Fitness Friday: Best Ways to Boost Your Energy Levels
FEELING SLUGGISH?
Ever wake up in the morning feeling sluggish or not motivated to get your workout in? Raise your hand, I know we’ve all been there. Most of the time there are two main causes for feeling this way; lack of sleep or not putting the right foods into your body.
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Choosing the right foods is something we can all control. As a mom, maybe even a working mom, we can’t always control the amount of sleep we get. I know I only get on average 4-6 hrs of sleep a night and that isn’t even a solid stretch of time, it’s usually broken up. I know I am not the only mom that has a terrible sleeper. Look into getting a smartwatch that can track your fitness, but also your sleep.
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WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT?
So you may be wondering, what can I do about it? Well, if you can, try to get more sleep. If you can’t get more sleep, at least get some more downtime. It is important for your mental and physical well being to have your mind right. Usually getting some quality relaxation time, downtime or just quality rest periods throughout the week normally does the trick. Secondly, you need to know the foods you are putting into your body and how they affect you. There are also some simple remedies to help give you an energy boost before your workouts.
BOOST YOUR ENERGY!
Caffeine – According to a study done in the International Journal of Sports Nutrition, caffeine can promote endurance by reducing pain reception. By drinking coffee or another caffeine drink 30 min to an hr before your workout can give you an added boost of energy to not only get you through your workout but at a higher intensity.
Carbs – Yep, I said the naughty word…carbs! So many people restrict all carbs from there diet and I don’t believe this is necessary unless your doctor feels it is important for health reasons. With that said, not all carbs are created equal. Most experts say that eating slow-release carbs such as sweet potatoes, oat bran, rolled oats, brown rice, barley and whole wheat bread can give your body the fuel it needs to push through workouts that last under an hr.
Supplements – I am not a huge supplement person myself, except for my daily multi-vitamin but I do know a lot of people use them to get to the next level. In-fact supplements, when taken correctly, can mitigate metabolic fatigue and keep you moving longer. Speak with your doctor, trainer or health professional to see if supplements may be right for you.
Exercise – Don’t think you are getting off that easy, exercise is the number one way to boost energy levels. Exercising strengthens the circulation and heart muscle in the body, and in return, it improves energy levels. Scientists have concluded that working out more will increase energy levels, not less. It seems funny that in order to get more energy, we must workout more, but it is true.
If you find yourself running low on time, you travel a lot or just need to be able to workout on your schedule, try Beachbody On Demand that can go anywhere you go. I do a little of both; gym 3 days a week and Beachbody 2-3 times from home.
Moral of the story is to workout more, put healthy foods into your body, take supplements if needed or directed by your doctor and my all time favorite, drink caffeine in moderation!
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