Post Lunch Drowsiness

desperaterobots

So, always after lunch, sometimes straight afterwards, sometimes an hour or so later, I get incredibly fucking drowsy to the point where I have actually fallen asleep while on the phone to a customer.

I have found that if I eat less for lunch I generally don't get this problem, but it's replaced with nagging hunger instead. Also, I don't like coffee. My job is monotonous at best and involves lots of sitting.

I'm looking for ways to avoid or treat this problem. Have any of you tackled this?

Lewisham

Diet soda for the caffine.

Or power nap. 10 minutes only, or you'll reach REM and feel like shit when you wake.

devoir

Are you eating breakfast? Are you always eating the same thing for lunch? What are you eating?

desperaterobots

Usually I eat breakfast about 9am and its a salad sandwich (i look at it like toast + vegetables)

Lunch is about 1pm and it varies between Subway / Japanese Bento / Sushi / Ham Sandwich / Beef Roll / Lasagne... I don't eat the same thing everyday because I work in town. Occasional junk food ie McDonalds, yes, but not more than once or twice a week tops.

Napping at work not possible. And I should say that usually this does pass within about 30-40 minutes. But it's just shitty working through it as I'm talking to customers all day and it becomes a huge, huge struggle to retain information or converse with people normally (inbound call centre work, ugh).

Blake T

You are eating high GI foods and your insulin levels are spiking and crashing hard leaving you tired.

Try swapping round your white bread for wholemeal (personally I am a fan of soy and linseed) and replace your snacky type food with fruit/nuts/vegtables.

dlinfiniti

switch your breakfast and lunch habits
ie, more fat and protien in the morning (its "harder" on your body to digest which causes you to be drowsy after lunch, but you should be well awake in the morning when you get to work anyway), it'll also sustain you better throughout the day
lighter easily digested lunch, sandwich, fruits, some carbos, will give you that extra boost of energy without the digesting 'lag time' and stuff. hopefully that should make it easier for you to go through the day without feeling fatigued.

desperaterobots

Good advice guys. Thumbs up emoticon here.

Serpent

easiest way: have a lighter lunch ( you said this solves the problem ), then 1-2 snacks afterwards. like a banana an hour later.

themightypuck

desperaterobots wrote: »

My job is monotonous at best and involves lots of sitting.

Insulin spikes for sure but also it may just be par for the course. Your brain could be rebelling from the boredom and wants a nap. One way to test things is go low carb for lunch. See if you notice any difference (give is a week or so).

Sonos

desperaterobots wrote: »

So, always after lunch, sometimes straight afterwards, sometimes an hour or so later, I get incredibly fucking drowsy to the point where I have actually fallen asleep while on the phone to a customer.

I have found that if I eat less for lunch I generally don't get this problem, but it's replaced with nagging hunger instead. Also, I don't like coffee. My job is monotonous at best and involves lots of sitting.

I'm looking for ways to avoid or treat this problem. Have any of you tackled this?

I went to the doctor for the same exact thing. Every day between 2-3pm after lunch I can fall asleep while literally speaking to them and looking in their eyes. I keep my hands in my pocket to pinch the shit out of my own leg or stab it with a pencil or pen when I'm at a meeting.

The doctor had nothing me me. Full blood work and everything and I still get devestatingly tired every day. I've eaten light, healthy or not at all and nothing works. I am in my low 30s now Ive been dealing with this over 15 years.

So my advice is to get used to it because we are both going to likely live with it for the rest of our lives. And as you are already aware, it sucks.

EggyToast

Eating fewer carbs and more protein should help you stay full without getting the "food coma." What I do when I want to eat a smaller portion but still be full is eat a small handful of nuts, like peanuts, about 15 minutes before actually eating my meal. I feel more full when I'm actually eating my meal, and I don't get hungry as quickly afterwards (which I normally would if I had a smaller portion of a meal).

Also, you can try spacing your eating time out for lunch. Say you have a sandwich -- eat half at the beginning of your lunch break, and eat the rest of it before you head back to lunch, with a space in between. Your body will have more time to digest it and even if you DO end up being a little drowsy, it won't hit you as hard.

also, do you get enough sleep at night? I get much worse food comas when I'm short on sleep.

naporeon

It's called a post-prandial dip.

It happens in some way or another to everyone.

But as people have said, eating a smaller lunch, with higher protein and lower carbs, should make it at least a little less pronounced.

JeffH

Eat better - less sugar more protein

and to be obvious, make sure youre getting 7 or more hours of sleep a night

WuckFarcraft

What time do you go to bed at night?

Dog

eat some emerald nuts.

when your energy is low, it keeps robert goulet from messing with your stuff.

Ninja Bot

Isn't it possible it's the mid afternoon dip in energy everyone gets? I'd imagine a piece of fresh fruit would do pretty well to fight this.

Yar

Blaket wrote: »

You are eating high GI foods and your insulin levels are spiking and crashing hard leaving you tired.

Try swapping round your white bread for wholemeal (personally I am a fan of soy and linseed) and replace your snacky type food with fruit/nuts/vegtables.

Yes. You're basically having the diabeetus on a small scale. Cut out floury sugary stuff and focus on heartier stuff like nuts and vegetables and meat. Also, don't eat so much. If nagging hunger is a problem, add in snack time, like a handful of nuts in the afternoon.

Blake T

JeffH wrote: »

Eat better - less refined carbohydrates more protein

Fixed

While there is nothing bad with what you said, the key is refined carbo's, white flour sugar HFCS etc.

More protein wouldn't necesarily be it, around 20 grams for someone not eating to bulk would be plenty.

Keep in mind two slices of soy and lineseed bread has around 13 grams in it it isn't too hard to boost the rest of your meal up to required levels.

Sonos

Blaket wrote: »

JeffH wrote: »

Eat better - less refined carbohydrates more protein

Fixed

While there is nothing bad with what you said, the key is refined carbo's, white flour sugar HFCS etc.

More protein wouldn't necesarily be it, around 20 grams for someone not eating to bulk would be plenty.

Keep in mind two slices of soy and lineseed bread has around 13 grams in it it isn't too hard to boost the rest of your meal up to required levels.

so, as someone who acutely suffers from this, are refined carbs?

someone told me I might be allergic to bread once. it made sense what they said at the time. problem is i like bread.

Thanatos

Sonos wrote: »

so, as someone who acutely suffers from this, are refined carbs?

someone told me I might be allergic to bread once. it made sense what they said at the time. problem is i like bread.

"Refined carbs" are usually found in processed foods. The problem isn't that they're refined, it's that they're simple, so your body processes them in no time. You want complex carbs, from things like fruit (which has complex sugars), whole grain bread (which has complex starches) that your body takes a long time to digest.

Try splitting up your meals more, too. Have a breakfast, but then have a snack at, like, 10:30-11, lunch at 1-1:30, another snack at 3:30-4, etc. Giving your body the same amount of food over a longer period of time should help keep you from crashing (not to mention giving your metabolism a bit of a boost).

Al_wat

Learn to like coffee. Its an aquired taste anyways.

Mashalot

I've had the same problem. It would drive me crazy. I'd be a zombie after lunch, almost like being stoned on the job or something.

I'd have to say absolutely avoid caffeine and soda. Compensating with caffeine turned me into a train wreck.

These days I just bring a bag of various trail mixes and nuts to work, snack all day long (in moderation) & keep hydrated. I feel as alert now as I did at 9 or 10.

Then for dinner I'll just eat whatever. Though I'm trying to be healthier these days so it's a healthier whatever.

It's definitely hard to kick what you like eating, though.

Sonos

Thanatos wrote: »

Sonos wrote: »

so, as someone who acutely suffers from this, are refined carbs?

someone told me I might be allergic to bread once. it made sense what they said at the time. problem is i like bread.

"Refined carbs" are usually found in processed foods. The problem isn't that they're refined, it's that they're simple, so your body processes them in no time. You want complex carbs, from things like fruit (which has complex sugars), whole grain bread (which has complex starches) that your body takes a long time to digest.

Try splitting up your meals more, too. Have a breakfast, but then have a snack at, like, 10:30-11, lunch at 1-1:30, another snack at 3:30-4, etc. Giving your body the same amount of food over a longer period of time should help keep you from crashing (not to mention giving your metabolism a bit of a boost).

so is it because your body processes it fast that you crash? By that logic I assume you get a power boost for an hour or so then all that ATP is gone. That kind of follows how my body works so I can buy it. I digest fast so usually it's an hour after I eat.

I actually asked the doc to check for diabetes as it gets so bad sometimes I thought it might be serious. I am borderline but not at risk according to him.

I take any advice I can get as it can be really bad and terribly embarrassing and bad for business.

Thanatos

Sonos wrote: »

Thanatos wrote: »

Sonos wrote: »

so, as someone who acutely suffers from this, are refined carbs?

someone told me I might be allergic to bread once. it made sense what they said at the time. problem is i like bread.

"Refined carbs" are usually found in processed foods. The problem isn't that they're refined, it's that they're simple, so your body processes them in no time. You want complex carbs, from things like fruit (which has complex sugars), whole grain bread (which has complex starches) that your body takes a long time to digest.

Try splitting up your meals more, too. Have a breakfast, but then have a snack at, like, 10:30-11, lunch at 1-1:30, another snack at 3:30-4, etc. Giving your body the same amount of food over a longer period of time should help keep you from crashing (not to mention giving your metabolism a bit of a boost).

so is it because your body processes it fast that you crash? By that logic I assume you get a power boost for an hour or so then all that ATP is gone. That kind of follows how my body works so I can buy it. I digest fast so usually it's an hour after I eat.

I actually asked the doc to check for diabetes as it gets so bad sometimes I thought it might be serious. I am borderline but not at risk according to him.

I take any advice I can get as it can be really bad and terribly embarrassing and bad for business.

Kashi Go Lean is an excellent breakfast cereal. Tastes vaguely like Chex, but it isn't bad, and it's all whole grains, plus a lot of fiber. That with 1% milk, plus some other protein (I usually have a hard-boiled egg and a couple soy sausages) is a great way to start the day.

Sonos

Thanatos wrote: »

I take any advice I can get as it can be really bad and terribly embarrassing and bad for business.

Kashi Go Lean is an excellent breakfast cereal. Tastes vaguely like Chex, but it isn't bad, and it's all whole grains, plus a lot of fiber. That with 1% milk, plus some other protein (I usually have a hard-boiled egg and a couple soy sausages) is a great way to start the day.[/QUOTE]

i cut the quote train fat.

I don't eat breakfast enough. I'm going to try eating more breakfast and your suggestion of smaller meals throughout the day and see if it works. can't hurt. and I'm going through a hard boiled egg stage so the timing is conveniently placed. thanks

Thanatos

Sonos wrote: »

i cut the quote train fat.

I don't eat breakfast enough. I'm going to try eating more breakfast and your suggestion of smaller meals throughout the day and see if it works. can't hurt. and I'm going through a hard boiled egg stage so the timing is conveniently placed. thanks

Shit, man, if you're not eating breakfast, that's probably a significant part of your problem.

Start eating a breakfast of at least 400-600 calories (preferably closer to 600) that is full of protein, whole grains, and dietary fiber. Even if you eat nothing but shit for the rest of the day, a good breakfast will help your energy levels a lot, not to mention the health benefits.

Sonos

Thanatos wrote: »

Sonos wrote: »

i cut the quote train fat.

I don't eat breakfast enough. I'm going to try eating more breakfast and your suggestion of smaller meals throughout the day and see if it works. can't hurt. and I'm going through a hard boiled egg stage so the timing is conveniently placed. thanks

Shit, man, if you're not eating breakfast, that's probably a significant part of your problem.

Start eating a breakfast of at least 400-600 calories (preferably closer to 600) that is full of protein, whole grains, and dietary fiber. Even if you eat nothing but shit for the rest of the day, a good breakfast will help your energy levels a lot, not to mention the health benefits.

I stay up too late posting on forums and playing games so most morns I have to rush out the door. So how about this? 1 maybe 2 boiled eggs OR one of those breakfast nutrigrain bars. I'm realistic and honest I know I likely wont be waking up 30 mins earlier for breakfast until I get a year or two of adult maturity under my belt.

does 2 boiled eggs come close to 400ish calories? I'm a small dude around 155 lbs 5'8"so i dont need much.

Thanatos

Sonos wrote: »

Thanatos wrote: »

Sonos wrote: »

i cut the quote train fat.

I don't eat breakfast enough. I'm going to try eating more breakfast and your suggestion of smaller meals throughout the day and see if it works. can't hurt. and I'm going through a hard boiled egg stage so the timing is conveniently placed. thanks

Shit, man, if you're not eating breakfast, that's probably a significant part of your problem.

Start eating a breakfast of at least 400-600 calories (preferably closer to 600) that is full of protein, whole grains, and dietary fiber. Even if you eat nothing but shit for the rest of the day, a good breakfast will help your energy levels a lot, not to mention the health benefits.

I stay up too late posting on forums and playing games so most morns I have to rush out the door. So how about this? 1 maybe 2 boiled eggs OR one of those breakfast nutrigrain bars. I'm realistic and honest I know I likely wont be waking up 30 mins earlier for breakfast until I get a year or two of adult maturity under my belt.

does 2 boiled eggs come close to 400ish calories? I'm a small dude around 155 lbs 5'8"so i dont need much.

2 hard-boiled eggs is about 160-180 calories.

A bowl of cereal and 2 eggs should not take you 30 minutes. And watch it with those nutrigrain bars; if they don't say "made with whole grain" (and maybe even if they do), they're probably mostly simple carbs.