Hack my tiredness/lack of energy! - PaleoHacks.com

Hack my tiredness/lack of energy!

2012-10-09T09:33:25Z

So I've been about 85% Paleo for a couple of months now, at the moment I'm doing a 30 day stint although giving myself a day off a week to have something I feel I'm missing (e.g. a coffee, a treat, or a restaurant meal).

Bear in mind my work has been stressful for a long period, I also occasionally have days where I don't sleep as well. So there are other factors than nutrition that are making me tired, but I do think I should be feeling stronger with a better diet.

I'm concerned I might be missing something in my diet, perhaps there's something I should eat more of, or maybe changing something can give me a boost.

A typical day involves 2 eggs for breakfast fried in coconut oil, I'll have a little bit of fruit during the day (maybe a banana or some berries), lunch will be perhaps be left over roast veggies (sometimes with some meat, sometimes not), I might snack on an avocado or some almond butter later, dinner will be meat (maybe a steak or some chicken) and some veg. That's essentially it.

I also supplement with Vitamin D3 (2500 iu), fish oil (EPA: 825mg DHA: 550mg), and vitamin c

I was doing quite a bit of exercise, not so much in the last couple of weeks as I've been exhausted.

I'm really grateful for any suggestions!

Thanks :)

Answer by rooky for Hack my tiredness/lack of energy!

2012-10-09T10:22:57Z

Too little food, too little carbs.

Answer by Tamara for Hack my tiredness/lack of energy!

2012-10-09T10:25:37Z

It sounds to me like you're not eating enough, and specifically not enough protein. You should have a large portion of protein at every meal. When I first became paleo I ate 5 eggs a day for breakfast and around 8-12 oz of protein at lunch and dinner. I'm 6ft and weighed 150lbs and still managed to drop 10 lbs eating that way. Drink coffee or caffeinated tea. It won't kill you.

Get some herbs for stress that also have the benefit of giving you energy, like ashwaghanda or tulsi.

85% paleo means that you're not really paleo, you're just torturing yourself with a diet that you can't sustain and then reinjuring your gut once a week. Cheat days are fine once you're on a clean diet for long enough to heal and to feel the effects of the cheat. I cheat less than once a month because when I do cheat I pay for it.

Exercise. It gives you the energy you need. It's just impossible to do if you're not supplying your body with the proper fuel.

Answer by Paul for Hack my tiredness/lack of energy!

2012-10-09T10:30:59Z

Your diet looks pretty good. Two things to consider: one concerning diet and the other concerning sleep.

Diet-wise, try to add a bit more fat into your diet. From the look of it, you're consuming enough fruits and vegetables, and enough meat to satisfy protein requirements. Add in a bit more fat: more coconut oil, some olive oil, a couple more eggs, fatty cuts of pastured meat. This should increase your caloric intake, providing the body enough energy to function.

Remember though, a healthy diet is most beneficial within the context of a healthy lifestyle. Make sure to get at least 7-9 hours of sleep at night in a completely dark setting. Reduce exposure to artificial light after sundown, and begin taking a Magnesium supplement once a day. This will help to improve the quality of your sleep.

Answer by SophieC for Hack my tiredness/lack of energy!

2012-10-10T04:16:00Z

Your diet looks good, your energy problem coul be Stress because of your job of course and not sleeping well, i recommend you to get a suplement called Molasses, it give you all the energy you need for the day its completly natural and it improve your digestion.

If you want a new healthy diet which tastes great I recommend this recipe book http://thepaleorecipebookreviews.blogspot.com