How do you get the energy to get through the day?

I don't think 6 to 7 hours is enough sleep to be honest. Can you have one or two nights when you sleep longer? This will benefit you at least as much as the exercise does. I also think you could be suffering from depression - clinical depression isn't 'feeling sad' and can in fact manifest as not feeling very much at all. But feeling exhausted is a very common symptom. Please make an appointment to see your GP and explain how much you've got on your plate right now. Could you possibly arrange for some carers to come in and do the morning and evening routine with your parent? That would free you up to get your work done earlier and have a few early nights.

I am not surprised you are feeling so low after 4 years caring for your mum, that is really tough. You should def do whatever it takes to look after yourself and start feeling more resourced.

As others have said, there is no way I could do that amount of exercise and sleep that little. In your shoes I would try spending the extra hour in bed for a couple of weeks and see how you feel. For those asking how people get a lot of sleep: I am a single parent with a full time job and am studying on top. I just go to bed really early! (It is unusual for me to be up this late.) I usually get 8 hours and feel crap if I don't.

Just seen your further post about being a full time carer to your parent. No wonder you’re exhausted. It’s unbelievably stressful physically and mentally. I know from personal experience. When was the last time you had a break/respite period?
Well done to you. It’s SO tough and you sound like you’re doing a great job. But you can’t pour from an empty cup and maybe you’re body is trying to tell you that.

You need to get some help with the parent with dementia or to consider a home op. This is the most draining situation. I doing want my children to exhaust themselves and their lives disappearing looking after me, thus would devastate me tbh, so please stop. Put yourself first and start handing over. I speak from experience, it’s a VERY long road that only gets worse.

Sounds as though you actually have depression? Main symptoms are lethargy, lack of joy, lack of enjoying anything that you once used to?

If I did that much exercise I would be wiped. After school run I sit on the sofa, eat a pastry and drink a cup of coffee in front of the TV. It energises me for the day! I tried the exercising in the morning thing and it did not energise me one bit - just felt crap all day.

No DC and no choice, my body says sleep and I crash
Whether that's an afternoon nap or 11hrs of sleep

Who are these people getting 9 hours sleep?! I assume no kids or kids are out of the nest. Or have kids and don’t work? Or a full time, live in au pair doing all the cleaning, cooking, planning, etc. 9 hours sleep would take away the only waking time I have without kids or work, or something else that needs doing, let alone a moment to doomscroll.

Genuinely would like to know!

Good luck OP. Exercise can be invigorating after you do it and give you energy, but bear in mind if you’re doing it that early your muscles (and body) will be out for the count pretty early in the day as well. Well done for doing it with such regularity though!

How old are you? Could be hormonal? Low testosterone would affect energy and drive. That said, from the way yoy write and describe thing, it sounds like could be something more mental than physical?

HRT. No longer feel like I need a nanna nap in the afternoon.

Not an expert at all but I would be exhausted getting up at 6 and exercising for an hour 5 days a week.

Try cutting out the exercise for two of those days and sleep in instead.

It's coffee for me. I know you said you gave up caffeine.. also if you're walking or cycling every day Id cut back on the early morning exercise and get a few days where you sleep longer instead

Cocaine and caviar my dear !

I could have written this myself. It sucks!

I drink coffee, sorry op 😁

I was exercising a lot at one point and gave up caffeine. Looking back I don’t know how it took me so long to realise that it was making me feel absolutely wiped out and exhausted. I think you should exercise less, sleep more and I would allow yourself a cup of tea or coffee a day, although I realise you’ve given it up for ages so may not want to!

You’re not getting enough sleep. You don’t need to do an hour of exercise and weights PLUS go for a walk/cycle every day. Why not wake up a bit later a few days a week? What do you do to recharge/relax?

your body needs rest days in between exercise days to rebuild muscle, no rest day your just in break down all the time. That’s probably why your tired.
Enough amino acids every day from high quality meat - offal, gelatine or collagen if you prefer.
vitamin b - I take three doses of vitamin b complex every day. It’s like crack it gives you so much energy.
electrolyte powder
timed caffeine to get you through the day

Sorry you are feeling like this I know how it feels. I would go back to GP and say you are still having issues, I was put on iron tablets last month and that made a massive difference for me. Keep going with the regular exercise, make sure you are getting a well balance protein rich diet and enough carbs. Maybe trying to go to bed a bit earlier and evening wind down.

Get more sleep. 8-9 hours is what I get.
Do you enjoy exercise? Because you're doing it an awful lot (as well as walking and getting fresh air every day you say?!) You need something to actually fill your cup, for me it's sitting in peace and quiet and reading. Id rather do that with a coffee and I'll feel more rested and ready to face the day. By all means exercise but weights 3x a week and then a lunchtime stroll with an audio book or pod cast the other days would be enough. Use your other time to do something to recharge your mind, whether that's crochet or reading or binge watching something or even just scrolling tbh

Also this!

A change of mindset could help. You're obviously looking after yourself by eating well and working out etc but seeing all these things as a chore rather than getting enjoyment out of them. Try different types of exercise that is fun such as dancing or snowboarding or rock climbing, not the normal mundane stuff. Go for walks in interesting places etc, things will seem less of a drag if you get more enjoyment from them.
How is your mental health? Something underlying like depression could be also making you feel this way x