We’ve got energy-boosting inhalers, energy-boosting cough drops and energy-boosting flavored water. We’ve got energy-boosting pills and energy-boosting snack bars and energy-boosting mantras.
And we love exercise, right? So why aren’t we doing it?
Too tired?
Mintel International reports that sales of products marketed on “energy”–specifically energy bars, drinks and liquid/powder protein drinks–rose from $2 billion in 1998 to $5 billion in 2003 and could reach $8 billion in 2008. Look through health and fitness magazines, and you will find articles and exams measuring your energy profile.
The conundrum is this: Exercise provides energy (the natural kind), but you need energy to exercise. So we fall into the cycle and do little to nothing, or at least not enough.
You mean well, but life gets in the way. You’ve got commitments, and your workout can get so far down the daily chore list that by the time its turn comes up, you’re too fatigued. You shortchange sleep to fit it all in, but that only makes you less revved about exercise.
The easy answer is to start doing what you can and build on it until it becomes a challenging–and fun–habit. Keep your eye on the long-range. Here are some more ideas to keep your eye on:
Eat well
Susan Kleiner, a registered dietitian and the author of “Power Eating,” says you need a nutrition plan as much as you need a financial plan.
More Top Picks Best Diabetic Shoes For Men Wide Width Casual
“The concept of energy is not just physical, but mental too,” she says. “The right foods at the right time provide that feeling of energy. What we eat affects the chemistry of our brain.”
The food that enhances the chemistry often consists of carbohydrates–not the refined and packaged kind that has given carbs a bad name, but whole grains, fruits and vegetables, beans, nuts and the like. Be sure to add protein with the carbs, she says, and don’t forget the right fats, like omega-3 sources.
Kleiner, who has worked with bodybuilders, also works with clients who want to lose weight. Invariably, they have made the mistake of not eating enough calories, which makes them fatigued and inhibits calorie-burning workouts.
What is required is a paradigm shift, she says. “Weight loss has to be an outcome, not a goal. That way you can more easily see food as fuel, not something you should avoid.”
Don’t forget about water
Kleiner, who maintains a Web site at www.powereating.com, says many of us are underhydrated, which leads to less blood to your brain and a state of fatigue.
Get some sleep
We are aware of this one, yet we still cut corners. Sleep is when your body regenerates, repairs and re-energizes. Experts believe that exercise promotes restful sleep. So if you’re too tired to exercise, you set off on another vicious cycle. Seven to nine hours a night is optimal, but you should also try to make your sleeping schedule as consistent as possible. If you wake up tired, you probably didn’t get enough shut-eye. Adjust your attitude.
Energy is a state of mind
Jayne Lancaster, a Portland-based fitness trainer known as “the Energizer Bunny,” says negativity, depression and grief have profound effects on energy. Conversely, a positive attitude is a lasting energy booster.
———-
Edited by Cara DiPasquale ([email protected]) and Kris Karnopp ([email protected])