For the last year or so I find myself just being zapped after work. I run a small business and the constant stress level is quite a bit. When I get home I don't really want to do much at all (play with my kids, exercise, etc)...it seems like I just lost my drive. I'm 42 now with 2 kids (7th grade and 2nd) and I know I'm too young to be feeling this way all the time. My physician did a blood test and my testosterone levels appeared normal.

Any tips from you guys (supplements, attitude adjustment, etc)? I'm up for anything at this point. I used to be super into running (marathons, etc) but lost my drive to train. I need to get my ass in gear.

I started taking magnesium glyincate before bedtime and I've noticed that I sleep a lot better and feel better during the day. Might want to start there and see what happens.

Sometimes we don't sleep well or don't get enough and being tired starts to feel "normal".

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Eat cleaner

What is your diet like?

My diet isn't great. Not a bunch of fast food but my wife is a great cook so we eat well.

How about sleep? Any chance you have apnea? Getting enough hours? I'd start there. I'm 50 and definitely found myself needing more sleep in my 40s

I would encourage you to log everything you eat for 2 weeks and log your sleep. Read after a week and you will be shocked. I would venture to guess your lack energy is from your inadequate fuel & rest. Cut out fast food, cut out crap bread, eat cleaner and less. Then you can start on exercise or walking. Also consider taking 30 minutes each morning to wake up naturally without coffee and try to mediate or pray. Lastly, limit alcohol. Kids and work stress are enough to really pull at your bandwidth. Living clean will help. Be patient.

Also, making time to exercise every day will make you less tired overall once you get used to it. You will sleep better being a little more physically tired, but you will be more mentally alert. Same with a bit of dietary improvement. You don't need to do anything radical, but trim out some carb junk and balance it out a bit helps most people.

Honestly, and it probably isn't the answer you want to hear, but it's the stress.

I just came off a pretty stressful 6 month window and I was just mentally and physically exhausted every day. My diet was substantially the same, sleep was substantially the same, and I just had zero desire to work out and just did what I had to do to get through the day.

So, my suggestion would be to take a look at your work/life balance and see if there is any changes you can make there. No amount of supplements or extra hour of sleep is going to counter the chemical dump you get from being in a constant state of stress.

Good advice here, a few things I would add.

I have never endorsed a vitamin but I find this one really makes a difference for me. I ran out for a few weeks and I had the exact same symptoms you described (just at 52 not 42!).
Amazon.com: Multivitamin for Men - Complete Mens Multivitamins & Multiminerals with Vitamin A, C, D, E, B12, Zinc & More Essential Vitamins for Men - Mens Vitamins for Energy, Focus, and Mens Health. 60 Capsules : Health & Household

I 2nd the concerns about sleep quality. Consider evaluation for sleep apnea and a trial of melatonin taken 90 minutes prior to bed time.

For eating try using the YUKA app for a few weeks and clean out all the artificial crap that dominates the USA food industry.

Apigenin with dinner and magnesium l-threonate has been a game changer for my sleep quality.

Am i the only one that isnt a fan of Rundot? I tried it last year and was back to Training Peaks really quickly.

CC09LawAg said:

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Honestly, and it probably isn't the answer you want to hear, but it's the stress.

I just came off a pretty stressful 6 month window and I was just mentally and physically exhausted every day. My diet was substantially the same, sleep was substantially the same, and I just had zero desire to work out and just did what I had to do to get through the day.

So, my suggestion would be to take a look at your work/life balance and see if there is any changes you can make there. No amount of supplements or extra hour of sleep is going to counter the chemical dump you get from being in a constant state of stress.

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I agree with this. It's the stress!

Dealing with the same myself. Business stres (also run my own businesses)s, economy of the last few years, everything adds up.

Lately my wife has been dealing with corporate stress in her job. We are early 50s. One kid off the payroll and one a sophomore. There is a little stress from the youngest but not huge. Mostly empty nesters. Sleep is mostly ok for me but wife struggles at times. Diet is same as was, not awesome but not terrible. Could drink less alcohol, we have been working on that. Can tell a difference when we don't.

Been trying to get back into exercise but it's tough with long work hours and a general level of exhaustion and the feeling of never getting everything done. My strategy lately is baby steps. Seems to be helping but it's slow going.

Honestly I think this may be a really widespread issue for the country. Most of my friends seem to be dealing with it on some level.

JeremiahJohnson said:

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Am i the only one that isnt a fan of Rundot? I tried it last year and was back to Training Peaks really quickly.

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I use TriDot with great success

I appreciate all the feedback. KidDoc...I went ahead and bought the vitamins you recommend (do you recommend taking them at night or morning). I'm also going to start paying more attention to my sleep and what I eat. It sucks that crap food is so much more convenient when you are at work.

I do feel like it's mostly stress. We have a machine shop with about 40 employees doing government work. The stress level is always at what I'd call a manageable but constant high level.

I need to get back on the schedule of working out early in the morning. Anything after work I'm either too tired or kids activities take over.

easttexasaggie04 said:

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I appreciate all the feedback. KidDoc...I went ahead and bought the vitamins you recommend (do you recommend taking them at night or morning). I'm also going to start paying more attention to my sleep and what I eat. It sucks that crap food is so much more convenient when you are at work.

I do feel like it's mostly stress. We have a machine shop with about 40 employees doing government work. The stress level is always at what I'd call a manageable but constant high level.

I need to get back on the schedule of working out early in the morning. Anything after work I'm either too tired or kids activities take over.

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I take them in the evening as I usually fast until lunch

Just an fyi on that vitamin, the b12 is a synthetic form that contains cyanide. Not enough to hurt but some people prefer not to put it in their body.

I already suggested it, but I really can't recommend magnesium glycinate enough.

My sleep has improved, my blood pressure has started to go down, and my overall mood has gotten so much better. I feel much less stressed and anxious during the day.

I would seriously consider giving it a try.

I'll echo this as well. I can definitely tell a difference in my sleep when I take it vs not