No Energy 41 Year Old Mom!!!!

I did lose weight and have more energy- but I worked out too. This worked wonders for my energy level. Also, try to eat lean protein and fiber rich foods (whole grains, veggies like broccoli, asparagus, etc). Nuts like almonds and walnuts give you a boost and healthy fat for a snack.

I use a liquid vitamin B12 complex. Also increase my vegetable and fruit intake. Reduce the amount of salt and sugars in my system. You may need to see what combination of things work for you.

Excercise! That is my energy boost throughout the day. Take a quick walk around the block. Run up and down the stairs a few times. There are lots of things you can do on the spot - lunges, push ups, squats, sit ups/crunches, calf raises, leg lifts or standing knee lifts. You would be suprised how much your blood starts going after doing someting for 5 mins.

And soon, your 5 mins will turn into 10, and your 10 will turn into 20, and so on and so on.

Also, stay away from sugar and refined foods. If you have to have them, eat a piece of fruit beforehand.

GL

I have been in the case where I tried everything. When I mentioned it to my family practice doctor, she checked my thyroid levels and said there were no problems there. Then, on a separate occasion, mentioned it to my ob-gyn and she said, well, why not a low dose of syn-thyroid. Wow! Helped a lot! My thyroid levels are a little higher but still within the "normal range", but it was within the "normal range" before too.

Anyway, good luck!

Im also a 41 year old mom and felt the SAME way... man those 41 years went fast.. i have six children and i think adding a little exercise has helped me and i also use Arbonnes energy appitite suppresent fizzy tabs.. cannot live without them. Shoot me an email with your address and ill mail you a sample... hope it helps... L. ____@____.com

When I was low energy (due to a borderline thyroid problem that took a while getting diagnosed and treated) eating foods that were lower on the glycemic index helped. Basically eliminating refined flour, sugar, white rice and white potatoes.

I've also been low energy in the past due to low vitamin D status. It is a simple blood test if you haven't been checked already. Normally 1000 IU/day is a good maintenance dose per my endocrinologist, but personally I need more than that to stay in range.

Monster energy drinks... 44 year old mom, grandma, daycare provider, open 7 days per week, 24 hours per day. I sleep when I can, not a lot, and I have one monster per day. Without them I'm a slug. With them I'm exhausted by 7pm, but put the kids in bed at 8. I make it :)

I have only lost about 12 pounds recently (out of 40 I should lose). But what really gives me energy is the act of exercising. If I work out regularly, I wake up more easily. Maybe not "bounce out of bed" energy, but more like I wake up befor ethe alarm and feel refreshed. Cutting out soda/caffeine and drinking lots of water makes my energy levels more stable. Obviously, heavy meals make you feel less blah, but I still like to eat, so I give in to my cravings a lot!!

I posted a question a while ago about 'what to do when you need a nap but can't take a nap'... check it out, I got awesome responses!

My new thing, if I'm dead beat tired, I lock myself in the bathroom for 10 or 15 minutes and breeeeathe, then I splash some cold water on my face, dry off, and stare in the mirror and put my 'game face' back on. Sometimes this is enough to give me a much needed second wind!

Singing out loud also gets your blood really pumping :)

I had blood drawn and found out I am down in certain areas for vitamins. So I now take B12, Iron and D3. I used to go bed at 9 now I am up till 11 and have so much more energy.

gosh I feel the same way - I am 36, so you have a few years on me, and people sometimes ask me "will you have any more kids" and I say No FREAKING way, the ones I have I love, but they wear me the hell out. I have a 3 year old who is a queen of mess, everything she has she spills, everything she eats ends up all over her clothes hair face, my house is always a pigsty.
I also take B complex, and they work a little. I haven't had time to exercise in the last couple of months as I am doing online classes for my degree, 10 hours, and it is killing me.
I never nap, I don't have the time, but exercise does help me, when I do it I have way more energy, so I need to find time for that.
Mountain dew for the caffeine, and sometimes I will take multivitamins which help a bit.
Really I think just being older and having young kids, wears you out - I will be glad when my kids are older, even though I will miss them as they are now, I won't miss the crushing fatigue

I'm 43 with three little kids, and I can relate. When I'm feeling super sluggish (like I was today, actually), I notice a HUGE difference if I really keep myself super-hydrated. Like, 70-80 ounces of water. Also, eating a decent breakfast is huge, and trying to keep it healthy with lots of protein for energy. I cut out all soda a year ago and that made a big difference. You can go to health.com and search for "nutrition" and "energy" and get some great ideas about foods to help you energize.

I try to exercise (I love working out) but with 3 under 5 and working part-time from home, it's really hard to fit it in. Getting outside, getting some fresh air helps too, or turn off the TV and turn on some upbeat music. I take a B-complex supplement and that helps a lot.

And sometimes, you just gotta have a nap. I was able to power nap for 30 mins today (while all the kids were napping - I was so lucky!) and now, I feel awesome.

GOOD LUCK! Being a mommy is exhausting, and we're not as young as we used to be :P

Glad that your hormones are in check, that's important! What about your iron and B12 levels? Have you had bloodwork done recently? If your iron is low, you could be anemic, possibly giving you lower energy. Same goes for B12.

Otherwise, eat healthy foods, drink plenty of water, exercise on a regular basis, and get at least 7 hours of sleep each night - you know, the basic stuff.

!

Get your thyroid checked!!!!

I take B Complex vitamin. I can feel a very noticeable boost of energy within about 30 minutes. But it doesn't last. I have to take in the morning and again in the afternoon.
Also excercising gives me a lot of energy - if I can drag myself to the gym! What a conundrum - need to excercise to get energy but dont have the energy to go excercise! So, I take another Bvitamin before I get off work so I will have the enrgy to go to the gym.
Getting a good nights sleep helps, so, I take melatonin everynight to help me get good restful sleep.

I always felt tons better when I got up and did yoga in the morning before work. Any exercise that get the blood pumping is great. I also got my thyroid tested and found out that I needed vitamin D and that helped lots. Drinking lots of water and no soda is also good.

I have been losing weight for the last year or so, have about 17 more to go until my goal weight....before that I was always tired and sluggish, felt like I needed a nap every day. I think the excercise really helped out but what I think really made me feel better was the change in diet. When I cut out trips to Sonic and Whataburger and any other fast food stuff (except for healthy alternatives like salad with grilled chicken), I noticed a tremendous difference in my energy level within two weeks. I'm not a health food nut by any means but I do believe there's a lot of truth that all the extra stuff that makes those foods taste so good is very counterproductive to feeling our best. Given enough time, you almost lose your desire for those things, at least I did. Now, add in the excercise and I think your energy level will be much higher. For me, I literally roll out of the bed at 5:00 am, brush my teeth, put on my clothes and hit the treadmill for 30 minutes at 5mph and then I do 30 minutes on the elliptical. I spend the next hour showering and putting myself together for the day so that when my kids wake up at 7:00 to get ready for school, I am light on my feet to get everything done with them. I'm usually pretty good and ready for bed by 9:00 but more nights than not, I sleep very soundly which I think is a result of the better diet and excercise. That routine may not be for everyone but it works good for me and makes me feel like I'm starting my day off on a positive note...not to mention I kind of enjoy not showing up to drop my kids off at school looking half dead LOL

BTW, I'm about to be 39 in July so I'm only a step behind you in age :-)

I find a balanced breakfast and lunch give me strength to keep up and keep going.

I had 3 children when I was in my 20's, then I had another at the age of 41- whew! I was much more exhausted with that 1 than I had been with 3! I took my mother's advice and napped when the baby napped. Yes, the house was not immaculate, but M. was not an exhausted grouch. That exhaustion only lasted through the preschool years. Previous posts have had excellant advice for you!

I wouldn't get hooked on energy drinks or look for a quick drug fix. Our society is so quick to take unhealthy or artificial supplements. The side effects alone should scare us. Caffeine shouldn't be our friend. I can't have caffeine because of health issues, and I don't miss it a bit.

Instead, the same old thing is always what works best. Healthy diet and exercise. You may not think you have time for exercise but if you think about it, I'm sure you can find some fun time to just dance with your kids, walk to the park, even do simple exercises when you sit in front of the TV or while you are standing making dinner. Your kids will probably like to join you (something new!). Do you have stairs? Always take two at a time, no matter where you are. If you left something upstairs, don't wait to go up later, go each time up or down. Park farther and farther away so you have to walk more. Do a brisk walk to the door. You get the idea.

Fresh fruits and veggies are always good. Get rid of the prepared foods. If you want a vitamin/mineral supplement, go with natural choices. I like the liquid vitamins/supplements as I hate taking pills. Lots of water is healthy, too.

I have been eating healthier and have lost weight. I notice better energy, better skin tone, fewer times of sickness, less stress, better self-image, etc.