Men who were slow and low energy, how did you fix yourself?

18 comments

1. Have you checked your testosterone levels? Maybe you are low and need to take TRT.

   Eating right, working out, taking vitamins etc are great ways to raise testosterone and increase energy levels.

2. I took up going for walks in my local area, at first just a couple of hours with a pub involved somewhere.

   That then developed into full day walks. And on into actual hiking properly uphill. This interest helped me shed a few kilos both directly and also because I was distracted doing something else. That, plus associated weight loss has made me much more energetic at 40 than I was at 30 (though I’d hardly describe myself as a dynamo still frankly!).

   Not just scenic hikes btw, I mean just walking everywhere. Train station is 2km from your hotel? Walk. Need to get somewhere on the other side of town? Walk. etc etc.

   (appreciate that’s not always possible).

3. You just gotta move and eat. I spent a few years being SUPER sedentary. But, when I was going to have a kid, I felt that I needed to be more active for her. So I started super small – walking for 30 minutes and doing stretching at night.

   Now I probably do 1-2 hours of movement – walking, hiking, elliptical, or playing with my kid – and then active stretching. My favorite stretching routine is the [Limber 11](https://defrancostraining.com/joe-ds-qlimber-11q-flexibility-routine/).

   Most importantly – consistency over intensity. If you go super hard for a month and then falter you go back to where you started. If you just keep going every day – even it is a little thing – then you’ll make progress no matter what

4. It’s the most hated answer but also the most effective: exercise

   I’ve had depression issues my whole adulthood and was a drug addict for 9 years. The only way I can keep my mental health in check is with exercise. It does so much good for you physically/mentally/chemically. I stopped for the last year and a half because a baby came into the picture. I’m just now getting back on the horse because I realized I’ve been slowly spiraling. I jogged for 2 minutes last week and my lungs hurt so bad and my mouth tasted like blood. But what a feeling of accomplishment. It’s a pleasure to feel a little sore. I give myself a lot of grace regarding discipline and how hard I push myself but every time I make progress it feels amazing. Exercise. It’s great.

5. I got on trt at 34 and went from having less energy than my grandpa to having plenty of energy.

6. Still going at the same speed. Running on spite and curiosity.

7. I’m still very much a work in progress, but for me it’s been:

   1. Exercise. I get out for multiple walks per day, usually after I eat lunch and then after dinner. Also basic calisthenics and mobility work since I’m not (and never was) a “gym guy.”

   2. Quit drinking alcohol.

   3. Quit smoking/vaping weed.

   4. Quit caffeine. This is a big one. It sucked at first (the withdrawal is a bitch, but short-lived.) Since quitting a few weeks ago, I find that I’m waking up feeling more refreshed, feel more alert and focused during the day, and don’t need a nap in the afternoon anymore (well, at least not *every* day.)

   5. CBD oil. Probably not related to energy directly, but I think it’s been helping with sleep quality and mood. I take it in both the evening and morning.

   Despite all of the above, I still don’t feel that I’m “all there” and suspect it may be low testosterone. I was tested a couple years back and it was supposedly “fine,” but family doctors are useless here and I’m pretty sure it wasn’t/isn’t fine at all. I’m not sure that I want TRT, however. The idea of being dependent on it for the rest of my life irritates me.

8. Four things:
   1. Intermittent fasting
   2. Eat high protein, low carb
   3. Commit to 100 pushups a day.
   4. Drink lots, and lots, and lots, and lots of water.

   When I get sluggish (38M) I check that I am doing all 4 of those and fix what I have been slacking on.

9. I’m still slow and low energy; but the life is just overcoming that and getting on with things. Even if I’m tired or feeling groggy or what-have-you, I still push myself to go and do.

10. Get tested for sleep apnea(happen to me as a muscular 185lbs @5’10”)

    Stop drinking/smoking

    Do literally any kind of workout semi-daily

    Go to bed earlier

11. Doing work I actually enjoy and stop smoking a bucket load of weed

12. Hmm I want to know

13. Heavy lifting (especially squats and deadlifts), HIIT, lots of red meat and avocados, and plenty of sleep.

14. Exercise.

15. fix your mood, fix your energy

    depression’s a huge energy drain — are you medicated?

    if the underlying cause is anxiety, give daily meditation a try

    eg. https://www.reddit.com/r/socialanxiety/comments/13b6tup/meditation_worked_very_well_for_my_social_anxiety/

16. Check if you have sleep apnea by doing a sleep study. I had low levels of energy for many years and thought it was SAD. Eventually I did a sleep study and was diagnosed with sleep apnea. I now sleep with a CPAP and have much more energy during the day. Pretty much changed my life.

17. Check your testosterone level – easy blood test

18. Diet and exercise. Playing basketball or something physical with the boys.