Exercising Post-Grave’s Disease: Why Are My Legs So Tired?!

Let’s talk about my recent health history.

In December, the day before Christmas Eve, I woke up around 4am with a runny nose. My runny nose turned into something that felt like heartburn. That something that felt like heartburn turned into a really weird dizzy spell as I was walking down the stairs. You’ve probably already guessed the conclusion to this story: I had covid-19.

Covid-19 caused my autoimmune thyroid disorder, Grave’s Disease, to flare up. One afternoon shortly after my quarantine ended, I went hiking with my family through the snow at a local state park. I tried to walk up a steep hill I could normally handle, and felt so sweaty I thought my sweat might freeze against my body and turn me into a giant human popsicle. My mom stayed back with me and we hiked up that hill slower than a sick tortoise. I was exhausted by the time we got to the top.

My thyroid is back to normal, which is great news, but now I have to figure out how to begin to exercise again. I’ve done this so many times–started an exercise routine post-Grave’s Disease–but every time I come up with something different. There’s something unique about this time around, too. In addition to causing fat loss, Grave’s Disease causes muscle loss. In the past, I’ve lost most of the muscle in my upper body. This time, for whatever reason, I’ve lost most of the muscle in my legs!

The human body is an amazing structure. God made our bodies to grow, heal, and house our eternal souls. God gives our bodies life: “Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature” (Genesis 2:7). And, God designed our bodies to bring him glory: “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Our bodies, however, don’t always work the way God created them to. What is even more astounding to me is how often they do work, despite the fact that we live in a fallen world. God’s common grace covers all of creation. Matthew 5:44-45 says, “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” So, even though sometimes my body doesn’t work the way it should (Grave’s Disease), in myriad ways, it does work the way its supposed to (sleep, digestion, breathing, the list continues).

So, this time around I’m altering my exercises. I can lift the same amount of weight I used to for my arm workouts (5 or 10 pounds, depending on the exercise). I can also do most of the same core routines (planks, push-ups, v-sits). For my legs, however, I’m using no weights and I’m altering the movements to make them easier. For squats, I don’t squat down as far as I could. For lunges, I don’t put my knee all the way to the floor. I also walk when Brian puts the kids to bed. The sunsets around my house are beautiful, and I can see for miles. I thank God that I can still do some of the same exercises I used to be able to do. My body isn’t in complete disrepair–what a relief. I know that my muscles will get stronger the more I use them because God designed our muscles to work this way.

It’s such a joy to be able to exercise again. Even though it’s hard to get up at 5:25am (yikes), exercise is worth the effort. My body will be stronger, my mind will be clearer, and I’ll have more energy, even if I’m a little sleep-deprived. Exercise is also good for my soul. It reminds me that I have limits, and that I can always depend on the one who has no limits, my Savior Jesus Christ–not to give me limitless power, but rather to help me recognize when I need to slow down, rest, and trust in his continual work in my life.

Photo: Elena Kloppenburg on Unsplash