Fatigue

[Veronica]

I sleep more. I've been getting 9 - 10 hours of sleep lately. In the summer it's 8 - 8.5 usually.

Veronica

[SadieKate]

You know, professional athletes actually take breaks in their off seasons. Nobody in their right mind should be training at the same level 12 months a year. Have you considered whether a short break in your training would be a good thing? I think a lot of recreational athletes neither take seasonal breaks or think about periodization. Have you?

[OakLeaf]

And try to get more sunlight. If you don't have windows at work, see if you can install full-spectrum bulbs or at least bring in a lamp of your own. It made a huge difference to me when I had an office without windows. If you don't run, try swapping out a brisk 1-2 hour walk for your swim class one or two days a week. Get outside during your breaks, even if it's just to stand in the doorway (trying to avoid the cigarette smokers ). If you're lucky enough to live away from a lot of ambient artificial light, use thin curtains in your bedroom; if you must draw heavy shades at night, then open them in favor of privacy curtains as soon as you're awake in the morning.

But they're right - listen to your body. Once you've maximized your exposure to natural light, fresh air and a good diet, don't try to force yourself beyond that. You are an animal in nature and like it or not, you participate in nature's cycles. IMO, people are healthiest when they acknowledge that and work within it.

[firenze11]

I'm not really lacking sleep which is part of why I'm frustrated. I get a good 8-9 hrs/night but my body is still tired.

I'm wondering if maybe I started training too hard too quickly. I took it relatively slow this summer and then when I got to school I'm doing 3 back to back days of pretty tough workouts. So I don't really think I fit into the category of training hard all summer (unless the breast cancer walk counts) and now needing an off-season break. I feel like if I do less I'll be doing next to nothing. Maybe 3 days together (one feels like a two-a-day with late swim early spin) is too much and 3 days spaced out would be better.

[jobob]

Perhaps. Seems like everyone is different with respect to their tolerances for (over-)training.

Around the end of August last year I suddenly became very fatigued, so much so that I would be exhausted after a relatively easy ride. I had really ramped up my training that spring & summer and, after I saw my Dr and had some tests done, best as we could tell it was my body telling me "enough already". I ttok a couple of months off and felt much better by December. Now I'm a lot more careful in how much I ramp up, and I'm better at recognizing the signs.

You might consider cutting back on your schedule for a few weeks and see if that helps. Also, if you haven't had a checkup in a while, it wouldn't hurt.

[firenze11]

Thanks. I think I will maybe cut back for a bit just to see if it helps or not, I feel better today after skipping spin so maybe it was good to take a day off. I'm also thinking about going to the doc to ask about possible mild SAD. I guess it wouldn't hurt

[TahoeDirtGirl]

Yes, I know what you mean. Yesterday I literally wilted at my desk as it was getting cloudy AND dark at 4:30 pm.

Some of the suggestions on here I have already implemented. When I start to feel wilty I get out and start walking. I started walking at lunch with some people I work with. I walk my dog in the dark of the morning and then the dark at night, but it feels good to get outside. I try to get out as much as I can.

On the training end. Take a break. I am realizing I was stupid to train as much as I did with an injured leg and now I'm finally, after a year, getting back on track. I would take a few weeks off and just do some different things, maybe hit the gym, swim, walk or heck, just do nothing. It makes you appreciate good, non fatigued workouts even more.

Do you weight train? This is the time of year I amp up my weight training-except last year I got the big idea that I didn't need it and got injured. If I only took my own advice huh....?

The artificial lights- I don't like them They are a weird kind of light, I checked several out, you really need to see them before you buy them. The light kind of annoyed me, I have no idea why.

[firenze11]

Tahoe, thanks for the suggestions.

I definitely think I'm going to start weight training, and maybe a little yoga again. I'm cutting down a bit on my workouts when I feel like my body's too tired to do them, it's not fun when I make myself go and feel exhausted the rest of the day.

I went to the doc today and asked him about SAD. He thinks I definitely have it and recommended light therapy. I'll give it a try and see how it goes. I'm trying to take walks, too, so I can get out into the sun and stretch my legs. But winter is definitely coming and sunny days aren't really that frequent. Yesterday and today were awful, gray and cloudy and cold.

So, when do I get a prescription to move to Hawaii from October to March? Or maybe the Italian Riviera?

[beccaB]

[QUOTE=firenze11;372251]Thanks. I think I will maybe cut back for a bit just to see if it helps or not, I feel better today after skipping spin so maybe it was good to take a day off. I'm also thinking about going to the doc to ask about possible mild SAD. I guess it wouldn't hurt [/QUOTECan you be getting SAD this early? I live in southern Michigan , and that won't really hit here until dark and gloomy November. Fall is actually really sunny and nice here. But winter is a dark dreary nasty thing, and I am a native Floridian. My Michigan native husband did not warn me that this is the 3rd grayest place in the country.

[arielmoon]

I sleep more. I've been getting 9 - 10 hours of sleep lately. In the summer it's 8 - 8.5 usually.

Veronica

me too! I figured it I was needing it to recover from the century on Sunday!