I'm always tired, should I go vegan?

[Tealtop1]

I'm already a very healthy person; I workout 6 days a week (an hr for each workout) and I eat mostly healthy diet. My issue is that I literally have no energy, like I get a little charge mid workout but right before and right after my workout I'm fucking tired again. I don't know what I'm doing wrong my I'm always fatigued and prefer to lay in bed. What can I do to fix this? I've heard people who've gone vegan say they gained SOOOO much energy so I was thinking I should try that. Help me please

[thorthorley]

It could just be the diet and you dont have to go vegan to get the right vitamins and minerals in your diet. B-complex vitamins and other vitamins like vitamin D release energy for the body to use. You could eat all the calories you want but it won't be released unless you have the right vitamins. B-complex vitamins are usually in cereals and vitamin d is produced from sunlight. I would research other foods which you can get energy releasing vitamins.

[Tealtop1]

I spent at least 5 months taking b12 and iron pills and they did nothing, I mean I'd try vitamin d and b-complex but i feel like it'd do nothing, I've also heard many say that the body just pees out a majority of it.

[thorthorley]

The body can only absorb so much but you dont want to cut it out completely either.

I read on another comment that you had a low calorie intake and a low carb intake. Calories is a measure of energy and carbs are used an energy source for the body. The only reason you would go on a low carb diet is if you are trying to lose weight. Since the energy requirements your body needs will be taken from your fat stores instead of your food. If you are skinny and have low calorie intake then your body will struggle to find its energy requirements.

If you are trying to lose weight and you feel tired this can be normal until your body adjusts to your new diet.

[Tealtop1]

I'm not trying to lose weight really, more like maintain what I have now (maybe gain some more muscles here and there) but yeah I always assumed I didn't need carbs and the rest of the food I ate would fuel my body. Is that not true?

If I do need carbs how much should I be eating? I do have some carbs (cheerios, oatmeal, quinoa, some scones) but thats about it.

Also just wondering how do I know if my diet is low calorie? If I'm 5"3 and 23 y/o how many calories should i really be having?

[thorthorley]

I think 2000 calories is average but that might be for males i think. But if you are active its more calories. Carbs are only necessary for energy basicly and its mostly for the brain. Other foods can be used for energy also but the body will look for the foods that convert into glucose the fastest. So sugar converts the fastest and is a quick energy boost but sugar isn't really healthy for you. So try eating more carbs for energy but dont go overboard. The reason obesity is on the rise is bc we have a very high carb diet in our modern western diet with all the pizza and chips and burgers and so on. You can eat that stuff but in moderation.

If you dont like carby foods just eat more veggies since they can give you energy too.

[Tealtop1]

Thank you for all the advice and you make a lot of sense, I'll look into adding more carbs to my diet. Which carbs would you recommend? The only ones I can think of is brown rice and quinoa

[thorthorley]

Yup rice, quinoa, cereal grains, seeds, beans, peas, lentils, fruit, veggies.

Just search complex carbohydrates and they are usually the good ones to eat.

[Tealtop1]

okay thanks! I appreciate all the help!

[WeaponZero]

It's more than likely you're either not resting enough or just plain not eating enough food to keep up with your activity level. Going vegan won't change any of that.

[stardust101]

All you would need to do is implement more veggies into your diet, but are you eating enough calories? If you're not then that might be why you're tired all the time.

[Tealtop1]

I'm not sure tbh, I eat whenever I'm hungry though most of my meals are low calorie (yogurts, salads, trail mix, fruit, eggs). It's hard to tell, I don't count calories usually but when I did (over the summer) I'd maybe eat like 1400 calories a day? Lol it's all very confusing and I do this all myself so I don't know if my metabolism is too fast or if i workout too much or if i need a better diet (I cut out like 90% carbs from my diet if that means anything)

[stardust101]

A normal diet consists of 2,000 calories a day, so you are not eating enough. I'm assuming you are active throughout the day and not just when you are working out, so eat more. Drink lots of water, protein shakes are perfect for after working out. If you monitor your food intake so you know how much and when you are eating, I think this ill help you keep track of your calorie intake.

[stardust101]

And also, since you have a fast metabolism AND working out everyday, you could eat a bowl of rice with veggies in it or a baked potato with the works on it. Don't worry sop much about carbs, you want carbs. Carbs is a good thing but not with every meal

[Tealtop1]

well i should also mention that i'm 23 and 5"3 and I only stuck to a 1400-ish diet is bc when i researched it online it said to lose or maintain my weight (115) I should have than many calories.

And no lol, I'm not very active other than working out. I mean I take the stairs when it's available and walk around campus to get places but other than that I'm sitting or in bed. When I'm not working out i'm pretty lazy... or it's just because i'm so tired... again, i have no clue haha

I did protein shakes for a while (soy protein isolate) and I liked the results but it did nothing to my energy, and I stopped bc i've heard bad things about soy causing cancer/fucking with hormones and I was told it's best to get protein directly from the source.

[stardust101]

You can buy pure protein powder from health food stores or at least get the kind of protein powder that consists mostly of the protein and not the filler. Anyway, when you're only active during workouts then that can take a toll on your body as well. Your body is made to move and walk around so when you mostly sit and then work out, it's difficult for the body to switch from laziness to feeling energized on it's own unless you make it to. I wish you a healthy and happy life. Hope our advice works! :)

[Tealtop1]

Thanks for the help! I'll look into some protein powders and hopefully when it gets warmer I can be active outside of my workouts :)

[stardust101]

Thanks for MHO 😊

[Cmasterson]

I think you may just need more protein and do not over sleep. Also pre work outs are pretty rad even a smoothie prior or anything that makes you have energy

[Tealtop1]

what kind of pre workouts are best? I've heard bad stories about pre workouts and the chemicals and the irregular heartbeats and caffeine and shit.

[Cmasterson]

Personally I go with the most natural so the Vega brand has them.. BUT I hate the texture it's disgusting. Right now I'm using GAT (pineapple flavour) but there are these things called "energy balls" and I eat them prior to a work out if it's too late to drink a pre work out and I feel refreshed I also try to drink citrus mint teas :)

[GingerGuy]

Maybe you have a medical condition like a thyroid problem or something. I'd get checked out by a doctor. Working out 6 days a week is good though, you must not be always tired to do that.

[golani]

no thats exactly the opposite of what you should do. you should go get a blood test

[Intraluminal]

First get a physical. You might be anemic.

[Tealtop1]

I got tested for that a while ago and was told I was borderline but not anemic

[Intraluminal]

So *now* you may be anemic.

[apple24]

maybw you need sleep!