Tired all the time.. :(

CookNLift

You're most likely either getting too much / too little sleep or stressed out. Try popping a B-12 in the morning and after lunch (check with your doctor if you take more than 2 a day)

They help perk me right up.

cmfaris8

When I started out I was eating frozen meals like what you eat for lunch. Everything was great but about a month in, I literally could not stay awake throughout the day. I switched to organic, plant-based and have so much more energy. Don't know if that's the reason you're so tired but its worth a try!

elainecroft

Recommendations that worked for me:

- Eating 30% protein, 30% fat, and 40% carbs (this is different than the MFP default but you can change your personal settings)
- Getting 7-8 hours of sleep a night
- Working out in the AM
- Eating as little processed /boxed food as possible. Even if I do eat a frozen or boxed meal, I will add extra veggies or a salad.
- Drink green or black tea (if you don't want coffee but do want caffeine)
- Drink less alcohol

I am eating less and have more energy than I have in past years, and attribute it to these things.

Mommybug2

I found that replacing some of my smaller snacks with more filling snacks did the trick for me. For example I also used to eat the 90 calorie snack bars and fiber one bars - found I was still hungry after. I replaced them with 170 calorie Special K Protein Meal bars and 130 calorie Fiber one Protein bars and found I have much more energy and am less hungry, meaning I end up snacking less and consuming less calories even though I replaced lower calorie for higher.

Nina_Marie88

Hi Lady!
I just read through your diary and here are my thoughts.
1- I agree that you need to cut the frozen lunches (I never feel full and always get headaches from these.)
2-instead of eating snack bars try bringing a half a can of tuna and some whole grain crackers. This is my go to afternoon snack. Its awesome for energy. I also eat almonds, yogurt and protein shakes throughout the day.
3-Protein is crazy! For years I never really ate enough. Now that I am lifting weights I eat my body weight in grams of protein a day even on days I don't lift. I have SO much more energy now and I never crave snacks (I used to crave chocolate and nutty bars so badly in the afternoons.)
4- This is always a touchy subject but I really think you should raise your calorie intake to just 300 below your TDEE. I was at 1250-1300 for years and never lost, always had a little cellulite, never could "tone" up. I was thin, but I did not like my body without clothes. I raise my calorie intake to 1600 and then to 1800 (slowly so I wouldn't shock my body) Now I eat 1800 a day and usually eat back most of my exercise calories so I eat about 2000-2200 on days I work out. Guess what?? I feel awesome, I am losing body fat and gaining muscle MUCH faster then I have before!! Its awesome :-)
5- I would start doing a mix of heavy lifting and High Intensity Interval Training if I were you. That combination along with Yoga and occasionally a good long bike ride is changing my body incredibly quickly. I am still a newb when it comes to lifting, but I am in love with it!! Muscles create that lean look in women. I regret my years of tiny weights and tons of reps and endless jogs! Such a waste of time!

By the way, you may try switching your instant oatmeal out for old fashion oats. Yes, they take 5 minutes to boil on the stove, but you stay full much longer. on days I eat oatmeal I add a half a scoop or whey protein to it. That will keep me full for hours! Bring boiled eggs too. Its easier if you boil a bunch and keep them in the fridge. Eat apples. Apples are really good for weight loss. A spinach salad with 4 oz of protein and some crunched up "Way better Snacks Black bean Chips" instead of croutons is also a really good lunch (try that 45 calorie yogurt dressing that Safeway has...it rocks!)

Umm...OH! One of my favorite things to do is buy white whole wheat flour (its nutritionally the same as red whole wheat) and make 100 percent whole wheat pizza crusts. I smear the crusts with a little olive oil and garlic. I fry turkey sausage and saute some onions and mushrooms. Then I bake the crusts with just the olive oil and garlic for about 4 minutes at 500F. Then I add a bunch oif spinach a little feta cheese, the sausage, mushrooms and onions. I sprinkle a little mozzarella on top just to bind everything together.

I bake them in the oven just long enough for that cheese to melt a little. Then I let them cool completely and seal them in my food saver and put them in the freezer.

Its a lot of work, but if you just take one day a month you can make a ton of different homemade frozen meals and then you have healthy options that will save you from the delivery guy :laugh:

Good luck! Feel free to friend me if you like! I love nutrition and studying about how it all works together to make you healthy and happy!

Thank you so much. I stalked you a bit and we're similiar in the "yoyo excersizing" thing. I never let myself gain too much.. I'll panic.. start working out and counting calories.. then once i'm where i want to be i just stop. I am really trying to make a change now. I have just started lifting weights aswell and i have so much to learn! I want to build muscle tone, and firm up everywhere.
I'm also going to look into yoga because i have lost a lot of flexiblity (used to be a cheerleader, i can barely touch my toes now)

and that pizza sounds Damn Good!

bumblebums

Recommendations that worked for me:

- Eating 30% protein, 30% fat, and 40% carbs (this is different than the MFP default but you can change your personal settings)
- Getting 7-8 hours of sleep a night
- Working out in the AM
- Eating as little processed /boxed food as possible. Even if I do eat a frozen or boxed meal, I will add extra veggies or a salad.
- Drink green or black tea (if you don't want coffee but do want caffeine)
- Drink less alcohol

I am eating less and have more energy than I have in past years, and attribute it to these things.

Please do not set your protein intake based on percentages while dieting. It should be based on your lean body mass, which for OP is 109 grams a day.

ironanimal

You're young. Stop eating like a 65 year old woman, and you'll likely feel more alive. Really, you need more than 1200 calories. That is the minimum guideline and is really only suitable for people that are a combination of really short, inactive and/or quite old.

bumblebums

You're young. Stop eating like a 65 year old woman, and you'll likely feel more alive. Really, you need more than 1200 calories. That is the minimum guideline and is really only suitable for people that are a combination of really short, inactive and/or quite old.

???

She isn't eating 1200 calories a day.

Tewsy87

I had this happen when I decreased my caffeine and sugar intake. You go through a sort of withdrawal. The one thing that helped me the most was protein. Getting that protein the am was really helpful.

scoobydaisy

Are you taking a multivitamin? I agree with the other fitnesspals that you should see a dr. They can do some minor blood work and determine if you are anemic (rather iron or B12). I always feel better taking a multivitamin. Hope you find some energy soon!

ironanimal

You're young. Stop eating like a 65 year old woman, and you'll likely feel more alive. Really, you need more than 1200 calories. That is the minimum guideline and is really only suitable for people that are a combination of really short, inactive and/or quite old.

???

She isn't eating 1200 calories a day.

Before exercise that is her goal.

donyellemoniquex3

these are just my suggestions...

Up your calories
take a multi vitamin
Yoga first thing in the morning
stock up on monster energy drinks
drink 1/2 your weight in water
When you shower, alternate the temperature between really and really cold

kathleenjoyful

Also get your Vitamin D levels tested, something like 50% of the population is Vitamin D deficient, and it can leave you feeling exhausted.