The Animal Is Tired • Hacker News Board

Re: The Animal Is Tired

#131

Post by wolverine876 » Mon, May 10, 2021, 2:15 AM UTC

nradov wrote: post #94

maxqin1 wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The kind I've iterated on for years to maximize my body. I wish I had a good answer, but it's similar to exercise. The best food for you is the one that works for you. I also highly recommend no-food (don't try to twist this). Fasting for various periods is undeniably beneficial for men and women past menopause (younger women should carefully research preventing doing any harm). Rather than tell you exactly what I ea…

You shouldn't be down voted. This is generally good advice. Human nutrition is still poorly understood and there is huge variation between individuals. The best that most of us can do is run our own n=1 experiments and determine empirically what seems to give the best results.

How do you empirically measure results for your n=1 experiment, where you are experimenter, subject, and outcome?

If I see comments providing diet advice with words like "undeniably", I lean toward downvoting them.

Re: The Animal Is Tired

#132

Post by Sophistifunk » Mon, May 10, 2021, 2:22 AM UTC

70? I'll be 41 in a few weeks and that's me now :(

Re: The Animal Is Tired

#133

Post by eyelidlessness » Mon, May 10, 2021, 2:24 AM UTC

nradov wrote: post #11

rubicon33 wrote: post #2

70? My animal is only 33 and is very tired. Writing this as it lays in bed, 3 in the afternoon, because even a standard chair sounds more exhausting to it. It seems to have no motivation or energy to do much besides lay here. If I force it, it will get stuff done but at a huge cost. It will yearn the entire time to just lay back down. It's interest in things seems to be fading quickly. What desire it used to have to…

If you keep forcing it every day then eventually it gets easier. Listen to the audio book "Can't Hurt Me" by David Goggins. It will change your perspective on what your animal can take. https://davidgoggins.com/book/

> If you keep forcing it every day then eventually it gets easier.

I can both validate it and warn that it may be dangerous. I thrived and grew by forcing myself through everything until burnout, and I've done it three times in my life. Developing a healthy sense, pattern and habit of rest is important too.

Re: The Animal Is Tired

#134

Post by BirdieNZ » Mon, May 10, 2021, 2:26 AM UTC

rubicon33 wrote: post #118

DougN7 wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This actually sounds quite a bit like depression. Some inexpensive meds can make a huge difference. I know from experience.

I have tried prozac. Unfortunately, it made my tiredness even worse almost immediately. Doctor said this would go away after I increased dosage, but I couldn't stick with it long enough to see this benefit. I've considered trying again but, it's a hard pill to swallow when the solution takes weeks to work, and in the meantime, you're suffering even more. If I had to be honest, I question whether I am scientifically "…

> My interests are strong, and fleeting. Life seems to reward people who can hold focus on boring tasks, for long periods of time, even decades. I was probably a better hunter than I am a programmer.

Sounds like ADHD.

Re: The Animal Is Tired

#135

Post by TylerE » Mon, May 10, 2021, 2:44 AM UTC

rubicon33 wrote: post #2

70? My animal is only 33 and is very tired. Writing this as it lays in bed, 3 in the afternoon, because even a standard chair sounds more exhausting to it. It seems to have no motivation or energy to do much besides lay here. If I force it, it will get stuff done but at a huge cost. It will yearn the entire time to just lay back down. It's interest in things seems to be fading quickly. What desire it used to have to…

I know others have thrown out other things, but: Have you been tested for sleep apnea?

What you describe sounds much like how I used to feel.

Re: The Animal Is Tired

#136

Post by muzani » Mon, May 10, 2021, 2:53 AM UTC

neonological wrote: post #111

Swizec wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> My animal is only 33 and is very tired In life satisfaction surveys, your 30’s are the most miserable stressful part of life. Highest amount of responsibilities, lowest amount of consistent reward, and it keeps getting worse until your 40’s Apparently it gets better again in your late 40’s and early 50’s. By 60 you’re as happy as you were at 20. https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/scientists-just-discovered-mi... (am 33…

The causative factor for the result of the surveys is kids.

Really young kids especially. It's weird because having a baby is both one of the most fulfilling parts of life but also drains you massively. I suppose the fulfillment is part of a biological desire to reproduce.

Re: The Animal Is Tired

#137

Post by nradov » Mon, May 10, 2021, 2:58 AM UTC

wolverine876 wrote: post #131

nradov wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You shouldn't be down voted. This is generally good advice. Human nutrition is still poorly understood and there is huge variation between individuals. The best that most of us can do is run our own n=1 experiments and determine empirically what seems to give the best results.

How do you empirically measure results for your n=1 experiment, where you are experimenter, subject, and outcome? If I see comments providing diet advice with words like "undeniably", I lean toward downvoting them.

Obviously there's no way to conduct a high quality controlled experiment and eliminate bias. But you can play around with adding or removing certain foods from your diet. Look for correlations with how you subjectively feel, and objectively perform. You might find some effects that are large enough to be significant even with n=1. Or not.

Re: The Animal Is Tired

#138

Post by climb_stealth » Mon, May 10, 2021, 3:03 AM UTC

elyobo wrote: post #84

climb_stealth wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Aw man, I just started a comment saying how this sounds really promising and was going to ask about it. Turns out I have actually read them. I might have to read them all again. I would recommend them as well. I'm a big fan of the Malazan series as well. I still think of the hair jacket when I come across someone with a smelly jacket and it never fails to crack me up. My recommendation for epic fantasy that is a bit…

I need to revisit The Dark Tower, I last read it when it was incomplete and have never read it through. Very different to his more famous works. Thanks for the reminder.

Depending on where you stopped, I feel like it is gets a little bit odd in the middle but it is very much worth reading to the end.

There's also The Wind Through the Keyhole which slots inbetween the main books. Learning about this one is that made me read the whole series again only a few weeks ago. It's still as good as it ever was!

Re: The Animal Is Tired

#139

Post by voldacar » Mon, May 10, 2021, 3:14 AM UTC

rubicon33 wrote: post #2

70? My animal is only 33 and is very tired. Writing this as it lays in bed, 3 in the afternoon, because even a standard chair sounds more exhausting to it. It seems to have no motivation or energy to do much besides lay here. If I force it, it will get stuff done but at a huge cost. It will yearn the entire time to just lay back down. It's interest in things seems to be fading quickly. What desire it used to have to…

If you're constantly lethargic and tired, consider seeing an endocrinologist and having some tests done.

Re: The Animal Is Tired

#140

Post by valec » Mon, May 10, 2021, 3:17 AM UTC

rubicon33 wrote: post #118

DougN7 wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This actually sounds quite a bit like depression. Some inexpensive meds can make a huge difference. I know from experience.

I have tried prozac. Unfortunately, it made my tiredness even worse almost immediately. Doctor said this would go away after I increased dosage, but I couldn't stick with it long enough to see this benefit. I've considered trying again but, it's a hard pill to swallow when the solution takes weeks to work, and in the meantime, you're suffering even more. If I had to be honest, I question whether I am scientifically "…

i'm not sure if you are still interested in pursuing a pharmacological route but SSRI's are some of the least effective anti-depressants available today. many meta-reviews have pegged them as not better in a statistically significant way than the placebo.

if you're willing to still give it a shot, see if your doctor is willing to prescribe tricyclic antidepressants or MAO-I's. mao-i's in particular are very effective but come with some dietary restrictions (certain cheese and fermented foods are off the table).