Hello,
Has anyone else had the same experience? I am on week 3 of the program, but I started excercising right away. Before getting the program I was excercising for about 30-45 min. about 3 to 4 times per week. Since starting the program I have been excercising for 5 days a week. I have both depression and anxiety, and although it does help with both, I am feeling more tired than ever. I think I am getting enough sleep - I wake at 6 am, and usually go to bed around 9:30pm. Did anyone else experience this? I don't think I am lacking in any vitamins or minerals either because I do eat healthy and I just had a blood test done a few weeks ago and it was fine.

HI
You are eating good, excercising, etc. You are not anemic I guess. Sounds like maybe you are doing too much? Do you really need to excersice that many days? 4 days sounds reasonable to me, maybe you are putting too much pressure on yourself? Take it easy. Give yourself some time. I love to excercise, makes depression go away. But you have too much to do. Sounds like you need some relaxation. Just my opion. I'm a novice. Lots of good people here. Relax, it's the holidays, just enjoy.

YOu know, our brains use an awful lot of energy. You are working this program and learning tons of stuff at this point and of course working on your thought pattern. THat has to be using up a lot of energy. I would just stick with what you are doing and you should feel better soon. Unless you are fighting off a bug. Tis the season. Let us know how it goes.
Reena

I was extremely tired going through the whole program from start to finish. I was constantly taking naps. Now that I'm finished, I'm not as tired as I was. I think that because you are learning new skills and trying to change, it takes a lot of energy from you. Exercise usually gives you energy especially if you are used to exercising and not just beginning.

Just think of it this way. If someone begins to exercise daily after many years of never exercising, he/she is going to feel pretty weak and tired to start with. Eventually, the body builds muscle and the person feels stronger and better. It is just the same with your brain. You are building your brain muscle! It's tiring at first because it's new and lets face it very hard work. Eventually though, you will get past this where the new thinking will develop and you will feel stronger. Hope this helps.

Thanks folks for answering. I think that you all have some good points. I think I have been doing too much. I don't really relax after work. I am on the go go go. I also think about the program daily, since it is something I'm working on, and that can be draining too. And Tricia, the way you explained how building muscle in the brain can be tiring makes alot of sense. So, I will stop worrying about my being tired, and just get some rest!
Thanks a bunch

After reviewing this post and responses I have to say as one who has been there, Don't change a thing in your excercise routine. The drained feeling does indeed improve.Jim Rohn says that the affects of discipline and excercise take awhile to have an affect on your life. He is right. It takes time. Alot of it. You can't turn back the clock overnight but things definitely improve over time. As Lucinda says in the tape on excercise, excercise is a crucial element in recovery. She is right. But you probly won't see the long term helps for some time. Maybe monthes. It has been almost a year for me with the program and I just a few monthes ago started seeing a difference in some things. Of course I have also started taking a good antioxident before bed, so between that, an improved diet and excercise, I am sleeping much better and feeling alot better. I still have symptoms but they don't bother me nearly as much and I think it is harder on those around me than on me. Keep up all the good work all of you. You CAN do it but it DOES take discipline, which can take time to develop if that is not a strong point for you.

Just one comment. How old are you? When I was in my twenties and thirties I could do a lot more exercise than now at 53. Listen to your body. If you're too tired, cut back one day a week and see if that helps. Four days a week is more than adequate. If that works, then you can think about going to five days a week.

Congratulate yourself for doing all that you are doing. Sounds to me like you are doing very well.

Hi,

Thanks everyone for the replies. I am actually 25 years old - so relatively young. I started to think that maybe it was because I was doing too much in my day. I have since tried to move slower, not rush, and not try to do too many things all in one day. That has helped. These holidays have helped too! It's nice to get days off. I also started to cut some of my longer workout sessions down (from 45 min. to an hour down to 30 min. per). Now I end up doing 30 minute workouts for 4 or 5 days a week, with maybe one day of the week where I do an hour long workout.

Is it really necessary to excercise 7 days a week? I was a part of a managing stress and anxiety group in my area a while ago, and we had a nutricianist come to visit us. She recommended excercising 7 days a week. I worry though that that may be too excessive. What does anyone else think?

Also, perhaps some of my tiredness is from my depression. That is what I am thinking. So, I am just telling myself that and thinking that my energy level will improve once I start to feel less anxious.

Thank you catspurr and Don for your motivating words. I will continue to excercise regularly and give myself credit for what I am already doing.

Take care.

We are all working with alot of variables here. You have to find whats right for you right now. You can always increase or decrease accordingly with time. I do what I do because I have some difinite goals I am pursueing. Not everyone has those same goals. Whatever you do, don't beat yourself up{a little is more than enough-there is such a thing as healthy guilt} over what you don't get done. There is always tomorrow. I agree with listening to your body. I find the more I do that the better off I am.

You will make it. Give it time.