Extreme fatigue & working out- why does this happen?

Ladies… If you are anything like me, when you commit to something (like a new workout routine) you go HARD! You figure… the harder I push myself, the better & faster I will achieve the results I am looking for…. Right?!... NOPE!

Truth is… starting slow & taking good care of your body in the process is paramount when it comes to your fitness journey. This helps avoid injury & burnout. It also helps create momentum & build lasting habits (but that’s another post… ).

I recently had a friend ask me why she gets so tired after a workout… she said: ‘I don’t get tired while working out, it’s like an hour after, like my body just got hit by a super does of melatonin’. Why is this happening???

First, let’s make it clear that being tired after a workout is normal due to muscle tissue repair & depletion of glycogen (energy) stores. But extreme fatigue like my friend is describing could be caused by a few things:

-          Pushing too hard (overtraining) without enough rest.

-          Poor nutrition. Not eating enough carbs or protein impairs muscle repair.

-          Inadequate hydration.

-          Or if new to working out, the body adapting to higher intensity.

Here are ways to manage this extreme drop in energy during & after a workout:

-          Take at least one full day off between intense workouts & get plenty of sleep (7-9 hours/night).

-          Eat a mix of carbs & protein within 3 hours after working out to replenish energy & aid in muscle repair.

-          Eat easily digestible carbohydrates 30–60 minutes before you work out can help fuel your exercise such as bananas, oatmeal, toast, fruit snacks, or granola bars (Carbs are not all bad!)

-          Drink water before, during and after a workout.

-          Gradually increase workout intensity rather than jumping in too quickly. Start out slow & gradually increase your reps/weight/number of workouts per week.

Take these tips & put them into action. They will help you create a safe & effective fitness journey.

Here’s to your health!

XO,

Stacy

H3 Fitness

Healthy. Happy. Habits.