Hi.
I’m a 22-year-old female and I’m looking for some diet tips or natural remedies to keep lethargy (and stress-related swollen glands, which I’m prone to) at bay, or to get rid of existing moderate fatigue, like I have now.
I’m coping okay right now, but I just started a new, very active and pretty stressful sales job two weeks ago, after being unemployed since last December. I’m really determined not to get sick again like I have in previous full-time jobs.
I was diagnosed with bipolar 2 this year, and have been medicated with Lithium for about two months. It’s been pretty effective, although one of the common side effects is fatigue. I was just bumming around when I started it, so perhaps I didn’t notice it so much, but it could be more prominent now that I’m working in a fast-paced job.
My diet is generally very good. Low-fat as I’m trying to lose a few kilos. I’m 168cm and about 67kg, so I’m in the healthy weight range, but I’d mostly like to tone up and lose a little excess fat. Also, low in added sugar and salt, especially salt because of my meds. I mostly avoid bread and pasta in favour of rice and polenta. Dairy-free because I find dairy aggravates my asthma. No. 1 protein is fish and low-salt baked beans (my typical breakfast), but I try to eat red meat a few times a week, plus some occasional chicken etc. Daily, I typically eat kiwi and orange, then various green vegies, carrots, cauli, and I regularly eat seaweed with sushi hand rolls.
I take these daily supplements: Blackmores Bio-C, and Nature’s Own Women’s Multi-V and Fish Oil capsules. Any other suggestions? (I’m in Australia, so brands may vary, but I can look up equivalents.)
My main vice is coffee. Before working I could go without, or only have one weak short black some days. Now I drink 2-5 coffees (black or soy) each working day, and sometimes Coke, but I try hard to avoid that. Trying to replace some coffee with Korean green tea, but it doesn’t give me that lift I need. Ideally, I’d be feeling naturally energetic enough to not need so much coffee. Just don’t know how to get there.
I try to only drink 2-3 times a week, and mostly only 1 or 2 drinks per session. Beer, white wine or bourbon and Coke. I think I’m doing okay on that front.
Exercise: The month before I started work I was getting up to a good level of fitness, with long distance runs followed by sit-ups/push-ups/plank/etc. 4-6 times a week. Now that I’m working, it’s more like once or twice.
I generally sleep well, but even after sleeping in 2-3 days in a row (like now for Easter long weekend) I still feel lethargic and grumpy. So, any suggestions for my lifestyle or diet? I know my diet’s pretty good, but are there any super foods or nutritional combos people swear by to survive busy working weeks?
