Having Trouble Sustaining Energy Through My Workouts

Last Updated on May 21, 2023 by Michael Brockbank

Being on this keto-inspired diet was rough enough. But then I had the brilliant idea of knocking my net calories down to 300. This means I need to get far more physical throughout the day if I want to eat more. And it may be causing havoc on sustaining my energy levels during workouts.

Of course, I already knew that keto was going to have an effect on how much energy I have to lift weights. All of the science is there, so I really have nothing to complain about.

So, instead, I’m going to see if I can work through this issue and stay on track to lose 7 pounds in a week.

Because I really want to have a box of Lucky Charms on Sunday!

How My Workouts Go without Sustaining the Energy

On Monday, I had a hard time trying to crank out the last of my sets on the weight machines at the gym. But, it wasn’t because I “felt the burn” or was sore from working out.

No, this was a lack of energy, pure and simple.

When I got to the last few reps, there was just nothing left for my shoulders to use to press the weight. Part of this is because I already used up a lot of that energy using the Lat Pulldown and Fly machines.

By the time I got to the last set of my session with the Machine Chest Press, there was no fuel left in the tank.

And yes, I did manage to finish the set after taking a minute break to rest my shoulders. But it was weird not having the energy to move the weight in the first place.

I’m hoping this is actually a good thing in the long run. After all, the whole point of this is to use fat instead of carbs to fuel a workout.

What Does This Mean for Sustaining Energy During My Workouts?

In the grand scheme of things, it’s much too early to tell if setting my carb goal to 300 is going to make that much of an impact. Sure, I was sluggish on Monday, but that could be due to a number of things.

So, I’m not going to just give up on this quite yet. Especially with how quickly I’m burning the fat.

However, I do need to come up with a plan B just in case sustaining the energy isn’t going to be possible during the workouts. It’s always good to be prepared.

Longer Rest Periods Between Sets?

One thing I do quite often is push myself to continue sets after an extremely short break. Perhaps if I take a bit longer in between sets to catch my breath, I’ll accumulate enough energy to continue.

Since the app I use has a 1-minute break timer between sets, I’ll give that a try on Wednesday. Because I know that I often only take like 20 seconds at the most.

It all comes back to not being able to do what I was doing in 2018 quite yet. I am working up into it, though. I’m definitely lifting more weight on most of the machines, which is a very good sign.

On the other hand, I also wasn’t on a keto-ish diet.

Work Slowly Into Heavier Sets?

Normally, I’ll try to increase the weights as much as I can throughout the week. But, with not having the umph to lift them, perhaps I’ll throttle it back some.

Maybe if I just wait until I get to the point where I’m not struggling while sustaining the energy to complete the workouts? So, if can crank out those last sets without having to take a break, the next day, I’ll move them up five pounds.

That’s kind of how I judge when to add more to the workout. As soon as a certain poundage gets too easy, I increase it. I’m working more on stamina and sustainability as I don’t really care to look like the Incredible Hulk.

Perhaps More Carbs Before Heading to the Gym?

My friend suggested that maybe I should add a few more carbs in the morning before heading to the gym. That would kind of defeat a bit of the purpose with keto. But, perhaps using regular almond milk instead of the unsweetened might just get rid of the edge a bit.

It’s something to consider, and I do burn enough while at the gym to where a few extra carbs wouldn’t pack onto my ass.

I want to try a few more workouts before I do that, though. I guess as long as I stay highly active, having an extra few grams of carbs wouldn’t throw anything out of whack.

Pre-Workout Powders

I do have an actual pre-workout powder that I rarely use. Usually, I’ll have my Emerge first thing followed by a protein shake. Perhaps I should try the pre-workout instead.

I just need to make sure I don’t take Emerge the same morning. The last time I took both, I had an overdose of caffeine that gave me the jitters all day.

Oopsies!

On Wednesday, I’ll try the pre-workout right before going to the gym. Let’s see if that makes any difference in how well I perform.

It’s a Work in Progress

Personally, I love discovering my limits and seeing just how much I can push the envelope. I love collecting data, doing research, and finding the best methods that work for me.

And so far, this hasn’t been too bad of an experience. I just need to find ways to boost my workouts while sustaining energy levels. And I have no doubt that I will.

I think I’ve actually made more progress over the last couple of weeks than I have over the last couple of months. I’m still breaking physical records, I’m actually starting to take shape, and things are getting a bit exciting.

Remember, I’ve never seen myself as a skinny adult. I have no idea what I’ll look like, which is kind of a fun prospect in and of itself.

I know one thing for sure, though. I don’t look anything like I did 80 pounds ago.

I think I need a more recent comparison pic. I’ve lost about 20 pounds since the 2017 image.

At any rate, I am pretty jazzed for the next couple of weeks. And the more excited I get, the more motivation I have to continue.

I WILL be Venom for Halloween! Complete with latex body paint.

Here’s to Sustaining Energy Through the Workouts!

I have my work cut out for me. I just need to find that perfect balance in the mornings. And actually, I love experimenting on myself in this manner. It lets me find exactly what works best specifically for me.

And if you truly want to lose weight and get fit, that’s what it’s all about. Finding what works best for your needs and wants.

So, let’s see if sustaining my energy levels is possible over the next few workouts. In any case, it’s going to be a fun ride.

About Author

Michael Brockbank

Since 2015, Michael has put in the effort to lose more than 80 pounds by gamifying fitness and eating proper portion sizes. He conducts extensive research into various health and fitness products to provide the best answers possible according to his own experience and knowledge.

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