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An extra kick? Try these proven energy-boosting strategies.
| Rev Up Your Engine |
Oxygen
#60, pg. 112 |
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By Karen Asp
We live in a quick-fix society. From weight loss strategies to fast food options, if we can’t get it now, it’s not worth waiting for. And forget anything that requires work. Even energy is being packaged as a quick-hit option. Need an afternoon pick-me-up? You can literally buy energy anywhere – from the vending machine to the coffee shop across the street.
Try these energy-boosters:
1.Fill your tank with food.
“Too many people think of food as an enemy,” says registered dietician Nancy Clark, senior sports nutritionist at Healthworks Fitness Centers For Women in Boston and author of Nancy Clark’s Sports Nutrition Guidebook. How much does food contribute to energy? “How much does gas contribute to how well a car performs?” Clark asks. Start by eating breakfast. (If you’re exercising in the morning, have one-third of your breakfast before working out; otherwise, your body will lack fuel and your workout won’t be as effective.) Then eat every four hours to keep your blood sugar steady so you don’t have dips in energy, making sure you get a balance of proteins and carbs. Eat three different foods at each meal (for breakfast try cereal, milk, and a banana) and two foods as snacks (apple and low-fat cheese). Dehydration can also increase fatigue and lower your energy. Drink enough water so you’re urinating every two to four hours.
2. Ditch the sugar.
Sure, sugar will give you an instant energy fix – but only temporarily. Once the high has ended, your blood sugar levels will take a nosedive, leaving you feeling fatigued. Instead of having a candy bar or sugary soda in the afternoon, fuel up with a healthy snack like peanut butter on an apple or trail mix.
3. Explore new projects.
Whether that means changing careers or volunteering at a nursing home, doing things that excite you will give you a natural boost.
4. Protect your turf.
Don’t think you have to say yes to every project that comes your way. Learn where to draw boundaries and how to say no so you’re not draining your energy account.
5. Exercise.
Get a daily dose of at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, and you’ll fill those energy tanks. Dr. Hyla Cass, author of Natural Highs and assistant clinical professor of Psychiatry at the University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine, notes that during exercise the body releases certain hormones that boost energy. You
don’t even need to do long stretches of activity. Just a 10-minute brisk walk can rev you up. One study from California State University found that 10 minutes of walking increased energy levels and kept participants elevated for an hour.
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To read the full article, pick
up a copy of Oxygen
#60
today!
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