Very, very tired.

[ophix]

So my health has gotten well enough to start doing some running. I've tried to do 10-20 minutes a day at least, starting from a slow paced walk and working my way up. As expected my ankles are really feeling it, my legs are doing better than I expected, but I've been so exhausted and sleepy lately.

Since I've started running I've been falling asleep 3-4 times a day. I've been having really weird dreams and even a nightmare or two, so that could be part of it, but this has also started since I've started running. In fact when I did dream they used to actually be pretty good.

I was never in great shape and never ran, so this is starting a new thing for me and trying to get to a level of fitness I've never been in from what was before a dangerously poor level of fitness.

Are these normal symptoms when starting this sort of physical exercise and adjusting to a new lifestyle routine for the first time? Prior to this I was sick and in bed for 4 months, spent some time walking/weight lifting to get the tendens and muscles back into shape, and I wasn't that active before, so I'd understand my body being used to using very little energy compared to what I'm using now.

I've only been running for 3 days now, so I know I'm still adjusting to it.

 

[Phate89]

Have you tried eating pre and post-workout runs to replenish energy levels? That might be it, probably just not eating enough.

 

[g8r80]

So my health has gotten well enough to start doing some running. I've tried to do 10-20 minutes a day at least, starting from a slow paced walk and working my way up. As expected my ankles are really feeling it, my legs are doing better than I expected, but I've been so exhausted and sleepy lately.

Since I've started running I've been falling asleep 3-4 times a day. I've been having really weird dreams and even a nightmare or two, so that could be part of it, but this has also started since I've started running. In fact when I did dream they used to actually be pretty good.

I was never in great shape and never ran, so this is starting a new thing for me and trying to get to a level of fitness I've never been in from what was before a dangerously poor level of fitness.

Are these normal symptoms when starting this sort of physical exercise and adjusting to a new lifestyle routine for the first time? Prior to this I was sick and in bed for 4 months, spent some time walking/weight lifting to get the tendens and muscles back into shape, and I wasn't that active before, so I'd understand my body being used to using very little energy compared to what I'm using now.

I've only been running for 3 days now, so I know I'm still adjusting to it.

The fact that you were in a "dangerously poor level of fitness" suggests to me that you should seek medical approval before beginning a fitness program. And tell your doc about the dreams.

 

[ophix]

Yeah, this is all consulted with the doctor. Few years ago (at least 5) I was horribly overweight and started losing it with medical supervision to avoid developing serious problems before they started, but as I was getting in better shape some problems started on-setting anyways, so I am in contact with my doctors and everything with my health, and I was told running should be a good thing for me to start doing when I can. I was basically told "you weigh two and a half times what any other kid your age should weigh, if you don't lose the weight, with your family, I can almost guarantee you'll develop diabetes and have a heart attack at some point in your life". I'm still overweight though, but only by about 20lbs, I've pretty much lost a person nonetheless, so now I'm at the point of trying to get myself up to a condition that my health/fitness can start comparing to other people again as I lose the last few pounds of weight, and try to get my heart/lungs back in better condition.

I've done exercise, etc before this, but then it was more strengthening tendens to be able to do the higher impact cardio, nothing that actually made me especially tired or exhausted.

As a really little kid I did gymnastics and martial arts despite being twice the weight I should have been, and did it without any serious problems or injuries, so I guess my muscles have the strength and flexibility stuck in memory still a bit.

I generally run first thing in the morning, right after having breakfast. Breakfast is salad, lots of fruit, seeds, some nuts, and a variety of greens, vegetables, etc, I'm pretty thorough at diversifying my meals. After running I try to have a handfull of berries or some fruit, and some green tea sometime that morning.

I'm fine for about 2 hours, maybe 3, then I start to feel a bit unfocused. By this time I've completely recovered from the run and I'm comfortable, but from there I just lose more and more concentration and my eyes get heavier and eventually I just get tired and fall asleep. Wake up 2-3 hours later (I do dream during these naps), and spend another 3-4 hours awake until I doze off again, only to wake up sometime in the night, spend several more hours awake, then get a solid, long sleep.

As for my health, I've been making sure not to do anything too heavy impact for me to handle and have followed medical advise and supervision. It just seems a bit weird when suddenly you're sleeping so much and having these dreams.

I remember reading things that have mentioned things about how your dreams can be affected by adjustments in your body, etc and just wondered if this was something people may experience in relation to beginning to exercise, or whether this seems completely bizarre and that I should watch it to make sure it doesn't get worse and consider seeing my doctor.

Mind you I'm 18 so the dreaming bit could probably be any number of things.

However, as I've said, my body has been giving me physical feedback and soreness in response to the running, but it's much less than I was used to as a kid, and there's always noticeable improvement after 24 hours so I'm able to keep active, even on the still sort of weak ankles, they've been recovering well and quite manageable. I was half expecting my muscles to spazz out on me for a day or so when I started, but I guess those weights and all that walking did some good.

 

[g8r80]

Glad to hear you are under a doctor's care and congrats on the huge weight loss!

Yeah, I guess your running effort could be causing your tiredness if you are really exerting yourself and/or you are under a big calorie defiict (i.e., you are eating far less than what you are burning) and/or you are not getting enough sleep.

My suggestions would be to make sure you get enough sleep, determine your basal metabolic rate and eat enough to stay 500 calories below that level (use for dietary info) which will allow you to lose a safe, comfortable 1 pound / week and continue doing the running that you have started. If you get any pains, stop.

PM a forum member named Chillen if you need advice on the diet stuff.

 

[ophix]

I don't think BMR is accurate to any useful extent. There's a lot of factors it doesn't consider that it should be and it's generally known that your BMR wont be correct. I just see a lot of margin for error in it.

I eat until I'm full, and I eat when I feel like eating. Even if this does mean snack all day, I'm pretty much vegan so anything I eat is full of nutrience and pretty low in calories. I eat plenty of variety, and make sure to get all the protein, etc I miss from meat, and as far as signs seem to point, I'm doing a much better job of meeting my nutritional needs than before when I was eating meat and everything else.

I do eat often, but I eat well and I've set no goals or anything to encourage myself to start eating less for any reason.

I haven't fallen asleep yet today. Bad dreams again last night. But I haven't ran today, so I've still got all my energy from waking up.

Was planning to take today off from running as a break, but my legs are feeling really good today, and my ankle is back to feeling normal, so I think I can do a run today as well. I'm thinking about doing the runs later in the day, give me time to eat, digest, and properly build up some energy before I go using it, rather than waking up, eating, then running and trying to suck up as much energy from breakfast as possible.

 

[buzz]

I'm thinking about doing the runs later in the day, give me time to eat, digest, and properly build up some energy before I go using it, rather than waking up, eating, then running and trying to suck up as much energy from breakfast as possible

that would be a better idea,also dont rush into running,walk,run.walk,run,etc,have you been tested for diabetes because sleeping alot is one of the symptoms.