Why is it that basically no matter what I eat for lunch, come 4:30ish I tend to get very tired almost to the point of sleepiness. I at first thought it had to do with diminishing insulin levels (post lunch) but all that I really need to do to get rid of the tired feeling is have a quick nap. Even just falling asleep for a couple of minutes is usually enough to get rid of the tired feeling. It is a real pain in the but since I usually work out in the evening and feeling tired to the point of sleepiness is not to conducive to a great workout a few hours later. So what is going on here? Is there some daily hormonal cycle or brain chemical at play here or is it related to diet/insulin levels. NOTE: Even if I eat a couple of hours after lunch (say 3:30ish or so) I still get the tired feeling. If anybody can shed some light on this problem it would be greatly appreciated because I am getting tired (excuse the play on words) of having crappy workouts because I have not had a chance to power snooze for a couple of minutes in the late afternoon.
How much sleep do you get at night? That could be a big part of it…
What are you eating for lunch? Whats his name Sears has theories in his Zone Diet wrings that puts a lot of the post meal sleepiness down to excessive carbs and stresses certain ratios of carbs, fats and protein.How valid it all is I don’t know’ perhaps some of the real clever dudes out there may be able to clarify this more.
I get about 6.5 to 7 hours sleep at night.
Personally, I can’t live without about 7.5 to 8 hours of sleep a night. And as an example, for the past few weeks, I’ve been living on about 5 to 6 hours of sleep a night. In this time, I’ve lost 4 pounds (probably all muscle) and have not been able to attend class without falling asleep or having my mind wander. God I hate girlfriends…now an ex-girlfriend…
I’m guessing if you shoot for 8 hours a night, you’ll feel a lot better in a few days.
I think Hyphnz is on the right track with the excessive carb angle. I know that for mr too many carbs at certain times during the day makes me feel really lethargic. Try cutting back on your carb intake for lunch. You will want to add the carbs back into another meal to make sure you get your two insulin spiking meals per day though. Good luck.
Thanks for all the suggestions T-people. I am going to really take an in depth look at my nutrient timings and go from there.
Yep…sounds like excessive carbs to me.
Whats wrong with napping? There are many studies that show a power nap which is about 20 mins, helps you focus for the rest of the day. Try napping in your lunch hour, after eating. How old are you? maybe you are still growing. Sounds like your body is in the habit of napping now, so if you miss a nap, take MD6 20 min before your workout.Heck thats what its for anyway!( try just one if its late) 
In Europe, lots of people take naps during the times you mention you feel tired. What does this have to do with anything? I’m not sure. I thought I would let you know. Hehe.
The carb thing could be a factor, but there IS a cycle “low” at that point in the day for most people. The Spanish orient their day around it.
Naps rock, I am one of the great nappers of all time and it is amazing what even 5-10 mins can do for you. There was an article on 20/20 last week (well in New Zealand anyway) about sleep loss and how really detrimental it can be. Basically if you get into sleep deprivation (in most cases less than 8 hours) it is so hard and almost impossible to recoup it. The stats on how much less sleep people get on average compared to 40 years ago was stunning. They went on to say one good way to overcome sleep deprivation is a nap. It even showed some workplaces in the US that provide cubicles for staff to have siestas, all right! where do I sign on?
I don’t know when you wake up, but if possible, try waking up at sunrise and going to bed about 7-8 hours before that. Do this for about two weeks straight…even on the weekend. You may find that your energy level and other bodily functions start to really improve. During this two-week adjustment period, it would be beneficial if you could nap when your body felt the need. You might also try to reschedule your workout for a time where you have more energy (if possible). Many people report a dramatic increase in quality of life when their body is more in tune with nature.
I read recently that our circadian rhythm causes us to feel sleepy approximately twelve hours after the period of our deepest sleep. That would seem to explain when you have your sleepiness and its consistency despite fluctuations in your meal times. (Insulin fluctuations may still be an issue, though.)