Quote From: snaquebI was wondering if anyone out there could help me?
I am 24 years old and I generally have fairly low energy levels, and tend to need a lot of sleep to function properly (my ideal is 9 hours a night). In March, I started reading Dr. Phil's weight loss book, and joined a local gym. I got a personal trainer, and followed the program she made for me. I went to the gym 3 times a week faithfully, and did my strength training program and 30 - 45 minutes of cardio every time I went. After about 3 months, I had to stop going to the gym as I was just too tired all of the time and it didn't seem to be getting any better (actually, it was getting worse). I was eating properly, getting good amounts of protein and carbs, but was still tired.
So, having heard my story, I was wondering if any of you have any advice/opinions. Some people have told me that I may have low iron, as I have some of the other symptoms of low iron as well (heart palpitations, slow healing of muscle aches/pains), but my doctor insists that my iron levels are fine (she only did a general blood test though). Should I get a second opinion, or ask for more tests? What would you suggest?
Thanks,
Snaqueb
I had the same problem. The only thing that I can suggest is looking at something else other than low iron.
It's call haemochromatosis. Too much iron, or iron overload. It can mask MANY different problems, and causes a lot more. Iron overload may be caused by increased absorption of iron from the intestine even when the body does not require it. This is called primary iron overload. This is usually caused by an inherited abnormality known as hereditary haemochromatosis. You'd have to go for genetic testing as I have done. I thankfully don't have the gene, I just have a lot of iron, I have to cut down on spinach, the more I eat, the more tired I get. So, red meat? OUT. Dark green leafy veggies? Cut WAY back. I take a multivitamin to keep up, but, there's iron in them. Boo. I'm pregnant right now, and my iron levels are more close to normal, but still high.
I found out about this because my doctor was looking for low iron. And found the opposite. It's easily missed by doctors, being one of the MOST misdiagnosed diseases around. About 1 in 333 people carry the gene, though not all affected.
Excess body iron may also be caused by large numbers of abnormal red blood cells being destroyed and releasing their iron. This is known as secondary iron overload and it may also be inherited.
There are a lot of things to look at but I suggest you google the word and look for the symptoms. And, when in doubt, if you are tired from exercising, try a different time of day, eating one hour before a high protein moderate carb, something even a little starchy to provide immediate source of energy, and a light post workout snack, like a yogurt (100g) and a complex carb, 1/2 slice of multiwhole grain bread. It must be a protein and a complex carb, but less than 150 calories. Avoid fruits and fruit juices after a workout. The immediate sugar can wreck havoc on what you had just done.
I hope this helps a lot. I know how frustrating it can be.
Good luck!
