burnout

[cindylou]

How do you deal with burnout?

I'm experiencing this right now.

This happened to me about 4 1/2 years ago, but last time my "break" was 3 months. I want a quicker way to deal with this, or tips on how you deal.

I'm not getting up to do cardio, and I'm hating everything right now. Usually, I might be tired, but i will normally feel gross if I dont go.

I feel nothing but hatred towards any movement at all!! Whats wrong w/ me?

Help!!!

Thanks in advance

 

[*Bunny*]

Are you taking any supplements?
Were you eating enough for the training you were doing?
Bored of doing the same thing? Maybe you need a change? Variety?

Last time I experienced this my chiro/acupuncturist, after NONE of my other docs could find ANYTHING wrong with me (blood work/labs etc), he pinpointed my adrenal glands being shot.

Hope you feel better. I always felt better when I got there, but after awhile, I would get to the gym & wanna leave b/c of the ^^ reason (or at least the only reason that made ANY sense thus far).

 

[Gymgurl]

Bunny what did you have to do for your adrenal glands to get back to normal....


Try to mix things up or take some type of class or anything not the norm

 

[*Bunny*]

Bunny what did you have to do for your adrenal glands to get back to normal....


Try to mix things up or take some type of class or anything not the norm

Of the many things my doc is into, traditional chinese medicine is one of them. He has herbal supps there for specific issues, he suggested one for the adrenal issues. In addition to that, I also had acupunture and cut anything 'rough' out of my diet (any thing hard was OUT, apples, nuts, raw veggies, no caffeine or soda, candy or booze, etc, for a two weeks I think. I'd have to go find it I my log, under that huge Acu expereince post if you remember.

 

[cindylou]

No, it started about a month ago, I'd get to the gym, but I'd skip the cardio. Now this. RIght now I'm getting about 9 sometimes 10 hours of sleep and I feel like I need all of that. Thats not normal for me!! I just cant explain it I'm not acting like myself.

My company changed my insurance policy to one with somewhat higher deductables, so now I cant just go to the doctor whenever I feel like somethings wrong.

And no, I'm not taking supplements, and never really had to unless I wanted a little extra push. Just a multi. I also average around 1500 cals a day, which should not be too little food so I dunno. hmmm. Is it laziness? I have always been so good at always making sure I had time to fit in fitness, now I wont go for a brisk walk.

Something is not right!!! I have not "offically" taken a break, should I? I just dont want it to last forever like last time!!!!!!!!!!!!! How long should I take a break?

 

[*Bunny*]

It happens to all of us...

Lethargy.. my fave word at that time. I would sleep for hours, wake up and want to sleep again. Too tired to do anything. Bunny NOT go to the gym?? Everyone thought I was crazy. Everything was just tired, and this was AFTER taking 2-3 weeks off, I wasn't evening training and this happened.

My insurance doesn't cover my chiro or alternative therapies.

Anyway, how long have you been doing the same thing? Training & diet? Maybe you are bored, need a change? Training Partner? try something new? Set a mini goal?

Something else in your life bringing you down?

How long have you been training? 1 year without a break? at least a week? Maybe your body needs time to 'recover' and just do NOTHING.

 

[cindylou]

I had a break in March last year of a week so Its only been 6 months.

My old insurance policy covered EVERYTHING. even chiro. Everything. I switched to hubbies because it was free becasue inlaws told me it was bettter....no! They dont even offer that insurance anymore. They would put me back on the policy for 750 a month. Yikes! I miss it.

Well, I'll give myself a week. If that dont fix me up, I might make an appointment to the doc. Are there other signs besides tiredness? I dont really feel sick per se, but yeah I am normally pretty good w/ the whole gym thing. Maybe not the diet part, but this is something I enjoy, and now I just cant seem to find the will to go.

and its not depression. I know I'm not depressed. I'm just tired. lol.

 

[cindylou]

did you eventually resolve your problem? (I'm assuming you did lol) Thru alternative treatment?

 

[Gymgurl]

Are you Pregnant??

 

[katdav]

I know exactly how you feel. Sometimes I just don't even feel like sweating, then I look at the calender and it's been 4 weeks and about 10lbs of bloat later...yikes..
How about going to an event??? A 5K/10k race, a triathlon, bodybuilding competition, bike race... Sometimes being around a bunch of motivated in shape peeps is inspiring. You don't need to sign up for it, just go watch and soak up the atmosphere.

 

[*Bunny*]

did you eventually resolve your problem? (I'm assuming you did lol) Thru alternative treatment?

I know the just tired... it's sounding more like you ran outta gas with the training... kinda blah, bored etc (unless by chance GG is right and you got a bun in the oven) ...

I REALLY enjoy an alternative choice to medical issues when it can be handled that way. I haven't 'seen the light' with the Acupuncture like some people rave about, but deep tissue massages are one of my favorite things to do.

Maybe treat yourself to a spa day or massage and just spoil yourself if you can in some way.

I agree with trying to liven up the training somehow or make it fun again, just something to get you moving, sometimes it just takes time or an event or one day you want to train again.

But, if things just aren't right (and i KNOW what you mean by that, my 3 docs couldn't find anything wrong with me) I went the chiro who specializes in the holistic good stuff and he does these little tests to asses potential issues. Try to imagine laying on your back & raising your right arm up, like a lever... he would apply gentle pressure to certain points/meridians on your body, i.e. the liver & kidney are usually the points that are blocked with me, then take your arm and (gently) try to push it down while activating the point with one hand, and trying to push down the level with his other hand, while you try to resist him pushing it down. Just wanted to explain b/c it's not anything painful or creepy, well unless you are in pain of course.

Not sure if you have access to someone that specializes in a holistic and natural approach to health care but I enjoy it.

 

[cindylou]

interesting....

and no, I dont believe I'm pregnant. I wish! LOL. J/K kinda...lol

maybe a detox is in order, and that deep tissue sounds great, that holistic treatment that you were talking about - (i think thats what you were talking about) that sounds like that would naturally feel great, pressing on certain pressure points I have spots that hurt to the touch right now, that sounds sooooo good!!!

Well, thanks for the tips/advice.

If anyone else has any tips on ways to beat burnout I'd love to hear them. I think I'm going to take a week off, and maybe take Bunny's advice and get a massage or something, but then I'm back at it, mabe just a less of a routine than before, and slowly ease my way back. maybe less cardio, who knows. Right now I'm only at 2 days a week. I'm not sure whats less that that, but none. LOL. I"m really bad right now.

 

[cindylou]

are there any suppls that you cant take to give your adrenals a boost??? Maybe? LOL

 

[*Bunny*]

are there any suppls that you cant take to give your adrenals a boost??? Maybe? LOL

good reading material...
http://www.naturalways.com/adrenal.htm

 

[velvett]

I just want to add - it's kinda related - adrenals/thyroid issues.

We've become afraid of salt - OMG I will bloat!!! - no salt, low sodium.

You need salt/iodine - so unless you're trying to deplete your body of water for a short period of time - sea salt with iodine is not your enemy.

 

[Gymgurl]

Cindylou......make sure your not pregnant if you are not sure....That was all I wanted to do was sleep and couldn't figure out why until I missed my period......so check

 

[cindylou]

I just want to add - it's kinda related - adrenals/thyroid issues.

We've become afraid of salt - OMG I will bloat!!! - no salt, low sodium.

You need salt/iodine - so unless you're trying to deplete your body of water for a short period of time - sea salt with iodine is not your enemy.

low salt cant cause a slow thyroid?

 

[cindylou]

Cindylou......make sure your not pregnant if you are not sure....That was all I wanted to do was sleep and couldn't figure out why until I missed my period......so check

kay I will!!! WOW would that be cool. I probably wont be so lucky as to get pregnant by accident though.

 

[velvett]

low salt cant cause a slow thyroid?

iodine effects thyroid function the uptake of iodine is different between hyperthyroid (too much) and hypothyroid
(too little)

 

[Gymgurl]

kay I will!!! WOW would that be cool. I probably wont be so lucky as to get pregnant by accident though.

My last one was a total accident...the others were planned

 

[jenscats5]

I get "burned out" after 3 days of working out....just so tired that I can't think....so take a break if you need one!!

I like the suggestion of going to see an event, whatever it may be to re-motivate you....

 

[velvett]

I've gone through some weird highs and lows with working out the past few years (I won't go there) and I have found that trying something new (kick boxing, jazz, ballet, biking (like outdoors with other people), kayaking, water skiing) has kept me going through some great periods of disinterest in basic cardio or weights.

And sometimes just planting yourself on the sofa, hammock or in bed with a good book or pile of magazines is good for soul too.

 

[wlmcrae]

Just a different take - do you live in an area with little sun in the winter? Seasonal Affective Disorder (lack of sunlight causing metabolic changes) hits hard right around this time if you're at all sensitive to it.