Energy level struggle

Not to the point of a struggle with stairs but yes from time to time. For me it's usually sleep related. If I get less then 6 hrs sleep I can be dead tired when I get up. Which leads to lack of motivation and poor morning workout if one at all. Then I'm draging most of the day and same result at night. Sleep is what usually helps me the most. Plus the occasional extra rest day. As I get older I realize I need it a bit more. OTOH some days it's just forcing myself to do whatever workout. I usually feel better afterward.

That's definitely a struggle. For me personally, it has to do with maintaining enough energy for my kids/family. I can muscle through any workout, but I don't ever want to be wiped and have that effect my family time. That's where I will back off. After all, as much as we convince ourselves that we do this for a worthy cause (awareness, charity, inspiration, etc) it really is a selfish sport due to the time commitments. For that reason, I have some benchmarks I try to maintain. One is that I train in the early mornings and at lunch, so that I'm home from 5ish until the kids go to bed at 8 and it is their time. Second comes to the energy level question. It's also not fair to them if I'm grumpy or disconnected due to training. My litmus test is that we have a tradition at our house that every night after dinner we put on music and have a dance party. If my dance game isn't on point (and with all the coordination of an endurance athlete, you can only imagine*) or if I'm just not into it, then I know I need to back off and take a rest day. Doesn't happen too often, but when it does, it is apparent.

*Just in case it doesn't land, that was sarcasm...I have no coordination, I'm in the "dance like nobody is watching" school...because, nobody is watching, eyes are averted. Thought I'd put that in there since folks can get their feathers ruffled for all kinds of nonsense.

Edited by 3mar 2016-03-10 1:52 PM

Edited

Video and we'll be the judge of that !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited by Goggles Pizzano 2016-03-10 2:04 PM

Would that be like a "critique my form" type video?

Absolutely. And your seats probably too high

Its a virtual guarantee that his arms are too far away from his body.

Um.....yeah....how else do you dance?

Periodically, yes. I have a job that keeps me on my feet and where I have to really be "up" for much of the day (elementary teacher--you can't just slump behind a desk and peck at the computer!), so having enough energy for that plus training is a balance I have to keep. One factor that's hard to control would be hormones/cycle. Once you have an idea what weeks you'll be feeling more/less energetic, you can kind of work in more challenging workouts around that, or put recovery type weeks in. (If this is an issue.) The other would be nutrition. Both overall, in terms of getting the right balance that works for your body, enough calories, protein, iron, and healthy fats, and short-term, in terms of what you ate during the several hours before your workout. For longer workouts, what you ate/drank during and immediately after also impacts energy levels and recovery. It might help to do some kind of diary when you write down a few words (even a number) about how the workout went, and any factors you think might have affected your energy level. (Could just do it in your BT log.) You might find some useful patterns. Other factors (sleep, stress, allergies, etc.) might also be coming into play.

For a couple of years I really struggled with erratic energy levels for swimming, which is the only workout I usually do after work (as opposed to early AM). It seems to be a combo of ventilation levels in the pool (which I can't totally control; can ask them to turn on more fans though) which affects my breathing, and whether or not I have a light snack and coffee about an hour before swimming. The latter makes a BIG difference.

You asked....

https://instagram.com/p/BCyyjypzVmN/

Little man (?) has moves. Future doctor to boot I give it a 10

I just purchased an organic energizer that looks healthy. I hope that this would work.

http://www.gardenoflife.com/Products-for-Life/Foundational-Nutritio...

Not sure any of these are proven to do much. I would look into your iron levels, but if the swings are day to day (or shorter) ones rather than a gradual trend over time (or at certain times of the month) of feeling less energetic, my guess it's it has much more to do with blood sugar levels (i.e. what/when you're eating) and/or sleep.

I feel a lot better when I supplement Magnesium, Iron, B12 and D. You can test all of them but magnesium- which is the one that made the biggest difference for me. It makes me sleep a ton better.

You dont believe in energy drinks? The one i got has a lot of vitamins and minerals. In addition it has a lot of enzymes, probiotics and contains many energized plants.

What should I eat after a workout? I work out at night during weeknights, so Im home at 930, 10: 00.

I tried one energy drink it is called Vintage Blast. It gave me a lot of power , but I felt really hot and was sweating a lot. For this reason I did not take it again.

I read that some people take 5,000 IU of vitamin D3. It is a big dosage, but it is hard to overdose vit D.

I do have naturally low blood pressure, so Im not a dynamite. In general Im not very energetic, but the energy level varies from day to day.

Today I ran 3 mile fast and I lifted for an hour. It was rather easy,. Tomorrow I may not be able to run 3 miles without taking walking breaks.
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