So tired...will this get better?

The strangest thing is I will not want to move at all and I will be sooo tired, but when I actually make myself get up and do start exercising I have wayyy more energy and feel a ton better when I'm done. And I usually only get about 10 minutes of workout time at a time. Try it and see.

your menu seems alright, maybe it's just spring fatigue, it happens to a lot of people at this time of the year doesn't it?

And also, it sounds like you're going through some caffeine withdrawls because of the soda- which is very normal. Typically when people adjust their caffeine intake they suffer from fatigue and headaches- I myself just went through this recently. So take some iburpofen and drink lots of water and keep your head up! You can do it!

This is what I was going to ask also, how long have you been off the diet coke? Could be withdrawls:flowerforyou: It'll get better had the same prob with coffee:ohwell:

If your tired, you should lay down for about 30 minutes, it is rejuvenating and your body will feel better. But as for your food intake. Too much Caffene and sugar can create a crazy reaction in your body. I have gotten to where I will have a cup of coffee in the morning, and a diet drink for lunch. But, between I drink lots of water to flush my body of the toxins. You can do this, make sure you enter EVERYTHING, into mfp, and when you start to notice results, you will be soooo happy. I have only been doing this for a week, and have lost 4.5 lbs., but I also workout every day. Good luck.

Umm... just taking a guess here... it could be because... you have a 20 month old and I read in your profile that you have 3 other kids. You've got a lot on your plate! I remember when I was nursing my son (and I was supplementing with formula and food) - I was exhausted. I think you just have to be really kind to your body right now... you've still got lots of hormones and things coming into play right now.

I'm no expert on diet, so I'm not going to even make a guess at what you might need... someone else will comment, I'm sure.

I just wanted to give you a ((((((hug))))))) and some encouragement!

Thanks, I had to laugh at myself a little, I mean honestly it would have never occured to me that I am just tired from my life but ummm, yeah, maybe that was why I was hitting the vending machines a few times a day for sugar and drinking 8 cans of diet coke...lol

Let's see...hubby is in Iraq, nursing 20 month old who has sensory issues and going through autism evals, so can't do day care, juggle 36 hour work week between the few people she can handle staying with so I work 8am to noon and 3 pm to 6 or 7 pm plus evening support groups I run and answering pages 24/7, sometimes in person....two oldest kids are teen girls (ugh) and preschooler is my sunshine but he keeps me running...volunteer at kid's schools...and hold down the fort at home, with no extended family around at all....I *guess* that could be making me tired but, I can't/won't change any of that, so anyone have suggestions to replace the sugar and caffiene highs I was living on???

Thanks for the encouragement...I never would have stepped back to look at it like that!

Oh Dear God - you sweet thing.. you are a superstar for getting out of bed in the morning..

:drinker: :drinker:

Still, if there is any chance at all that you can get 15 minutes to yourself, either a short brisk walk, or a cat nap will do you wonders..

Hang in there - the baby years are gone before you know it..

First, I would suggest eating a little more. Everything I've read says that 1200 is the minimum amount of calories anyone should take in. Then add in the nursing.(I'm with ya, I don't think it burns that many calories for me either ) I wouldn't think you'd want to go under 1500 or so.

With being tired all the time... Have you ever had your thyroid checked? I found after my second child that I was exhausted no matter what, finally my doc checked my thyroid and it was low.
Also, my doc asked if I had a baby monitor. Well, come to find out instead of getting a good nights sleep I was listening to the monitor and never really getting into a deep sleep. :yawn: I thought I was sleeping all night but when I got rid of the monitor my world changed.

Just a few suggestions, I hope they help, and that you feel better soon!


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your menu seems alright, maybe it's just spring fatigue, it happens to a lot of people at this time of the year doesn't it?

I was thinking the same thing.

Spring has been quite a tease so far ...

First, I would suggest eating a little more.

Ohhh, thyroid...thanks, I was just saying I need to go in for a physical and I will mention that.


Crap, the more I am talking the more I am thinking that maybe this whole life change thing is going to have to incorporate more than diet and exercise....

:drinker: Right on!

LONG----
My first thoughts were that you needed more calories and more protein. I'm no expert but your cals seem low for a nursing mom who is clearly awake and busy many hours a day.

And then learning more about your life--g-d bless you, woman! you do so much for others. :flowerforyou:
and now it's time to do more for JUST you and your family. I know you said you don't want to change your activities, but your volunteer work seems a reasonable part to eliminate. maybe when hubbie is back from deployment (thank you--and may he return safely soon), you could add that back in. but right now you are one woman and both mom and dad. that's more than enough. to keep giving more of yourself seems to be stretching you just too too thin.

plus you mentioned your 20m is going thru evals. i have a special needs child and it takes A LOT of energy, especially mental. you don't realize how much it takes a toll on your body.
so you need to be kinder to yourself--giving yourself more time to eat right, exercise, read/bath/paint your nails/color/knit whatever--mindless soothing pampering to help your body and soul rejuvenate. this is espec critical in your situation w/4 kids, a husb deployed, nursing, special needs....

obviously i don't know your finances, but maybe you could go to 1/2 time for work. again, at least until your dh returns. could you give this a 3-month trial? could either of the teens take on small jobs whose income could go to the family pot? i realize that's unconventional, but not unheard of. they actually might come to feel very good about themselves for helping the family in such a concrete way.

as for sleep. hmm. that's tricky, too. i'm not opposed to co-sleeping, but at the same time, you really need to get to the deep sleep critical for various body functions. 20m w/o that is probably also wreaking havoc with your body. you don't really "adjust", just your body secretes more cortisol and other hormones get changed around to deal with the "torture." sleep deprivation is an effective torture technique, and it really sounds like it's having an effect on you.

does the nursing wake you? could baby sleep farther from you so it's not as easy to get to the breast (and thus maybe baby will just go back to sleep)? does baby have a lovey besides you? maybe adding that and transitioning off of you for comfort will help you and baby sleep longer/better.

many studies have shown that women need 7-9 hrs/nt for sleep. Otherwise, hormone levels get whacked and you actually gain weight. Even just making that one change to get more sleep will lead to weight loss (even w/o changing other habits). Can you turn in 1/2 hour earlier each night? assign more chores to the teens--like putting the 4 y.o. to bed? Most teens prefer to stay up late and sleep in (which is how their bodies are programmed). Maybe you could use that to your advantage that they do more in the evening?

obviously, these are all just suggestions. i am not trying to be bossy. i just wanted to share various ideas, and maybe just one of them will work.

i am so sorry for the pain you are in. you are doing so much and it's just sapping you. i feel for you.

hope we have given you something helpful. hang in there.

Oh, nursing burns a lot of calories. You're supposed to have 500 extra calories while you're nursing. Did you ask your doctor before going on a diet?

Sugar intake affects energy levels. I see several sugary foods on your list including the yogurt. Have you had your blood sugar levels and thyroid checked? I have worked with clients that had blood sugar affected by pregnanacy. There is even diabetes that is brought on by pregnancy and then on average goes away some time after the birth.

I honestly think that it's less "diet" and more your basic "life" right now that's making you tired sweetie. With everything that you have going on - you HAVE to feel like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. While breastfeeding may not burn as many calories as we'd like to think - there are more things going on than we really know. You know all those images of peaceful mothers breastfeeding their children? They're not peaceful... they're TIRED! They're just happy to have a moment to sit! LOL! Seriously... you need to find a good support system to give you some time to recharge your battery.

I co-slept with my son as well and I have to tell you that it's a decision that I would not have changed for anything. I think he is more emotionally stable because of it. No crib could have ever provided the emotional support that I could.

Maybe for now you need to take the "anything is better than nothing" attitude towards exercise. Instead of trying to schedule yet one more thing in your day - start taking advantage of whatever time you DO have.... a 10 minute walk around the block is better than nothing. A couple squats at the sink while you're doing dishes - is better than nothing. Wear ankle weights while you sweep the floors... it's better than nothing.

The fact is that you're in a tough time in your life right now (tougher than most of us will ever have to know...) and you will come through it. It may take you a little longer to reach your goal weight - but at least you'll know that you spent every minute that you could with your babies. That's my philosophy anyway. I'm not saying to be unhealthy- just to be as healthy as you can and to be kind to yourself.

I honestly think that it's less "diet" and more your basic "life" right now that's making you tired sweetie. With everything that you have going on - you HAVE to feel like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. While breastfeeding may not burn as many calories as we'd like to think - there are more things going on than we really know. You know all those images of peaceful mothers breastfeeding their children? They're not peaceful... they're TIRED! They're just happy to have a moment to sit! LOL! Seriously... you need to find a good support system to give you some time to recharge your battery.

I co-slept with my son as well and I have to tell you that it's a decision that I would not have changed for anything. I think he is more emotionally stable because of it. No crib could have ever provided the emotional support that I could.

Maybe for now you need to take the "anything is better than nothing" attitude towards exercise. Instead of trying to schedule yet one more thing in your day - start taking advantage of whatever time you DO have.... a 10 minute walk around the block is better than nothing. A couple squats at the sink while you're doing dishes - is better than nothing. Wear ankle weights while you sweep the floors... it's better than nothing.

The fact is that you're in a tough time in your life right now (tougher than most of us will ever have to know...) and you will come through it. It may take you a little longer to reach your goal weight - but at least you'll know that you spent every minute that you could with your babies. That's my philosophy anyway. I'm not saying to be unhealthy- just to be as healthy as you can and to be kind to yourself.

Wow, I hope I didn't sound like I was whining!!! I was suprised when I read that you think I'm having a tough time in my life. I've never looked at it like that, lol.

I'm busy but I so love my job, so love the kids I get to work with through volunteering, so love our parenting style, and am so proud of my hubby, I really don't consider this a tough time for us. I appreciate everything you are saying and can see how you might have gotten that impression but really, this is just a little more hectic time in our happy life.

I'm going to do some praying and serious consideration about how I prioritize. If I don't start making room in my life for real fitness now, when will I? I really feel strongly that I have to do this, for my family and for me, I can't be busy with them if I am so overweight that my health starts to fail. I do think getting in some extra movements when I am able will help.

I'm going to try to get an extra hour of sleep and I am going to wean off diet coke instead of going cold turkey. Thanks so much for all of your thoughtful encouragement!!:flowerforyou:

No! No! No! I didn't think you were whining! Not at all! And maybe "tough" was the wrong word - it doesn't sound like there's anything "wrong" with your life - just that you have a lot to deal with. You have a husband who is not at home right now - and not only is he not at home - he's overseas. I know how hard it is for me with one child when my husband goes out of town for 2 weeks. It's an adjustment.
I homeschool a son who has severe dyslexia. Is it tough? Sometimes... but that doesn't mean I'm not happy. It doesn't mean that I would change anything about it. But sometimes that means that I can't be as regimented in my schedule as I would like. I guess where I was coming from is that I remember when my son was little and I would talk about wanting to lose weight and eat healthier. Some people would tell me "you have to make time to exercise". At that time I was a single mom working 2 jobs and trying to be the best mom I could - they didn't understand that most days I did good to "make time" to shower and go to the bathroom - and most of the time I didn't get to do that alone! LOL!
I admire for all that you're doing and hope that you can find ways to make some small adjustments to find time for you.

A few things come to mind for me. Were you this beat before you restricted your calories to 1200-1350? You may not be able to figure that out if you started eating better as soon as your husband left.

I too have 4 kids and a husband in Iraq, thank goodness mine are all a little older though! I can't even imagine. It's hard enough with mine, I know first hand how hard it can be to do it all and I don't work outside the home.

I had been eating 1200 caloires for the first few months, then I increased my exercise and BAM, it was like I hit a brick wall. I walked around like a zombie for about a week, so tired mid afternoons I thought I could fall over. My neighbor came to ask me a question one day and asked if I was ok, it was that bad.

I finaly realized I needed to eat more. I never eat below 1400 calories now, most days 1600-1800 and I feel so much better! Even without exercise you will still lose if you increase your calories, maybe not quite as quickly, but if you feel better, it's worth it!

Good luck and get a good night's sleep!

Increase your calories and make sure you take care of yourself. You are no good to your kids if you can't function! You'll still lose and look smokin' hot by the time your husband comes home.