Energy Levels

The Truth About Mid-Day Energy Crashes For Women In Their 40s

March 8, 2023

Hi, I’m Angela
I'm a functional medicine practitioner & hormone expert working primarily with women in their 40's and 50's to create lasting health.
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Are you over 40 and feeling like your energy levels just aren’t what they used to be? Do you sometimes find yourself struggling to make it through the day after an intense morning of work or parenting duties? You’re not alone. Mid-day energy crashes are a common issue for women in their 40s, but far too often we simply brush them off as normal and don’t take steps to address them. In this blog post, I’ll explore the truth about mid-day energy crashes, from causes to lifestyle solutions, so you can get back on track with your daily activities without warning fatigue. It’s time to unravel the mystery behind these troublesome but ultimately manageable symptoms!

Energy Levels on the Decline 

Women often tell me that as they reach their golden years, their energy levels tend to diminish. And often, these women don’t know why they feel different even though their lifestyle has stayed the same, yet they’re still feeling exhausted. 

Many women tell me they get tired during the day. They get tired after eating lunch or even a few hours later. It can make them feel so sleepy that they cannot pick up their heads from the desk if they use a computer. Or, they cannot finish their job or talk to people properly if they have to do those things during the day.

Needless to say, it’s a big problem if you feel like you can’t make it through your day, especially your workday. 

The Irresistible Slump

There is someone in particular with whom I just got off a call very recently. I’m thrilled to begin our work together so she can start feeling more energized. She’s ready for a change, as evidenced by her enthusiasm.

She told me that even during lunchtime—the moment all of us look forward to in the day—she found herself exhausted seconds after finishing her meal. She was a teacher, and she just feels like, “How am I going to get going and finish off my afternoon?” 

With a candid confession, she admitted to me that her go-to method for surviving the school day was drinking Monster™ Energy drinks. Just one can seem like just enough energy to get through the day, but when it wore off in the evening, total exhaustion would hit and naptime became an absolute necessity. She said she barely had enough energy to get up and make any form of a healthy meal. 

After being stuck in the same difficult cycle for nearly three years, she was at a loss as to how to best move forward. Having seen no improvement despite her valiant efforts, we asked if there might be something else she could do to break free from this pattern of struggle.

I am very happy she contacted me. We are going to find out why she is so tired. This happens a lot, and I remember feeling this way too..

Sugar! Sugar! Sugar! 

A part of this, really, had to do with something I didn’t know was happening. I had no idea my blood sugars were off-kilter; it turns out that some of the mystery behind this whole situation could be traced back to a little imbalance in sugar levels.

Feeling exhausted after you eat is a surprisingly common problem for women. If the exhaustion persists or kicks in shortly after consuming your meals, chances are it could be an imbalance of blood sugars, something many ladies experience during their 40s and 50s. 

Unfortunately, our insulin production and our ability to be sensitive to blood sugars (or sugar in general) as they come into our body get worse as we age. Part of this actually has to do with our changing hormones as well. 

So, we women are more susceptible sometimes to having some of these energy crashes in the mid- to late afternoon. This is especially true if you have a busy life—you’re busy at work and/or attending to family or social activities. Most people are doing something in the middle of their day; we’re not necessarily just at home resting. So this is going to interfere, no doubt, with your everyday life.

If this seemingly irresistible afternoon slump is starting to interfere with your ability to get to work, stay at work, be productive, and do a good job, sooner or later, you might get into trouble at some point. 

Is there a strategy? 

We want to figure out what’s zapping your energy and how you can get your energy back. As mentioned, if you feel tired after eating a meal or an hour or two later and you need to drink caffeine like coffee or Monster™ Energy drinks or grab something sweet perhaps just to stay awake, it is possible you have blood sugar problems.

Don’t fret, because there are some things that can be done about it. It doesn’t mean you have to cut all sugars out of your life and get extreme with restrictions with a low-to-no carbohydrate diet. Many women experience ineffective digestion that, with a few lifestyle tweaks, can be greatly improved.

Taking digestive enzymes can be very helpful with meals.

It actually helps you to break down your sugars more quickly so you don’t get big spikes after eating a meal. 

ACV + Water

Sometimes, instead of taking an enzyme in the form of a capsule or pill, people will prefer to put a little bit of apple cider vinegar in some water. They’ll take that either immediately before or right after they’ve finished their meal. This can also help us digest our foods and sugars better.

That person I was speaking with had to rely on Monster™ Energy Drinks in an attempt to regain her energy levels and finish off the workday. Unfortunately, when you’re relying heavily on sugar spikes followed by big crashes, it’s not really functional for anyone! We need more sustainable solutions that can guarantee long-term productivity without any major slumps afterward. Taking energy drinks or caffeinated beverages not only depletes our energy but can also really impact our mood. When the sugars are spiking up and down, our moods often can spike and drop along with them. 

Reach Out For Help

If you’re feeling like your energy levels are constantly zapped, then it’s time to take a deeper dive into the issue. Reach out and let me help guide you on this journey of discovery. Together, we’ll work towards finding the root cause and creating an individualized lifestyle plan that will bring back balance in your life from morning to night.

Women in their 40s no longer have to feel discouraged about those dreaded midday energy crashes. We may be older and wiser, but we should not settle for mediocrity when it comes to our energy level or ignore the signs of an imminent fatigue slump. Instead, focus on making simple changes that can help revamp our bodies. A few hacks—like taking digestive enzymes with meals and drinking some ACV plus water—may certainly make a huge difference, especially if coupled with good nutrition, exercise, and ample sleep! Nonetheless, sometimes more help is needed to reclaim your vigor. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, consider reaching out to a counselor experienced in helping women over 40 tackle fatigue issues and brainstorm individualized tactics that can give you the confidence to take charge of your life. You never know how far having someone else on board might take you! So why delay? Schedule a discovery call today and feel empowered enough to live your life fully charged again!

Feeling like you’re constantly hitting the afternoon slump? We get it. That’s why we offer discovery calls – to help us better understand what specific symptoms are leading up to your tiredness and then come up with an individualized plan that works best for YOU!

In addition, if you haven’t already joined our amazing Private Facebook Group – now is a great time to do so. Come on in & join other members just like yourself who strive for daily energy balance through natural methods!

DISCLAIMER:  The information in this email is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content is for general informational purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your own doctor/health professional

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