Exhausted, is diet to blame?

morganpalmer9
morganpalmer9 Posts: 73 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I currently work 8-5 5 days a week and head to the gym right after for a run and some weights. Lately, I have been feeling super exhausted in the late afternoon/early evening and I am wondering if it is what I am eating for food (not enough protein, carbs, etc) or if I am not eating enough?

I pretty much eat the same thing every day. 1/2 cup of quick oats w/ 1 tablespoon dried cranberries and a cup of coffee for breakfast around 7 am. Then around 10 am I eat 3 oz of some sort of berry or sometimes I switch it up and eat an apple. Then I eat lunch at 12ish which is 4oz of cooked quinoa, 4 oz of chicken breast, and 3 oz of brussels sprouts/green beans or broccoli. I usually have a small snack in the afternoon, i.e. 30g of almonds or 75g of edamame. For dinner I eat 4 oz of chicken, 3 oz of broccoli and then around 7ish oz of sweet potato.

I burn around 350-475 calories when I work out, which I try to do at least 5-6 days a week. I should note that I typically cheat a little on the weekends and let myself have some pizza, beer, etc.

Anyone else suffer from afternoon exhaustion? I'd like to kick it so I can get the most out of my workout!

Replies

  • T0M_K
    T0M_K Posts: 7,526 Member
    how many calories are you eating?
  • morganpalmer9
    morganpalmer9 Posts: 73 Member
    edited February 2016
    Right around 1,100-1200. I know this is kind of low, but I also eat more on the weekends
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Are you losing weight? If so, how much per week?
  • morganpalmer9
    morganpalmer9 Posts: 73 Member
    Not particularly. I gained quite a bit before Christmas, around 5-6 lbs but dropped it, but I've been at 124 for at least the last 4-5 weeks with no change
  • T0M_K
    T0M_K Posts: 7,526 Member
    morganpalmer9 wrote: »
    Right around 1,100-1200. I know this is kind of low, but I also eat more on the weekends

    what are your stats?
  • stefanie18810
    stefanie18810 Posts: 29 Member
    I was just thinking the same thing today. I am ALWAYS tired. I burn roughly 600 calories 5-6 days a week at a cardio boxing class and lately I've just been going through the motions there. I was eating between 1200-1300, but realized that was too low. I'm shooting for 1550 now as I still need/want to lose some weight and that's the # TDEE spit out. Hopefully the extra calories and additional carbs will help.
  • morganpalmer9
    morganpalmer9 Posts: 73 Member
    Tomk652015 wrote: »
    morganpalmer9 wrote: »
    Right around 1,100-1200. I know this is kind of low, but I also eat more on the weekends

    what are your stats?

    5'4", 124 lbs
  • morganpalmer9
    morganpalmer9 Posts: 73 Member
    stefanie18810 wrote: »
    I was just thinking the same thing today. I am ALWAYS tired. I burn roughly 600 calories 5-6 days a week at a cardio boxing class and lately I've just been going through the motions there. I was eating between 1200-1300, but realized that was too low. I'm shooting for 1550 now as I still need/want to lose some weight and that's the # TDEE spit out. Hopefully the extra calories and additional carbs will help.

    I thought it might be that. I just hate to eat more when I typically eat pretttyyy bad on the weekend. I'm not necessarily trying to lose weight as much as just get tone at this point, but I just feel SO tired when it comes time to work out!
  • T0M_K
    T0M_K Posts: 7,526 Member
    Are you logging your food intake. do you know for certain you are at 1200? if your not trying to lose weight and you are tired and you are exercising...whats the harm in upping your calories for a couple weeks to see how you feel? you won't put weight on or very very little but i would guess you won't gain.
  • morganpalmer9
    morganpalmer9 Posts: 73 Member
    Tomk652015 wrote: »
    Are you logging your food intake. do you know for certain you are at 1200? if your not trying to lose weight and you are tired and you are exercising...whats the harm in upping your calories for a couple weeks to see how you feel? you won't put weight on or very very little but i would guess you won't gain.

    Yeah, i log and use a food scale for everything. I mean I wouldn't mind losing 3 or 4 lbs but I'm basically just trying to get rid of leftover stomach fat so I'm not really sure if I should be eating more? Or if weights will help. Also, I'm pretty much out of fat and carbs by the end of the day, according to MFP, and only have pure protein left, which doesn't leave me with any options really
  • brb_2013
    brb_2013 Posts: 1,197 Member
    I have found my afternoons are much easier with less mental and physical fatigue after starting a B vitamin supplement. Not that a vitamin can solve all your problems but I know I'm glad I tried it out
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