Remember just a few weeks ago I had a really bad 5k experience where I thought I was going to have an aneurism? Remember how I wondered if maybe not being able to run a mile without stopping after 3 years of training might be a red flag that something is wrong with my health? Remember how I started to wonder if my documented B12 deficiency might be responsible for my poor exercise endurance? And remember how I pledged to get my B12 levels back into normal range to see if that would make me feel stronger and healthier?
Short answer: I DID, AND I FEEL AMAZING.
And now the longer story…
Shortly after that awful race, Jeff and I started doing some research on B12 and how much it might cost for me to start a round of injections with my doctor. That led us to finding some B12 injections you could order and administer yourself at home. I was definitely a little squicked out by the thought of giving myself a shot, but it’s nearly impossible to overdose on B12, so being able to skip the cost of the doctor’s visits and still get the benefits sounded like it was worth a try.
Just before we committed to that though, we found some B12 in pill form that came in an even higher dosage than the injections. It was very well reviewed with lots of people claiming to have corrected their deficiencies using it. I was a little skeptical that I could get results quickly with a pill, but we decided to give it a try first and then move onto injections if I had no luck with it.
Guys, I felt better during the first day of taking these pills! It seriously feels like a flip has been switched on in my body.
I now wake up every morning feeling completely alert and ready to hop out of bed, where previously I never felt well rested and could easily take an hour or more to ease into wakefulness. I have so much energy throughout the day and have gotten so much more done. Previously, I was extremely unmotivated and could easily waste a whole day just trying to make myself go do the things I needed to do, now I get bored and fidgety if I don’t find outlets for my energy. I’ve done a ton of cleaning and reorganizing in the last two weeks and have tackled projects I never could get around to. Jeff has also commented to me that I he thinks I look less tired and that my moods have greatly improved.
I think the biggest change I’ve noticed though is that I get frustrated a lot less. One of the symptoms of B12 deficiency is memory impairment, and while I wouldn’t say that I experienced much forgetfulness, I have definitely had a problem over the last few years with not enjoying learning anymore or having to think about anything too hard. I would get frustrated very quickly with even minor problems and had a harder time expressing myself clearly. I hated having to think, and it was getting worse. But since taking B12, I have noticed a huge improvement in my ability and willingness to think through things, and I’ve become a bit of a chatterbox now that I can completely think through an idea and express it clearly.
With how well I was feeling at home, I was excited to see if my performance in the gym improved too. I guess I had the silly idea that I would suddenly be able to run a couple miles without walking right off the bat. Of course that’s ridiculous, but there has been a definite change. I was able to cover nearly 3 miles on the treadmill the other day breathing through my nose the entire time. I have never run a distance like that without panting through my mouth for most of it. I call that a win, and maybe now that I’m not so out of breath I can actually train to become a better runner in time.
It is hard to believe that this teensy little pill has made such a huge difference for me, especially considering that I fully expected it to do nothing.
I’ll do a post soon on what I’ve learned about B12 and how our bodies use it. But for now, I just wanted to fill you guys in on what’s been going on with me and to show any of you out there who may have had persistent problems with extreme fatigue that a B12 deficiency could be what’s holding you back. It has proved to be at least one of the major pieces of the puzzle for me, and supplementation has made all the difference.
