Lacking in Energy

exercise is the key! hard to find time but if you can fit it in, you will sleep better AND have more energy. best of luck. ;-)

Taking vitamins is almost always a good idea B-12 is great for energy also. If you look on the web their are some yoga stretches designed to wake you up and ones that you can do even at the office without people thinking you are a nut. I just started a job as well and have tried these stretches they seem to help.

Go to your doctor and have them test your thyroid level. Could be the culprit of your sleepiness.

I would advise you to go to the doctor. You sound a little like me when my thyroid and sugar problems started. If it isn't one of these two things maybe he can help you figure out what it is that is keeping you up so much. I have started something new for myself. Go to flylady.net and it teaches us many things us women already know, but need reminders. It helps us to organize ourselves, our stuff, and things around us. It has helped me to have a more organized routine and I sleep much better at night. I don't know if this will help, but I hope so. For your energy you could take a daily vitamin,drink plenty of water, and make sure you are getting enough protein in your diet. Even take a protein bar to work when you start feeling your energy levels drop.
Sincerely, S.

D.,
Hi I am a mother of two girls 7 and 9. My husband has been in Iraq for a year and due home mid next month! ( It has been a long year! ) I have my own business online and have started working in the past month. I understand all that you are going through! I also have trouble sleeping sometimes and wake up every few hours, I have tried to take a multi vitamin at night and this seems to help but not all of the time. I also went to Ladies Chiropractic ###-###-####. I saw an ad that stated feel better, refreshed and energetic..... Well Needless to say I did start to have all of my enery back. ( my energy levels are extremely high to begin with!) Amazing what a proper painless adjustment will do !!!!!
Hope you Feel better!
M.

I wouldn't necessarily go to the doctor. It sounds like you are just not used to sitting all day at a computer. I did the same thing when I went from going to school to working at a computer all day. I have found that if I do like 5-10 minutes of stretching or fast paced walking every couple of hours it helps. (I always drink around 10 bottles of water a day which is healthy and causes me to use the bathroom alot. So I speed walk from my office to the bathroom and then do a few head shoulders knees and toes just to get the blood flowing.) I also walk atleast thirty minutes during my lunch. This kind of gives me a boost for the rest of the day. Or if you go to msn health they have a list of like 15 exercises you can do at your desk without everyone staring at you like you are crazy. Those help! And just remember you have to get plenty of sleep and drink lots of water.

the food might just be making you sleepier. Try to stick to foods in a natural form (think fruit, veggies, etc instead of chips & such) - this requires less processing from the body & leaves more energy for your brain. You could try to do an early lunch around 10/11 and a snack break around 2/3 that would give you time to walk around the block or some other sort of visual change to excercise the brain and give your body some movement.
look into yoga postures online & see if you can find a good explaination for downward facing dog - that is a good stretch that brings blood to the brain to help fight sleepiness.
good luck

Hi D.!

I work a desk job as well. What I have found works wonders to keep me awake during the day is exercise. I used to HATE the idea of exercising, but like you, if I went to bed early, I was almost certain to wake up at least once during the night. It's really hard for me to go right back to sleep too. Anyway, I try and exercise about two hours before I go to sleep. I notice that I sleep a lot better and have more energy during the day. The days I don't exercise, I don't sleep as well and I have no energy the next day. I can definitely see a difference.

Hope this helps!

Hi D.,

I walk with some friends at work during my breaks at 10:00 and 3:00 every day. We walk inside our building and do some stairs too. The walking increases our energy level, reduces stress, refreshes the mind and we have great conversation too. My walking buddies are a great source for support and a smile too. Maybe you could try this too. barb

Girl...you are a newlywed, that is why you have little energy=) It does take a while to adjust to a new schedule, remember what it was like going back to school after summer vacation? Yoga really helps me mentally wind down at the end of the day and taking a breather at work even for five minutes just walking the department floor will help keep the blood flowing and keep your energy up.

I have a sit-down job as well. It's really hard some days to find energy to even look at the computer screen! LOL

I'm also anemic which really puts a burden on my energy levels. The trick is to get as much iron from energy-boosting foods like all the major green veggies and good vitamins from a health-food store. I don't like the vitamins with a lot of sugars and carbs because it creates "false" energy.

Get up every hour and walk, even if it's just for 5 min. You'll feel much better. Set a timer if you have to.

Get plenty of rest (I had that schedule until just recently for well over 5 years) and drink TONS of water to keep the energy flowing through your body.

If you still find you're getting tired after about a month of this routine (I takes a while to build up to energy, believe it or not), then I'd definitely go see your doctor. Health food stores also carry a product that's all-natural to help boost your energy (pill form) but I can't remember the name. Life Grocery on Roswell Road would know. :)

S.

Hi D.,

Try fitting in a 20 minute workout in the mornings or take a brisk walk during your lunch hour. Exercise is the most natural way to energize yourself.

Oh, welcome to parenthood! I yawn constantly!

Seriously, have you considered working out at lunch-time? It really helps me. Also, make sure that you are taking breaks every 15 minutes (stretches, push-ups, walking, anything) just for a minute or two.

You sound very happy. Congrats and nap when you can!
S.

First of all, thank your lucky stars you sit at a desk! I used to sit at a desk, now I stand and walk around a classroom of about 30 eighth graders! I must be insane! Anyway, you've got to give yourself time and STAY ORGANIZED!! Cook evening meals in advance and schedule your other household chores, so that when you come home you can have time to unwind, get a little exercise in, or just plain CRASH! You should be o.k. in about another month or two. Goodluck! P.S. Take a multivitamin daily and try to get at least eight hours of sleep.

Yerba Mate is a great tea (especially when you get the mint flavored) that can be iced or hot, I immediatly notice a difference and there is no caffine, just helps boosts the natural energy.

By 10AM, your blood sugar has probably bottomed out from breakfast, so you might be reaching for a candy bar or cookie to perk up your energy. Be wary of that, as it only causes the same cycle within about 30 minutes. Try some cheese or nuts, instead - something with protein.

After lunch, around 2PM, your body is busy processing what you've eaten for lunch. A lot of the oxygen and energy required for digestion is diverted to your stomach. Get up and walk around your office, or parking lot for about 5-10 minutes. *Really* walk - with arms pumping and purpose in your step, not just strolling. That gets the adrenaline moving, fills your lungs with some extra oxygen, and then you're ready to get back to work and focus without the yawns.

Good luck with your job!

Hi, I'm S. yes with three kids you really need to take vitamins they seem to help, the ones at the health food store are great.

Yoga is a great way to get the blood flowing. Step away from your desk and do a few down dogs, cat stretches, and sun salutations. Clear your mind and enjoy your breath. Tell yourself some awakening affirmations. I am vitally awake :) Take deep breaths. Often we feel tired when sitting at a desk all day because of conditioning. Your body is sedentary, so it thinks sleeping should follow. Try to snack on protein as much as you can. Do take a vitamin, especially B-12 for energy. On the weekends, get some exercise in a form you really enjoy. Challenge yourself with going a little more vigorous than you're inclined, and you may find you kick it into a higher gear. I wouldn't worry anything is wrong. I think what you're experiencing is normal.
C. at Loving Hands Family Child Care

D.,
From a sleeping perspective this website may help: www.cet.org take the MEQ quiz. I was at a lighting conference earlier in the year which discussed how you sleep and the best time for you to sleep is based on your internal clock, and obviously how lighting effects your sleep pattern.
They stated that since everyone produces melatonin at a certain time of day, going to bed at the right time will give you more energy, aid in depression, and help your mood. Just thought this might help.

Hi D., it sounds like the only reason you are tired is because you are now doing less activity. Try going for a walk during lunch or doing a curves work out, 30 min. Just going to lunch and sitting again is making you so tired. Keep moving and you will feel better, vitamins also help there are some great ones made just for women. Good luck, M.

www.liselottegifts.com

Hi D.. I just read your posting, and I have a couple of suggestions for you. I am a Personalized Health Consultant with a B.S. in Health and Exercise Science and Mom of course. My name is K.. I live in Woodstock.

From my experience in the Health and Wellness field, vitamins are definitely a must for energy. I would like to recommend them in the form of multivitamins and/or in energy drinks especially the B-vitamins. Since there are so many products out there, I recommend a product line that I use myself. Its found only online. The vitamins come from Nutrilite (Double X is the multivitamin) and the drinks come from XS. Both can be found at www.meiteam.com (password: nutrition). If you want to find out info on each company, you can check out there websites at: www.nutrilite.com and www.xsblast.com.

Each product also has been third-party tested through www.consumerlabs.com and www.bevnet.com. Always do your research on any health product. I tell all my clients that the Wellness Industry is loosely regulated, so be aware before you buy.

Hope this helps. If you would like more help on this subject, please feel free to email me at (____@____.com) or even call ###-###-####).

K. Miles
Personalized Health Consultant
B.S. Exercise and Health Science

Hi, I suggest that you do see your doctor to test for anemia and hormone levels (especially thyroid). I would stay away from all caffeinated things. In the meantime, try taking Floravital with iron and herbs, it's really great for anemia (also good for children). You can purchase it at Whole Foods. From now on, you should be taking a good multivitamin everyday. Pure Essence Labs makes an excellent brand. If your adrenal glands are shot, you can become quite fatigued.
Dr. Millie Holiday, at Quintessential Health Care (Atlanta area) is my homeopathic physician. She turned my life around for the better. The treatments are catered to your own body type. Hope this helps.
Be Well,
S.