I'm tired
219
Member
828 days
charlie6460 posted 51 weeks ago.
For what it is worth, between a demanding job, a 6 month old, tri training, maintaining a social life, and other stuff, I too am tired all of the time. It sucks but to fix it I would need to cut out tri’s. In my opinion the health benefits and the sense accomplishment I get from tri’s is worth it.
237
Member
908 days
burnman posted 51 weeks ago.
Get more fresh air. It will wake you up when you're tired, and help you sleep better at night. Being inside too much can really do a number on your mental and physical health. The most rested I ever felt was when my wife and I made it a point to take an hour-long walk with the kids every day. Diet is also very important. The energy your body expends on digestion is directly related to the quality and regularity of your food intake. I do better when I eat less food more frequently. That may not work for everyone, but I notice a huge difference from when I eat 3 meals at 1500-2000 calories a pop.
322
Member
475 days
paganopj posted 51 weeks ago.
My guess is if your calorie/diet intake is right, it might be the job....if you have a desk job where you are 'brain fried' everyday, that will take its toll on you even if you exercise regularly (not to mention that training for tris usually means MORE than regular exercise)...add social and other obligations and you have exhaustion. I don't think humanity was build to do all it does now with technology/etc.
My wife says I'm always tired too, and I only do one work out a day.
Just keep spinning....spinning, spinning....uh, do I know you?
(Blog)The Losing Journey Flickr Cycling Log
2433
Member
821 days
TriSooner posted 51 weeks ago.
I vote for #3. Take some time off (egads!) to sleep in and mentally recharge. Cut back on other activities that interfere with your training (if training is your priority). Take advantage of a recovery day (or even days!), such as Monday off after a hard weekend and/or Friday off before a hard weekend. Take naps on the weekends after training.
363
Member
618 days
jwillia852 posted 51 weeks ago.
Another idea, which works for me anyways, is to not reserve all of my sleeping to nighttime. Grab 45 minutes during the day (even if its in your car) and snooze . Either lunch time or before I workout.
Jeff
881
Member
1885 days
Star posted 51 weeks ago.
I hate to always bring this up...but I've done some reading on adrenal exhaustion in endurance athletes. Maybe its something you can look into and see if it fits what's going on in your life. I worked with a nutritionist, and most of those symptoms have subsided.
Although, if you are #4, let us know, because that could make an interesting story :)
"I'm more fun than an iPod!"
My blog:http://starsnextbigthing.blogspot.com/
169
Member
383 days
DannoE posted 51 weeks ago.
Overtraining is probably at least a partial cause, but I gotta agree based on personal experience with those who are blaming desk jobs. I work in a cube without easy access to a window, and I find it very demanding. Plus, I always have a hard time shutting my brain down for the night, meaning that I sleep less than I probably ought to. Add in kids and the stress of having to pay a mortgage, and well, I can sympathize. I definitely have days--or even weeks!--where I feel just crappy all the time.
I finally made some little changes in life. What works for me is:
- Going to bed earlier. I got to bed at 9 pm every night, even on the weekends. And I get up at 5 am every day... well, maybe 5:30 or 6 on Saturdays, but I never, ever sleep in past 7.
- I make damn sure to go outside and walk every day for at least 10 minutes. Usually I'm outside longer, but 10 minutes is the absolute minimum. It takes that much sunshine for your body to reset its natural circadian cycle.
- I take at least two days off from training per week, usually Mondays and Fridays. Yes, this makes me a little slower, but I'm 36. I'm not going to be too fast, no matter what. And if I don't give my wife and kids at least 2 days/week, we're likely to have an insurrection.
- I don't drink any caffeine after 10 am, and I limit myself to 150mg of caffeine total per day. And honestly, this is the most important one. I've found that I sleep MUCH better since I cut back on the atificial stimulants. Which sucks because I am a confirmed coffee-lover of the highest order, but even with that said, I've found that I like feeling good a lot more than I like drinking coffee.
DannoE
"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one..."
http://www.storytellersplaybook.blogspot.com
750
Member
560 days
jnrice posted 51 weeks ago.
Thanks for the awesome advice. I know I need to cut out coffee, etc. Also, Star, I think you might have a great point. I do work in a windowless lab with many noisy compressors, pumps, etc and it drains me. I'll keep you all posted if it does turn out to be #4. Do you think that I could get my own category if I am a zombie? It would help me make the podium I think.
758
Member
1029 days
Socket posted 51 weeks ago.
I vote zombie option, you can't kill yourself with training 'cuz you're already dead 
Seriously though, I have to sleep with a window open because if I don't get that fresh air I wake up like I never went to sleep. I think I also have some kind of sleep apnea, but I still wake up feel ready to take on the world (at least until I realize it's a weekday and have to go to work).
5891
Member
2199 days
beads1985 posted 51 weeks ago.
The zombie thing would be cool! If so you are going to have to lose your head.
Otherwise, maybe you need to take a rest to recharge as TriSooner said or consider possible medical issues like Star mentioned.
If you are very anal about your training, you can also ditch your plan for a week.
Lose the watch, computer etc and just swim, bike and run leisurely.
Go for a hike, do something else. Good luck!
'Nothing to it, but to do it!'
4218
Member
1841 days
Anton posted 51 weeks ago.
I'm in on #3. Overtraining.
Take a few days off. YOU WILL NOT LOSE FITNESS after only a few days. If you bounce back and feel awesome...OT is the probable cause. Are you a snorer? If your girlfriend says yes...look into the sleep apnea.
Are you taking a rest day once a week? Are you following a training program that gives you every third week at a reduced volume? Are you following a training program?
"A little nonsense now and then is cherished by the wisest men."
424
Member
647 days
groovyjen posted 51 weeks ago.
When was the last time you had a checkup? If you are that exhausted on that much sleep, something is out of whack.
Hope you are feeling well rested soon.
(profile pic left to right: Mom, my daughter and me)
56
Member
666 days
run2race posted 51 weeks ago.
Hate to be a downer but you may want to see a good internist- you could be hypothyroid. It's common and easily alleviated with synthetic hormone. You'd expect weight gain with that condition but it might be kept in check with all the training.
4
Member
14688 days
mwconstruct1972 posted 50 weeks ago.
I think it could be a combination of things. A few months ago I was having energy problems also. I was overtraining and it was taking its toll but that was not the extent of it. I started working on my diet and doing a lot of reading and found a few food alergies. I haven't used regular coffee in several years but I can certainly attest to feeling better without it. Now I am more consistent, I recognize my limitations and do not push too far beyond them. My diet is very simple- often I eat the same foods with some variation several times a day. I do not use any type of simple sugar stimulants (i.e. cheap sports drinks) or caffeine so if I am running low on energy it is easily traceable- usually not enough sleep. Good luck finding your issues and working through them. If it turns out that you are in fact a zombie, have fun with that.
2916
Member
1563 days
tri-ac posted 50 weeks ago.
is it possible that you're appropriately tired for the work you're putting in?
you haven't mentioned it affecting your workouts or demeanor, just that in your non-training time you're tired.
maybe that's all it is...
[just sayin']
750
Member
560 days
jnrice posted 50 weeks ago.
tri-ac wrote:
is it possible that you're appropriately tired for the work you're putting in?
[just sayin']
This is what I'm hoping. I don't think that being "tired" is seriously effecting my training, just my work, personal, social life. I'll look into these things, and I actually have a friend who is a doctor. I'll give them a call and see if they think it warrants letting them stick leaches to me. Until then... back to training. I'd rather be a zombie at work than slow on race day. Thanks guys and gals. You all rock and should come train in the mountains of Montana this summer.
750
Member
560 days
jnrice posted 50 weeks ago.
Hey, thanks again. After looking into some other threads on nutrition, i think I might just be simply not taking in enough calories. I'll post again if I find something that is a break through and clears this all up.
Yep, I'm tired just about 24/7/365. Honestly I can remember the last time I woke up and said "yeah, I feel so rested and energized I want to take the world on today, bring it" and it was about 8 years ago. I don't believe myself to be depressed, just fatigued. I'm not saying I have bags under my eyes and look like something from a 70's zombie flick but I am tired, all the time.
I get about 8 hrs of sleep per night in a reasonably good bed, in a quiet room, with stacks of blankets that make me oh so happy. Despite all of this I still wake up tired. I can only drum up four possibilities in my mind;
1) my diet might not be right (food allergy or something like that)
2) sleeping disorder (sleep apnea type thing)
3) over training (but I haven't even started bricking yet!!!)
4) I am a Zombie (this seems very likely to me, and is occasionally the idea proposed by my girlfriend but am still holding out for options 1-3)
Any thoughts? I refuse to live life energy drink to energy drink, or strung out on coffee. However, I can't drive any appreciable distance (2+ hrs) without them without being a hazard to myself and others.