How to counteract fatigue (if you get it?)

[bonnieUK]

Hi guys,

I've been walking a lot since starting a new job in January, with two walks per day (50-60 mins each way depending on route, with hills! ).

I work at a University so often go around campus running errands. I hate being in elevators almost as much as I hate being in buses (hence my rangering tendencies!) so I go up and down lots of stairs too.

I'm sure all this extra exercise is good, but I am finding that I get really tired once I get home and just have no energy left for “evening stuff†like cleaning, laundry, cooking, socialising etc. My husband is starting to comment about lack of elaborately cooked meals & empty sock drawers, so it seems I need to do something to improve my evening energy levels!

So I’m just wondering if anyone else experienced this and if it is something you adjust to once you get used to increased levels of urban rangering? Any tips?

Thanks in advance

[mjn]

Wow, that is alot of walking. I would be tired too. I found that when I was walking an additional 5 miles a day along with my walking at work, I was tired when I got home. I would lay on the couch and take a cat nap for about 30 minutes and that helped. You are doing alot of walking. Do you know how many miles a day?

[gratefuldeb67]

Hey!! See if your hubby might do some socks himself!! LOL
Who says it has to all be done by you Bonnie???
Good for you on walking!!
Get some vitamin B perhaps?
Love,
Debs

[winnie96]

Hi Bonnie --

I've found that while I can walk quite a bit in total for the day, the length of a walk seems to contribute most to fatigue. Anything much over 55 minutes tends to put me into tired mode, although I could easily do two or even three 55 minute walks interspersed throughout the day. I tried to get used to the longer duration for several months, but got so discouraged by constantly feeling wiped out during the evening, that for the most part, it's easier to limit the length but go for more frequent walks. Maybe, for starters, your duration is too long for you. Maybe try building up to 50-60 minutes from, say, 40-50 minutes?

That said, it sounds like you have suddenly increased your walking by a lot, so perhaps you will adjust over time. Maybe you might need to eat a bit more, or a bit differently (e.g. more protein), to accomdate the new amount of exercise. I'd give it a shot, but don't be afraid to back off if necessary. IMO, fatigue is a major enemy of Rangering Motivation, and we certainly don't want to lose that!

Good luck to you ...

[reinhard]

That's about 3 times my walk to work, so I'm not really in a very good position to advise. But I am in a position to be impressed -- wow!

Two ideas:

1) give it more time. Your body will get better at walking these distances and it'll become easier. this is still a pretty new routine.

2) consider rangering just one way. This is much better than giving up both ways because it becomes to exausting/time consuming. No need to feel like a slacker: an hourish walk a day in a single stretch is plenty.

Reinhard

[bonnieUK]

Thanks for all the tips guys, I appreciate it

Thanks Reinhard, I wouldn't be too impressed though, perhaps I'm just a slow walker Google maps suggested my walking route should take about 10 mins less than it does in reality!

I think perhaps the walking is a bit too much, my husband suggested that I drive to work Monday and Friday (days when I have evening classes straight after work) and walk Tues, Weds & Thurs, which seems more manageble, so I'm going to give that a go.

I've also discovered a new walking route which is shorter (about 45 mins each way) and on a less trafficky & polluted route than my usual main road walk, it also includes a nice park as a bonus. I'm hoping less walks combined with a more pleasant route will help reduce the fatigue.

[bonnieUK]

p.s. Thanks Deb, I've been taking a B vitamin every day this week and I think it's helped. My hubby works from home, he does a daily walk in the forests, plus some weight training but he doesn't seem to get as tired by exercise as me.

We're lucky to have interesting forest/woodland areas practically on our doorstep.

[gratefuldeb67]

Where do you live Bonnie?
I have friends all over the UK..
If I can get dual citizenship because my Father and Mother were both born in Poland, I might actually move to England in the future.
Glad the vitamin B is helping and you've found a nice new walking route
Debs

[bonnieUK]

I live in the Surrey suburbs so am lucky to have the Surrey hills (plus woodland areas and walking trails etc.) practically on my doorstep, I've been lucky to always live in a fairly suburban area so I have access to city life when I need it but can still venture off into some green areas.

Our pet peeve about the UK is the high cost of living (especially housing!). To give you an example, a 4 bedroom family house on my street is up for sale for £800,000 the only reason we can afford to live in that neighborhood is because we rent an old bungalow that hasn't been modernised in 25 years (apart from a shower we installed) and has no central heating *plays violin*

But I guess there are pros and cons to any country

[VintageGeek]

Not to bump a dead thread, but...

As deb mentioned, taking a B vitamin supplement every day can really help. I actually went down to my drugstore and found a multivitamin called "daily energy," and now if I don't take it I'm falling asleep in front of my computer before 11:00. People really don't place enough importance on getting their daily vitamins, but it can really help in so many different and interesting ways. Hope it's getting better for you.

[gratefuldeb67]

Oh haha, I have a friend in Surrey!
Yes, quite a bit of green there
I'm glad you tried the vitamin B and glad it helped.. I think it's time for me to try that also!!!
Debs