Hey Mom, feeling like you’ve run a marathon—except the finish line keeps moving, and all you did was juggle laundry, kids, and maybe a 5-minute plank? Yeah, you’re not alone. Let’s talk about why you’re so exhausted even though you’re “crushing” your fitness goals.
- Overtraining: Because More Is Always Better, Right?
Here’s a hot take: Doing all the workouts, all the time, doesn’t actually make you fitter. Shocking! But guess what? When you run yourself ragged, your body screams for mercy. Overtraining is like telling your body to do a triathlon every day when it’s still trying to recover from last Tuesday’s chaos. The result? Fatigue, irritability, and muscles that feel like they got hit by a freight train.
- Under-Recovering: The Invisible Villain
Now, I know what you’re thinking—“I’m too busy for recovery.” Cool, cool. Just skip sleep, skip stretching, skip literally anything restorative. Because who needs that, right? Spoiler alert: Your body needs recovery. It’s not just about chilling out (though that’s nice too). Recovery helps repair muscle, replenish energy, and—here’s the kicker—makes your workouts actually work. Skimp on this, and your tired meter skyrockets.
- Sleep? What’s That?
Ah, sleep. The ultimate fantasy in the land of motherhood and fitness. When you’re lucky, you get a solid 4 hours before a tiny human decides the party’s over. Sleep deprivation is a sneaky beast that zaps energy, messes with hormones, and wrecks motivation. Trying to “bounce back” from that with a double workout? Yeah, good luck.
- Stress: The Silent Energy Sapper
Between kid meltdowns, work deadlines, and trying to squeeze in a workout, stress is basically the unwelcome guest that never leaves. Stress triggers your body’s fight-or-flight mode—which is great if you’re running from a bear, less great if you’re just trying to do yoga in peace. Chronic stress drains your energy reserves and keeps your body in a constant state of “on alert,” which means feeling wiped out even before you start.
The “Bounce Back” Narrative — Because Guilt Loves a Good Catchphrase
“Bounce back” — ugh. The phrase alone deserves an eye-roll. Like your body is a rubber ball that magically resets after a day of chaos and no sleep. Newsflash: Moms aren’t rubber balls. We’re more like slightly deflated balloons with kids poking at us.
The pressure to “bounce back” after childbirth, a bad week, or a skipped workout is exhausting in itself. Fitness isn’t a competition to prove how fast you can return to “normal.” It’s a marathon of self-care (and sometimes just surviving). So maybe instead of pushing yourself to the brink, give yourself permission to rest, recover, and sometimes just say, “Nope, today is a pajama day.”
Bottom Line
If you’re constantly wondering, Why am I so tired? and feeling like your fitness routine is draining you instead of energizing you, it might be time to rethink your approach. Overtraining, under-recovering, lack of sleep, and stress are sneaky culprits behind that mom exhaustion.
So next time you’re tempted to crush yet another workout after a sleepless night, maybe ask yourself: “Is this going to make me stronger or just more tired?” Your body—and your sanity—will thank you.