I've been questioning health-care providers about this topic for a while now--what can I do to lose the weight? Simple, they all say: diet and exercise. Duh!! But, I keep asking them, what can I do to boost my energy levels enough to exercise? I've questioned my medication, since Alertec (modafinil) only seems to keep me mentally awake (most of the time), but physically it's still a chore to do the daily routines. Exercise is not looking good on a day when I'm ready for a nap after dragging a load of laundry to the washer! So far, no one's willing to change the meds--they feel that I'm not 'motivated' enough. Blah, blah--like I haven't heard that one before. I'm frustrated because I really want to be active, & I very much was until narcolepsy reared its ugly head. Lately I've been looking at these OTC medications that claim to boost metabolism, & I've done a bit of research, but I'm wondering if there are any narcoleptics who have gone this route before...??
OTC metabolism enhancers
Started by
sourmug
, Feb 18 2008 11:14 AM
4 replies to this topic
#2
gurlzylla
-
- Members
- 26 posts
Member
- Location:Columbus, Ohio
Posted 21 February 2008 - 02:18 PM
please, please, please be careful with OTC diet meds (like hoodia) those suppliments are not regulated by the FDA and, as a result, you may be altering the effectieness of your medications by taking them!
Also, most all diet and metabolism suppliments are not backed by any indisputable research (with the exception of Alli).
Play it safe and discuss your tiredness with your doctor. Maybe you are too fragmented at night to get enough rest. I know once the doc started treating my cataplexy (even though it was only mild) It made a world of difference!
Also, most all diet and metabolism suppliments are not backed by any indisputable research (with the exception of Alli).
Play it safe and discuss your tiredness with your doctor. Maybe you are too fragmented at night to get enough rest. I know once the doc started treating my cataplexy (even though it was only mild) It made a world of difference!
#3
miss_sleepy
-
- Members
- 13 posts
Member
Posted 26 April 2008 - 02:19 PM
I second the reply above me.
I found that starting to walk for ten minutes every day for a week and then adding 5 minutes the next week, and 5 more minutes the 3rd week, and so on, helped me build up stanima and energy. I did not think I could do it, until one day I just told myself "YES I Can" and slowly walked for ten minutes. I continued that pattern until I was walking 4 miles a day! I had so much more energy and lost 30 lbs!
I have recently gained weight back because of the cold weather and not driving to the gym, and sleep binging. The more sugar you eat, the more your body will crave it. I have found that the less sugar I eat, I have much less desire to eat. Exercise of course burns calories while you are doing it, but it also builds muscles...which is where metabolisim happens, so the more muscles you have, the higher your metabolize will be all day, not just when you are extercising.
Just start out very slow, 5 minutes is a starting point.
I found that starting to walk for ten minutes every day for a week and then adding 5 minutes the next week, and 5 more minutes the 3rd week, and so on, helped me build up stanima and energy. I did not think I could do it, until one day I just told myself "YES I Can" and slowly walked for ten minutes. I continued that pattern until I was walking 4 miles a day! I had so much more energy and lost 30 lbs!
I have recently gained weight back because of the cold weather and not driving to the gym, and sleep binging. The more sugar you eat, the more your body will crave it. I have found that the less sugar I eat, I have much less desire to eat. Exercise of course burns calories while you are doing it, but it also builds muscles...which is where metabolisim happens, so the more muscles you have, the higher your metabolize will be all day, not just when you are extercising.
Just start out very slow, 5 minutes is a starting point.
#4
Kimberly
-
- Members
- 250 posts
Member
- Gender:Female
- Location:Charlotte, NC
- Interests:Retired racing Greyhounds
Posted 02 May 2008 - 07:48 AM
There is a wonderful book called "8 weeks to optimum health" by Dr Andrew Weil. He is advocating total wellness as a way of life, not a temporary diet/exercise fix.
In it he goes through gradual changes (that's the key) to improving your health over the course of 2 months.
It includes a walking program similar to the one miss_sleepy described.
Try to find your "best" time of day and exercise then, if possible. I go first thing in the morning for a few reasons:
1) If I do it before anything else, there is no excuse not to do it!
2) I can actually cross something off my "to do" list for the day
3) Exercise releases substances in your brain that actually make you feel good and give you some energy -- I find I have a lift for a little while after a walk or a workout.
Try not to exercise any later than 5 hours before you go to bed, because it can interfere with your sleep (like we need more problems with that! ick!).
I also joined a community called the Daily Plate where I can track my food and exercise. There are support groups too where you can join a message board with like-minded people and have some accountability for doing what you say you will do. Either that or find a walking buddy on Craigslist or something.
In it he goes through gradual changes (that's the key) to improving your health over the course of 2 months.
It includes a walking program similar to the one miss_sleepy described.
Try to find your "best" time of day and exercise then, if possible. I go first thing in the morning for a few reasons:
1) If I do it before anything else, there is no excuse not to do it!
2) I can actually cross something off my "to do" list for the day
3) Exercise releases substances in your brain that actually make you feel good and give you some energy -- I find I have a lift for a little while after a walk or a workout.
Try not to exercise any later than 5 hours before you go to bed, because it can interfere with your sleep (like we need more problems with that! ick!).
I also joined a community called the Daily Plate where I can track my food and exercise. There are support groups too where you can join a message board with like-minded people and have some accountability for doing what you say you will do. Either that or find a walking buddy on Craigslist or something.
#5
Chuck Z.
-
- Members
- 150 posts
Member
- Gender:Male
- Location:Philadelphia Area
- Interests:Music, Photography
Posted 02 May 2008 - 08:59 AM
This may sound silly, but I find when I need a "kick", all I have to do is inhale/exhale deeply 3 to 5 times (don't hypervent!). This provides enough boost to "start", but then I just have to trudge through the rest of the task. But be very careful, I know I have to, because exercise and physical activity can make things worse for me -- even though I may be more "alert", I tend to have "harsher" micro-sleep episodes. ah, gotta love catch-22's 
