Doing Everything Right — So Why Are You Still Tired?

You exercise regularly. You try to eat well. You make healthy choices.

So why are you still tired?

Sometimes the problem is not that you are doing the wrong things. It may be that your body is being asked to do more than it is being fueled to support.

A recent article in Naturopathic Doctor News & Review looks at a condition called Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport, often shortened to RED-S. It can develop when the body repeatedly does not get enough energy to support both physical activity and normal physiological function.

In simple terms, you may be active, eating what seems like a healthy diet, and still not be taking in enough fuel for what your body is being asked to do.

It is not just an issue for elite athletes

The word “sport” can make RED-S sound like something that only affects competitive athletes. But low energy availability can also affect recreational runners, cyclists, hikers, gym-goers and other active adults.

Sometimes under-fueling is intentional. Someone may be eating less while exercising more in an effort to lose weight or improve performance.

Other times, it can happen without much thought.

You get busier. You skip meals. You cut back on carbohydrates. Your training increases. Your appetite does not quite keep up. Or the foods you are eating are nutritious, but simply do not provide enough energy for your activity level.

Over time, the body may not have enough energy left after exercise to fully support everything else it needs to do.

Your body needs fuel for more than movement

Energy is needed not only for exercise, but also for hormone production, bone health, immune function, recovery, metabolism and many other basic processes.

When the body consistently does not have enough available energy, the effects can show up in different ways.

You may feel unusually tired. Recovery can take longer. Performance may start declining instead of improving. Injuries can become more frequent. Menstrual cycles may change in women, and testosterone levels can be affected in men. Bone and immune health can also be affected.

That does not mean every tired, active person has RED-S. Fatigue has many possible causes. But it does mean that diet, exercise, recovery and overall energy intake deserve to be part of the conversation.

Sometimes “healthy” habits need a second look

It is easy to assume that more exercise and less food must be better.

But the body does not work that way.

Healthy habits still have to work together.

If you are exercising regularly, eating carefully and still feeling worn out, the answer may not be to push harder. It may be worth asking whether your body has enough fuel to support the life you are asking it to live.

This is one reason naturopathic doctors often spend time asking about diet, exercise, sleep, stress, recovery and changes in daily routine. Those details can help reveal patterns that may not be obvious from a single symptom or laboratory result.

Sometimes doing the right things is not enough.

Sometimes the question is whether your body has enough resources to keep doing them well.

Read the original article

This post was inspired by “Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S): When ‘Eat Less, Move More’ Backfires in Active Adults,” by Ben Alter, MA, ND, published in Naturopathic Doctor News & Review.

Read the full article in NDNR.

Want to learn more about how naturopathic doctors approach nutrition, hormones, prevention and everyday health concerns? Explore more articles in our Health & Wellness blog.

If you are looking for individualized care, find a registered naturopathic doctor in Colorado.