[Closed] Breaking the fatigue !

Lots of people feeling like this, me included. I'm putting it down largely to time of year and needing some sunlight.

I have joined a gym with a pool and going there for some vigorous exercise and then relaxing steam spa etc 2 or 3 times a week is helping with energy and mood and meaning I don't feel too guilty if I don't get out on my bike in this horrendous weather.

It sounds counter intuitive but forcing myself to do some exercise seems to perk me right up.

Thanks muppet yes exercise does help when I can manage it 🙂

Try Magnesium supplement. I was constantly tired started taking supplement 2 weeks ago and don't feel as tired. Could be placebo effect but if it works ?

I'm feeling more fed up than tired. The winter affects me more as I get older. I don't think I minded it much as a kid.

January and February are usually my hardest months through winter, dealing with Seasonal Affective Disorder, due to the cumulative effect of low sunlight levels since around September.

Getting out for an hour helps, but with the recent pants weather has reduced my outdoor rides to the three commutes per week, supplemented by ~60min sessions on Zwift most days.

I was feeling exactly like that for a long time not just in the winter , just after xmas I started taking a liquid iron and vitamin supplement and I have already found a notable difference. It is called floradix if you think it might help you.

Yes they seem to get longer every year!

Thanks good idea..have ordered that and some iron tablets. Will be rattling in the morning now!

OP +1 and muppetwrangler +1 too.

I’ve been feeling like that quite a bit recently, trying to cut weight for summer roadie adventures exacerbates the fatigue too but exercise always helps.

Was knackered this afternoon but forced myself out for an after work run and immediately felt much better for it.

A blood test at the docs showed I have a vitamin  B12 deficiency.   That's supposed to  give the OP's symptoms.   Oddly,  I don't have them  but now have an injection every 3 months.

"It sounds counter intuitive but forcing myself to do some exercise seems to perk me right up."

My experience also. Although I'd add the word 'moderate'- too much and you'll knacker yourself out! See also swimming, yoga etc

I can relate to all the above posts, seems tougher this year to get going suppose I’m getting older though.

Take iron pills with those 1000mg vitamin C tablets.  Much more effective.

Always felt tired post 40 but at 46 I feel great now.

My secret was to come off as sugar as much as possible.

<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">Better everything. Stomach better, sleep better and energy better.</span>

We go to bed early too. And get up early.

Tried all the supplements and do take Wellman and zinc carnosine but I don't think those are responsible.

Always felt tired post 40 but at 46 I feel great now.

My secret was to come off as sugar as much as possible.

Better everything. Stomach better, sleep better and energy better.

We go to bed early too. And get up early.

Tried all the supplements and do take Wellman and zinc carnosine but I don't think those are responsible.

Only possible downside is slightly down on energy on long bike rides.

Been doing more exercise to copmpete in our weight loss competition at work and I think moderate or a bit more is the key when you are older, or intervals.

Too much of a beasting hits you too hard to recover quick enough to do some more exercise tomorrow or the next day.

Also using the stairs at work - 8 flights 3 times in the morning and 3 in the afternoon for a useful effect without getting sweaty.

I'm usually able to get away to sunnier climates for a few weeks most winters but haven't managed it this year. Really really noticeable, it's been dark and wet for what seems like a very long time and yep energy levels definitely lower. It's like I've had a permanent fuzzy feeling in my head and only seem to actually wake up for a couple of hours mid afternoon, just before the sun sets again!

Thanks yes have pulled back on the sugar intake..probably need to go further though and not have breakfast juice in the morning. Luckily I don’t have a sweet tooth...

No wonder I'm knackered, what with my sweet tooth an all.Just started taking Centrum performance multi- vitamins.That's bound to make an athlete of me.

Vitamin D is what you need (the strong stuff, d3?).

What will d3 actually do for us?

Sleep is incredibly important to recovery and energy levels - funnily enough!

How's your sleep?  Are you getting 8+ hours per night?  Is the sleep "quality" high?

I'm sure you've though of this, but I'd be looking here as one of the first things.

Ummm.......sleep patterns not great,good point.

This December and January have seen the lowest sunlight levels on record according to last Saturday's grauniad

It's about at this point at the end of January I start to feel weary.Anybody else feel like this.What have you done about t?

Glad it’s not just me, not been on the bike since early January due t9 a bad cold and feeling very de motivated.

Yeah, weary. Not enough sun. The grind of riding  in near-freezing rain, coughs, colds, injuries....

Stuff to do - enter races! Then you have to ride .

Vit d3 and cod liver oil.

Today - sacked off work before lunch, went for a ride and there was SUN. Actual SUN. I was so overcome that I had to retreat to a dark pub for a burger and pint.

Hi Hugo I think I get enough sleep. Usually manage 8 hours but not sure if it is entirely deep sleep. According to my garmin I average 1.5 hours of deep sleep and 6.5 of light. Not sure if that means anything!

Got out on me Avalanche.Can't say the cold and polluted air did me lungs much good.Still, got me legs moving.Wasn't totally dark till 5.00pm as well.Maybe I should try to find a good yoga practitioner so I don't become a biffer by spring.

I feel bloody exhausted though I suspect it's to do with leaving the house at 0630, not being back until gone 1900, dealing with a 16 month old, trying to study for a Masters and renovate our house. No exercise, broken sleep and 100 miles a day commute is slowly but surely breaking me. Just got to push through to July when I swap the commute by car to a commute by bike 8 miles each way. Amazing.

I feel shattered, and unlike Mr Alpha above i've got no bloody reason to feel like this. Haven't ridden in 2weeks I'm just finishing a course of antibiotics for 'an infection' as I had aching joints/back last week(no other symptoms). I've not had any other flu or colds this winter and i'm generally fit as a fiddle, i'm half thinking of going back to the docs, I dont like to as I know they are busy...

Tough gig Alpha.

<span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Hi Hugo I think I get enough sleep. Usually manage 8 hours but not sure if it is entirely deep sleep. According to my garmin I average 1.5 hours of deep sleep and 6.5 of light. Not sure if that means anything!</span>

Means absolutely nothing to me!  I always think a good indicator is whether you wake up naturally?

Db,those antibiotics could damage your gut bacteria and tire you out.I went on a special diet during my antibiotic taking and felt ok for once.Had plenty of yogurt,apples,bananas,figs and dates.Seemed to keep me going.

If its season related, taking vitamin 2 tablets may not be best. I've read that its actually hard to absorb through tablets. Its when your body makes by itself when you get good sunlight. Lamps for SAD (seasonal affective disorder) are supposed to be really good.

Since those are quite expensive, i actually bought a Lumi light, which is a kind of bedside alarm but it wakes you up with light instead of a sound, which is supposed to be more natural. It is actually really really good! And I would recommend it to anyone who is having issues feeling grubby during the day. If you still feel bad, perhaps then look at the more expensive SAD lights