Afternoon Lethargy
Discussion
Been suffering badly really from tiredness in the afternoon.
Sometimes (like now) I feel as though I am fighting to stay awake at my desk, or worse still the wheel!
Everything feels heavy, and I can feel my lunch laying heavy in my stomach.
It is a real pain when I have meetings after lunch in particular.
Any other sufferers and any tips (aside from finding a quiet corner for a nap!).
Sometimes (like now) I feel as though I am fighting to stay awake at my desk, or worse still the wheel!
Everything feels heavy, and I can feel my lunch laying heavy in my stomach.
It is a real pain when I have meetings after lunch in particular.
Any other sufferers and any tips (aside from finding a quiet corner for a nap!).
GranderTransit said:
Ok, nothing else at all? what is a normal lunch.
Afternoon lethargy is normally caused by you blood sugar levels rising, followed by insulin. Your insulin levels go too high and it 'removes' too much blood sugar from your blood so you feel tired.
Your suggesting reactive hypoglycaemia? Quite unlikely as there would be other telltale symptoms,but it is possible.Precursor to Diabetes Mellitus if memory serves.Afternoon lethargy is normally caused by you blood sugar levels rising, followed by insulin. Your insulin levels go too high and it 'removes' too much blood sugar from your blood so you feel tired.
Although turkey and chicken initialize a tryptophan release,which can make you feel drowsy,it's unlikely to be that either.
My guess would be you're tired and eating too much.Break the chain:have a lighter lunch and go for a 10 minute stroll if possible.
OK, to answer a few questions;
I'm 31, usually have porridge for breakfast (made with water, salt, handfull of dried fruit).
Had an apple mid morning as I usually do.
Lunch is usually something like pasta, or maybe a baked potato. I used to eat salad and meat, but trying to eat something a little more filling at lunchtime and stay lighting of an evening.
That's when I'm in the office, when I'm out an about my diet can be much more sporadic.
I am a bit overweight, but fairly fit with it as I excercise most days and did a fair bit of racing (running, not very competetive) last year.
I am recovering from cold, but to be honest this is something I've suffered from on and off for most of my adult life but has been worse lately.
Sometimes it just feels like someone has flicked a switch to turn me off.
I'm 31, usually have porridge for breakfast (made with water, salt, handfull of dried fruit).
Had an apple mid morning as I usually do.
Lunch is usually something like pasta, or maybe a baked potato. I used to eat salad and meat, but trying to eat something a little more filling at lunchtime and stay lighting of an evening.
That's when I'm in the office, when I'm out an about my diet can be much more sporadic.
I am a bit overweight, but fairly fit with it as I excercise most days and did a fair bit of racing (running, not very competetive) last year.
I am recovering from cold, but to be honest this is something I've suffered from on and off for most of my adult life but has been worse lately.
Sometimes it just feels like someone has flicked a switch to turn me off.
My money's on the pasta. I bet it's white not wholewheat...
Check out the GI diet. I changed my eating habits to follow the concept of this diet (diet in the traditional sense not the weight loss sense ie a lifestyle not a silly, short-lived action that's doomed to failure) and banished the mid-afternoon sleep monster forever.
My most favourite practical joke in the whole wide world is buying my sister a pack of white bread rolls. She won't bin them despite knowing what effect it will have on her and so eats them for lunch. Then she texts me with insults as she desperately fights off the sleep monster.
Check out the GI diet. I changed my eating habits to follow the concept of this diet (diet in the traditional sense not the weight loss sense ie a lifestyle not a silly, short-lived action that's doomed to failure) and banished the mid-afternoon sleep monster forever.
My most favourite practical joke in the whole wide world is buying my sister a pack of white bread rolls. She won't bin them despite knowing what effect it will have on her and so eats them for lunch. Then she texts me with insults as she desperately fights off the sleep monster.
Unfortunately it was white pasta, but the next bag in the cupboard is wholewheat.
Right, so today I've take on some of the advice posted, and also cut right down on the coffee.
Had 8 hours sleep last night, cup of tea first thing at home, drive to work and ate my porridge there with a coffee.
Mid morning I had a cup soup and an apple, then at lunchtime I've had a bowl of soup (covent garden stuff) and a bagel along with a cup of tea.
Instead of the coffee I've had my sports bottle at my desk and have been sipping water.
I feel knackered
I'll go to the gym tonight and be ok then, but for now I feel like I could curl up underneath my desk for a good kip!
Right, so today I've take on some of the advice posted, and also cut right down on the coffee.
Had 8 hours sleep last night, cup of tea first thing at home, drive to work and ate my porridge there with a coffee.
Mid morning I had a cup soup and an apple, then at lunchtime I've had a bowl of soup (covent garden stuff) and a bagel along with a cup of tea.
Instead of the coffee I've had my sports bottle at my desk and have been sipping water.
I feel knackered
I'll go to the gym tonight and be ok then, but for now I feel like I could curl up underneath my desk for a good kip!
Can you get decent tasting de-caff?
Only have about 2 cups of tea per day normally, had one with lunch today though instead of the coffee, as I think for me it's coffee which is my problem as much as caffeine itself.
Normally will be 4 or 5 cups of coffee by lunch.
Have to say I still feel tired this afternoon so far though
Only have about 2 cups of tea per day normally, had one with lunch today though instead of the coffee, as I think for me it's coffee which is my problem as much as caffeine itself.
Normally will be 4 or 5 cups of coffee by lunch.
Have to say I still feel tired this afternoon so far though
D1bram said:
Can you get decent tasting de-caff?
Only have about 2 cups of tea per day normally, had one with lunch today though instead of the coffee, as I think for me it's coffee which is my problem as much as caffeine itself.
Normally will be 4 or 5 cups of coffee by lunch.
Have to say I still feel tired this afternoon so far though
Your tiredness is most likely due to your diet - I used to feel tired post a heavy lunch in the afternoons but now have a large breakfast and a smaller/non-carb lunch which has helped.Only have about 2 cups of tea per day normally, had one with lunch today though instead of the coffee, as I think for me it's coffee which is my problem as much as caffeine itself.
Normally will be 4 or 5 cups of coffee by lunch.
Have to say I still feel tired this afternoon so far though
Also check your iron levels as iron deficiency causes fatigue.
May be a bit holistic, but at the point of tiredness, do you have any particular food that is appealing? Depending on what (if anything) you come up with, could point to what you're lacking. I know I crave sweet things in the afternoon, so I fight the urge to go to the naughty (vending) machine with a bit of fruit, but sometimes I'm gagging for crisps, which I would imagine indicates I'm a little low on salt.
Cheers, I'm quite into making fresh coffee at work so I'll have a look for the Taylors cafeine free.
I think I probably need to look at diet a little more closely. When I used to eat salad and meat for lunch the problem was feeling hungry later in the day.
If I'm going to avoid carbs at lunchtime that means no pasta/bread/pototo... what can I have instead to fill me up? Wraps, or wholewheat alternatives perhaps?
In terms of foods I crave, well that is most food, most of the time. I have a rediculous appetite!
I think I probably need to look at diet a little more closely. When I used to eat salad and meat for lunch the problem was feeling hungry later in the day.
If I'm going to avoid carbs at lunchtime that means no pasta/bread/pototo... what can I have instead to fill me up? Wraps, or wholewheat alternatives perhaps?
In terms of foods I crave, well that is most food, most of the time. I have a rediculous appetite!
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