Hi. I'm trying to figure out what I can do about my current situation. I work for a newspaper, and when I started I had one beat. Now, they keep piling on more beats so they can save money. My salary hasn't gone up, but my stress level sure has. I'm extremely unhappy and tired all the time. I can get eight hours of sleep and still be tired. I always feel bad. Basically, I just don't have the energy to eat right or exercise. It's much easier to have a frozen dinner than to actually make something decent. I'm sure that's not helping my energy level, but when I come home all I want to do is crawl into bed. I know I need to find a new job, but until then I need some tips on how I can try to pull myself out of this rut. I'm so sick of feeling bad. I want some energy. I want to take care of myself. I wish there were some really simple ways I could prepare healthy food, but I also have to be careful because during times of stress my stomach goes crazy and eating anything fibrous or acidic or greasy or caffeinated or sugary etc...will set me off. The only foods I can handle are dairy and useless carbs like white potatoes and dry white toast.

I don't know if anyone can help or not, or if anyone has been through a similar situation. But I would love to hear what people have to say. Thanks.

Hi,

I am new to this forum, and tried to understand the rules, but didn't see what I was looking for. So I guess I will tell you if you would like me to share something that could work for you, I would like you to send me a private message.

Looking forward to talking with you further.

I would suggest putting together a list of healthy snacks and easy meals and making them all up on Sunday afternoon. That way you will have healthy foods to munch on all week without having to take the time to prepare it.
Try taking a relaxing walk either after work or after dinner. Even though you feel exhausted, getting out and getting some fresh air will help you relax, take your mind off work and you'll get a bit of exercise which will make you feel better.

Oh My!

That was a good suggestion to make up some healthy snacks on a Sunday afternoon to prepare them for Monday.

How about planning your meals for the whole week on the weekend; say like on Saturday afternoon?
You can go shopping for some items that will make for a pretty decent lunch; here are a few ideas:

1. How about a stir-fry? You can get some fresh veggies and use brown rice instead of white rice. You can buy some fresh, cut-up chicken breast strips and cook them; or, you can get some shrimp and use them if you like. A stir-fry will take about 30 minutes of your time. Make one when you go home, if you like add a little shredded cheese as a topping. Take some for lunch the next day and bring some fruit.

2. How about a chicken salad wheat wrap? You can make your chicken salad as you like. I love some fresh cut up celery in mine with onions, tomatoes and green peppers. Put your chicken salad in a wheat wrap and add lettuce, if you like. Choose some fruit and perhaps some flavored water and you've got a really good lunch.

I can think of more ideas, but these are just some starter-tips for you.
They don't take long to make.

You'll be on the road to eating well before you know it!

Well, your post is interesting in that I used to work for a newspaper in WV that overworked me to save money as well.....and, also, your struggle with having enough energy is something I can definitely relate to...I think some of us women, perhaps those of us who are small, just need to realize and accept that we are not as strong physically as we would like to be....it is heredity.....I'm not a doctor, but if you are not experiencing heavy menstral bleeding (check that out on the web to see what constitutes heavy) and your doctor can't find anything else wrong with you, you may just be like me, not the strongest woman in the world and someone who either needs to a) cut back on work hours or b)sleep longer--that helps tremendously--SOME OF US JUST NEED MORE SLEEP THAN OTHERS--THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE LAZY OR WEAK--Just sleep more! Take into consideration what your body goes through every month--8 hours isn't always going to cut it! When you're on your period and in that recovery time from it you may need,as I do, up to 11 or 12 hours--there's nothing wrong with that--don't fight it--turn off the tv and the other demands (They can wait until you're well-restedand able to whip through them a lot faster) and SLEEP! The body heals itself when it gets enough sleep-remember that. Sleep can potentially cure or lessen the symptoms of a myriad of health disorders.

• 1. Make sure you're sleeping right.

Sleep is where we sort out what happened during the day, relieve stress, rejuvinate and get prepared to do it all again. If you dont sleep then you may be lethargic, find it hard to concentrate or get stressed easily.

• 2. Diet.

I'm not saying to go out and buy guinea pig food and chew on that BUT if your eating a lot of junk food then the sugar can start to impact on your body or if you used to eat a lot of high energy foods and then quickly changed your diet than your body could suffer from withdrawal.

• 3. Exercise.

This is what i did when i felt similar to the way you do, i started walking everywhere. I'd get up in the middle of the day decide I wanted to do something so i'd grab my iPod and stroll around the neighbourhood. lol, seriously i'm not crazy it actually does help.