Fatigue every afternoon - How can I get more energy?

Two more possible helps: omit white foods, cut Simple Carbs such as crackers, bread and pasta, sugars bc they pop ur blood sugar up and cause sleepiness/sluggishness among more serious illnesses. Stick with with salads, some raw veggies, avocado slice, soups for lunch. Also, get tested for Histamine Intolerance. Reactions to histamine in foods causes great sleepiness and headache about 30 to 60 min after eating histamine. This happens in ppl whose body doesn’t produce Diamine Oxidase enzyme which breaks down histamine into a harmless substance. There is an enzyme supplement of Diamine Oxidase on Amazon called Histamine Blocker or Histamine Manager. Look up list of Histamine foods. Eat some avocado alone, wait 30 to 60 min and see if you get sleepy and headache.

Thanks for the visual and laugh over the “lights out” switch!!

I’m 65 and find that I get very sleepy in the afternoon or after I eat unless I keep moving. I make my living as a writer and find that on days when I don’t get a physical workout in and I’m sitting at the computer writing most of the day, I am exhausted and feel like I am 100. On days when I get up and go for a brisk walk or a run or go to a weight training exercise class that gets my heart rate up, I have a lot of energy all day. It’s the old physics rule of inertia: “An object in motion tends to stay in motion, an object at rest stays at rest.” It always surprises me (although this has been happening to me for 40 years now) how much energy I have for the rest of the day after an hour of intense exercise. A leisurely stroll won’t do it though. I go to a Group Power class at my gym every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5 pm and the people in the class range from their twenties to seventies. Those of us who are in the older group go religiously to avoid becoming frail (we do 160 squats over the course of the hour along with other weight exercises for the entire body). One is a medical researcher and another is an attorney, both still working — and they swear that this class keeps their minds sharp while it keeps their bodies strong. I have osteoporosis (have broken 14
bones in the past ) and this class has strengthened my bones (along with Reclast) considerably. Recent research now suggests that regular exercise also leads to milder cases of Covid if you get it. It truly is the fountain of youth for me. I also agree with the person who posted that white sugar, flour and other refined or over-processed foods cause a quick surge of energy and then profound fatigue. Salads, nuts, beans and other whole foods make a big difference in my energy levels as well. These are lifestyle changes that work for me but make sure there isn’t a medical problem by doing a thorough physical checkup with your doc as well - especially if you are out of shape, before embarking on a new exercise plan. Build up slowly— incrementally day by day. The first three
months of my weight class, I used light weights and only did as many reps as felt comfortable and didn’t let my ego push me too far too fast— older tendons and ligaments need slow, smooth movements and
excellent form to avoid injury. I hope this helps!

Go with the flow. If that's what your body needs then take that nap and enjoy it. I'm 71 and in bed by 9pm, what can you do? Our bodies are changing and luckily, in my case, I don't have to get up and out for work anymore...good luck !

Wow, I'm tired just reading what you do...and at 5pm...good for you ! Question, regarding your next to the last sentence, I agree. However, I have friends, like me in our early 70's, who play Pickle ball and have knee problems. I think it has to do with the sport. What are your thoughts on people in their 70's playing Pickle Ball?

Protein is extremely important to the body and as we age we need more of it than when we were younger. So I suggest you look into how much protein you get from your diet and supplement it with protein powder as required

@susanop

You could be my sister. I will be 82 in April and have been going to a senior active gym class on the same days as you do for the past 9 years…weight bearing, cardio, stretching, balance. I also have osteoporosis (no drugs) and started out with 4 pound weights and now use 7 in class and 8 at home. I also walk every single day, rain or shine for 1.5 to over 2 depending on how hot or cold it is here.

All the exercise in the world goes by the wayside if your diet consists of white flour products and processed foods. I have slowly changed mine over the years and love the way I eat. I have amazing energy, am up around 6 daily but , very often, take a short nap in the late afternoon…or at least lie down and rest if I feel the need.
I have no underlying organic medical conditions other than osteoporosis and don’t take any medications except vitamins. My bedtime could be 10 or 11.

I don’t feel (and think I don’t look) my age. I have always been surrounded by family and grandkids and watched them grow up to be young adults. They are an amazing influence and I consider myself supremely lucky to be able to know all their friends and interact with them…(two of them live across the breezeway from me). My granddaughter taught me how to hip hop years ago. They are all in or soon to be graduated from college with their own relationships but we are a close knit family and I am one of two remaining grandparents in our extended family.

I add all that to my feeing of well being and maybe genes play a part too. Personally, to all, I would reassess your diet and maybe start to overhaul it first which will give you the energy to start an exercise program…whatever you are capable of.

I love to read stories about anyone who continues to approach life and aging in a vigorous and mindful way.

Good going !

FL Mary

One of the 14 bones I broke over my lifetime was my patella (kneecap) and my ortho suspects that I injured something beneath it as well, because my knee acts up occasionally if do quick, sudden, side to side movements such as in basketball, tennis or raquetball. I haven't played pickle ball, but I have seen others do so and suspect that the movements are similar to the other problematic sports I mentioned. I can run four miles with three screws in my hip or do 100 floors on the Stairmaster at Level 7, and my knee is okay. But often when I do quick or sudden movements in a fitness class, it acts up. Maybe that is what your friends are experiencing? PS: I know, 5 pm was a hard time for me as well (I used to work out at 4:45 a.m. when I was working full time and was raising a young foster child with special needs, so I'd work out early and be back home by 7 to wake him up and get him off to school. I'm definitely a lark, not an owl. But 5 pm was the only time that the classes were offered, so I had to decide if I was going to make a commitment to get stronger bones, rather than letting my skeleton turn to dust. I'm used to it now -- again, the key is not lying down or sitting down in late afternoon when energy starts to fade. I have half a cup of coffee, envision what I will look and feel like in 10 years if I DON'T go (my 95-year-old mother is in a wheelchair due to osteoporosis), and MAKE myself get in the car and go. Once I'm there, I'm okay -- it's always nice to see my comrades in fitness showing up and cheering one another on. None of us is willing to "go gently into that good night"! Rather, as Dylan Thomas would say, we are the ones who will "rage, rage against the dying of the light." Sorry -- the writer in me couldn't resist. ;-}

Mary, we could be sisters, you're right! I wish we lived close to each other. I'd walk with you, but I'm in Oak Park, Illinois -- not sure where you are.

I totally agree about the diet. Many many recent studies prove your point that a bad, inflammatory diet undermines any good that exercise does. Good, high-quality fuel must come first -- then you can hit the gas pedal on your human "car" and zoom through the life!

I have been plant-based for over a decade and it has changed my life. People often wrongly assume that there is no protein in veggies, but there is quite a bit and often it is more bioavailable than in meat -- without the saturated fat and carcinagenic acrylamides that form during high-heat cooking. I have an autoimmune disease (psoriasis) and all of skin lesions gradually faded and then disappeared after I gave up meat and dairy and eggs (which is good, because the skin lesions are only the tip of the iceberg -- the inflammation that causes the immune system to go into overdrive also increases the risk of cancer and heart disease in psoriasis sufferers by about 30%). So this diet not only keeps me young (124 pounds at 5'7.5" -- 35 pounds lighter than before I gave up meat and dairy and eggs), but keeps me alive. I'd love to hear more about your diet. Keep in touch, Mary. You rock!

Susan

Agree with the others that diet will play a huge role... especially the comments about refined carbs.

Been on keto for almost four years... dropped a few pounds without ever being hungry, now experience no post-meal sluggishness, and it got ALL my blood work labs in the normal range (including my A1C -- no more pre-diabetes! -- and excellent cholesterol / trigs values).

Realize keto may not be for everyone (it does take discipline) , but I didn't have that much trouble switching over to it... and I can even enjoy SMALL amounts of the foods that I miss the most without upsetting my blood glucose.

Good luck!

/LarryG