Why am I tired all the time? Anne’s Aware Journey

Anne is an avid runner and vegetarian cooking enthusiast. We sat down to talk about what brought her to Aware and how she meets her nutritional needs while following a plant-based diet. 

Aware Journey

1. What has fueled your health journey up to now, and how has Aware helped you on this path?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to train for a marathon. I joined a boot camp to help me get fit and also started meeting with a nutritional coach. He taught me the basics of healthy eating and explained the importance of increasing protein intake to stay energized during a long run and ensure I’m meeting my nutritional needs as a vegetarian. 

But at the same time, I had been feeling super tired and fatigued for quite a while. I didn't understand why because I was exercising regularly and eating well. That’s when I started looking for answers about my health and came to Aware for a comprehensive health check. 

Health goals

2. Did your first Aware health check yield any surprising discoveries?

I learned that I had an iron deficiency, which explained why my energy levels were so low. My results also showed that my uric acid levels were too high. I was eating a lot of veggie protein powder made from peas, which can cause uric acid levels to go up.

Challenges

3. Can you tell us a bit about your main health goals?

Staying healthy for as long as I can to enjoy life to the fullest. I like to stay active, and thanks to Aware, I now know that I have to take care of my iron deficiency and balance my protein intake so I have the energy for the activities I love. 

Want to learn which foods can help you boost your energy? Check out our article on 14 foods scientifically proven to help with fatigue.

Lifestyle habits

4. What challenges have you come across on your health journey?

Living a healthy life can be challenging sometimes, especially when it comes to meal prep. For me, eating healthy when I’m in a rush can be a bit complicated, because it takes time to prepare nutritious meals. 

Health check

5. What lifestyle habits or changes have you implemented into your routine to support your long-term health?

Now I invest time in researching food nutrients. It can be a pretty complex topic, but it’s important to me. As a vegetarian, I want to make sure I get all the nutrients I need to avoid deficiencies and have energy for sports. 

Health tips

6. Do you have any health tips or hacks you'd like to share with the Aware community?

Drink a couple of glasses of water in the morning to start your day. Or a glass of hot water with lemon – it's super easy to prepare and it aids digestion and boosts vitamin C.

Kickstart your day with a glass of hot water and lemon.

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