Too Tired to Move… Or Tired Because You’re Not Moving?

Feeling too tired to move? Discover how gentle movement and blood testing can boost energy, ease aches, and help you feel strong in midlife.

I hear this all the time in clinic.

You’re exhausted, running on empty, and movement slips right to the bottom of the list because it just feels like too much. By the time you’ve made it through work, family, and everything else that life throws at you, the sofa feels like the only safe place to land.

And I get it. I’ve been there myself.

Last year, after illness, I had to stop going to the gym completely. Every time I tried to push through, I’d end up crashing, wiped out for days, frustrated, and honestly a bit scared of my own body. Movement, which used to make me feel strong and capable, suddenly felt like a threat. It took me months to rebuild any kind of trust with myself.

So when my clients tell me they’re “too tired to move,” I don’t judge them because I know what it feels like. However, I also know that sometimes you’re tired because you’re not moving, and that’s the tricky part.

The Cycle That Keeps You Stuck

Here’s what often happens. You’re tired, so you rest more, and that makes sense as your body needs rest. But as days go by, the less you move, the heavier and stiffer you feel. Your circulation slows down, your muscles get weaker, your blood sugar becomes harder to control, and your mood dips.

So you rest more… and feel worse.

It’s not laziness. It’s not a lack of willpower. It’s biology. When you’re in survival mode, your body diverts energy to the essentials: breathing, basic function, and keeping you upright. Movement becomes “optional,” so it gets switched off.

The problem? Movement is actually one of the very things that helps your body create energy in the first place.

Why Movement Matters (Even When It Feels Impossible)

Think of your body like a house. If you never open the windows, the air gets stale. Movement is what opens the windows, lets in oxygen, and keeps everything circulating.

Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes when you move, even just a little:

More oxygen to your mitochondria. These are the “powerhouses” inside your cells that make energy. Movement helps deliver the fuel they need so they can switch the lights back on.
Better brain chemistry. Moving releases chemicals that lift mood, ease anxiety, and give you that spark of motivation.
Muscle as a blood sugar buffer. Muscle tissue helps soak up glucose, keeping your energy steadier, something that becomes even more important as oestrogen declines in perimenopause and menopause.
Stronger bones and joints. Without regular movement, stiffness and aches creep in. With it, your body gets the message: “we still need to stay strong.”

So yes, rest has its place, but the right kind of movement doesn’t deplete your energy, it creates it.

My Turning Point

What helped me shift wasn’t dragging myself back into the gym or forcing workouts I knew would flatten me. It was starting small.

I found my way back through gentle, manageable movements that reminded my body it was safe to move again. Stretching before bed. Squats while the kettle boiled. A short walk, not a long one.

And gradually, with consistency, I started to feel stronger again, not just physically, but mentally too.

That’s what I want for you: not a fitness plan, not a new regime, but small, sustainable steps that actually work with your body rather than against it.

Start Where You Are

The women I work with often tell me they’re waiting until they “have more energy” to start moving. But the truth is, energy comes from starting.

And it doesn’t have to be complicated.

Walk to the next lamppost.
Do a gentle stretch before climbing into bed.
Try standing on one leg while brushing your teeth.
Put on your favourite song and dance for three minutes in the kitchen.

These tiny moments build up. They wake up your circulation, get oxygen to your cells, ease stiffness, and lift your mood. Most importantly, they give you little glimmers of proof that your body can do more than you think it can.

The Outcomes My Clients Notice

When women begin to reintroduce movement gently and consistently, I start hearing the same things again and again in clinic:

✨ “I don’t wake up as heavy in the mornings.”

✨ “The brain fog has started to lift.”

✨ “I feel more in control of my body.”

✨ “My mood feels lighter, like I’m not dragging myself through treacle.”

✨ “The aches in my hips and shoulders are so much better.”

And it’s not about overnight transformation. It’s about slow, steady wins that add up until one day you realise, you’ve got enough energy to do the things you actually want to do again.

The Missing Piece: What’s Going On Behind the Scenes

Of course, sometimes movement alone isn’t the full answer. Many women I see in midlife are dealing with hidden issues that make fatigue and aches so much worse.

That’s where blood tests come in. They help uncover the “why” behind the symptoms:

Low iron or B12 making your muscles weak and your brain foggy.
Thyroid changes slowing your recovery.
Vitamin D deficiency affecting mood and bone health.
Inflammation showing up as joint pain.
Blood sugar or cholesterol creeping up silently.

When you see the numbers and understand how they connect to how you feel, it’s empowering. You realise it’s not just “in your head”, there are real, fixable reasons for why your energy isn’t where you want it to be.

Rebuilding Strength Safely

Once your confidence grows and your energy picks up, adding a little strength work makes a huge difference. And no, it doesn’t mean weights in a crowded gym if that’s not your thing.

Strength can look like:

Sit-to-stands from a chair.
Carrying your shopping bags.
Resistance bands at home.
Pilates or yoga for strength and flexibility combined.

Strength isn’t about chasing toned arms or a flat stomach. It’s about creating a body that carries you well into your 40s, 50s, and beyond, strong bones, steady metabolism, fewer injuries, more freedom.

A Future You Can Believe In

The real outcome of rebuilding movement isn’t just more energy. It’s confidence. It’s knowing your body isn’t holding you back anymore.

Imagine waking up without that heavy fog, feeling like you can handle the day ahead. Imagine fewer aches when you bend down, lift, or climb the stairs. Imagine being able to say yes to things you’d been quietly saying no to because you were too exhausted.

That’s what’s possible when you stop waiting for energy and start creating it.

Your Next Step

If this resonates and you’re ready to explore what’s really happening with your energy levels, my Health and Energy Reboot is designed for you. It combines a full blood test, a 60-minute review, 1:1 personal training sessions and a personalised plan, so you can stop guessing, start moving again, and feel in control of your health.

Because you deserve more than just “getting through the day.” You deserve to feel strong, energised, and confident in your body again.

So maybe the real question isn’t, “Am I too tired to move?”

Maybe it’s, “What’s the one small step I can take today to feel more alive tomorrow?”

About Claire

Claire Thomas is a Nutritional Therapist, NLP Practitioner, and Phlebotomist with a background in Children’s Nursing. She specialises in supporting ambitious women who feel exhausted, burnt out, or stuck in survival mode. Through personalised nutrition, mindset coaching, and functional testing, Claire helps her clients increase their energy levels, find clarity, and feel like themselves again. Based in Tiverton, Devon, she works both in-person and online through her clinic, Nourish to Soar

Categories: : boost your energy, exercise, strength training