Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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Really confused about what to do. I love to bike and run but it seems to hurt more than help. I suspect that I have low morning cortisol (I feel like a zombie until about 4 and have felt this way for a year now). Ive been going to the doctors back and for the past year and do not have the money to go back. No Doctor ever mentioned cortisol and looking through it now it adds up much better than what I thought was an issue with carbs/grains (which I seemed to do fine on in less stressful times).

Everything I read applies to people who have a natural cortisol cycle. I have no energy in the mornings and tons at night. Should I do light cardio in the mornings? My fatigue is getting so severe and I often read rest is often the best option but I have always used exercise to control stress.

Thank for any help

flag	asked Aug 26 at 14:00 Rocker323 11●1

	Do you have problems falling asleep same day when you do your exercise? And do you feel overtrained the next 2-3 days? Feeling weak, like when having a flu, but without the fever and caughing? – caban Aug 26 at 15:20
	Caban, that is how I feel often. What does it mean? – wendy Aug 26 at 17:20

caban · Answer 1 · 2012-08-26 18:06:00Z UTC

To answer your question in the comments: It probably means that you have weak nervous system at the moment. And the reason for that I would guess is too much stress on your body ( physical, psychic or both ). Since you also can't sleep properly, you don't have enough time to rest and let your body regain its homeostasis and you got yourself into vicious circle. I would advise doing much less physically demanding exercises and slowly raising the intensity. For example if you run three times a week for 60 minutes, I would change it to 30 minutes two times a week. Listen to your body and for the upcoming month or so just don't pass normal limit. Also try to relax more, in my case meditation was the best, but walking in the park or nature is also great. Generally walking is very relaxing and refreshing and that kind of exercise won't affect negatively your nervous system. Maybe after sometime make yourself short vacation and go for a week hiking in the mountains. I did it and it helped me a lot. Remember, you need to regain your normal health status, so your body will react normally to any physical resistance. Be patient.

Matthius · Answer 2 · 2012-08-26 14:08:11Z UTC

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How many hours do you sleep and how is your overall sleep quality?
Do you use caffeine and/or other stimulants?

answered Aug 26 at 14:08

Matthius
3,098●2●17

	7-8 hours every night. Always the same time. When I do get a good nights rest I feel drastically better but even with low light/magnesiun/no caffeine I dont feel rested. I know sleep os a huge part of the issue but Im unsure of what else to do. Ive tried melatonin many times but always feel hungover from it (regardless of dose). – Rocker323 Aug 26 at 14:20
	Melatonin does nothing for me, too. At the very least, I would get a blood panel done to establish that you're dealing with wonky cortisol levels. That may very well NOT be the case here. – Matthius Aug 26 at 14:36
	I've had days when Melatonin did not work at all, and others where it worked wonders. Not sure what caused it, but I've had days where it got me more excited and less able to sleep if I took it when I didn't need it. – raydawg Aug 26 at 18:23
	I'm certain it doesn't mitigate the effects of caffeine. The day I quit my six cups of coffee is the day, I, well...actually get some damn sleep! haha – Matthius Aug 26 at 20:43

Leo · Answer 3 · 2012-08-26 14:58:48Z UTC

As you're posting on a paleo site, I'm going to assuming you are eating a paleo style diet. One thing to consider is increasing your carb intake. Depending on your running/biking schedule and intensity your body may needing more carbs, especially at night. Try more sweet potato and the like into your diet.

I would suggest searching your issue on www.robbwolf.com, as I know he's covered fatigue in his blog and podcasts.

Good luck!

Rocker323 · Answer 4 · 2012-08-28 20:24:28Z UTC

Thanks for all the replies. I can't seem to comment posts, weird. Yeah it really does feel like the flu without coughing/sneezing. Its not constant but when it hits it hits hard. Its like having feet that weigh a ton. Its hard to tell if I'm overtraining because at times I will be progressing and then I just hit a brick wall and have to stop. This has been going on for over a year and blood tests don't shot a thing.

I've always faced depression but could quickly quell it with running/biking. Its very hard to keep it at bay when my body is so incredibly tired. Going to try and get a better magnesium supplement and up my carbs a bit. Its just so difficult because I'm so used to going hard when I exercise, but I suppose some light cardio could help me sleep a bit deeper.

When do I exercise if I have low morning cortisol?

4 Answers