You’re Not Lazy. You’re Likely Undernourished.
Reframing exhaustion and burnout with a root-cause lens
Over the past year, I’ve been really trying to get into an exercise routine.
For months, I tried to force it.
The workouts. The morning routines. The schedule I swore would get me back on track.
I made a plan. I downloaded the apps. I blocked time in my calendar. I told myself, This time it’s going to stick.
I wanted to feel strong again. Clear. Like myself.
But every time I got momentum, it collapsed.
I’d wake up early to work out—only to have my kids wake up even earlier.
I’d get into a groove—then crash with fatigue or feel it in my pelvic floor and need to pause.
I’d follow a new plan for a few days—then life would get busy and I’d get off track and not want to restart.
Eventually, I just... stopped trying.
I told myself I didn’t have the time.
But what I really didn’t have was the energy. The bandwidth. The reserves.
It wasn’t laziness—it was depletion.
And once I realized that, everything changed. I stopped chasing perfection and started fueling my body with what it actually needed:
Food.
Sleep.
Sunlight.
Slow mornings.
Rest that didn’t have to be earned.
And then, I started feeling more ready for activity.
Because the truth is, you can’t build on empty.
If you’re constantly trying to push through fatigue, overachieve your way to wellness, or jump straight into gut protocols and hormone hacks without a solid foundation—of course you’re going to feel stuck. Of course it’s going to feel like a hamster wheel.
Willpower doesn’t work when your body is undernourished.
So let’s shift the approach. Let’s look at what’s really going on beneath the burnout—and what your body’s been trying to tell you all along.
1. Fatigue Isn’t a Character Flaw—It’s a Signal
Let’s get one thing straight:
If you’re constantly tired, foggy, or unmotivated—it’s not because you’re lazy. It’s because your body is trying to do too much with too little.
Most women I work with are running on fumes, not because they lack discipline, but because their cells lack fuel.
Fatigue often stems from:
Long-term nutrient depletion (especially after hormonal birth control, pregnancy, or chronic stress)
Blood sugar rollercoasters
Under-eating (especially protein and fat)
Poor sleep quality or inconsistent circadian rhythm
Hormonal shifts (low thyroid, low progesterone, estrogen dominance)
👉 The takeaway: Your body isn’t broken. It’s under-resourced.
2. The Underrated Power of Nutrient Density
You don’t need another juice cleanse—you need real nourishment.
Undereating, skipping meals, or relying on “light” foods may be keeping your energy tank perpetually empty.
Skip the fancy meal plan and just focus on eating real food. Stock your fridge with veggies. Stock your freezer with high quality animal protein and combine them as makes sense for you.
Key nutrients that support energy, hormones, and mood include:
B vitamins – especially B12, B6, and folate for energy and hormone metabolism
Iron – for oxygen transport (low iron = fatigue, brain fog, dizziness)
Magnesium – supports energy production, sleep, and stress resilience
Protein – building blocks for hormones, enzymes, and neurotransmitters
Fats – especially omega-3s and cholesterol to produce sex hormones
What to do:
Eat within 90 minutes of waking (with protein + fat!)
Prioritize 3 balanced meals daily (no grazing and no skipping)
Add fertility superfoods like liver, sardines, pasture-raised eggs, and bone broth
Consider a high-quality prenatal or B-complex if you’ve been on birth control or are TTC/postpartum
3. Blood Sugar: The Energy Rollercoaster You Can Get Off
If you find yourself wired and tired, needing coffee to start your day and sugar to survive the afternoon—your blood sugar might be the issue.
When your glucose spikes and crashes all day, it stresses your adrenals and drains your energy reserves.
Signs your blood sugar may be out of whack:
Mid-morning or mid-afternoon crashes
Cravings for sugar or carbs
Waking up at 2–3 a.m.
Shaky, lightheaded, or irritable between meals
What helps:
Build meals with protein + fat + fiber (not just carbs)
Don’t skip meals—especially not breakfast
Swap out sugary snacks for protein-rich options (like hard-boiled eggs or meat sticks)
Add a walk or gentle movement after meals to stabilize glucose
4. Your Nervous System Needs Nourishment, Too
Feeling tired and anxious? Wired but unmotivated? That’s your nervous system saying “I need safety and stability.”
Undernourishment can affect more than just your energy—it impacts mood, focus, and your ability to regulate stress.
What can help regulate your nervous system:
Morning sunlight exposure (10–15 min within 1 hour of waking)
Consistent sleep-wake times
Magnesium glycinate at night (for calming and restoring)
Eating enough during the luteal phase of your cycle (when your body needs more calories)
Gentle movement like walking, stretching, or Pilates
Remember: rest is productive. Recovery allows your body to build hormones, repair tissues, and reset stress responses.
Again, You’re Not Lazy—You’re Just Asking Too Much From Too Little
Burnout, brain fog, and bone-deep fatigue are not personality flaws.
They’re signs that your body is asking for more—not perfection, but support.
Start by feeding your body the nutrients it’s been missing. Build in blood sugar stability. Give your nervous system space to breathe.
Small, consistent shifts can change everything—from how you show up in the world to how you feel in your own skin.
Need a roadmap?
Book a free consult and let’s chat through your symptoms and how you can support them more effectively.