You might look at this photograph and think I look pretty healthy.
What you can’t see is the effect an overactive thyroid has had on my body, particularly the weight and muscle I’ve lost over the past year.
I’m 65, smiling away, looking reasonably fit and well.
But appearances can be deceiving.
My husband took this photograph at the weekend because he wanted me to see just how much weight I’ve lost since September 2025.
One stone and ten pounds. That’s 24 pounds in just over a year, and I certainly haven’t been trying to lose weight!
The reason? I have an overactive thyroid, and my recent blood tests have shown that my T3 and T4 hormone levels are extremely high.
The worrying thing is that I have absolutely no idea how long this has been going on.
Here We Go Again!
This isn’t my first experience of an overactive thyroid. Far from it. This is actually my fifth episode since my late 20’s.
But this time has been different.
Over the past year, I’ve watched the weight gradually disappear, and I’ve been particularly aware of how much muscle I’ve lost.
As someone who’s been teaching Pilates, Callanetics and fitness for years, I know my own body pretty well. I’ve noticed changes in my strength and muscle tone for months, and it’s been frustrating because I haven’t been doing anything differently.
I’ve always been active, I eat well and I do my best to look after myself.
Yet here I am, dealing with something that’s been quietly affecting my body for goodness knows how long.
Overactive Thyroid and Muscle Loss
People often associate weight loss with looking healthier, but there’s a big difference between losing weight intentionally and losing it because something isn’t right.
For me, the biggest concern is the muscle loss.
I’ve spent years encouraging people, particularly women as they get older, to maintain their strength. We need our muscles for so much more than looking toned. They help us stay mobile, independent and able to enjoy everyday life.
And now I find myself in the position of having to rebuild my own.
There’s also the question of bone health.
At 65, and being postmenopausal, I’m very conscious of the importance of maintaining good bone density. An overactive thyroid can affect our bones, particularly if it goes untreated for a prolonged period.
I’m dairy-free, although I take calcium supplements and eat plenty of cruciferous vegetables. I also use almond and coconut milk, so I’ll be reviewing my overall calcium and vitamin D intake as part of my recovery.
Getting My Strength Back
Once my thyroid levels are under control and I’m given the go-ahead, I’ll be concentrating on rebuilding the muscle and strength I’ve lost.
I know this won’t happen overnight, particularly at 65, but I also know that we can improve our strength at any age.
That’s something I’ve always believed in and something I’ve spent years teaching.
I’ll need to be sensible about it, start gradually and pay attention to how my body responds.
I also want to make sure I’m doing everything I can to protect my bones, so nutrition and appropriate strength training will be important parts of the process.
I’m not expecting to bounce straight back to where I was a year ago, but I certainly intend to give it my best shot.
TheRoyal Osteoporosis Society has some useful information about how thyroid conditions can affect bone health, which I’ve been reading as I learn more about my diagnosis.
Why Am I Telling You All This?
Well, partly because I thought it might be useful to share what I’m going through, particularly with those of you who know me through my fitness classes.
But there’s another reason.
We can look at someone and assume they’re fit and healthy simply because they’re slim, active or appear well.
And that’s not always the case.
Unexplained weight loss, changes in strength or feeling that something isn’t quite right are worth getting checked out.
I’ve had an overactive thyroid several times before, so I know how it can affect the body. Even so, I didn’t realise quite how much it had been affecting me this time.
I’m planning to share a little of my progress over the coming months, from getting my thyroid levels stabilised to gradually rebuilding my fitness.
It’ll be interesting to see how I get on, and perhaps my experience might help someone else recognise changes in their own health.
So, back to that photograph.
Yes, I might look healthy, and I’m certainly smiling.
But there’s rather a lot going on beneath the surface!
And at 65, I’ve still got plenty of living, teaching and exercising to do!
For full information about symptoms and treatment visit NHS Overactive Thyroid.