I am tired all the time. I work out, but I still get so very tired. Is there something that I can take to give me more of a boost? I have three little girls, and trying to take care of them is hard at times.

Angela

The first question you should ask yourself is "Am I getting enough rest and enough time for myself?" You didn't mention whether you work outside the home as well as take care of your family, but if you do, you may simply not be getting enough sleep! You also didn't mention your diet -- are you getting by on whatever you can grab in a hurry, or are you eating nutritious meals and small snacks throughout the day? Without proper nutrition, it is impossible to function properly.

If you are sleeping eight or more hours a night, eating the healthiest of diets and exercising, and if your husband does his 50 percent of household chores and childcare, allowing you time to do something for yourself every day (in other words, if you have that perfect existence that we all dream of!), then there may be a medical reason for your fatigue. You may be anemic or have an underactive thyroid. Both of these may be checked by a simple blood test at your doctor's office. You may have an infection such as mononucleosis, or even chronic fatigue syndrome. You may be depressed. Certainly, all of these possibilities should be investigated by a trip to your doctor; a family doctor or an internist would be a good choice, or even your gynecologist. If a medical problem is ruled out, then you should try to make some lifestyle changes -- a much harder proposition, I know.