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Suggest Remedy For Weight Gain And Drowsiness

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Posted on Thu, 16 Jun 2016
Question: I have a difficult work schedule & have been gaining weight due to it. With the weight gain I've experiencesd low motivation, hard to concentrate, and pretty lethargic - during my commute home, very often I am so tired I can't stay awake & have to pull over. I'm have been taking a B supplement & antioxidant Hoping it can boost energy, mitigate drowsiness, but doesn't seem to be do the trick. I'm s there something that can help boost energy/ motivation, and help me get back on track?
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Answered by Kathy Shattler (45 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Hello Welcome to HCM

Detailed Answer:
I can empathize with your frustration - you need your energy and it just isn't there!

You are asking about something to boost your motivation/energy and get you back on track (assuming your sleep habits).

Let me try to give you some structured suggestions to get you regulated.

First, your sleep habits. Until you can get good, restful sleep, you will have some interference in your energy levels and brain fog. Let's try this for better sleep.

Just prior to sleep consider taking 3 mg of melatonin temporarily to assist your circadian rhythms to recycle. Darken your room. Turn off all computers, monitors, t.v., and practice relaxation exercises. No caffeine at least four hours before bedtime.

Achieving good sleep patterns will also help in weight regulation. With the seriousness of your symptoms if you were my patient I would refer you to a sleep apnea specialist to check for breathing difficulties at night.

As far as natural stimulants you may try what we call adaptogenic herbs - just overall herbs designed to increase feelings of good will, well-being and possibly, more energy. Two herbs come to mind right away and that is ginseng tea and Ashwagandha. Ginseng Tea may be sipped during the day and ashwagandha comes in a variety of forms.

Regarding your fatigue I see you are taking B-complex vitamins so I sense you are concerned about your diet and are trying to increase your energy by taking B vitamins and antioxidants. How long has it been since you have been to your doctor for any lab tests or a physical? I would like to know the status of your Thyroid gland with a TSH and free T4 levels as well as get a CBC with differential to look at your hemoglobin and such. I suspect a possible low iron value which we can determine by looking initially at the CBC and then, if warranted, get an iron and ferritin on you to check your status. Low iron can make you fatigued, irritable, short of breath.

So, in conclusion, I have given you some guidelines for further assessment (it is difficult to treat without an assessment) and some general guidelines for sleep fitness and energy boosting herbs.

Feel free to write back should you need any clarifications or if I have not addressed your query. Healthy Regards, XXXXXXX Shattler, MS,RDN
Please close and rate if satisfied or contact again for clarifications. Be Well.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Answered by
Kathy
Kathy Shattler

Dietitian & Nutritionist

Practicing since :1985

Answered : 903 Questions

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Suggest Remedy For Weight Gain And Drowsiness

Brief Answer: Hello Welcome to HCM Detailed Answer: I can empathize with your frustration - you need your energy and it just isn't there! You are asking about something to boost your motivation/energy and get you back on track (assuming your sleep habits). Let me try to give you some structured suggestions to get you regulated. First, your sleep habits. Until you can get good, restful sleep, you will have some interference in your energy levels and brain fog. Let's try this for better sleep. Just prior to sleep consider taking 3 mg of melatonin temporarily to assist your circadian rhythms to recycle. Darken your room. Turn off all computers, monitors, t.v., and practice relaxation exercises. No caffeine at least four hours before bedtime. Achieving good sleep patterns will also help in weight regulation. With the seriousness of your symptoms if you were my patient I would refer you to a sleep apnea specialist to check for breathing difficulties at night. As far as natural stimulants you may try what we call adaptogenic herbs - just overall herbs designed to increase feelings of good will, well-being and possibly, more energy. Two herbs come to mind right away and that is ginseng tea and Ashwagandha. Ginseng Tea may be sipped during the day and ashwagandha comes in a variety of forms. Regarding your fatigue I see you are taking B-complex vitamins so I sense you are concerned about your diet and are trying to increase your energy by taking B vitamins and antioxidants. How long has it been since you have been to your doctor for any lab tests or a physical? I would like to know the status of your Thyroid gland with a TSH and free T4 levels as well as get a CBC with differential to look at your hemoglobin and such. I suspect a possible low iron value which we can determine by looking initially at the CBC and then, if warranted, get an iron and ferritin on you to check your status. Low iron can make you fatigued, irritable, short of breath. So, in conclusion, I have given you some guidelines for further assessment (it is difficult to treat without an assessment) and some general guidelines for sleep fitness and energy boosting herbs. Feel free to write back should you need any clarifications or if I have not addressed your query. Healthy Regards, XXXXXXX Shattler, MS,RDN Please close and rate if satisfied or contact again for clarifications. Be Well.