Help with fatigue

[ScarletA]

Hello all,

so I have a pretty busy schedule being that I am working full time and have just started the Natural Chef program and then life and so on and so forth.  But a month in with school and I find that I am more than just a little tired with my new schedule, I am down right fatigued.  my diet is mainly vegetarian, I say mainly because I decided to start introducing fish back into my diet and possibly some poultry in the future.  I guess I've always considered my diet to be pretty good though, and now that I've started at Bauman I am even more conscious of what I am eating, and I don't think I am missing any of the immediate things that come up when you think of vegetarian and fatigue.  I was looking at some herbal remedies, ginsing and licorice are recommended, so I thought I could start there, any thoughts?  suggestions?  more sleep? 

[MistyH]

How is your B12?

[ScarletA]

I thought it was decent, I try to eat enough foods that are enriched with B-12 and I eat a ton of nutritional yeast.  But I was thinking that it just might not be enough.  I had a piece of cod the other day, and I know that is loaded with B12, so that's good, but I'm not planning on doing that daily at this point. 

[NatashaLL]

Before I would even go into supplements, I would ask how your meals spaced out in the day? And how are they balanced?
Starting the day out with protein is pretty important - eggs, quinoa, whey protein.
Spacing out well balanced meals throughout the day is also important. Balanced meaning you have some good quality protein, some good carbohydrates and good fats. Then add a vegetable or two and/or fruit to each meal and you should be getting all your nutrients.
Lifestyle questions also might be good to look at - how early do you go to bed? It is best to go to bed about 3 hours after sunset, but realistically at the very least before 11. Waking up and doing some meditation with affirmations of energy and optimism might also be helpful to be mindful.
Along the mindful line, might also want to make sure you are not so on the go that you don't sit and eat. Good digestion can inhibit your absorption so no matter how many supps you take or how much nutritional yeast you sprinkle, might not be doing much good. Hope that helps.

[ScarletA]

yeah, I am starting to learn that supplements aren't as good as I once thought.  that's one of the reasons why I don't really want to immediately go to that route, I would rather just change my diet properly.  I try to eat regularly, but I think it might be what I'm eating, and you're right, maybe how.  I normally don't eat too much protein in the morning, I start with muesli, which does have some nuts, but really isn't going to be like having eggs or quinoa.  and I do have a problem with slowing down when I eat, I have been trying, as one of my teachers has suggested chewing 30 times to aid in proper digestion.   but I do think the biggest factor is sleep and balance, it's been hard since school has started and maybe I just need to try harder in that area.  thank you for your suggestions.

[MicheleS]

i don't know what your age is...but you could have your thyroid checked?
michele s

[NatashaLL]

I don't think age has much to do with needing to get the thyroid checked. Anyone who pushes themselves hard enough, or has a genetic pre-disposition, can have thyroid issues.
Again, before you go the drastic route and unless you really think you have something serious going on, I would look at the basics.

[jodi f.]

Scarlet, I don't know if you're financially able to do this or not, but instead of guessing, or having other people guessing based on one simple symptom, why don't you consider a consultation with a naturopath, a nutrition consultant, or some holistic practitioner, so you can get to the bottom of this? I agree that the questionnaires provide a good starting point, but even with those, you may end up confused. Case in point, if you do both an adrenal and a thyroid questionnaire, you'll come up with lots of overlap. Adrenal and thyroid symptoms are very similar, and when one has a thyroid issue, you can bet the adrenals are involved, too. The trick is to ascertain which one is most "up", so nutrition and other protocols can be prioritized. This is the quickest way out of the fatigue. If you're in the Bay Area, maybe Bauman Nutrition has special student rates, or maybe you can offer cooking services in trade (I really don't know if they'll go for this).

If finances are a huge issue, then answering as many in-depth questionnaires as you can will help you in your work to narrow down what's going on. What these can't do is provide you with specific information regarding the workings of your body.

The dietary suggestions you've received here may prove very helpful. With my clients, I find the adequate morning protein suggestion to be the most helpful, as it helps carry them through into the afternoon with higher energy. So, whatever you do, please keep us posted and let us know what works.

[ScarletA]

Thank you Jodi.  Unfortunately, I actually live in Sacramento right now...and commute to Berkeley 3 times a week, maybe has something to do with it?  So finding someone here to have a consultation with would be easier, but money is an factor right now.  I guess for right now I am going to start with changing my meal routine.  I think that's the easiest thing to try first and then go from there.

[Eileen K.]

Hi Scarlet:

I have a couple of suggestions for you as I am doing the very same thing you are!  Keep it simple for right now.  You ARE probably doing too much.  Sometimes the things we choose to do are very good things that help us fulfill our dreams, but nevertheless they cause our bodies stress.  I don't know about you, but the last thing I need to do right now is spend more money to go and get some tests that are only going to confirm what my intuition is already telling me!  I believe that all the above suggestions are great ones but possible the timing is off.  I would agree that breakfast is very important.  What has been working well for me is a one-egg omelette with some sauteed greens and a little goat cheese.  Traditional breakfast foods just don't hold me over.  I also agree that restful sleep is so very important.  Just think -- in a few short months you'll be a certified Natural Chef and you'll have worked hard to achieve it.  Cut corners where possible and practice what you're learning at Bauman College.  Be thankful and have a happy heart!

[ScarletA]

Thank you Eileen!  It helps to know I'm not the only one!   I know the results of what I am doing will be worth the struggle.  Thank you for your suggestions, I've already put into practice a lot of what I've been learning, this is one more thing to try!

[AbbyB]

Two strategies that might also help:
Fresh air and exercise. Try to breathe as much oxygen as possible. When you feel fatigued, see if you can get outside and take a little walk. Also, surprisingly, regular exercise seems to ward off fatigue very effectively.

[ScarletA]

oh yes I agree 100%!  Since class started I have had to go from 5 yoga classes to 1 a week and riding my bike a lot less.   but I still do as much as I possibly can.  I have been thinking about that too and how that has been affecting my body.  I also go on walks too as much as possible.  But again, maybe just getting outside more will benefit me, thank you!