May 9th 2026
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WellBeing Magazine
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If you’d asked me 10 years ago what being tired felt like, I would’ve described the exhaustion after a double workout or a long day of teaching back-to-back classes. I’ve been active my entire life and fatigue was always something I thought I could out-train or out-sleep. But the kind of tired that comes with Hashimoto’s disease is different — it’s an all-encompassing, bone-deep fatigue that sleep can’t fix and exercise can’t shake.
For years, I told myself it was normal. I was teaching multiple Peloton classes a week, living in New York City and constantly on the go. Of course, I was tired — wasn’t everyone? I’d fall asleep on the subway and wake up miles past my stop, laugh it offand keep pushing. Looking back, I realise my body had been sending me distress signals for a long time, I just didn’t have the vocabulary to recognise them.
When your body starts working against you
Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune condition and the most common cause of an underactive thyroid. Essentially, my immune system attacks my thyroid gland, which produces hormones that control energy, metabolism and more. When your thyroid slows down, so does everything else. Your energy plummets, your metabolism slows and your body stops feeling like your own. It’s not just physical tiredness. It’s a type of fatigue that’s hard to describe unless you’ve felt it yourself.
At the time, my mum was waiting for a kidney transplant and I remember constantly telling myself, “She’s more tired than I am. I’m fine. I’m just being lazy.” I dismissed my own symptoms out of guilt and comparison, which I think delayed my diagnosis. Many women fall into this loop — minimising our pain because someone else “has it worse”.
When I finally sought medical help, it took years — and the right care team — to get real answers. Doctors initially brushed offmy fatigue as a byproduct of my active lifestyle. Of course, you’re tired, you’re a fitness instructor. But deep down, I knew it was different. When I finally found a doctor who listened, my blood work revealed what I’d been feeling all along. My endocrinologist looked at me and said, “Most people with your levels don’t go to work.” I remember replying, “I didn’t know that was an option.”
Redefining strength and health
Hearing that your body is attacking itself is heartbreaking, especially when your entire life revolves around movement, energy and motivation. For a long time, I grieved the version of myself I thought I’d lost: the one who could go full throttle every day without consequence. I had to let go of that story before I could write a new one.
Once I accepted that my body needed different care, I began to move with intention instead of intensity. I started living by a mantra that continues to guide me today: Treat your body like it belongs to someone you love.
That means listening — really listening — to what your body is asking for, rather than punishing it for what it can’t do. It means reminding yourself that you are more than your symptoms, your setbacks or your excuses. I often say, be better than your best excuse, not as a call to push harder, but to approach your limits with compassion. Some days, “better” looks like crushing a class. Other days, it’s taking a nap — and that’s okay.
Movement as medicine
Living with Hashimoto’s has reshaped the way I think about fitness. Movement is no longer about perfection or performance, it’s about gratitude. I like to say, it’s a blessing to be sore. I think back to the moments when I was too exhausted to move and remind myself that being able to exercise at all is something I once wished for.
For anyone struggling with low energy — whether from Hashimoto’s, postpartum recovery or simply the ups and downs of life — my advice is simple: start small. Movement doesn’t have to be an ordeal to be effective. Ten minutes of stretching, a gentle ride or even a walk counts. A little movement goes a long way.
There’s an old-school mentality in fitness that if you’re not drenched in sweat and questioning your life choices by the end of a workout, it doesn’t count. I couldn’t disagree more. Especially when managing an autoimmune condition, doing less with more focus can be just as powerful, and far more sustainable.
How I train now with Hashimoto’s
These days, my week is a mix of cycling, strength training, dance, Pilates and restorative movement. I liftweights a few times a week — usually one upper-body day, one lower-body and one that targets the whole body. But if my energy’s low or inflammation flares, I scale back. Listening to my body is non-negotiable.
I also prioritise recovery like it’s a workout in itself. Foam rolling and stretching help me check in with my body — where am I holding tension? What needs care today? Sometimes, I’ll find myself rolling my shoulders and realise I’ve been carrying stress there all week. That awareness helps me release it before it turns into pain.
And on days when my schedule’s hectic and I’m teaching multiple classes, I give myself permission to rest. I’ve learned that strength isn’t just measured in reps or miles — it’s in knowing when to pull back.
Why awareness matters for Hashimoto’s
Thyroid disorders are far more common than people realise, especially among women, yet they often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Fatigue, weight changes, brain fog — these symptoms are easy to brush offor attribute to stress, ageing or lifestyle. But if something feels off , trust your gut and advocate for yourself. You know your body better than anyone.
Raising awareness matters because early diagnosis can be life changing. It gives people the language to describe what they’re feeling and the tools to get help sooner. No one should spend years convincing others that their tired isn’t “normal”.
Listening to my body — and loving it anyway
Living with Hashimoto’s has taught me that health isn’t linear. Some days, I feel like myself. Others, I don’t. That’s okay. The key is listening to how my body feels today — not six months ago, and not six months from now.
Maybe that means modifying a workout. Maybe saying no to an extra commitment. Maybe taking a nap. What matters is showing up with honesty and kindness towards yourself.
When you treat your body like it belongs to someone you love — with patience, respect and care — you start to realise that strength isn’t about never slowing down. It’s about knowing when to stop, listen and start again.
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