I am slightly concerned about my constant tiredness and wondered if anyone could give me any advice.

Basically, I'm a (seemingly) healthy 25 year old male who takes a fair amount of exercise (3-4 times a week running/gym) and I walk to and from work every day (4 miles in total). This is surely not enough to make me as tired as I feel.

I usually sleep for 7 hours but it can be 6.5 sometimes. However, yesterday I fell asleep at 6.30 and basically slept for 12 hours, yet I still feel the same today. I have done this a few times over the past month or 2.

My diet is balanced; I eat a mixture of foods, includng plenty of fruit, decent amount of veg, protein, carbs etc. My vice is sugary foods but I believe that this is part of the balance. I drink plenty of water, 1.5-2 litres a day.

Every day I just find myself yawning and feeling very lethargic (ok, I'm an accountant so perhaps that doens't help) and times like last night when I had no energy to even cook dinner or watch the tv, or anything.

Has anyone experienced this? I don't want to waste my doctor's time but need to get this sorted!

this time of year can make a huge differece with the lack of sunlight.. maybe see if you can get hold of a sad lamp to see if it makes a difference.. just a thought

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It might be worth you going to the doctors and having a blood test to check you haven't got a thyroid problem? Hypothyroidism means a reduced level of thyroid hormone (thyroxine). This can cause various symptoms, the most common being: tiredness, weight gain, constipation, aches, dry skin, lifeless hair and feeling cold.

Worth checking - otherwise, there are lots of bugs around, your body could just be working double-time to fend them off!

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Ain't nothin' gonna break my stride Nobody gonna slow me down, oh no I got to keep on movin' ...

Caffeine.

I used to feel the same - would drink loads of the stuff at work, get in from work and basically collapse on the sofa unable to do anything.

A friend recommended that I should give it up and see what happened and it made a phenominal difference.

Try giving up coffee / tea (or just switch to decaf) and see what happens.

Hope this helps.

I'm constantly tired too....goes with the territory I think...but if it is serious get it checked out by GP.

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L2B...or bust

I gotta agree with Wally. I switched to decaf tea and cofee a few years ago. I had bad headaches for about two weeks whilst doing so but my energy levels shot up. I now only have caffeine in an energy drink prior to running and get the full benefit.

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Oh dear, I do love my coffee! Perhaps I will give it a try though. In terms of proper coffee, how different is decaf? Not really interested in the freeze dried stuff.

It is strange really as I have NEVER felt the supposed 'wake up' benefit from caffeine. I happily drink 2 cups of strong coffee before going to sleep and it has no effect on me. Is this strange? Some people swear blind that it wakes you up and keeps you 'wired'! I drink it because I enjoy it, not to stay awake!

I don't think that this is the issue as the tiredness is the only symptom here. I am always warm, if anything!

Is it possible that it could be a result of any other part of my diet?

diet can play a part...
i.e. if you were just eating crap and junk food then your body would be missing out vitamins and minerals that it needs...

also the quality of your sleep would make a difference.. 2hours deep sleep is better for you than 6hours of cat napping

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Doing hill sessions make you a better person!

Hooray, I'm not weird, someone else like me. I can easily sleep after drinking coffee. The only time I've felt the 'wake up' effect of caffeine has been when taking painkillers containing caffeine late at night.

BUT, it could still be the reason for you feeling sleepy, especially when combined with the fact that you say you like sugar. If your blood sugar takes a dive after the initial high when you eat sugary stuff, then you'll feel sleepy. Caffeine can also cause a drop in blood sugar (a post-caffeine crash, if you like), so combine the two and if you're at all tired, you could easily end up spark out on the sofa in the early evening.

I would say that you'd probably get more benefit from reducing your sugar intake (or at least trying to spread it out a little to avoid peaks and troughs) than cutting out caffeine, but either would probably help. Giving up both would probably be best, but first try whichever one you feel you can give up more easily.

You can get pretty good decaff filter and/or espresso ground coffee - my brother & sister in law have gone completely decaff, so although I'm still caffeinated, I get it in for when he comes to stay. It tastes as good, but you do notice a lack of something, unless that's just psychological!

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I have a couple of books about sleep, and they both say that as a nation, we don't get enough sleep. It could be that 7 hours isn't enough for you - most people need a good 8 hours (even if they don't actually get it). Personally, I need 9. Maybe try getting a bit more sleep each night for a couple of weeks and see how you feel? If that doesn't work, it's worth going to your doc's to make sure there is no underlying medical problem (lots of things can cause excessive tiredness). You shouldn't have to put up with being tired all the time, it's not just a part of life, it can be sorted.

You don't necessarily have to have all the symptoms full on. I used to feel like you do, and I just put it down to life stuff/diet etc... until I was diagnosed with under active thyroid almost 3 years ago.

It was only when I started taking meds for it that I realised about other symptoms I'd had and just accepted that it was normal.

It is worth getting checked

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