Feeling Tired and Drained

CongoClark81
CongoClark81 Posts: 95 Member
in Motivation and Support
Does anyone else feel this way or have and what was the cause? I've been eating healthy and working out for the last 66 days. I get plenty of sleep and taking vitamins and have been energized and motivated from the start. But over the last few days I'm just very tired, drained and unmotivated to work out. I havent changed anything so I don't know what could all of a sudden cause this! Any advice please!
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Replies

  • DaniH826
    DaniH826 Posts: 1,335 Member
    Take a week off from exercising and just rest your body. Maybe it's trying to tell you something. :smile:
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    Maybe consider upping your calories. 1200 can be really draining long-term. Do you know your BMR/TDEE?
  • CongoClark81
    CongoClark81 Posts: 95 Member
    Taking a week off sounds good but I'm afraid if I did I would lose my motivation.
    And I do not know my BMR or TDEE
    I get plenty of protein and have been trying to eat a little more calories daily but after being so used to 1200 daily for the last 66 days, I'm finding it hard to incorporate more when I don't feel hungry
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    First two responses both sound reasonable to me.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    Depending how heavy you work out, you may need a week with (much) reduced intensity. Then pick back up again.
  • JennyLisT
    JennyLisT Posts: 402 Member
    Did you recently participate in the time change? I just mentioned on my feed how awful time changes make me feel. It's just an hour, but it's rough.
  • PeauxPeaux
    PeauxPeaux Posts: 71 Member
    If ti is just the last few days, it may be as simple as...The time change.

    I had a HARD time sleeping for the first three nights and just that SIMPLE HOUR has borked me up. If in 2 more days you are back to normal, it was probably that. :)
  • prattiger65
    prattiger65 Posts: 1,657 Member
    I believe it's simply not enough calories/food. If I don't eat enough I get a
    hangry.
  • SheilaG1963
    SheilaG1963 Posts: 298 Member
    I'm feeling the same way and I think it;s the time change. You wouldn't think an hour makes much difference, but here it is 7:20 in Missouri and I'm ready for bed!
  • JoQuinn523
    JoQuinn523 Posts: 68 Member
    I agree with time change- I have been dragging *kitten*- I didn't work out for a week thinking I needed a break and NOW I am struggling with getting back into it today was the 1st day I worked out.
  • Cp731
    Cp731 Posts: 3,195 Member
    Take a week off from exercising and just rest your body. Maybe it's trying to tell you something. :smile:

    Absolutely agree, and maybe its the food your consuming, try too keep it clean for a bit and see where this takes you.
    When I started out I often felt tired and agitated. I rested a bit more and increased my cals. Be sure you are getting fat in your diet as well, your body needs fat too absorb vitamins. Possibly try a Probiotic

    Good luck too you
  • anybeary
    anybeary Posts: 188 Member
    When you say "plenty of protein", how much protein are we talking about? Because the MFP settings probably have you at around 65 g, and that is not really enough to nourish growing muscles. You need at least 100 to feel really energized on a daily basis if you're working out and an average sized lady.
  • CoderGal
    CoderGal Posts: 6,800 Member
    Does anyone else feel this way or have and what was the cause? I've been eating healthy and working out for the last 66 days. I get plenty of sleep and taking vitamins and have been energized and motivated from the start. But over the last few days I'm just very tired, drained and unmotivated to work out. I havent changed anything so I don't know what could all of a sudden cause this! Any advice please!
    Nope, but I did. The cause I was eating far below my energy expenditure. Started eating more and problem be gone and I lost at the same rate. And if this isn't the problem and you're getting all of your vitamins make sure your diet isn't low in fat (you need fat to absorb those things).

    Flu season? It could be a million things.

    Edit: After reading the rest of this post I'd put all my money on you're not eating enough.
  • SanteMulberry
    SanteMulberry Posts: 3,202 Member
    Take a week off from exercising and just rest your body. Maybe it's trying to tell you something. :smile:

    Yeah, it could be "overtraining". Or it could be some mineral deficiency--magnesium is the most likely one that exercisers get (85% of all people have magnesium deficiencies because of our dietary habits). It is a tough one to supplement because magnesium supplements give a lot of people diarrhea. I would have my doc check my macro-minerals--calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and maybe zinc. I would eat a lot of cooked vegetables for a while to build my mineral levels back up. You don't have to butter them all the time. Cooked spinach (one of the richest sources of minerals) is great with just a bit of salt and a squeeze of lemon juice. :smile:
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    The time change didn't occur to me but that's a possibility-- I'm a housewife so it doesn't really bother me. If you're interested in increasing calories read this:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets
  • smrtcar
    smrtcar Posts: 104 Member
    Blood chemistry makes me feel this way, eat some salty foods or take some electrolytes. It works for me.
  • lilacinfinity
    lilacinfinity Posts: 283 Member
    You're not eating enough, that's your body slowing down because its not getting enough fuel to carry on at the same rate it has been.
  • missmegan831
    missmegan831 Posts: 824 Member
    You arent eating enough for the amount of exercise you have been doing... feed that body girl.. if you cant put 500 more calories in your daily meal plan, add some higher calorie stuff like nuts, cheeses, avacados.. etc.. hope you are back to feeling yourself soon
  • curlygirly80
    curlygirly80 Posts: 176
    Did you recently participate in the time change? I just mentioned on my feed how awful time changes make me feel. It's just an hour, but it's rough.

    I second this! This week has been horrible for me!
  • SanteMulberry
    SanteMulberry Posts: 3,202 Member
    Did you recently participate in the time change? I just mentioned on my feed how awful time changes make me feel. It's just an hour, but it's rough.

    You may be right. I just heard some researcher say that he measured cortisol levels (a marker for physical or mental stress) and that the people he tested had higher cortisol levels from the time change than other test subjects had to crossing time zones while traveling. Go figure? :ohwell:
  • CongoClark81
    CongoClark81 Posts: 95 Member
    It could be the time change but its never affected me before but I've also never been exercising and eating healthy during a time change either.
    I'm not exactly sure on the protein cause I do usually just pay attention to what MFP shows but I have a Protein shake every morning with 2 scoops to make sure I get enough daily
    I've been doing P90X for the last 4 weeks and really haven't taken a day off from working out in 66 days.
    And I haven't noticed any signs of a cold or flu coming on
    I do work about 50hrs a week, come home to my daughter in a mad rush for dinner, cleanup, bath, storytime, workout and bed. Weekends consist of cleaning, cooking, working out and errands so I just feel like I never get a break from anything
  • CongoClark81
    CongoClark81 Posts: 95 Member
    I will definitely try to up my calories a bit. I figured that could also be why I haven't been lolsing weight for a while either even though I bust my butt working out everyday. And my job consists of constant walking all day
  • mmddwechanged
    mmddwechanged Posts: 1,687 Member
    I like the idea of taking a week off. Probably it helps the mind too.
  • pspetralia
    pspetralia Posts: 963 Member
    If ti is just the last few days, it may be as simple as...The time change.

    I had a HARD time sleeping for the first three nights and just that SIMPLE HOUR has borked me up. If in 2 more days you are back to normal, it was probably that. :)

    ^^^this perfectly describes my last three days! Tonight I'm feeling more like myself. If it is new this week, you might want to wait a few days. Otherwise, I would follow the advice you have been getting- eat more & drop your intensity for a week.
  • meaningful99
    meaningful99 Posts: 174
    It could be the time change but its never affected me before but I've also never been exercising and eating healthy during a time change either.
    I'm not exactly sure on the protein cause I do usually just pay attention to what MFP shows but I have a Protein shake every morning with 2 scoops to make sure I get enough daily
    I've been doing P90X for the last 4 weeks and really haven't taken a day off from working out in 66 days.
    And I haven't noticed any signs of a cold or flu coming on
    I do work about 50hrs a week, come home to my daughter in a mad rush for dinner, cleanup, bath, storytime, workout and bed. Weekends consist of cleaning, cooking, working out and errands so I just feel like I never get a break from anything

    Girl, I'm tired just reading this! Your body is telling you it wants rest. Rest days let your muscles rebuild.
  • SanteMulberry
    SanteMulberry Posts: 3,202 Member
    It could be the time change but its never affected me before but I've also never been exercising and eating healthy during a time change either.
    I'm not exactly sure on the protein cause I do usually just pay attention to what MFP shows but I have a Protein shake every morning with 2 scoops to make sure I get enough daily
    I've been doing P90X for the last 4 weeks and really haven't taken a day off from working out in 66 days.
    And I haven't noticed any signs of a cold or flu coming on
    I do work about 50hrs a week, come home to my daughter in a mad rush for dinner, cleanup, bath, storytime, workout and bed. Weekends consist of cleaning, cooking, working out and errands so I just feel like I never get a break from anything

    I think you have put your finger on the problem---you need a bit of rest. I would concentrate on the veggies--really, they never fail to energize. Do you have one of those two-part vegetable steamers as part of your cookware? I keep mine washed out and sitting on the back of my stove all the time so it is there telling me, "It isn't that much trouble to steam some veggies! Now...come on---there's already water in the pot under me. Go to the freezer...." I always buy frozen vegetables when they are on sale so that I have no excuse. (Just watch the ones from China. Ninety per cent of their rivers and streams are mega-polluted from their rapid industrialization without any pollution regulations whatsoever. They irrigate their crops with that HEAVILY polluted water---industrial runoff--heavy metals, PCBs, toxic chemicals etc.).
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    I will definitely try to up my calories a bit. I figured that could also be why I haven't been lolsing weight for a while either even though I bust my butt working out everyday. And my job consists of constant walking all day

    It sounds like you could use a few more. Your protein looks really good btw, better than mine. ;) But I think with P90x and similar videos you're supposed to eat around 1800.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    It could be the time change but its never affected me before but I've also never been exercising and eating healthy during a time change either.
    I'm not exactly sure on the protein cause I do usually just pay attention to what MFP shows but I have a Protein shake every morning with 2 scoops to make sure I get enough daily
    I've been doing P90X for the last 4 weeks and really haven't taken a day off from working out in 66 days.
    And I haven't noticed any signs of a cold or flu coming on
    I do work about 50hrs a week, come home to my daughter in a mad rush for dinner, cleanup, bath, storytime, workout and bed. Weekends consist of cleaning, cooking, working out and errands so I just feel like I never get a break from anything

    Girl, I'm tired just reading this! Your body is telling you it wants rest. Rest days let your muscles rebuild.

    Also this-- you need rest days.
  • CongoClark81
    CongoClark81 Posts: 95 Member
    I don't have a steamer but I do have frozen and fresh veggies that a let simmer in boiling water, but not for too long. I also eat raw veggies and have 2 cups of Kale in my protein shake every morning. I also have at least 2-3 fresh fruits daily
  • aponia
    aponia Posts: 28
    After reading all that you do on a daily basis and the amount you are working out, I'm sure your body is simply exhausted. It may sound strange, but losing weight is very taxing on your body and your health, although the long term benefits vastly outweigh (no pun) feeling like crap for a while. Everyone has different calorie needs and their activity level is much different, but calculate cooking dinner, playing with your kids, going shopping, and cleaning the house, as calorie burning activities. Sometimes you burn WAY more calories than you think you do because you aren't just hanging out at the gym and watching the clock as you stairmaster your buns off.

    When you think about it, you're starving yourself and putting excess strain on your body to lose weight fast and see results fast. It takes years to become overweight and the sudden shift in gears takes its toll.

    As much as our biological clocks love schedule and routine, I've found that weight loss does not. Vary your calorie intake from day to day; take a day off from strenuous exercise and don't do anything physical that isn't required; allow your body to rest and heal and regain some of the energy it's using to melt away all that fat.

    Listen to your body. It's trying to tell you what it needs.

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