercise:

  • You’re exhausted and can’t imagine attempting exercise or even making it to the gym
  • You’re making exercise a regular habit but you find that it takes you forever to recover and you experience lots of muscle or joint pain afterward
  • You’re working out like crazy and are beyond frustrated that your best efforts at the gym aren’t getting you any closer to your goals

If any of the above sounds familiar, read on!

Hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s Disease can make exercise a challenge. Why? A low thyroid also means a low metabolism. Even if you’re taking medication and your thyroid labs are “normal” your metabolism could still be suffering.

First and foremost is to make sure your thyroid labs (especially your free T3) are optimal so you have the stamina and energy to make it through your day AND get some exercise in. With optimal labs you will also recover faster from exercise and experience less muscle and joint pain.

Secondly, (and this is the important part!) the type and length of exercise can make a big difference for hypothyroid folks.

Did you know that high intensity or extended periods of exercise can actually lower your Free T3 (your most active thyroid hormone) and increases your Reverse T3?

This combination is like a big brake pedal for your thyroid gland telling it so slooow down. For people with low thyroid function, this is the opposite of what we want!

Here are some questions to ask yourself to help decide if your current exercise plan is right for you:

  1. How do you feel during exercise?
    If at any time you feel dizzy, lightheaded or fatigued during exercise it may be too strenuous.
  2. How do you feel after?
    After exercise, you should feel energized and upbeat due to the positive endorphins that are released with physical activity. If you’re feeling sore, exhausted, or like you need a nap, you may need to dial back the intensity of your workouts.
  3. Could you do the same exercise again?
    If the answer is yes, you’re exercising at the sweet spot of intensity (not too low and not too high)
  4. Do you enjoy it?
    Please, pick something you actually enjoy! Exercise doesn’t have to mean slugging it out at the gym day after day. Walking, hiking, yoga, biking, karate, swimming or mowing the lawn are all wonderful ways to move your body.

Here are my general recommendations on how to exercise for your thyroid:

  • Keep your exercise at a low to moderate intensity (less than 75% of your maximum heart rate) for approximately 30-40 minutes.
  • Avoid high-intensity cardio or extended periods of exercise. Don’t over do it – your body will interpret this as stress and will slow down your metabolism even more to conserve energy. Exercises to think twice about would include marathons, high-intensity spinning, or aggressive HIIT training.
  • Build muscle! Cardio is not king in the thyroid world. More muscle = better metabolism.
  • Listen to your body. If you feel good both during and after exercise, it’s likely a good choice for you.

Have questions? Book your Free Thyroid Assessment to learn more!

Dr. Katie Rothwell, ND

References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16175498

Filed Under: Naturopathic Medicine, Uncategorized

Previous Post: « 3 Fertility Tracking Tools
Next Post: What Are Thyroid Antibodies? »

Footer

  • Home
  • About
  • Shop
  • Blog
  • Events
  • Work With Me
  • Login

drwhitneyyoung

Mom, Widow, Naturopath, Mommy Mentor helping Moms raise healthy & happy kids without Mommy Guilt. Get the Free SuperMom Survival Guide 👇🏻

Listen, this has been hard. Being at home with the Listen, this has been hard. Being at home with the kids while trying to maintain work has been a huge challenge.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Trying to keep the house clean? Forget it.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Let go of the mom guilt. It doesn't serve you. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
We're still in survival mode. We're still living a life that is NOT normal. Cut yourself some slack. Give yourself some time-off. What about joining me for a Mom Support Group? You deserve to do something for you, too.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Learn more about our group in my Link in Bio.
Last call for moms with babies aged 3-8 months! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I'll be teaching my popular Baby Food Basics course with the latest research on when and how to introduce solids and allergens. Tomorrow morning at 9:30am. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Link in Bio for more info
This is one of the most heart-wrenching experience This is one of the most heart-wrenching experiences. 

Leaving your child, and they are clinging to you with panic, fear, and tears.

I've worked with people of all ages when it comes to anxiety. Children, teens, women, and men.

Your child might have been born on the more anxious side. It could be part of their nature. Or it might be part of your family - a culture of anxiety. Or it might have seemingly come out of nowhere. 

Know that there are things we can do for all ages. 

Start by loving them and acknowledging how they feel. 

Then fill your toolbox with tools for them. I'm here to help you fill that box. 

DM me and let’s chat about your child.
Here are 3 questions I get asked most about acupun Here are 3 questions I get asked most about acupuncture. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
DOES IT HURT?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- The insertion of the very fine needles you sometimes feel. Once it's in you either feel nothing at all or you feel interesting sensations like "warming," "spreading," "zinging," OR "heaviness." It usually settles down and then you may feel nothing for the rest of the treatment.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
IS ACUPUNCTURE COVERED UNDER MY BENEFITS?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- At our clinic it is billed as a "naturopathic visit." So if you have naturopathic coverage, then you're covered. If you're not sure, check your paperwork or give your company a quick call.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
WHAT HOURS DO YOU OFFER ACUPUNCTURE?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- Myself, along with Drs. Sarah and Morgan, all offer acupuncture in our schedules. It's ok if you see one of us then another. We all work together well. Book online for the time that works best for you! We have daytime, evening and every other Saturday hours available.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
HOW DO I GET STARTED?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- You can book online for a 45 minute acupuncture intake. We'll go through your health history, pros and cons and get started with a treatment.
Why do I work with fertility? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
One of the biggest reasons is to help give hope. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Couples are struggling, devastated, and feeling helpless. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I want to help give them back control. To help them heal their bodies, become stronger and healthier, and to help them conceive naturally. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The other reason is to help build super babies from the very beginning. There are amazing things we can do when we take care of parents health even before conception. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If you're struggling, you're not alone. I'm here to help.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Book a free meet the doctor phone call and we can chat further. Link in bio.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Whitney
One of the best stories I've heard about our eczem One of the best stories I've heard about our eczema cream is when a grandma was looking after one of my little patients. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
She was applying the cream to the little one on a regular basis and then noticed the cut on her own hand healed so quickly! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
"What is this magical cream?!" she asked.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
My patient's mom replied "this cream has literally changed my life."⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If you're struggling with eczema, we can help. We can help it heal while we get the root cause.
Pregnancy Tip⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ Pregnancy Tip⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Heartburn is the worst!! The beautiful thing is it will magically disappear when your baby comes out. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Try these tips to help manage your heartburn:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- eat small meals⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- try not to lay down after eating⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- if you find a trigger food, avoid it⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- use slippery elm lozenges⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- try chewable calcium magnesium tablets⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- acupuncture might be helpful too⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Save for later and share with a pregnant friend! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
photo credit @kevinhairephotography
With you things are a whole lot better.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I'm missing my husband right now. Trapped on either side of a closed border isn't what we imagined for our marriage. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
But here we are.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
We know that a lot of you are dealing with situations that are making you unhappy. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Give yourself extra care right now. Sleep more. Eat warm foods that nourish your body. Rest. Give yourself a break. This is hard. But we're doing it.
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Copyright © 2021 · Privacy Policy · Website by MalindaWatt.com

Login

Lost Your Password?