How did you increase your energy levels?

[ChillysWaterBottle]

I am very tired at the moment. Other than caffeine, which doesn't seem to work on me for some reason, what have you done to improve your energy levels?

I do it full time. And I don’t eat meat!

Wow! I did about 6 months the first time, but gradually reintroduced things, and then every now and then do a month really on it for a boost. I wouldn’t actually want to do it full time, I enjoy a bit of junk food and a glass of wine every now and then, and it’s very difficult to eat any convenient food or have a meal out. But I do feel awesome when I do it (at least after the first week of detox!)

For me, it's diet, iron supplements, exercise and restricting/cutting out booze and sugar that works.

100% agree. Yoga and sleep will make fuck all difference to anaemia

Ive just ordered an Anaemia Test Kitt off Amazon, might be useful if you think you might be anaemia. I’m always a bit borderline and my energy levels reduce even further in winter. I’ve ordered Ferrous Fulmate too. I got them prescribed by doc a while back and they seemed to be gentler than the ferrous sulphate previously prescribed.

My docs are terrible for making non emergency appointments otherwise I’d do it through them.

oh dear - please excuse my terrible spelling and grammar

Another call to address the anemia first off. I was really low, in iron, had been taking iron tablets from the go but still woke up after a good nights sleep feeling exhausted. I didn't realise how bad it was until I'd been treated with iron infusions, I assumed that busy people are always knackered. But no, the difference was amazing not only improved energy levels but all round well being, I felt by fitness, concentration and mood had all been transformed and the fix was fairly simple.

A bucket load of iron

Ooh I'm listening!

This sounds right up my street.

Did you lose weight? Did you spend a lot of money?
was it very time consuming?

Yeah I'll definitely look into the anaemia but tbh this was linked to the birth which was a year ago now and I felt fine right up until my baby's sleep went to sh*t about 6 weeks ago (due to a horrible viral respiratory infection), so I think right now it's very much lack of sleep that's the culprit. Happy to try anything to get my energy up until baby's sleep resettles, we were doing so well until this infection and now we're waking up multiple times a night and taking up to 3 hours to resettle. I wish caffeine worked for me lol.

Remembrance of God.

Have your GP repeat the blood work and check ALL parameters - not just iron and Vitamin D

Cut out alcohol, sugar, refined carbs and UPF. Eat lots of vegetables and a moderate amount of lean protein instead (chicken, fish, eggs, yoghurt).

And, as a PP mentioned: exercise! Strange as it seems, you'll feel more energetic after regular workouts. Try Lucy Wyndham Read (beginners), Growingannanas (HIIT with and without dumbbells), and/or Caroline Girvan (if you are fairly fit and up for a challenge). All free on YouTube.

W30 is a really strict, 30 days elimination diet, everything is online and it’s free. It’s basically super clean, paleo style. For the first week you feel like hell but you do feel awesome once it kicks in. After the 30 day, you reintroduce the different food groups and see how they affect you, and in theory decide what you will keep or ditch forever to create a personal diet that suits you. I tend to do a round, gradually reintroduce stuff until I feel wretched again and then do another round.
i did lose weight, in my first round I lost 11lbs. It is time consuming in that you have to cook and prep everything you eat as it’s all ‘clean’. It can be expensive as the foods you are allowed are fresh ingredients. It definitely changes the way you think about food and your food behaviours. And to go back to the original thread, it gives you the most awesome energy, clear head, and just zing to life that makes you feel amazing.

Had more rest.
Caught up on sleep. And stayed in bed longer when woke up.

More information on the W30 diet from WebMD:

www.webmd.com/diet/what-is-the-whole30-diet

It is very similar to what I suggested above, except that I do not cut out dairy completely as I do eat (full-fat) yoghurt, as well as healthy oils like EVOO. Also, it is "more of a food challenge than a long-term change", and I think a long-term change in lifestyle is the way to go.

I feel infinitely better, and more energetic, since I started eating healthily and exercising seriously.

Thank you! I searched it up on MN and saw lots of your posts, you did it for ages!

im now on day 2.

I did Paelo for about 18 months but that was a long time ago, probably 6 years.

So I'm up for this challenge! I've just been googling Baba Ganoush, that's my next recipe to rustle up!

I am nearly 40 and I have more energy now than I ever ad when I was younger. I was born in the 80s and grew up with a high carb diet. I was never a fussy eater as a child. I lived vegetables and stuffing and Christmas dinners and I lived a lot of food. My parents probably had limited knowledge on diet. Breakfast was cereals, lunch was breaded sandwichs and dinner was potatoes and veg.

I started experiencing issues with tiredness in my teens and also leg cramps at night time.

I came into my 20s and I suppose I never knew how to eat properly.

I went inti my 30s and I started taking supplements and I changed my diet around to rely on less and less carbs. So maybe eggs and veg for breakfast. Soup and a wrap for lunch. Things like that.

I wouldn't be able to keep going if it wasn't for the supplements I am on.

Every morning before breakfast I take a vit C tablet or a iron and vit C and folic acid complex before breakfast. Depends on what's in my stash as the time. Then after breakfast I take a cod liver oil capsule and that has vitamin D. At night I take magnesium. These are always consistent. Other times I add in other supplements here and there but the three above are always consistent. I wouldn't be able to keep going. I would be confident I would be dead right now if it wasn't for the increased energy. My work role is too demanding. I've worked pretty much 80 hours this week and counting. If I had the energy I had in my 20s, I wouldnt be able to do this and its horrible and I think I would top myself because I would get a break in a coffin.

You have a little one, it might take a while to not feel tired again... Its hard, go easy on yourself, eat well, sleep when you can. Your body has been through a lot.