In my last article, I shared Dawn Waldron’s clinical pearl, informed by over 20 years of supporting clients with a diagnosis of breast cancer, that the most commonly reported symptom in the three years prior to diagnosis was fatigue. I characterised fatigue as a distress signal from the body that all was not well and that changes needed to be made in order to optimise health. In my training with Dawn, she said that “energy is the opposite of cancer, if we are producing ATP very well… then we are drastically reducing our risk of cancer”. Therefore, against this background, I suggest that doing all we can to move from feeling fatigued to feeling energised is a very worthy endeavour. 

Which changes?

Generally speaking, the following framework promotes health and vitality:

• eat enough to satisfy hunger, then stop

• don’t graze, organise your food intake into proper meals

• eat real food, stay away from processed foods

• spend as much time outside as possible

• move after eating

• get up at the same time, go to bed at the same time

• exercise for the duration and to the intensity that you can comfortably repeat the next day

• stay well hydrated

• allow yourself the space to decompress from the stresses of the day

• prioritise restorative sleep

• find your joy.

Is there more?

Yes. By using detailed intake forms, I can personalise the changes you need to make in order to support your energy levels and optimise your health. In some cases, blood tests and/or genetic tests can be really valuable supplementary tools in optimising energy levels and health. 

Intake forms

I have a very simple intake process. I send you tick box intake forms to fill in online. The beauty of these forms is that they take a few minutes to fill in which saves us hours of one-to-one time.  

Blood tests

I will look at any blood tests which you already have. Even if you have been told that your blood test results are “normal”, I will look for clues in the numbers as to why you are feeling exhausted. There is a big difference between “normal” bloods and “optimal” bloods. If appropriate, I will write to your GP to request additional bloods. The fatigue markers which I like to see are: a complete blood count, vitamin B12, folate, serum iron, ferritin, transferrin saturation, vitamin D, TSH, free T4 and free T3.

Genetic tests

If you are struggling to make changes in order to access increased energy levels or you have made lots of changes and still feel tired, understanding your genetic predisposition can be invaluable. I recommend Lifecode Gx’s Metabolics report. This report helps us to understand our metabolism. Metabolism is the process by which:

• the body uses fuel to produce energy,

• the body stores energy,

• the body copes with excess fuel (ironically, excess fuel can make us feel exhausted). 

Once we know where your genetic potholes are, we can work with your genes to support them. You can stop pushing against a closed door, and open different, more genetically compatible,  routes towards achieving your optimal energy levels and accessing optimal health.

If you would like to find out more about working with me to optimise your energy levels, please do book a free Zoom call using the button below.