Nitty Gritty Fitness

Something about the combination of winter, the cold weather, and the end of the year always seems to drain out all my energy.  You know the feeling I am talking about: you wake up from a decent night of 7 hours of sleep but still feel sluggish and slow.  No matter how many cups of coffee you drown down, you can’t seem to keep yourself alert and awake.  At first I thought my tiredness and lack of energy was abnormal and an area of concern, but this feeling of tiredness and lack of energy is quite common among Americans.  Luckily for us, there are factors that influence how much energy we have on a daily basis and there are lifestyle changes that can be made to help us gain more energy and be more alert.  Here are a few common reasons why we feel tired or sluggish.  When your body is not feeling up to par, it is usually sending you an important message.  The only way to be more energized is to fix the underlying problem!

1. Over-carbed Diet:
Everyone craves carbs.  It is instant gratification to our bodies and our mind.  However there is no way around the fact that processed carbs in foods such as white bread, pasta, cookies, cakes, and so forth causes our blood sugar to rise fast and drop fast.  This instant peak and drop in blood pressure can leave us tired.  It is recommended for us to eat only 50% of carbs, and the majority of it should be composed of complex carbs such as veggies and fruits.
2.  Lack of Water:
Often times women who are constantly tired are simply just not drinking enough water.  The fact of the matter is that dehydration decreases the amount of blood flow to organs.  The lower the blood flow, the more tired we feel.  So one simple solution is to drink more water!
3.  Need for nutrients:
Because of our busy schedules and our hectic lives, more and more Americans are paying less and less attention to what they are eating.  With more people eating out and eating fast food, its clear to see how we are not getting enough nutrients.  Some important minerals that we need on a weekly basis is Omega-3 which can be found in fish and magnesium which can be found in leafy greens.
4.  Skipping out on meals:
Similarly, because of our busy lifestyle and schedules, often times (in women especially) we tend to skip meals.  Instead we replace them with nutrition bars, coffee, or soda.  The simple fact of the matter is that not eating enough can cause blood sugar level to decrease and thus have us weak.  The best way to start off your day is to make sure you get a well balanced breakfast such as with cereals that are rich in fiber and other vitamins and minerals.  This small change can be the simple solution for gaining more energy, mental clarity, and prolonged attention span.
5.  Iron Deficient Anemia:
Many women suffer from mild anemia and are unaware of it; around 10% of women under 50.  If you are prone to having heavy periods, you might be suffering from symptoms of anemia.  People who suffer from anemia do not have enough iron which is important in the production of hemoglobin, which is a red blood cell protein used for transporting energized oxygen in the body.  The easiest way to detect if you have anemia is to get a blood test.  Before you jump to conclusions and take iron supplements, it is best to determine if you are indeed anemic, for high levels of iron can be damaging to the liver.
6.  Lack of B-12 and Folate:
B-12 and folate are also very important for our energy levels.  Often times the culprit is lack of B-12 vitamin which is common in people who do not eat meat.  Both B-12 and folate are necessary for the production of red blood cells.  Many people who are B-12 deficient have benefited from taking B-12 shots or injections.  Having a boost in B-12 have proven to increase not only energy levels, but metabolism as well, aiding weight loss.
7.  Too much time on electronics:
Being glued to our TV, cellphone, and laptops can be very damaging to our bodies.  For one, being glued to our TV causes us to be lazy and forgo exercising.  Being tied down by our cellphones can bog us down because it can cause stress. Spending your whole day in front of a computer is not natural for our bodies.  Our jobs often require us to be in front of electronics, if this is the case, take small breaks to move your body and have a change in scenery.

Emily is a writer in Atlanta.   She enjoys writing about topics that are health or beauty related.  She currently works for a health clinic located in Midtown, Atlanta GA called Look Young Atlanta.

This entry was posted on Saturday, December 17th, 2011 at 4:34 am and is filed under Exercise, Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.