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Old 01-27-21, 11:23 AM  
kat999
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Ohio
I'm 45, and that combined with the pandemic has made me kind of all over the place with random small health concerns, perimenopause, and lack of motivation attributable to a combo of anxiety and depression. I decided that FOR ME, the best tactic was to shake up my workout regime and do something every day, even if I didn't feel like it, and even if it was just gentle walking to a Leslie video or something. Now I'm dropping weight and feel good again, but it took really shaking things up.

Erica, it could be some perimenopause combined with emotional fears and maybe simple things like sleep deprivation and dehydration.

The comedian Paula Poundstone has an adage that has stuck with me: if you feel bad in any way (mental or physical), drink a glass of water and lie down. To extend that some more, the "lying down" could be a nap or just some meditation, or even just reclining while reading or something. Nine times out of ten, if I do those things, I feel better and have more motivation.

Oh, one last thing: consider changing the time of day you work out. I was doing it late afternoon all last year, and my New Year's resolution for 2021 was to switch that up so I can't second guess myself and not do it. So for weeks now, I've been hopping out of bed at 7 am and am dressed and ready to hit "play" on the DVD player to work out no later than 8 am. I'm usually still so sleepy a few minutes before I start that I don't have enough mental energy to second guess myself. However, if you usually work out in the mornings and find you're too tired, switch to a later schedule; maybe you'll have slightly more energy and motivation by then.

It is OKAY to take rest days, btw, for any reason. But if you're concerned that you "shouldn't" be, then easing back into something gentle and trying to change your routine could help.
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Old 01-27-21, 11:53 AM  
Erica H.
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Quote:
Originally Posted by kat999 View Post
I'm 45, and that combined with the pandemic has made me kind of all over the place with random small health concerns, perimenopause, and lack of motivation attributable to a combo of anxiety and depression. I decided that FOR ME, the best tactic was to shake up my workout regime and do something every day, even if I didn't feel like it, and even if it was just gentle walking to a Leslie video or something. Now I'm dropping weight and feel good again, but it took really shaking things up.

Erica, it could be some perimenopause combined with emotional fears and maybe simple things like sleep deprivation and dehydration.

The comedian Paula Poundstone has an adage that has stuck with me: if you feel bad in any way (mental or physical), drink a glass of water and lie down. To extend that some more, the "lying down" could be a nap or just some meditation, or even just reclining while reading or something. Nine times out of ten, if I do those things, I feel better and have more motivation.

Oh, one last thing: consider changing the time of day you work out. I was doing it late afternoon all last year, and my New Year's resolution for 2021 was to switch that up so I can't second guess myself and not do it. So for weeks now, I've been hopping out of bed at 7 am and am dressed and ready to hit "play" on the DVD player to work out no later than 8 am. I'm usually still so sleepy a few minutes before I start that I don't have enough mental energy to second guess myself. However, if you usually work out in the mornings and find you're too tired, switch to a later schedule; maybe you'll have slightly more energy and motivation by then.

It is OKAY to take rest days, btw, for any reason. But if you're concerned that you "shouldn't" be, then easing back into something gentle and trying to change your routine could help.
Thank you! I'm glad you found something that works for you and you are seeing results.

For me, I'm post-menopause, struggling with insomnia for a long time, and have had crazy lab work results in the last year and my doctor has no idea what is causing them. She referred me to six specialists, which I don't have the $$ for. I wish there were one doctor who could look at my symptoms and lab work and figure out what is going on. And it would help a lot to know if this is true physical fatigue or just being lazy.

I am definitely not dehydrated, though. I actually have to cut back on my fluids since I drink so much that my sodium levels become dangerously low!

Erica
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Old 01-27-21, 12:06 PM  
kat999
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Ohio
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Originally Posted by Erica H. View Post
Thank you! I'm glad you found something that works for you and you are seeing results.

For me, I'm post-menopause, struggling with insomnia for a long time, and have had crazy lab work results in the last year and my doctor has no idea what is causing them. She referred me to six specialists, which I don't have the $$ for. I wish there were one doctor who could look at my symptoms and lab work and figure out what is going on. And it would help a lot to know if this is true physical fatigue or just being lazy.

I am definitely not dehydrated, though. I actually have to cut back on my fluids since I drink so much that my sodium levels become dangerously low!

Erica
Eep! Well, I'm glad it's not DEhydration, then! I'm so sorry you're not getting physical answers. The insomnia may actually be a big part of it, though. Sleep deprivation affects everything from mood to energy level to weight to even our tendency to get injured. The sleep deprivation itself could have a separate underlying cause, it could be a symptom of something else either emotional or physical, or it could be a part of the bloodwork problem. But it's still a symptom that may be more manageable yourself than some of the other stuff, so consider ways to improve sleep hygiene if you haven't already and that may help the energy level.
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Old 01-27-21, 05:44 PM  
prettyinpink
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Yes. I try not to take more than one at a time, if rest means being completely sedentary.

Maybe some short floor workouts would be good right now. Sometimes I do this when I have already had my rest but am tired with low energy. A short mat Pilates, or a lower body floor workout with leg lifts, clams, a plank, a few pushups. Just something where I use muscles.
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Old 01-27-21, 05:46 PM  
Erica H.
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
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Originally Posted by prettyinpink View Post

Maybe some short floor workouts would be good right now. Sometimes I do this when I have already had my rest but am tired with low energy. A short mat a Pilates, or a lower body floor workout with leg lifts, clams, a plank, a few pushups. Just something where I use muscles.
Thanks. This is what I was thinking about doing earlier, but I couldn't even bring myself to do that. I'm still really tired, but not feeling so weak. I'm hoping to get back to normal with eating and exercising tomorrow. If my workouts are off, I'm just not motivated to eat well either so today was an absolute disaster. Need to get back on track tomorrow!

Erica
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Old 01-27-21, 07:00 PM  
anetta
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Erica:

Have you tried Classical Stretch? My local PBS has episodes at 5:30am that I sometimes dvr or you can try streaming free for 14 days.


Anita
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Old 01-27-21, 07:06 PM  
Erica H.
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
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Originally Posted by anetta View Post
Erica:

Have you tried Classical Stretch? My local PBS has episodes at 5:30am that I sometimes dvr or you can try streaming free for 14 days.


Anita
I haven't, but should!

Erica
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Old 01-27-21, 07:34 PM  
Taiga
 
Join Date: May 2006
Sorry you have to deal with this--challenging times do seem to be on the menu lately but fortunately we can navigate to better waters.

Try to frame it differently in your head. I've had some of my best results during "recovery weeks". You don't need an "excuse" to take time off as longer rest periods often provide you with excellent and necessary information for your fitness journey. Top instructors build recovery weeks into their programs for a reason.

You can do really low demand activities (yin yoga, meditation, peaceful ramble outdoors, stretching) to keep the kinks out while you wait. And if you can't make aerobic or strength gains right now, you can certainly make flexibility gains! It's a thrill to work up to splits and stretching can really increase your performance if and when you get back to your regular workouts. Treat yourself to a totally new experience by embracing the stillness--mb even some fresh new equipment (yoga bolsters, blocks etc) ? You can get significant mental and physical benefits with low level activity (yes, even posed completely still on bolsters).

Your body may pleasantly surprise you during all this! If you take a different route and discover energy, flexibility, better sleep and mental wellness, then you can thank yourself for allowing the discovery
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Old 01-27-21, 07:42 PM  
Erica H.
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Quote:
Originally Posted by Taiga View Post
Try to frame it differently in your head. I've had some of my best results during "recovery weeks". You don't need an "excuse" to take time off as longer rest periods often provide you with excellent and necessary information for your fitness journey. Top instructors build recovery weeks into their programs for a reason.


Your body may pleasantly surprise you during all this! If you take a different route and discover energy, flexibility, better sleep and mental wellness, then you can thank yourself for allowing the discovery
Good point! I've helped my kids a lot by helping them reframe things that were upsetting them and I should do the same for myself. My biggest issue is that my diet goes out the window when I'm not exercising, so I get extremely anxious about gaining weight since I'm not burning calories and actually consuming even more than usual. I start to panic, which results in me turning to even more food to soothe the panicked feeling. I just wish whatever is making me so tired and fatigued would kill my appetite.

Erica
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Old 01-27-21, 08:38 PM  
Taiga
 
Join Date: May 2006
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Originally Posted by Erica H. View Post
Good point! I've helped my kids a lot by helping them reframe things that were upsetting them and I should do the same for myself. My biggest issue is that my diet goes out the window when I'm not exercising, so I get extremely anxious about gaining weight since I'm not burning calories and actually consuming even more than usual. I start to panic, which results in me turning to even more food to soothe the panicked feeling. I just wish whatever is making me so tired and fatigued would kill my appetite.

Erica
Many VFers have reported reduced appetite and weight loss after adopting lower level activity/calming practices. Anxiety and stress can spike cortisol and create hunger and resistant weight loss. So get calming Lol This may be just what your body needs.

In my fitness journey, I have seen so many women derailed by fear of rest. Fear is just another word for cortisol production and it is absolutely counter-productive. Over-exercising can produce cortisol and even lead to adrenal fatigue (electrolyte imbalances are common with this) and immune suppression. If you have abnormal labs, dizziness and exercise intolerance/dread, those are big flags to REST. Those are specifically some of the symptoms that doctors and coaches monitor to determine recovery periods for high tier athletes.
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