Exercise can either give you energy or take it away. This depends on several factors, including your current physical condition, your health and how much exercise you perform. If you're not in good health, talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program. He can advise you on what's best for you and what to avoid.
Feeling Tired
Exercise may leave you feeling tired and low in energy if you haven't exercised in a long time. This is especially true if you're also overweight. A way to deal with this is to start slow. Rather than jumping into a two-hour workout from the beginning, start with a 15-minute walk every day. As you get stronger, you'll feel less tired after a workout session.
High Energy Levels
Over time, exercise is supposed to increase your energy levels, not decrease them. A 2007 report published in "The University of Georgia Research Magazine" showed that regular exercise can significantly increase energy levels while fighting fatigue. The report analyzed 70 previous studies and found that all participants benefited from regular physical activity. Even people who were dealing with chronic conditions or serious diseases such as cancer reported an increase in energy when they were working out regularly.
Other Reasons for Fatigue
If you've been exercising regularly for a couple of weeks and still feel very tired, there could be medical reasons for it. A common one is anemia, but infectious diseases and endocrine and metabolic problems, such as diabetes, may also leave you feeling too tired to exercise. Lack of sleep also leaves you low on energy. The National Sleep Foundation recommends between seven and nine hours of sleep for adults. If you're sleeping less than that, you might be running on empty. If you combine exercise with no energy, you might end up exhausted.
Extreme Exercising
If you're exercising and feeling very tired, you might be exercising too hard. According to psychiatrist Dr. Pauline Powers in her book "Exercise Balance," exercising too hard or too much can lead to injuries, bone loss and even an eating disorder. Adjust your exercise sessions until you feel tired but not exhausted after a session. For example, walk or jog instead of running.
References
- "The University of Georgia Research Magazine"; Regular Exercise Better Than Stimulants at Reducing Fatigue; Sam Fahmy; 2007
- National Sleep Foundation: How Much Sleep Do We Really Need?
- eMedicineHealth: Fatigue Causes
- University of South Florida Health; Extreme Exercise: How Much is Too Much?; Anne DeLotto Baier; April 2008
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