How do I get more energy?

Deeana - posted on 07/25/2012

lots of advise out there!! I am a 43 year old mother of 3, they are 21, 19 and 17 but I also run a full time day care! I have 12 little ones around me all day ranging from 1 through 6. I have amazing energy! I get up every morning at 4;30 and run for 30 min, I do not eat any SUGAR or refined carbs,,,, NONE! They sap your energy and give you weird emotional highs and lows. I do take a multi viteman, but I get my nutrition through a diet loaded with fresh vegies and fruit, protein and whole grains! Nutrition and exersize will raise your energy level and you feel great,,,, the first 2 weeks may be hell though! lol,,,,, do make sure there is not an underlying condition, and if not then become a health freak! You will be glad you did :)

Mom Of - posted on 07/04/2012

I can't imagine how you even have any energy to keep up with a toddler and a 9-month old. I'm 45 yrs. old with a 12 and 16 year-old and they're draining me! Years ago...I found keeping them busy during the day (play groups, extra-curricular activiies, visits to the park) during mornings/afternoons allowed them to exert some energy during the day so they'd sleep through the night. Good luck!

Lisa - posted on 07/04/2012

You have to eat right. I know it sounds easier said than done, but if you increase your veggie intake, a glass of fresh OJ in the morning, increase your water intake. Get a insulated iced coffee cup and fill it. You will be surprised how much water your body craves once you get on a kick of drinking it, take a daily vitamin, force yourself to exercise. If you have netflix they have workout video's on there. My two favs both have Ellen Barrett in them. Pick your level Pilates, crunch: super slimdown, and one more for harder workout is 10 minute solution: Pilates. After a few weeks you will notice more energy. Good luck.

Ashley - posted on 07/03/2012

Eat healthy, more smaller meals throughout the day than a few bigger ones. Make sure your getting enough nutrients. And you if you don't already you should start a little 5 or 10 min daily work out routine. It really boosts your energy.

KIMBERLY - posted on 06/30/2012

MAKE SURE EAT A HEALTHY BREAKFAST. FOOD GIVES YOU ENERGY. TRY VITAMINS THAT ALWAYS SEEMS TO HELP ME, ALL OF YOUR MEALS SHOULD BE HEALTHY. DONT SKIP MEALS.GOOD LUCK!

Darlene - posted on 06/26/2012

SLEEP...Talk to your doctor about possibly needing to have a Sleep Study done. It's not normal to be always tired so you may not be getting good sleep. You aren't waking up rested and you are constantly tired. Sleeping with a mask on is a small price to pay to be awake and alert and enjoying your day instead of dreading waking up. I had a study done and was AMAZED at how it feels to sleep all night long and wake up rested. Once I felt the benefits of a CPAP machine, I never try to sleep without it. If you are getting good sleep then perhaps you need to examine your diet and vitamins and exercise to get yourself healthy. Good Luck, Kimberly!

Dottie - posted on 06/25/2012

I agree with Joan and the others who said B-12!!! You definitely have a vitamin deficiency, and could be anemic. Get a blood test done. Some doctors aren't big into vitamins so even if he/she doesn't tell you to take vitamins, take them anyway. B-12 and D!!! They made a big difference for me. They can't hurt you, whatever your body doesn't need, it just expels..... Good luck!!

Chaya - posted on 06/24/2012

Try chiropractic care if you can, it's helped me with every aspect of my life. Short of that, I'd get checked for cilliac disease and fibro.

Michelle - posted on 06/22/2012

if i dont get enough rest with my 2 1/2 and 3 month old. I make sure i eat really healthy and get all my vitamins. I do better with sleep but dont always get a chance to catch up. Stay away from junk food and foods with caffine and sugar. false energy. There are healthy natural alternatives for energy and sugar. And yes low Iron levels will cause you to be tired and yes also check your thyroid. maybe even find a doctor that works with nutrition.

Maria - posted on 06/21/2012

Get your iron and vitamin D levels checked. Deficiencies in either will make you feel fatigued. Double wammy, if you have both. Try to sleep when the kids do. I'm tired all the time, too. Good luck!

Ann - posted on 06/16/2012

Take vitamin B12 and find time for working out everyday at least 30 mins/a day, it'll definitely help. I'm now 54 and I have a 9 year-old daughter who has a full load of activities..and this is what keeps me up with energy to do things with her everyday.

Tracy Johnson - posted on 06/10/2012

I am a mom of 6 ages 21,19,17,16,13,12 a step mom of 2 ages 15,13 and a foster mom of 4 ages 1, 1.5 ,2 ,2.5 and a grandma to be I have NO energy and NO time to turn around please help ...I use to be very active and work full time but have had to quite do to foster children with special needs....

Denise - posted on 08/11/2010

just a thought having experienced the exhaustion you're describing after having my second child at 40 y/o...it's at least worth checking.....have your thyroid level checked....i thought it was just having a baby at 40 (who was not a very good sleeper) and another small child at the same time....it wasn't!!!! please just check for your peace of mind with your health, hypothyroidism is much more common than you realize esp for women in their 40's!!!

Jamie - posted on 08/11/2010

I am not kidding, EXERCISE!!!!!! It may not seem like you can do it but even 20 min you will feel better. Start like every other day. Walk at a good pace.

Sandra - posted on 08/11/2010

make sure you rest when you can. With the 2 1/2 year old you could set up a quiet time for them when the 9 month old is sleeping so you could rest then as well. Hope this helps let me know.

Brenda - posted on 08/09/2010

I am 48 with 2 grown daughters who have given me 6 grandkids, ages 1-7 and I also have a 13 yr old son who is aspie/asd. My energy level is definately not where I want it to be either. But it is getting there, I am drinking Kangen water, taking supplements, exercising and eating healthier. There is a point you have to re-evaluate your life and change some things. We tend to go the easy way as we get older and it adds to our lethargy. If you want to know more about Kangen water, message me :)
Brenda

Joy - posted on 08/08/2010

I have four children and it is very important to take a multiple vitamin everyday and then extra potasium or eat a couple of bananas. The only thing if you are watching your weight like I am a couple a day is all you can have and you need at least 800 mg. a day of potasium. Look at you multi and add whatever your not getting. Potasium is a great energy mineral!

Collene - posted on 08/08/2010

I agree with the last post.I have twins which are nearly four and I mind a 22mth and sometimes a 3yr old.My iron levels where very low with twins,Im a 43 I have good days and bad.On the bad leave your housewrk do whats important and rest up.Or go out for a walk it refreshes you.And talk it out with your partner so he understands that way he understands the way you are feeling.He might be able to help with the work load around the house even if it is one or two things it all helps.All the best.

Dorothy - posted on 08/07/2010

I'm 42, and both my kids are grown/nearly grown. Something I have discovered though, is that I'm prone to iron deficiency. I was diagnosed with a B12 deficiency a few years ago, and during my first pregnancy, I went anemic. Last year I put two and two together, I now take B12 and Iron every day. My energy levels are now better than what they were when I was 26 having just given birth to my youngest. I highly recommend having your iron and B12 levels checked by a doctor. Women are prone to anemia simply because we give birth. Since your youngest is only 9 months, I would suspect off levels first before exploring other possibilities.

It's the safest and simplest thing to look at first, and usually, the simplest thing is more often the culprit. Even if you have no history of low iron levels. Giving birth can sometimes cause a temporary drop. Hope this helps.

Barb - posted on 08/07/2010

Hi Kimberly,
I know just how you feel. I am 48 with 6 children. 4 of them still at home ages 12,11,9 and 4.I was in your situation 2 years ago then a friend introduced me to something that changed all that. I will message you a link.. Let me know what you think. I hope you find this helpful. Take care.

Juanisa - posted on 08/07/2010

I feel the same way I’m going to start excurses because I know that by excursing gives you energy. And changing my eating habits and taken vitamins

Lynda - posted on 08/06/2010

You need to let things go and try to get more sleep and then make sure you are eating healthy and taking any needed vitimins and minerals to help you keep yourself it tip top shape. Then most important, remember that they will only be this little and want your constant attention for a very short time. soon they will be running out the door without thinking a thing about you. So enjoy their neediness. There is a song called"You're gonna miss this" Trust me. I do now that mine are gown and leaving home.

Jennifer - posted on 08/05/2010

I'm a 45 year old mother of 12, including a 2 1/2 year old and a 3 month old. Our first two children were just 16 months apart, and I well remember what difficulties I had as a new mother caring for them. I wondered if I would ever feel well-rested again! Sometimes when the baby would wake up crying in the middle of the night, I'd feel like crying right along with her, so desperate was I for sleep. The good news is, there are a few practical things you can do to help stretch your reserves of strength and energy. Start by sleeping when your baby sleeps, even if that just means resting on the floor for 15 minutes while you toddler plays at your side (We keep our babies in bed with us for the first six months or so; that way, I don't even have to get out of bed for those midnight feedings). You may also need to scale back on activities outside the home for a while (it's not safe to drive in a sleep-deprived stupor, anyway). Do try to get a little exercise, though, even if it's just a quick walk around the block while pushing babies in a stroller — the fresh air and sunshine will help recharge you. Taking a good multi-vitamin with iron can help your energy level, as well (I recommend Supermom vitamins), as can eating a diet rich in complex carbohydrates, whole grains, and fresh fruit and vegetables, as opposed to junk food and caffeinated beverages (be sure to drink lots and lots of water, too — especially if you're breastfeeding). You may also need to relax your standards for housekeeping for the time being. During this season of your life, it is enough that your home stays (relatively) tidy — it doesn't have to be spotless. (That old poem rings true: "Quiet down, cobwebs; Dust, go to sleep. I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep.")
My last advice for maintaining energy may seem a little counter-intuitive, but it has the power to revolutionize your life at home. Like many young mothers, back when we first started our family, I became so absorbed in tending to my baby's needs that I felt quite justified in marginalizing my husband's needs. After all, wasn't I having to sacrifice sleep for the sake of of our child? Surely my husband could make a few sacrifices himself! Let me warn you that this way of thinking is very unwise. You must never use your children, however young and needy they are, as an excuse to neglect your relationship to their father. Reserve at least a little energy so you can regularly devote your full attention to him. In the long run, I found that investing in my marriage in this manner paid HUGE dividends and multiplied my strength manyfold. Like loaves and fishes, when I freely and joyfully gave myself to my husband, despite the overwhelming fatigue I felt at the time, God took that gift and stretched it in amazing ways, so that I was able to accomplish much more than I ever imagined possible, and actually felt GREAT doing it. Try it yourself, and see if you don't feel re-energized, as well. Make it a priority. Make it a habit. Your husband will thank me. And you will, too.
For more tips on marriage and child training, visit our family website: http://www.flandersfamily.info

Lorna - posted on 08/03/2010

The advice may seem cliche but it is very sound and true. I lost some weight, eat right, get 7-8 hours of sleep a night. The only thing I would like is an exercise regime. This has improved my energy level. Also if you do manage to get them to sleep at the same time, take a nap too. Good luck.

Kristi - posted on 08/03/2010

Also have your thyroid checked. Mine stopped working right after I had my last child and I would fall asleep at the drop of a hat.

Joan - posted on 08/03/2010

First of all, are you getting a multivitamin everyday? And B12 complex helps too. I am 52 with three grown daughters and a wonderful granddaughter. When my kids were young the best advice I received from a friend was to join a gym that included daycare with my membership. Those days were heaven, because not only was I getting the proper exercise I needed, the girls were getting play time with other kids their age. Believe me exercise is the key. I know you think you get enough running after your children, but it is not the same. You need you have some time for yourself and do something that makes you feel good too. I still go to the gym and so my three daughters and yes my granddaughter goes to! Joining a gym and eating right is a lifetime thing. Also, there are early childhood centres in Canada in every city that are free, with many wonderful things available for young children. Go online and find one close to you. They are amazing so say the least and offer you a great opportunity to take your kids there and participate in many activities. Hope this helps!

Michele - posted on 08/02/2010

could possibly also be a low thyroid...happens about this age...happened to me and is very common.

Janice - posted on 08/02/2010

Please have the dr. run some bloodwork to make sure you are not anemic, and to check your hormone levels to make sure all is well. Then, ask the doctor about some vitamins! Good luck!

Cheryl - posted on 08/01/2010

Excercise when you can, even if you cant get to the gym, trying walking or doing a quick video at home. Also, diet is a large part of it, my energy kick is drinking 2 glasses of shakeology a day! Love it! Plenty of rest, also helps and trying not to overdo it. Don't try to get everything day, do the things you can get done, but dont worry about the rest. Msg me if you have any other questions.

Kate Kathy - posted on 08/01/2010

I am 44 and I understand where you are coming from. I have a 19 year old and a 13 year old and a 2 1/2 also. I have to exercise alot to keep me going. I also put Cheyenne in mothers day out one day a week. That is my time to do what I want I no house work no running around.this time is mine. Only 5 hours,but it does help. And plan activities that you enjoy with them also. I also had my thyroid checked I did not even know that I had a problem. I checked out with a low count so I am on medicene now and it is helping. Good luck

Michelle - posted on 08/01/2010

healthy diet and exercise is what I would recommend, though young children are exhausting whatever age you are.

MaryEllen - posted on 07/31/2010

While exercise can give you more energy, a vitamin deficiency can sap it. Talk to your doctor!

Suzanne - posted on 07/28/2010

I'm 45 soon to be 46 and I have a 9 year old, 6 1/2 year old and 5 year old. They certainly keep me busy. I know people don't like working out and it can be especially challenging with babies but I would suggest getting an video program that works for you. First, make sure that your lethargy isn't medical and get the okay from your doctor, then get a workout program. You will feel 100% better. Now, I know your next question, is going to be "when can I workout". If the 2 1/2 year old is sleeping put the baby in a swing and hopefully, that can work out for you.

Stefania - posted on 07/27/2010

try with some Berocca, join a gym with free childminder for few months...It helps me...I was feeling like so exhausted, I'm still taking Berocca, however I'm not always find the time for the gym