Need Energy! Food help please.

FitKate

So I've for the last two months started using the Clean living principals. I eat lots of veggies and fruits. Whole grains and Complex carbs. I'm eating really well but I'm finding I'm over my sugar every day and I'm still having a hard time sustaining my energy through the day. I have a weird schedule. I work 2nd shift so I don't have to put my 6 month old in child care. My husband works Third Shift. The baby is on my husbands sleep cycle and he sleeps from 10am -10pm. Finally sleeping through the night YAY!

The problem is I work 4pm to 1am and then I'm up until about 9 to 10am. To make it to work on time I have to get up no later then 2:30pm. So I'm averaging about 4-5 hours a day. I know its not enough but I've tried to put the baby on a different sleep schedule (8am - 8pm) and he just wont sleep as well and ends up getting sick every time I change his bed time.

So my question to MFP friends is there any low sugar foods that will give me energy and help me survive on 4-5 hours of sleep?

As a side note some times little one will take naps in the morning around 2 am to 3 am so I usually get an extra hour on those days. And I do catch up on sleep during the weekends.

- I posted this on another message board but haven't had any feed back.

Kelekat

How is your protein intake? Your profile is private, so I'm not sure what you're eating on a daily basis.

FitKate

Sorry about that. I just updated my profile so you should be able to see my diary now. I'm over my protein every day now. I just changed my intake about 2 weeks ago.

mjbrenner

No food is going to replace a lack of sleep. When I need to run for a while on four to five hours a night, I try to get in two or three twenty minute naps in spread throughout the day. A longer nap can leave you feeling groggy as sleep inertia sets in, but setting an alarm for a quick "power nap" can make life more livable.

Good luck with your little one!

ahinski

It sounds like you're experiencing just one of the less pleasant aspects of working the late shift. It's just the nature of the beast... you're going to be tired! The sun is down, so your body releases more melatonin and you feel sleepy. Try to stay in bright lights whenever possible during your waking hours.

I also take a B-12 supplement that REALLY helps.

Oddly enough, once I gave up coffee and diet soda (I still drink tea), I had more energy. Protein also gives you energy--almonds are my go-to fix.

It just might be something you'll have to put up with while you work the night shift and are only getting 4-5 hours of sleep a night (ideally we need 7-8).

No amount of food or supplements will really help you if you're not getting enough sleep.

sollyn

Oh my Goodness, it is a wonder you have the energy to even think about what to eat and when! :flowerforyou:
Do you get chance to exercise much?

FitKate

Oh my Goodness, it is a wonder you have the energy to even think about what to eat and when! :flowerforyou:
Do you get chance to exercise much?

I exercise between 30 mins and 1 hour every day between 3am and 4 am.

FitKate

It sounds like you're experiencing just one of the less pleasant aspects of working the late shift. It's just the nature of the beast... you're going to be tired! The sun is down, so your body releases more melatonin and you feel sleepy. Try to stay in bright lights whenever possible during your waking hours.

I also take a B-12 supplement that REALLY helps.

Oddly enough, once I gave up coffee and diet soda (I still drink tea), I had more energy. Protein also gives you energy--almonds are my go-to fix.

It just might be something you'll have to put up with while you work the night shift and are only getting 4-5 hours of sleep a night (ideally we need 7-8).

No amount of food or supplements will really help you if you're not getting enough sleep.

I currently stopped with the coffee it was raising my blood pressure too high and I take Vitamin b-12 every day. Feel free to look at my diary to see if there are any changes I can make.

Lesa_Sass

I highly recommend royal jelly and bee pollen in honey,. Its amazing! It is only 36 calories and gives me loads of energy. I gave a teaspoon to my trainer one day and he was ready to climb the walls in 30 minutes. Said he was going straight to the gym to bust out as many pull ups as he could.

I get mine at GNC, its around 18 bucks.

I agree that trying to get more sleep is going to the most helpful thing, but I also understand that it can be impossible some times.

Good luck.

ahinski

It sounds like you're experiencing just one of the less pleasant aspects of working the late shift. It's just the nature of the beast... you're going to be tired! The sun is down, so your body releases more melatonin and you feel sleepy. Try to stay in bright lights whenever possible during your waking hours.

I also take a B-12 supplement that REALLY helps.

Oddly enough, once I gave up coffee and diet soda (I still drink tea), I had more energy. Protein also gives you energy--almonds are my go-to fix.

It just might be something you'll have to put up with while you work the night shift and are only getting 4-5 hours of sleep a night (ideally we need 7-8).

No amount of food or supplements will really help you if you're not getting enough sleep.

I currently stopped with the coffee it was raising my blood pressure too high and I take Vitamin b-12 every day. Feel free to look at my diary to see if there are any changes I can make.

Like I said, the only thing that's really going to work is if you get more sleep.

amanda6393

You poor thing! I can't imagine getting by on such little sleep. You must be exhausted.

Personally, I don't eat grains at all. I cut them out of my diet following the Primal Blueprint lifestyle change about 6 months ago, and can't believe how much more energy I have! I just didn't realise how much they were spiking my insulin levels and consequently affecting my energy levels (I'm not diabetic or anything, that's just how grains and sugar work) http://www.marksdailyapple.com/diabetes/#axzz1mUbZLVIH
.... then the sugar low would hit and I would feel totally sapped. My blood sugar levels have now stabilised and I have the same amount of energy throughout the day.
Pump those anti-oxidants into you (berries, colourful fruit & vegetables), avoid excessive caffeine and drink some green tea!
Oh, and make sure you're eating lots of protein. Hope this helps

FitKate

I highly recommend royal jelly and bee pollen in honey,. Its amazing! It is only 36 calories and gives me loads of energy. I gave a teaspoon to my trainer one day and he was ready to climb the walls in 30 minutes. Said he was going straight to the gym to bust out as many pull ups as he could.

I get mine at GNC, its around 18 bucks.

I agree that trying to get more sleep is going to the most helpful thing, but I also understand that it can be impossible some times.

Good luck.

Thank you I find this very helpful!

FitKate

You poor thing! I can't imagine getting by on such little sleep. You must be exhausted.

Do you know any fruits that are low in sugar content? I go over sugar by a lot every day I eat lots of fruit. I don't eat junk food (cakes, cookies ect) a lot of my sugar comes from veggies.

Kelekat

Fruits that are low to medium in sugar: Strawberries, Casaba Melon, Papaya, Watermelon, Peaches, Nectarines, Blueberries, Grapefruits, and Raspberries.

I found some of those surprising.

FitKate

Fruits that are low to medium in sugar: Strawberries, Casaba Melon, Papaya, Watermelon, Peaches, Nectarines, Blueberries, Grapefruits, and Raspberries.

I found some of those surprising.

Thank YOU! This is so helpful. I did have some strawberries, mango and pineapple for lunch today and I do feel a little better then I had been. Maybe I shouldn't be to concerned about going over allowed sugar if its coming from fruits and veggies and not cake and candies.