My job requires me to run and lift heavy objects, time to time. The first two days, I was able to wing it fine. But, as each day passes, the more I run the more tired I get. I’m also losing speed. I have yet to figure out how to gain stamina. I thought the more you give your body a workout, the stronger and faster you get. What is going on with my body and what can I do to fix it?
I had this problem as a kid, when I took P.E. and played soccer. I’m not overweight, in fact I’m like 10 pounds underweight. I’ve always been one of the smallest females in my class, yet the least athletic!
Maybe you’re not giving your newly-used muscles enough time to recover, especially if you’re using them every day whereas before they weren’t used at all. See how you feel on a Monday after a restful weekend.
the stronger and faster issue is definitely not instantaneous. As the other poster said, you may need some downtime to recoup and let you muscles build.
Also, if you are underweight and not particularly athletic, it makes me wonder what your diet is like. If you’re not eating nutritious food or enough food for the new level of activity, this can be a problem. Some people suffering from eating disorders experience weakness and tiredness as a result of their poor nutrition.
I agree you need rest. Usual advice for people trying to get stronger is lift weights only every other day, because they’re still recovering from the workout on the day after. And even then, I think most experts recommend some extra rest days besides.
Rest is important. I play soccer with an adult group 3-4 times a week. If I make all the games, I never really fully recover between games. If I miss a week because of vacation or something, when I come back I feel like, and play like, I’m 10 years younger.
I work every day. I was kind of assuming that. Yeah, I feel that my muscles aren’t recovering.
I’m not ana. Just a good metabolism. I feel that I’m not under eating, though I am slightly hungry after lunch and breakfast. My diet is mostly carbs. When I was little, if I drank 3-5 glasses of milk each day, I would have a LOT more strength and stamina. Unfortunately, I developed lactose intolerance.
Which is a substantial amount of protein that the muscles need to rebuild themselves with. Eggs are the best choice. Meat sandwiches at lunch. Even protein supplements like bodybuilders use. GNC always has those on sale. Look for instant mix whey or whey/egg.
It takes a while and some adjustments to get your body running as it should. Make sure that you get the right amount of rest, right diet, right muscular exercise, and right cardio. Then wait. Your body will figure it out.
I learned that this isn’t so this winter. We had a 2-3 week period after the snow thrower died where I was shoveling deep snow and slush just about every day (it didn’t snow every day, it just snowed a lot, and I was dealing with a 1/8th of a mile driveway and the roof, so I got behind) for 2-4 hours at a time and by the end I felt a lot weaker than I had at the start, and it was taking me nearly twice as long to finish too.
If we had were only busting our butts on our own schedule, three or four days a week like they expect when gains are mentioned in fitness articles, rather than daily by necessity, I’m sure our bodies would gain strength and stamina. But with no time off…that’s rough on us all.
You’re breaking your muscles down each time you use them, and they can’t build themselves back up because you are not giving them the materials they need to do so.
You should not feel hungry after meals. A diet of mostly carbs is poor in nutrients and amino acids. You are not getting enough protein to build and maintain lean mass (which is EXTREMELY important for your long-term health, especially if you are a woman). You should be eating more calories, and more protein-rich nutrient-dense foods like meat, seafood, eggs, nuts, or like runnerpat suggested, protein shakes (you can buy them already mixed). More vegetables would probably do you good as well. Carbs should be an addition to your meals, not the main components.
I’m also underweight but I’m very strong for my size, have plenty of endurance and am extremely fit and active with almost no need for recovery or resting whatever life throws at me (since my baseline fitness is already high and I’m anal about my diet). I eat a ton, foods with lots of nutrition, and only moderate carbohydrate with plenty of protein and fats. For a while I had the same problem as you; I was doing it all wrong, like you are.
Exactly - women tend not to get nearly as much protein in their diets as men in the first place. Eat lean meats, nuts, etc. I’m lactose intolerant and I can still eat things like cottage cheese just fine, YMMV.
Your description essentially matches what I’ve found when I’ve overtrained – each workout was getting worse and worse. Finally after I took a week off, I realized I was stronger, I just was too tired to notice.
Not much you can do about it if the job requires it other than to rest what you can. Eat protein, sure. A bit of caffeine and carbs in the afternoon may give you the energy to power through it, too. Make sure you’re eating regularly through the day. And sleep, too, is important to recovery.