Sun by jalalspages, on Flickr
Readers, I need your help! I have noticed that being in the sunshine completely saps me of energy. Let me describe this so you know what I mean:
I get up, brimming with energy, ready for the day. I do a few chores around the house and decide it’s a great day to take the kids to the pool or go hit a bucket of balls. I load up, get out in the fresh air and sunshine and are fine for about the first 20 minutes. A little tiredness sets in, then the exhaustion comes in waves. By the time I get home, an hour later, I am wasted for the day. I’m not sleepy, so a nap doesn’t help. All I can do is sit. My arms feel like weights, my legs groan under me when I try to walk, my neck complains about the weight of my head. I’m exhausted to the point of emotional outbursts and my muscles ache. I can’t wait for bedtime, but when bedtime comes, all I do is lay there staring at the ceiling.
My first thought was, “This isn’t the sun, it’s the heat.” But it happens as often in 60° weather as 90°. It happens as often in March as July, and happens less on cloudy days than full sun regardless of temperature or humidity. It takes longer for me to feel the effects in March and October, but I do still feel them regardless of the temperature.
My second thought was, “Ah, muscle aches plus mental confusion plus tired equals dehydration!” That’s not it, I stay well hydrated with coconut water or coconut kefir in the sun, and I don’t show other indicators of dehydration (dark or minimal urine).
Now I’m leaning toward some function in my body that synthesizes Vitamin D out of sunlight being out of whack, taking more energy to do its job than normal. But I have no similar energy drain from consuming a food or supplement (like my beloved cod liver oil) high in Vitamin D.
I am totally at a loss. Does anyone else experience this or have any tips on where I can start looking for something being out of whack?
The Dark Side of Fat Loss
3 comments
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June 16, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Alyss
Well… I don’t have any good answers for you, but have you looked into adrenal fatigue? I don’t know what the connection to sunlight is, but it could be a connection to physical acitivity (do you get exhausted after a day of housework or indoor tennis?) Do you have access to a naturopath or chiropractor who could help you? Do you have symptoms of hypothyroidism?
All in all, that sounds awful! I know that exhausted feeling. I joke about having chronic fatigue syndrome days.. but it really isn’t a joke. It sucks to be exhausted after what you are pretty sure was not an overly ambitious amount of exercise.
June 17, 2009 at 7:22 am
localnourishment
Thanks, Alyss. I’ve looked into adrenal fatigue a little, but more for my hubby’s symptoms than my own. I don’t have any symptoms of hypothyroidism, and my thyroid checked out fine last time I had access to a doctor. It doesn’t seem related to activity, my energy level overall has been increasing the last six months since really cleaning up my diet. The only other times I tend to feel this level of exhaustion is after a full day of heavy lifting (like moving) or right before I get sick. One night about a two years ago, I was laying in bed crying. Hubby asked my why and all I could say was “I’m SO tired!” The next day I developed the worst flu I’ve had in my whole life.
June 30, 2009 at 4:28 pm
June 2009 Summary « Local Nourishment
[...] Level: Moderate. My energy level is severely impacted if I spend any time in the sun, which I try to do every day. On rainy days my energy level is quite [...]