Severe Exercise Fatigue

Factual Questions
1

Hey Everyone,

I’m 33 and for the last 5 or 6 years, I experience severe fatigue the day after I exercise. By fatigued I mean physically tired and mentally cloudy. This happens regardless of whether or not I get a good nights sleep. Sometimes I can still feel traces of symptoms up to 48 hours after I work out.

These workouts are not incredibly strenuous (anywhere from 20 min. to 1 1/2hours of lifting and light cardio.)

I’m allergic to vegetables and I thought one possible cause might be a vitamin deficiency. What should I supplement with? B-12 and Folate? Anything else?

Any other possible casues for this condition or how to treat it?

I’m going to see an internal medicine Dr. but can’t get an appointment for a month or so. Any help you could provide regarding this matter is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

TIC

2

maybe you are allergic to exercise too?

3

Most people lose water during strenuous exercise. Do you replenish during and after a workout? Dehydration can make you feel cruddy the next day. By the way, beverages containing caffeine or alcohol don’t count. Both those chemicals are diuretics, so they’ll increase your dehydration, not help it.

4

I know that if I don’t eat sufficient carbs and then workout I feel crappy after. Are you doing a lower carb diet at all?

5

Not on a low carb diet. I’ve tried carboloading before and after workouts with no luck.
And I do drink plenty of water.

Hopefully the doctor will have some answers.

-TIC

6

Possible shortage of potassium, depending of course on what you are eating. If you eat no vegetables at all, then you might be short of a number of nutrients, and I would make sure you are taking a good quality multiple vitamin and mineral supplement.

Also agree with the “get plenty of water” or other non-caffeinated beverages every day, not just when you exercise. Try for an extra two liters.

7

Be sure to keep your electrolytes up. Maybe that’s part of the problem?

8

I think the idea of going to the doctor is sound - you have a lot of patience if you’ve put this off for 5-6 years. :slight_smile:

I’ll put in another plug for hydrating (even though you said that you drink lots of water). Your urine should be nearly or completely clear - try a large glass of water first thing in the AM, that sometimes helps.

Also, if you don’t eat much fruits/veggies, maybe you could be low on potassium - can you gag down a banana once per day? At least I expect that you are taking a daily multivitamin? Good luck.

One more - do you do a good cool-down and/or stretching after your workouts? That can help flush out the muscles, as can a post-workout massage (even self-massage on the large muscle groups).