When you're run down

Dear Chlorini, Are you having fun swimming, or is just another thing to complete in your day? Sometimes the training can get to be more work than fun, along with regular work and other responsiblities. When I start to feel like that I grab my 9 year old and head to the pool and spend some time just "playing" in the water, I find the slide particularly wild. :p This may border on heresy, but a pool can be more than sets and drills... The only other thing different I could think of from the others who have responded is if you are sensitve to changes in seasons and/or daylight. I don't know if your area really gets a change in daylightbut here in Pa, it is getting darker earlier at night and later in the am, and one begins to fell like a vampire - drive to work in the dark, come home in the dark. Some people are very senstive to daylight changes, enough to warrant a dx of Seasonal Affect Disorder. You mention your stress is "no more than normal" keep in mind even chronic low levels of stress can add up. Hope you feel back on track soon.

The last time I felt like that, a severe sore throat preceded a diagnosis of mononucleosis. That was hell let me tell you. I doubt that is your problem but if it persists I would not hesitate to see your MD about it. If you are not already getting an annual checkup/physical this might be a good time to start.

Leslie, You exactly get the point. I sleep for 5-6 hours before workout (too little!!!). Then I try to make it up during the day (fortunatelly I work mainly at home so I can afford it) but probably this post-workout sleep is not as good as that done before workout. You will not cheat your body, I'm afraid. As to post-workout food - I refuell too late. I swim hard sets in training but have nothing to eat afterwards and eat breakfast no sooner than 2 hours after finishing the workout. Too late for my hungry muscles :( How much carbs (I mean how many gramms per body weight) should I take in within this 30 minutes after workout?

Thanks everyone for all the support and suggestions. I feel encouraged by all of you -- swimmers are the best! Lindsay, we'll have to let each other know if we find a solution. If I don't start feeling better in a few weeks and after trying some of all of your suggestions, maybe I will go in and get checked for anemia or another medical issue. Leslie, are there signs of anemia that I should look for? I am small -- 5'2" but not quite as slim as you -- I'm about 118-120. Kim, I don't think I'm pregnant, although now you have me nervous -- I'm married and the right age, but I am on the pill. Yikes! As for nutrition, I think I have been doing okay although I have noticed that my appetite is down a little bit. Maybe I'll write down what I'm eating for a day or two to make sure it's not less or less quality than I think. Thank you again to everyone!

i felt exhausted for 'no reason' before. i went from leading my lane to barely hanging on. i felt like i needed a nap all the time. nothing in my life had changed either - except that i found out i was pregnant! lots of women feel very fatigued in the first trimester. it was my first 'symptom' of pregnancy with both of my kids.

Lindsay: I don't know how many, not an expert. But I would eat more than an apple after a tough workout. My daughter just went to a nutrition clinic sponsored by her swim team. They said eat either an energy bar/fruit/ protein immediately after swimming and then eat another one of those an hour later. I seem to recall you were pretty skinny in Peter Cruise's "what's your weight" thread. I think you should just eat more, more carbs, and right after practice. I've never been on a diet, eat all the time. Don't let more than 2-3 hours go by without a snack! As to the sleep, I feel your pain. Leslie

I have a similar problem. After workout I am tired all day long. It does not happen on my days of rest (of which there are two per week). I increaseed my volume and intensity and I do not want to go back to my previous lighter training because I would not improve my endurance and longer distance speed. I swim 3500-4000 m per day within 90 minutes and 1/3 up to 1/2 of my training is a set of 100s or 200s done at HR 80-85% of my maximum. Is there anything that can prevent this all-day exhaustion after morning session? From your suggestions I guess that complex carbohydrate diet should help. I eat plenty of pasta after training but for my afternoon meal I prefer more protein-fat. I have then terrible craving for plenty of meat. Is that wrong? Can coffeine be the reason of my exhaustion? I drink about 2 cups of strong coffee per day (now reduced!) Is there anything besides diet that may help?

Lindsay: I agree with Terry. You have to refuel immediately after training ideally within 30 minutes. I often train with some accelerade in my water. If I have a very tough workout, I drink endurox afterward. Or I just eat real food with a mix of carbs and protein. Yogurt and a banana is good. If I'm in the car driving around or running with my kids and odn't have time for any of this, I keep some energy bars in the car or my workout bag for fast fuel. I like LUNA bars, less sugar. Make sure you fuel up before workouts too. Also, if you swim in the morning, are you getting to sleep on time? I work out in the afternoon or evenings during the week because I am a night owl. Everyone I know who goes to a 5:30 am workout goes to bed really early to get enough sleep. Leslie

Signs and symptoms of anemia: Pallor, fatigue, weakness, decline in exercise tolerance, shortness of breath, chest pain, lightheadedness.

Chlorini: I'm not sure all the signs of anemia. Do an internet search. I just noticed that I was more tired than I should have been and it was confirmed in a blood test. Kimigo is right -- pregnancy is also exhausting. Frankly, I think having kids (I have 3) is in and of itself exhausting! Enjoy your kid free life while you have it. And, scy freestyler is right. A check up isn't a bad idea. I hate going to the doctor, but I finally broke down and went for my allergies and now I can actually breathe. Leslie