Extremely tired after lunch

WazBFC
WazBFC Posts: 1
in Food and Nutrition
After I had lunch today at work all I wanted to do was sleep. I felt completely drained of all energy.
This has happened a few times before but isn't every day. My wife thinks its due to my not having enough sugar in my diet.
Is this the more likely cause or am I missing something else?

My food today consisted of:
6.30: protein shake 2 scoops
8.30: multi grain porridge
10.30: large raw carrot
11.30: baked jacket, small tin of spaghetti, 1 tin of sardines in tomato sauce
12.00: channa dal 15g + masala moong dal 15g
16.00: protein shake 1 scoop
18.00: protein shake 1 scoop

Feeling very tired again now so just nicked one of sons chocolate bars to test wife's theory and tbh it's not worked, I still feel drained.

Replies

  • Mojoman02
    Mojoman02 Posts: 146 Member
    I stay away from pasta at lunch...makes me want to sleep in the afternoon. Just a thought....
  • jwdieter
    jwdieter Posts: 2,582 Member
    Could be just low calories, depending on what you're putting into your shakes and how much porridge you're eating etc. Not eating enough can make you tired.
  • Unknown
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  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    This issue is why my husband switched to a high protein, low carb breakfast (spinach, cheese, eggs and morning star sausage) and lunch (mixed greens, cauliflower, olives, feta cheese, turkey and cranberries). He usually takes a banana or apple to work, as well as some other snack, mostly nuts. My husband is 5'10 and yesterday weighed 153 at the end of the day with all of his clothes on, so he did not adjust his diet for weight loss.

    In other words, if anything, you have too much sugar, as your body turns potatoes and pasta into sugar as fast as you can eat it.
  • castelluzzo99
    castelluzzo99 Posts: 313 Member
    I agree with your wife. I was just reading about someone on a low-carb diet that discovered that she was suddenly tired all the time, did some research, and figured out what it was. She wasn't low-carbing intentionally, but she was on a special diet and was skipping some of the carbs allowed because her family didn't like them (It was the GAPS diet, in case you're wondering, and she was skipping out on the legumes).

    So here's what she discovered. Your body prefers glucose as an energy source. Your brain pretty much demands it. If you don't eat enough carbs, your body will adjust by making the glucose out of fat and proteins. I think everyone here knows this. But what I just learned from her was that it is the adrenal glands that send out the signal to make the conversion, and it's done with cortisol (the stress hormone). So eventually her adrenals were becoming exhausted, and then she just couldn't go on. She hit a wall one day when she felt she was just too exhausted to climb the stairs with a basket of laundry. You can read her story here: http://www.thenourishinggourmet.com/2011/10/does-the-gaps-diet-work-well-long-term-for-everyone.html

    Now, I know this isn't about the GAPS diet, so let's not make it about that. The problem is that she wasn't getting enough carbs, and she was feeling lethargic. She added in more carbs and her energy began to return. So try replacing some of those protein shakes with some COMPLEX carbs (not refined--that would defeat the purpose). Like a banana. Or some whole grain crackers. Or a baked potato with whatever toppings will fit your calorie budget. Or whatever floats your boat, but try something and see if it helps.
  • castlerobber
    castlerobber Posts: 528 Member
    After I had lunch today at work all I wanted to do was sleep. I felt completely drained of all energy.
    This has happened a few times before but isn't every day. My wife thinks its due to my not having enough sugar in my diet.

    I've never heard of not having enough sugar in the diet...I don't think there is such a thing.

    You've had porridge AND spaghetti AND a baked potato, all within a few hours. Sounds more like you're having a sugar crash from all that starch. Is there a lot of sugar in your protein shakes? That could contribute as well.

    It won't hurt to try a high-protein, low-carb breakfast of real food for a week or two. Personally, if I eat cereal or pastries at breakfast, I'm hungry again in a couple of hours; but if I have eggs and a little meat or cheese first thing, I can make it until lunchtime with no problem.

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