By Cheryl Alker
Do you have a friend who seems to have a never-ending supply of energy? Annoying aren’t they? But seriously, do you ever wonder how they manage it? Cracking the secret to a bountiful supply of energy is a code worth cracking, wouldn’t you say? So here are some practical tips for increased energy.
Eat Breakfast.
I am sure you have heard this so many times before but I’m going to say it again; EAT BREAKFAST! If you are the type who loves to start their day with a large cup of coffee, then I can pretty much guarantee that a few hours later the crash will happen leaving you feeling anxious, jittery and hungry. Here’s what happens when you start the day this way. Firstly, you are correct in thinking that caffeine can suppress your appetite. So what your cup of Joe is actually doing is convincing your brain that you actually don’t need breakfast leaving you thinking that you are not the breakfast type. You are literally trying to override the feeling of hunger and long term that is not good for your overall health, energy levels and weight.
Listen, you don’t have to give up your coffee but eat a balanced breakfast with your favorite cup. If your last meal was around 6pm/7pm the night before and you get up and 6am/7am then that is 12 hours without food. If I asked you to go 12 hours without food during the day do you think a cup of coffee would suffice in giving you the energy you needed? So just because you are sleeping during that particular 12 hours between dinner and breakfast the next day it never-the-less is 12 hours without food. So break the fast and eat breakfast to set the tone for the rest of the day.
Eat regularly. So many people decide to skip a meal (often lunch) in the vain hope that they will lose weight. However, the opposite happens and of course our energy levels plummet. When we allow ourselves to get past the point of hunger our bodies will react in an instinctive way. It will try and get the quickest source of energy as possible. The body knows simple carbohydrates are the easiest form of food to take in that will convert to energy the quickest, and that my friends is sugar!
We all know the consequences of this type of energy boost; it is short lived and the energy crash in inevitable. The best way to tackle this is to eat regularly and often throughout the day. The timing will vary from person to person and will also be dictated by that day’s activity level. Rule of thumb though is to nourish your body every 3 to 4 hours.
Eat balanced. We know balance is everything in life. This totally applies to the food you are eating. Take a good look at what is going into your mouth during the day. Aim to balance your meals and snacks including high-quality protein with healthy fats and fiber-filled carbohydrates in each sitting.