How are your energy levels?

[lilmutegirl]

I have noticed I get drained pretty easily. Usually in the morning, I'm all gung-ho, but by afternoon, I want to just sit and not get up...
My lack of energy has greatly affected my life, since I have been avoiding things that require energy. Procrastinating makes me even more anxious.
I have told myself for years that I need to change my eating habits and exercise to feel better (physically and emotionally). I don't know at what point it will be bad enough for me to actually take action.

 

[surewhynot]

That's basically the vicious cycle of depression: you feel depressed so you do nothing all day, which makes you feel even worse and even less motivated to do something the next day. Next thing you know you're barely eating, spending half the day in bed and the other half being unproductive.

Getting out of that habit can be pretty tricky but it's definitely possible. Maybe take a piece of paper and write some goals you'd like to achieve (like taking a walk every day, going to the pool every weekend, cooking healthy meals instead of frozen meals, riding a bicycle to work, anything) and some steps you can take to reach them. Take it slowly, baby steps, and don't give up!

 

[Hellhound]

Normal, "ok", not bad thanks to anti-depressants. Before them, it was near to zero.

 

[theoutsider]

I have similar experiences, lilmutegirl. In the morning I am ready to take on the world. By the afternoon, I just want to zone out and stare into space. I started taking 5 Hour Energy in the afternoons and for a while it made a world of difference but I think my body may have gotten used to is because it became less and less effective (also, at around $3 a bottle it was getting kind of costly). I also got a little worried about the amount of caffeine. I did some research on natural energy boosters and came up with a daily combination of vitamin E, Ginseng, Biotin and Ginkgo Biloba (this also helps sharpen your memory). Now I don't take the 5 Hour Energy anymore but I feel better where energy levels are concerned.

 

[MikeyC]

Procrastinating

This is one reason why your energy levels are down. When you're unmotivated to get to an errand, you wait and wait and before you know it you just don't have the intensity anymore, so you procrastinate more and more. Trying to get something done fast is a good way to increase energy levels.

I have told myself for years that I need to change my eating habits and exercise to feel better (physically and emotionally). I don't know at what point it will be bad enough for me to actually take action.

You will not believe what a good diet and some exercise will do for your energy. Add in decent sleep and you have the ingredients for an energy bonanza. It does take some discipline and motivation at first, but after three or four days you will notice the benefits.

That's basically the vicious cycle of depression: you feel depressed so you do nothing all day, which makes you feel even worse and even less motivated to do something the next day. Next thing you know you're barely eating, spending half the day in bed and the other half being unproductive.

Getting out of that habit can be pretty tricky but it's definitely possible. Maybe take a piece of paper and write some goals you'd like to achieve (like taking a walk every day, going to the pool every weekend, cooking healthy meals instead of frozen meals, riding a bicycle to work, anything) and some steps you can take to reach them. Take it slowly, baby steps, and don't give up!

All of this. :thumbup:

 

[PugofCrydee]

for me it depends on the day. some days im all full on, a real busy bee. Others I cant be stuffed doing much. When I'm depressed it's worse of course.

But as Surewhynot said, its a vicious cycle if you don't keep your blood sugar levels at a reasonable level.

One of the tricks the brain plays, is when you start to get low blood sugar, ppl can get in a bad mood. They eat, they feel better. Its another inbuilt survival mechanism.

But depression CAN kill off appetite. Then we just feel more depressed.
I've personally experienced this. Now I am aware of the signs that my body needs fuel.

 

[Argentum]

When I started changing my eating habits, I found that small things built up. I never would have been able to immediately cut out any and all junk, but it was easy to make a point to swap out soda for water and home cook at least one meal a day using fresh ingredients.

I've been sliding again, though...

 

[Lavinialuna]

Changing my diet made a HUGE difference. I was once almost bedridden at one point, and although I am still digging my way out of that hole, I am much improved.
If I could offer any advice, it is this:
Cut processed foods (the chemicals are killer on our bodies)
Eat fresh whole foods
Real anything is better for you than fake anything (like butter vs margarine)
Take supplements and get plenty of iron and magnesium, also vitamin D3

Once you do this for a little while the energy will improve slowly and you can up your exercise slowly.

I agree with Argentum, little changes over a long period of time will be changes more likely to last. Good luck!