How much has your energy level improved? - 3 Fat Chicks on a Diet Weight Loss Community

McFatsNoMo · 06-16-2009, 05:18 AM

I'm about 70 lbs overweight. I frequently find myself feeling tired and exhausted, even with 8+ hours of sleep.

Sometimes I dismiss social outings or procrastinate because I feel too tired, and I take on less responsibilities because I don't know if I can handle much without feeling exhausted. I'm a student, and my main focus is on school at the moment.

Tomorrow I am going to ask the doctor about this, but more likely than not she will point out my weight and its corresponding lifestyle habits.

I am attacking my weight problem once and for all. I'm hoping my lack of energy is due to my weight, because that is fixable.

I'm just curious for those of you who have lost significant amounts of weight and are close to a healthy BMI - how were your energy levels at your high weight, and how are they now? Would you say there is a huge difference in the amount of responsibilities and activities you can take on due to the increased energy levels? Any other comments?

Thanks

Iconised Ghost · 06-16-2009, 06:04 AM

i didnt have as much to lose, and i still have a way to go, but i can say my energy levels have definately improved, especially in summer when its hot. Its prob due to a lot of things not just the weight loss- like eating lower GI foods, better nutrition, greater fitness, not wasting energy on worrying how i look etc

RubyGuggenheim · 06-16-2009, 07:02 AM

My energy has improved significantly since I started losing weight. I used to constantly feel listless and tired at work, and I couldn't wait til five o'clock because then I could go home and get into bed and watch TV. Now I spend the day bouncing around the office and I can't wait til five o'clock so I can get the **** out of there and jog and go do things.

It's nice

.

beautifulmess · 06-16-2009, 07:36 AM

Is it weird that I'm not like, ever sleepy? I don't know why but I just stayed up all night and I'm not really sleepy. At all.

Biju · 06-16-2009, 08:09 AM

I'm sure that you will feel more energy when you drop the weight. I just dropped 20 lbs. and I feel much better.

But be careful about getting too much sleep. If you sleep more than 7-8 hours you will likely be tired from oversleeping. Look up some articles on the amount of sleep that adults should get. It's actually unhealthy to get more than 8 hours!!

KnitALisa · 06-16-2009, 11:18 AM

McFatsNoMo - Love the name! I would also ask your doctor about the possibility of mono. I just got over a bout of it and in the beginning, just thought I was tired because of my job (working with children), school, and sorority. Whoops! Hello, mono! The other possibility you may need to consider is depression. I know that when I went through some a couple years ago, I was always too tired to do anything. Worth thinking about...

Of course, all your tiredness could be due to lifestyle. When are you sleeping: at night or during the day? What kinds of foods do you eat? Do you get any exercise?

While I'm no where near close to my goal, I know that cutting out the junk and adding exercise has definately increased my energy levels. Let us know what the doc says!

sprklemajik · 06-16-2009, 12:58 PM

I'm no where near goal, but the difference in my energy levels are amazing. I'm a different person... It's not all the weight I'm sure, part is the feel good of exercising and better nutrition.

DCchick · 06-16-2009, 01:29 PM

I"m with you! For the past two weeks, even after 7-8hrs of sleep, I wake up exhausted! And I'm tired at work all day so it's hard to get motivated to go to the gym afterwards! I've seen a sleep specialist, so I know I dont have Sleep Apnea or anything...hopefully dropping this weight will help!

stellarosa27 · 06-16-2009, 02:05 PM

I find that no matter what weight I'm at, if I'm exercising regularly my energy levels are much higher than if I do not.

StarCarly · 06-16-2009, 02:42 PM

When I was at school, I literally NEEDED a nap at 3:00 in the afternoon every day. Even caffeine couldn't keep me alert. As soon as I reduced my intake of refined carbs, my energy levels have shot through the roof. In fact, it has been my most noticeable change since starting the diet.

rosekeet · 06-16-2009, 04:08 PM

I think WHEN I'm energetic has changed. I know some people are all perky after working out, but not me. I'm pooped! If I've worked out hard, I fall asleep like a ROCK at night.

You might also ask your doctor to check your thyroid levels. I'm dealing with a thyroid issue right now. If you're thyroid levels are out of wack it can make you sleepy and cause lots of other things including depression, hair loss, skin things, even weight issues.

chicky viv · 06-17-2009, 06:41 PM

Yes I know how you feel. I use to be a healthy and active at but now that a gained weight I am felling way more tried. I would blame it on school and work but now that I graduated a few weeks ago I still feel tried all the time. I live in las vegas so my friends and I would go party all the time then I would go to school the next morning then work but now I just can't keep up as well as I fell fat so I don't want to dress up. This extra 10/15 pounds really made a difference in my energy leve I hate it.