Fighting fatigue

[Louis de Leon]

Anyone else in my boat?

I work a pretty long full day as a desk jockey. Not strenuous at all - but still very tiring. Mentally tiring. Meetings and other BS completely sap my energy throughout the day. A long enough day will leave me so numb that sometimes I have a hard time driving home. I'll weave in my lane sometimes. Doesn't matter how much sleep I get - my day at work just destroys me sometimes.

It's really a problem by the time I get to practice. I'm half dead on my feet.

Any tips? I'm willing to try just about anything. Anything except for caffeine. Doesn't work in armour having your heart running a marathon simply standing still.

I'm going to go to practice tonight anyway, dammit - but I already can barely keep my eyes open. If I were to put my head down on my desk I'd fall asleep.

[Murdock]

try working out

run a little and pell in your armour and it'll help

[broinnfinn]

Running (it doesn't have to be in armor) helps a LOT. My stamina, regardless of the time of practice, was never better as when I was logging over 15 miles a week.

Tragically, my knees have stopped letting me do it. I am going to take up cycling again after the baby is born.

Broinnfinn

[Murdock]

BABY???


Where have i been???

Congrats!!!!

[Kane Greymane]

Obviously do all the physical stuff first

Balanced Diet
exercise
Push Water 3 to 4 Litre a day

but for a less material answer

In the morning when you shower imagine all the stress washing away with the water

Imagine placing a bright shinny shield in front of your forehead, throat, chest and abdomen that will stop all the negativity sticking to your aura.
BTW put them down before going home to your family

When in a negative environment imagine the negativity flowing around your shields and out the back of your elbows so you don't have it stick to you.

When ever possible move away from negative people try to foster relationships with uplifting people.

There may be a psychic sponge in your office leaching those around them,
try to work out who it may be and stay away from them.


Hope this helps

Kane

[JoeMick]

yep, I'm in your boat. I find walking the stairs at work for about 15 minutes a day helps a lot (bring an extra shirt though).

I also have a very long and consistant warmup routine before I train. I try my best to blank out my mind and concentrate on my body as I do this, and by the time the warmup is done, I am refreshed and ready to throw myself into training.

cheers

Joe

[Uneg]

Any tips?

I, too, am a "desk jockey". Here are a couple of things I try to do throughout the day.

Take a short walk away from my desk every hour. Just long enough to stretch out a bit and focus my eyes further than my monitor.

Stretch forearms and wrists between blocks of code.

Drink lots of water (this can help facilitate the first one).

The thing I find has made the biggest change in my alerness and eagerness to fight is this:

During lunch break, take a few minutes and think about fighting. Reflect on your weaknesses and how to overcome them. Think about what you want to work on and who/how you will ask for assistance. Find a secluded spot and practice a few basic techniques with a rolled up magazine, newspaper, etc. Do it every day, not just on fight practice days.

[David Teague]

Hello all,

I'm 47... teach a WMA class, ride a bike 5 days a week(spin class at the gym in the winter) and lift 3x a week... and I too am a desk jocky/sales rep... and I too suffer from sleepiness during the day... so what do I do?

I take a nap at lunch. In the summers in in my car in the sunshine, at work behind my desk on the floor or at home duing my lunch break.

Listen to your body.

Cheers,

[Baron Alejandro]

I'll echo what others have said. Water, water, water.

No elevators. EVER. No matter what.

Don't snack, unless it's on popcorn with no butter or salt. Or oil.

Get up & walk whenever you can.

Park deliberately far away from the store you're going to.

Do 'desk workouts'. Hold a phone book at arm's length for as long as you can while you're on the phone. Whatever.

treat it like a DISCIPLINE.

[Mord]

What and when do you have lunch? Do you have lunch?

Drink fluids--nothing too sugary (soda is out).

Eat a high starch (pasta, a bagel)

Eat a banana (full of potassium--it will replenish your electrolites)

One and Half hours to one hour before fighting, drink orange or grape-fruit juice (I avoid sports drinks--too much salt) and eat a bagel. Drink water.

It sounds like you're having problems with your electrolites and energy.

Mord.

[Broadway]

After a day in the office, I walk or run at least 2 miles.

[Patton Lives]

Maybe its just me, but I dont think he was describing "fatigue from fighting" as much as "battling fatigue from the workplace to show up for fighting at all"

I have that on plenty of occasions. What helps me is music, or if its a sluggish sunday, an action movie, somthing to get the blood moving, like iron monkey or drunken master

[Louis de Leon]

Everything in this thread is helpful. Thanks and keep 'em coming.

Yeah, should have been a little more clear about what kind of fatigue I'm talking about. It's not really fatigue from fighting I'm having a problem with. It's fatigue from work. I'm so mentally spent I'm already punch-drunk when I show up for practice. Sometimes I'm so empty I have to force myself to do anything other than drive straight home and collapse on the couch. I guess it'd be more accurate to say my energy is low. And I'm willing to try just about anything - there are a lot of good ideas in this thread, and I'm going to try to work a few into my routine for starters. All the help and advice is much appreciated.

[Broadway]

Mine was in reference to fatigue from work.

The more I exercise during the week, the less bummed I am after work everyday...

I also find that listening to music during the last three hours of the day helps too.

[James B.]

Regular aerobic exorcize is proven to boost your energy levels. Not only does it make your metabolism high it also causes you to sleep better. Walking for an hour or more 3 times a week will do that and health experts say you will loose a pound a week if you have weight to loose.

SCA is not aerobic so try aerobic, walking, running, biking, calisthenics, something along those lines.

I felt a million times more active when I started martial arts back up last year and better again after my move by walking regularly.

[Blackoak]

Louis, do you take vitamins? If not, get a good multivitamin. Look for one that has a high B12 supply.

I don't know how old you are, but after 30 our bodies start to see changes in metabolism. A key in keeping you metabolism up is eating more frequent smaller meals. This keeps you from getting extremes in blood sugar and helps your body run at a steady level. At a desk job, this is easier for you to do.

Avoid concentrated swwets as much as possible. About every 2-3 hours eat a piece of fruit, etc. A good thing to have is trail mix. Almonds are one of the power foods, and are easy to snack on. Water and healthy foods will help you out.

Once you notice an increase in your energy, start fitting in an evening walk/jog or light exercise. Then gradually increase it as your body improves. Make sure you are getting a good night sleep and you should be better in a short time.

If you can during the day, take 5 minutes away from your desk every hour and walk the hallway to help your mind detach from the office BS.

Lastly, if this does nothing to improve your well being, go see a doctor for a routine checkup. A low blood count can have you tired.

Hope some of this helps you.

Uric

[Gwydion Caithnes]

Not to derail or steal the thread, but I've got a somewhat strange twist on this problem. I get so "juiced" from fighting that, following practice, I'm "wired" and can't sleep well that night...I mentally re-run some of my bouts in my head, think about adjustments needed in my armour, etc., all of which keeps me awake through much of the night. I might be physically tired from fighting, but mentally I'm pretty alert...

Of course, the subsequent lack of sleep makes me sluggish the NEXT day...

This despite the fact that we tend to hit a local pub following practice, and "down a couple-two-three" beers (after properly rehydrating, of course...).

I've tried some solutions - not eating after practice, not drinking (other than water), etc., but nothing seems to work - again, it seems more mental than physical.

Any ideas, gang?

[Cathal O'Ruarc]

Nuala and I have the same problem, Gwydion. Of course, when both in a couple fight, we feed off of each other, and sleep doesn't come for a while. Again, not physically, but mentally alert and wired! Physically, we would like nothing more than to collapse and sleep, but no go. 1:00 am bedtimes are becoming routine.

A side note, Gwydion - always eat after a workout. Helps prevent muscle soreness the next day!

I will also add this: Nuala and I have not been fighting very long, and you are just getting back into fighting after a few(?) years. This condition could be the brain undergoing some serious rewiring to learn from your recent fighting (for survival, according to the physiologic aspect of your brain.) If so, we might just have to deal with it until it passes.

The simple test for this hypothesis would be to ask those veterans of a few years if they still experience the same andrenalic flow long after combat ceases on a chronic basis (ie., every time.)

In other words:

Yo, knights, is this somethin' happenin' to youse guys? Or is it more old hat?

I can add nothing to the main topic of this thread that has not already been said.

[Gwydion Caithnes]

I will also add this: Nuala and I have not been fighting very long, and you are just getting back into fighting after a few(?) years. This condition could be the brain undergoing some serious rewiring to learn from your recent fighting (for survival, according to the physiologic aspect of your brain.) If so, we might just have to deal with it until it passes.

Very interesting and insightful comment, Cathal, and I think you've hit it on the head (pun only partially intended...).

Yes, I'm just back after a rather long (8 yrs.+) hiatus, so maybe my brain is "overdosing" slightly on the experience of getting back into the game. I find myself over-analysing my bouts, worrying about my armour, concentrating on playing fair and chivalrously, etc.

Perhaps things will settle down, mentally, once it becomes more of a "routine" again.

See you in a couple of weeks!

[Garth]

Interesting thread, we need to share information like this more often. Now if we can get people to share how they prevent or repair joint injuries I'd be happy.

As to being wired- guys, what are you eating or drinking before and during practice? If it has sugar or caffine it can affect you for much longer than it used to. When I was younger (okay, 20 years ago) I could drink coffee at 2:00 am, and be asleep by 2:15. Now if I have caffine after 6:00 pm I cannot sleep before 1:00. Very annoying.

If that isn't the issue, develop a relaxation process after fighting. We are blessed in that we have a yoga instructer bring her kids to youth combat practice and stays until after figt practice to lead us in a 20 or 30 minute stretch/cool down. Wow is that nice. But as most groups aren't so fortunate, find some stretches that target what gets abused the most. Force yourself to slow down and concentrate on the stretch.

Beating the duldrums at work- can't stress it enough- what you put into your body affects you. Water, water, water! Cut out the simple sugars (Sugar spike/crashes kill my alertness. Don't start!) Eat decent snacks and a smallish lunch, it helps to even things out. Sunshine! Get outside, if only for 10 minutes! This is imperitive in the winter months.

Be well,

Sir Garth

[Roisin]

I never drink caffine, in any form, (except on an occasional un-event Sat morning before 8 when I adore half coffee and half cream and don't expect to sleep until after 11 p.m.) Love sugar, but its gone so fast I barely notice the peak unless I really over do it. Not getting enought salt gives me miserable headaches. At and after a day of fighting, I eat gatoraide mix by the spoonfull.
Anything that could be considered a drug effects me differently than most people. -- everybody is a tad different

Adrenaline is a great drug, and I'm entirely addicted. Love the stuff, must fight more. Once in a while my body manages to get the message through my happy druged zone that I must stop, occasionally I listen. But I'm still young, and can ignore it when I want. However, I'm not so young that I can stay up the rest of the night pacing the living room thinking about fighting. It takes 15 minutes to a half hour, but eventually visualizing myself asleep gets me there.

The next day I spend in a nice, numb, endorphin haze. Usually lasts until at least noon, maybe into the night, depending on how much and how hard I fought. (I do a lot of independant light manual labor, as long as I have enough brain to keep my hands out of the machines, its ok.)

Recently, the third day has changed. Used to be fighting at an event or eagerly anticipating practice, probably finishing off being sore or poking at pretty bruises. Now that I'm really only getting two fight days a week, the third day I feel really lonely and down until I get out for a run or exercize after work.

Don't know if any of that can be useful to anyone, but thought I'd share,
Roisin

[HvR]

If you wake up feeling exhausted in the mornings after a good nights rest you might have sleep apnea. Go see your doctor and inquire about a sleep study as you may have a fatty pallet.

Helmut

[Magmaforge]

Gwydion, my few cents. Take a walk in the morning. Just around the block or whatever. Do it again around lunchtime. Get more sunlight and less screenlight. People with Seasonal Affective Disorder sometimes notice a strong drop in energy, and part of it has to do with not getting enough sunlight. Also, fruit smoothies can be a meal in and of themselves when you're not sure what you want but you need something revitalizing.

A side note, Gwydion - always eat after a workout. Helps prevent muscle soreness the next day!

This was a surprising statement to me. What I've always been taught is that after working out physically, all of the blood is in the muscles, and one should wait about half an hour after finishing the workout, so that the blood can be available to the digestive system. Likewise, don't workout for an hour and a half to two hours after eating a sizable meal, since the blood is in the digestive system, doing work there.

-Mag

[Lucz Cromer]

I've never been a "Desk Jockey", but I have made a few long cross country drives. What I've always done on those long trips is Isometrics. It's where your stationary and just cotinually tense and hold and slowly release a muscle group, then repeat. I know it sounds dumb, but I have actually worked up a sweat doin it. That should atleast help w/some of the fatigue.

[Cathal O'Ruarc]

This was a surprising statement to me. What I've always been taught is that after working out physically, all of the blood is in the muscles, and one should wait about half an hour after finishing the workout, so that the blood can be available to the digestive system. Likewise, don't workout for an hour and a half to two hours after eating a sizable meal, since the blood is in the digestive system, doing work there.

-Mag

Correct at both points. The half-hour wait in my mind was a given, for that is the time it takes for me to get home. Sorry!

Anyway, eating something (after 0.5 hours) after fighting helps the body recover from the acid buildup in your muscles. Our practice ends at 9:30 PM, so eating something after 10:00, even something light, helps your muscles to feel less sore in the morning. Well, it works for me at least.