Why Am I So Tired After Exercising?

Why Am I So Tired After Exercising?
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Exercise can boost your energy and make you feel healthier. However, this is true in most cases and when viewed from a long-range perspective. In some instances, you may actually be more tired after exercising. This can be due to a variety of causes, many of which can be easily treated. However, even if you are tired after exercising, you still reap the many benefits of exercise, including lower risk of heart disease, diabetes and some types of cancer.

Overtraining

Exercise is great for your health, but it is possible to get too much of a good thing. Too much exercise, or over-training, can cause excessive tiredness after exercise. Other signs of overtraining may include muscle soreness, nausea and mood changes. Breaking up exercise into shorter intervals may reduce some of the tiredness.

Lack of Food

Consume enough food in order to have the energy to fuel your workouts. Carbohydrates in particular provide the energy you need to get through your exercise. Eating some protein along with carbohydrates will keep your blood sugar steady. Eat a snack that combines both, such as peanut butter with whole-grain crackers.

Dehydration

Drinking an adequate amount of water is essential for exercise. If you do not drink enough fluids, your workout could lead to dehydration, which may make you feel more fatigued. In addition to drinking water before, during and after your workout, consider drinking a recovery drink afterwards to replenish electrolytes lost during exercise.

Medical Conditions

Certain medical conditions can also cause excessive tiredness after exercising. Among the conditions that may cause tiredness include asthma, anemia, diabetes and hypothyroidism. Tiredness that lasts for 24 hours or more after exercise may also be caused by chronic fatigue syndrome. Check with your doctor if you believe that your exhaustion after exercise may be due to a more serious problem.

References

Article reviewed by Jenna Marie Last updated on: May 26, 2011

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