Please Help, I am soooo tired!

dangie2002
dangie2002 Posts: 71 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm feeling positively exhausted!!! I was exercising 6 days a week. Now, I'm struggling with 4-5. I had a 2 week break at Christmas, and then returned to exercising in January. I felt good in January. Then February came along with my TOM and I hit a brick wall!!! I just want to sleep all the time. I haven't bounced back. I'm not sick. I see a doc and my labs are beautiful. I'm only getting 6-7.5 hours of sleep a night. I drink 2 cups of coffee a day. I avoid sugar. I'm trying to eat really healthy, no grains, lots of fresh vegetables, 1/2 cup berries in the mornings, greek yogurt, and good protein. I average 1700 calories a day. I only have 1 or 2 cheat meals a week. I take B-Complex vitamins, vitamin D, Fish oil, all high quality good stuff, not the cheap in-store brands. My life is 40 hours a week at my job. I try to workout 30 min in the morning. If i'm feeling good, I will throw in a second 30-40 minutes after work. (My job is kind of sedentary to light activity). I'm in grad school full time, so I'm on my butt reading and writing a lot! I'm a mom and wife. My hubby has picked up cleaning around the house so I can work.

Does anyone have any ideas about how to stop feeling completely wiped out? Has anyone else felt like this? Do you have any ideas on how to fix this? I can provide other info if needed. I'm just perplexed by all of this. Its crazy.

Replies

  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    edited February 2015
    Carbs are a good energy source

    Are you eating back your exercise calories?

    Are you weighing and logging your food properly?

    What's your desired weekly rate of loss vs actual?

    You are quite possibly simply not adequately fuelling your body and it's caught up with you
  • dangie2002
    dangie2002 Posts: 71 Member
    sometimes I may use 1/3 of them, but not often.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    edited February 2015
    Are you meeting your daily calorie goal? And as rabbitjb asked, eating back exercise cals?
  • FatFreeFrolicking
    FatFreeFrolicking Posts: 4,252 Member
    Sounds like you aren't eating enough and consequently, aren't getting proper nutrition.

    Eat more.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    dangie2002 wrote: »
    sometimes I may use 1/3 of them, but not often.

    You're not adequately fuelling your body then ...hence it's caught up with you

    Eat more
  • dangie2002
    dangie2002 Posts: 71 Member
    I have goals set to lose 2# a week. Its been like this since January. Before I was only doing 1# a week. I think my nutrition is good. I usually don't eat anything processed, except once or twice a week with my cheat meals.
  • SwankyTomato
    SwankyTomato Posts: 442 Member
    I would also examine your carbs. If you workout a lot you have to fuel your body.
    What are you doing for workouts?
  • FatFreeFrolicking
    FatFreeFrolicking Posts: 4,252 Member
    dangie2002 wrote: »
    I have goals set to lose 2# a week. Its been like this since January. Before I was only doing 1# a week. I think my nutrition is good. I usually don't eat anything processed, except once or twice a week with my cheat meals.

    Sounds like 2# is too aggressive for you. Go back to losing 1# a week and tone down the exercise or eat more.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    Sounds pregnant.
  • dangie2002
    dangie2002 Posts: 71 Member
    I keep my carbs low, like 80-100 a day. Protein is 110-140 a day. Fat is around 100 a day. Total sugar intake is generally 20-40. I use 21 day fix which is 30 minutes. Then I walk after work 30-40 minutes on a treadmill.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Liftng4Lis wrote: »
    Sounds pregnant.

    Out of left field ...but extremely valid point..could you be :smile: ?
  • 7elizamae
    7elizamae Posts: 758 Member
    Are you pregnant? That'll do it every time. :)
  • cdn_beaver
    cdn_beaver Posts: 130 Member
    Your body needs a basic amount of calories just to run. They are burned by just existing. You should be eating at a deficit (for your sedentary life) but replacing most of the calories you burn from exercise. Your body will get tired if it's not getting enough calories to exist.
  • dangie2002
    dangie2002 Posts: 71 Member
    Please, no pregnancy! LOL. I have too much on my plate right now. I could increase my intake again and see where that takes me.
  • dangie2002
    dangie2002 Posts: 71 Member
    Thanks, Ladies
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    I would try eating more carbs.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    :)
    Stop working out after work. Some people are sensitive to late in the day exercise that interferes with sleep. What else is keeping you from getting more than 6-7.5 hours of sleep?
    Sleep, as you know, is important.
  • Froggiegirl72
    Froggiegirl72 Posts: 2
    I just finished a 30 day detox, and I have more energy than I have in years. You are doing it right by not having grains. Eat more power foods. You said you eat yogurt. You may want to try eliminating dairy from your diet. Your cheating yourself by having cheat days. Look up the outline to the detox called Whole 30. It will change the way you eat forever! Good Luck!
  • JenniDaisy
    JenniDaisy Posts: 526 Member
    Froggiegirl72 wrote: »
    I just finished a 30 day detox, and I have more energy than I have in years. You are doing it right by not having grains. Eat more power foods. You said you eat yogurt. You may want to try eliminating dairy from your diet. Your cheating yourself by having cheat days. Look up the outline to the detox called Whole 30. It will change the way you eat forever! Good Luck!

    What is a power food?
    Detoxes are cow poo,
    Dairy is delicious and good for you.

    But it does sound you're not eating enough, You've got a lot going on at the moment, maybe consider dropping weightloss down to 1 or even .5lb a week? Also I'd make sure you're not pregnant, just in case.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Froggiegirl72 wrote: »
    I just finished a 30 day detox, and I have more energy than I have in years. You are doing it right by not having grains. Eat more power foods. You said you eat yogurt. You may want to try eliminating dairy from your diet. Your cheating yourself by having cheat days. Look up the outline to the detox called Whole 30. It will change the way you eat forever! Good Luck!

    So much no in this

    Not that I want to kill the Placebo effect ..but I am constantly shocked when people actually think like this
  • theutahdesertfox
    theutahdesertfox Posts: 96 Member
    Yeah....detoxes won't help anything.
    And what is...a power food?

    Dairy is actually NOT so good for you--especially depending on your ethnic background. Most adults are lactose intolerant. But I don't think dairy makes people tired, it's more indicated with acne and skin problems/digestive problems/other not pleasant side effects. It does sound like it could be pregnancy.

    I would also look into your sleep more; for me I feel totally different in six versus seven hours of sleep. Also, you might try an app that measures sleep cycles; if you're sleeping but not completing cycles it's very low quality sleep, and that can really make you feel wiped out.
  • Delilahhhhhh
    Delilahhhhhh Posts: 477 Member
    Froggiegirl72 wrote: »
    I just finished a 30 day detox, and I have more energy than I have in years. You are doing it right by not having grains. Eat more power foods. You said you eat yogurt. You may want to try eliminating dairy from your diet. Your cheating yourself by having cheat days. Look up the outline to the detox called Whole 30. It will change the way you eat forever! Good Luck!

    NO.
  • twb119
    twb119 Posts: 8
    Don't discount your busy life.You have a lot on your plate!...I am back at school myself.It's rewarding,but tough, and I do not have a family to take care of...You may want to check for Vitamin D issues.This time of year, especially in certain areas of the country, we don't get much sun.A friend of mine was were you are at with energy,and after trying everything that is what it turned out to be. Like others have said check carbs.I am terrible at eating vegetables, so I supplement with vegetable juice.You might want to change some things up in your workout,too.You may be at a plateau....I am practically starting over after a few years of injury issues.(Back,knees,rotor cuff,plantar fascitis,etc).I lost 130 lbs about 25 years ago and have kept it off until these recent years...and now I am going to lose the 50 lbs, I have put on.Believe me, I have been thru it all and just when you think you have your body figured out it,it fools you.But that is what makes interesting..As others have said sleep is important...as well as rest days from working out.Remember,working out tears down your body.Resting is were it repairs itself to be stronger(believe me this is something I struggle with and why I have the injury bug)....Good luck, and remember this isn't rocket science.There are no short cuts....It's 10% educating yourself, 90% common sense and 100% "want to." :)
  • theutahdesertfox
    theutahdesertfox Posts: 96 Member
    Yes! Vitamin D! This is the time of year when the northern hemisphere just naturally gives us less daylight and since it's colder, we often stay inside more (sup new england you alive over there)

    A little sun each day makes a huge difference energy wise! You did say your bloodwork was great, but I'd get the vitamin d double checked. I believe most modern western adults have a deficiency, especially those who work solely indoors.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    I agree with the great advice here except the detox. Before Christmas, 1 lb goal, not tired. After Christmas, 2 lb goal, tired. At least scale it back to see if it helps. When I started exercising I would get ragingly hungry afterwards, so I fed it (within reason). My weight loss stalled for a few weeks too. But I was enjoying the benefits of exercise too much to give it up. Now I enjoy more calories in my day and I have more vitality. And I am losing again. So give time for your poor body to catch up with your plans.

    And by the way, you have a hectic schedule that would tire anyone out.

  • jessietrumble
    jessietrumble Posts: 15 Member
    As many other opinions make sure you are evenly dispersing your carbs throughout your day. I have similiar weight loss goals and strategies to you and I found I had to really pay special attention to the distribution of my carbs.
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    assuming you're not pregnant (go take a test!) you simply are not eating enough for your energy output.

    don't listen to the static about detoxes and crap. its all crap. Eat balanced, normal, whole foods - from all categories (dairy, carb, protein, etc). If you can, get more sleep (unless what you are getting is what your body needs - i need at least 7 and up to 9, but thats ME- everyone is different).

    Change your weight loss goal to 1lb/week and eat back about half your exercise calories. Do this for a few weeks and see if you're feeling better.

    All that said, when its my TOM - IM EXHAUSTED AND STARVING. the whole week,. it sucks. LOLOLOL
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    edited February 2015
    Froggiegirl72 wrote: »
    I just finished a 30 day detox, and I have more energy than I have in years. You are doing it right by not having grains. Eat more power foods. You said you eat yogurt. You may want to try eliminating dairy from your diet. Your cheating yourself by having cheat days. Look up the outline to the detox called Whole 30. It will change the way you eat forever! Good Luck!

    Is that like what Superman and Wonder woman eat?
  • dangie2002
    dangie2002 Posts: 71 Member
    I appreciate everyone's suggestions. I can't guarantee any extra sleep because I have to study, read, and write papers. My hours and time are limited.
    1/2 cup of Greek yogurt is my only dairy. Occasionally I will have a second serving but usually once or twice a week at the most. My carbs are split out pretty evenly throughout the day.
    I will drop second workout and increase intake a little bit to see if I notice a difference.

    I don't believe detox. Our bodies are designed to naturally detox and filter crap. I think eating healthy helps to make our bodies work better. Good nutrition, not processed, helps to provide out bodies with necessary vitamins and minerals that are needed to help it function the best it can. I think detox can help break cravings, but no matter what, when you stop sugar or wheat, you always feel a "withdraw" initially. I'm not detoxing. Cheat meals once or twice a week won't hurt anything. I'm not going past my maintenance calories on those days, I just allow myself a grain or a few pieces of chocolate so I don't feel deprived and like I want to quit. It keeps me sane. :smiley:

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