Understanding Fatigue in Women

Fatigue isn’t one-size-fits-all and how we train needs to reflect that. Women often push through exhaustion without knowing why they feel so depleted.

1. Central fatigue.

• Comes from the brain or nervous system.
• Feels like: mental fog, emotional exhaustion, low drive.
• Often tied to stress, anxiety, trauma, or burnout.

Needs nervous system support, not just more sleep.

2. Peripheral fatigue.

• Happens in the muscles.
• Feels like: legs like lead, sore muscles, slow recovery.
• Common after overtraining or illness.

Needs pacing, nutrition, and proper rest.

3. Fatigue from illness or inflammation.

• Post-viral illness (like long COVID) or autoimmune conditions can cause deep, lingering fatigue.
• Inflammation means your body is using energy to fight, not fuel movement.

Training must be adapted with compassion and caution.

It’s not just tiredness. Fatigue = a total-body signal

• Sleep isn’t fixing it
• Exercise makes it worse
• You feel flat, not just sleepy

You need a different kind of support. The big mistake? Training through it.

• Pushing through fatigue can backfire.
• It may lead to longer recovery, injury, or flare-ups.

✅ Better: Listen. Adapt. Honour what your body needs today.

You’re not lazy, you’re wise to pause. Fatigue isn’t failure. It’s a call to slow down, nourish yourself, and train in ways that support long-term strength.