7 replies to this topic

[calengineering]

I feel very tired after eating certain foods, and especially after lunch. I'm having a hard to diagnosing myself because it seems that I'm not exactly sure if I have combination of issues and to what degree each issue. My best guess is that I have minor problems with gluten and carbohydrates (especially high glycemic index foods). Usually after lunch, I will start feeling tired. I've started eating less and get tired and hungry more often in the day, only to eat again and feel tired. It's a vicious cycle and I've lost some weight as well.

I'm not certain if I'm gluten intolerant or have some form of diabetes or have some other problem. I used to eat wheat bread all the time and usually when I eat it for breakfast, I feel great after. But when I have a sandwich for lunch with wheat bread, I'll get pretty tired. Why the difference in results? I also have no symptoms other people mention, such as bloating, diarrhea, indigestion, etc... My only symptom is fatigue and tiredness. So I'm not entirely sure if I'm gluten intolerant. I'm also unsure about diabetes. I've measured my blood glucose levels after 30 min to 2 hours after meals and they are usually 120-160. My resting levels are usually 85-100. I've heard that under 180 up to 2 hours after meals is fine. So why do I feel so damn tired???

Regardless of whether or not I have gluten intolerance or diabetes, I'm pretty certain that something is going on with my digestion. I'm usually only tired after I eat for an hour or two and certain foods do not make me as tired. It's just so confusing trying to pin-point what exactly is making me tired because MOST foods seem to make me tired.

Please help me, I've kind of abandoned my social life because all I care about is fixing this problem. I've had it for most of my life but for the past year I seem to have been even more sensitive to foods and fatigued.

more about me:

skinny
130lbs 5'7
early 20's
exercises once a week, used to more often.
works 9-6pm desk job
minor depression for a few years
no allergies
no sleep issues 7.5-8 hours
I used to have heartburn and indigestion but I take prilosec otc once a day and rarely have symptoms anymore
I also am slightly lactose intolerant but I usually take lactase pills before anything with significant dairy
supps: magnesium, zinc, now foods multiV, fish oil

Edited by calengineering, 30 April 2012 - 01:39 AM.

[Mind]

Being tired after lunch is very very common. I wonder if it is a natural part of the circadian rhythm. I get tired in the early afternoon, around 2pm. For mental and physical health, I have heard many people suggest a 15 to 20 minute power nap (no REM sleep!) when you get fatigued in the early afternoon. When I have tried this, it works very well for me, but my schedule does not work best for a nap at that time of day, so I usually just power through. Also, eating a lighter lunch with less hi-GI carbs would probably help.

Of course, I do not know your level of fatigue as compared to most. Greater fatigue might indicate some other problem.

[Raptor87]

You become tired after eating because your blood is redirected to work on the digestive system. This affects the brain which makes you tired.

[calengineering]

Thanks for the replies. It does sound normal to become tired after eating, but it's also true that some foods make me more tired than others. What I think is very interesting, however, is that sometimes I'll eat certain foods and feel more energetic. For me, this is definitely NOT sugary foods and it's usually a small to medium sized meal of healthy proteins and fats with limited or even no complex carbs. This sounds very diabetic to me. It's just that when I tested my blood sugar (when I feel tired after a carbo-high meal), it was never that high (<160) compared to the averages for diabetes. I'm not sure what's going on.

[Turnbuckle]

Give cinnamon a try. It normalizes blood sugar levels.


http://www.diabetese...m/cinnamon.html

Edited by Turnbuckle, 02 May 2012 - 11:24 AM.

[yoyo]

This is one of the best things about IFing.

[JLL]

Not overeating and cutting back on carbs gets rid of tiredness for me. Let's say a beef steak with a bit of salad and olive oil - do you get tired after eating that? I don't, but a bowl of pasta sure puts me right to sleep.

[malden]

Ive Had the same "problem" long endurence exersize helped alot.

maybe you can try to exersize 3/4 times a week?, to get less oxigen fault in your body.