Laminarman

I'm a 45 year old male, perhaps somewhat out of shape. I work long hours, get on my bike maybe a bit too infrequently, I also lift weights for muscle tone, walk a lot, general outdoor chores on my 85 acres. I take no medicines, have some seasonal allergies and occasionally benefit from Zyrtec D. I have had my annual physical recently and EKG, all is very well. I just can't hop out of bed at 5am, workout or ride, get kids ready for school, work 10-12 hours (stressful) and come home, be a father, do more paperwork, get to bed at midnight or later and do it all over again like I used to be able to. I was just wondering if folks find nutritional supplements helpful at all. God I feel like age is starting to catch up I'll take a multivitamin daily, but that's about it. I hesitate to load up on expensive vitamins if I'm not sure they'll help. I tried one of those small vitamin energy drinks once, and I felt a slight uplight, and then the worst heartburn I've ever had. I have an OK diet, could be better, and I notice I really, really bog down after carbohydrates and if I have a high carb breakfast I'm dead by mid morning. In a nutshell does anyone find any vitamin supplement helps their energy levels? Thanks, and sorry for the very general question.

ModoVincere

welcome to middle age. supplements wont do much for you if you have a decent diet. If you diet is crap, a good multivitamin is cheap insurance. Supplements are really meant to help make up shortfalls in your diet or help you to get adequate levels of certain nutrients if your routine calls for more than is normal.

Laminarman

Uhhgh...the dreaded "welcome to middle age" comment I was fearing

ModoVincere

don't feel to bad...I gave that same comment to myself not very long ago.

Velocilok

sounds like you need sleep the most...

Green tea can help
creatine can help

but nothing is as effective as solid diet, sleep, and training schedule

BloomBikeShop

I know some people ages 45-85 who swear by taking a B Complex. It would be pretty cheap to try for a month to see if it boosts your energy levels.

Like this:
https://www.naturemade.com/ProductDat...s&productid=78
https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Made-Su...dp/B000GB3L04/

carbondale

Here's what the Dr Oz dude says for 35-50 year old men:
It's a bit of effort, but likely worth it.
https://static.oprah.com/download/pdf...ns_m_35-50.pdf

If only 1, I'd take fish oil capsules.

Personally, I take a multi-vitamin, B12, B complex and fish oil. Wash it down with a Zyrtec and Cherry Juice.

frail1

Unfortunately, from a biological/physical perspective, you've peaked. You can gain a little using treachery, but there's no support you will gain much with supplements, etc..

After 25 your body is in decline. More of your daily energy is used to repair the day's routine damage, physical, mental, emotional. This is why aging pro's talk so much about rest.

Your life sounds chaotic. You will need to sacrifice something to get more energy. That should be work, not family time, sleep, or exercise.

Sleep is your friend. In order to sleep properly, you need activity during the day.

This is nothing you don't know...you've read it in Readers Digest for 20 yrs!

frail1

Just forgot to say, that if you ingest caffeine, especially with a bunch of carbs, you've got 3-5 hrs. before you crash.

Drop the coffee in the am (why do so many rail against this-if it was a line of cocaine, you'd believe it!), a better breakfast, and in 6-8 weeks when your body adjusts, you'll loose the mid-morning bonk.

AnthonyG

I have no easy fix's for you but I will recommend you go to Dr Mercola's site, https://www.mercola.com/ and subscribe to his newsletter and look into what he recommends regarding Metabolic type diets.

When you wrote that a high carbohydrate breakfast has you feeling bogged down after a couple of hours that to me is a clear indication that carbohydrates are just the wrong sort of food for you and in truth have a protein/fat metabolism. See Dr Mercola's site.

Anthony

CCrew

Actually, it's also quite possible he has a blood sugar issue. 2 hours post meal would be where he spiked, and one of the symptoms is fatigue. I know well, I'm a 53 year old Type 2.

I think before the OP goes running off trying internet "cures" he should have a full physical from a qualified MD. His questions are also best asked in that venue rather than here.

-Roger

AnthonyG

Well I'm certainly NOT disagreeing that type 2 diabetes could be an issue. I however referred him to a doctor. Dr Mercola is a qualified MD. If diabetes is an issue then cutting out the carbs is a better "cure" than most other advise he's going to get.

Anthony

CCrew

Sorry, but he may carry a shingle, but that site is about one step below an infomercial. At least initially I would have to suggest that any referral be 1:1 face time with a physical MD versus a virtual one.

Especially if it's a diabetic/pre-diabetic condition the B vitamin/niacin recommends are dangerous as they have the potential to massively spike blood glucose levels. Those little "5 Hour Energy" bottles can wreak havoc.

AnthonyG

Unfortunately these days Dr Mercola's site DOES sell many things however he DOES provide a lot of useful information for free and since he has to hire several staff members and pay large server bills I think he's entitled to try and make some money to pay for it.

Dr Mercola is the most reputable alternative medical point of view out there. For the record I don't buy anything from him but a friend of mine does and its all good quality.

Anthony

ModoVincere

could be diabetes/prediabetes, could be hypothyroidism which would explain a generally feeling of tiredness. Could be damned near anything. Seeing a dr. is always a good approach to things like this.

chingon77

Try taking some B12. You can snort it up your nose, or get injections for best results. Poping a pill is ok, but only for those who have the instrinsic factor in the stomach. A B complex is good also.
A large percentage of the population is deficient in B12 which leads to a lot of health problems. One of them being tired. The older a person is the more likely they need to supplement with B12.

salsariderbill

What works for me: (45 year old, 12 hour shift work first line supervisor)

Multi
Fish-oil
Adaptogens
40/30/30 diet

For your particular case I think adaptogens are worth a look. Rhodiola, cordyceps, etc. You will not feel an immediate boost but I believe if you give them 4-6 weeks you will see a difference in what your body can take.

Drink green tea (brew it yourself) instead of coffee

The 40/30/30 diet (Let me emphasize-YRMV) has absolutely changed the way I look and feel. I have less bodyfat than when in my teens, ride hard, hit the gym, and still feel great most of the time.

I am always experimenting with supplements - over the years I have tried many many things. The multi and the fish oil are here to stay for me. I cycle the adaptogens based upon work and training stress. I have not found a favorite brand of adaptogen yet.

ILboynSC

+1-I have the same problems-the being tired turned out to be hypothyroidism. The carb crash-the doc
says it's probably pre-diabetes. I take synthroid for the thyroid and did a diet change for the carbs.
Go see the dr. before you try anything else.

Richard Cranium

What an aaaaazzz? I'm mean people say I'm messed up. How goofy do you have to be to start a post like this?

What, call your mommy - go home.

ericm979

When you get to your mid 40s you have to start using what you have learned about yourself. You can't just wing it like when you were 25, you have to be smart to counter the effects of aging.

You already know that you need to ride more, that you work too much and your work is too stressful, and that your diet could be better. So do something about those.

skijor

A simple (and cheap) 20 minute nap couldn't hurt.
...or at least plain old quiet time

slim_77

^ and some good hot and heavy sex every now and then...


I'm a T1 diabetic and had some thyroid issues a few years back. Weight loss would be a symptom of hyperthyroidism.

cyclezen

nothin wrong with sellin stuff, Mercola, Weil, they all do it and as long as they don't misrepresent, then having online options is a good thing, I use online for some stuff I just can;t get local..
and agree with Anthony, Dr Mercola' site has good info
I thik a lot of this has been said, I'll just emphasize
more even nutrition helps a bunch; if you carbo load early in the AM, then you'll run dry come mid-morning. And have to play catch-up for the rest of the day...
Get some good protein early. Many Euro cultures have solid protein (often fish) in the morning, I expect that might also be the case in Asian cultures as well, but then I don;t know enough about them.
Protein helps reduce the carbo load and evens out the energy for the day. A little somethin,somethin protein late morning also works great.
stop pissin and moanin about '45', those were great years! still plenty of torque in the engine. and the opposite sex hasn't started looking thru you as if you weren't even there (yet)...
if you gotta supplement, look at your diet and decide what you're not getting enough of (and can;t seem to change for whatever reasons), then maybe help that along.
I like Fish Oil, in my mind ya can't ever get too much of what comes from good fish.
Nutritional Yeast (not brewer's) is also a good way to 'supplement' B12, protein and other stuff just by 'seasoning' stuff, like greens,potaoes and anything which can stand the light 'cheesy' taste of yeast...

as for referral to a MD.
I'm a firm believer in being your own health captain; which means you gotta get smart about yourself. And if things aren't 'serious-gotta fix immediately' then you have the chance to build some more smarts and learn more about yourself.
As with any other thing - if you change a whole bunch of 'variables' at once, you never really get to focus on what one change will do. make small changes, identify what the changes have done (if anything), move to the next change. along the way, you get smarter
and healthier
45 - want some cheesy, nutritional yeast seasoned popcorn with that 'Wine/whine' ?

rumrunn6

B6; B12 & caffeine.