Feeling De-energized?

Tracey Bastone gives are some great energy boosting tips to help you put the power back into your batteries!

Exercise
Exercise regularly three to four times a week for at least thirty minutes each time, but preferably every day for thirty minutes. Exercise may make you feel tired initially if you have not exercised recently or do not exercise regularly, but your body will adjust and feel more invigorated.

Exercise outdoors if you can, not only to avoid stuffy gyms, but also to breathe in fresh air and get some sun, which can help energize you and can make exercise seem less of a burden and more enjoyable.

Food
Consume enough calories from a varied and healthy diet. Add more fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet, and also eat more complex carbohydrates (cereals, breads, potatoes for example) which will provide you with sustaining energy. Eat fewer simple carbohydrates (sugar from sweets, for example), which give you a quick burst of energy, but soon leave you feeling tired from the sugar blues.

Try to eat 3-5 meals a day to give you an extra boost, you will eat smaller amounts at a time and find that you are less likely to binge on one meal.

Sleep
Get an adequate amount of sleep each and every night. Although this varies from person to person, try to sleep at least seven or eight hours a night. In addition, depending on the individual, "power" naps may either revive you or leave you feeling more tired. In the latter case, add that nap time to your nightly sleep so you will wake up feeling more rested.

Relaxation/Meditation
One of the most consistent benefits reported by meditators is increased energy. Improved quality of sleep and heightened concentration rank up there, too. Meditation is usually performed for ten to twenty minutes once or twice a day, and is easy to learn. There are a variety of books and tapes that provide meditation instruction -- you can find them in most major bookstores in the self-help and alternative medicine sections.

Enjoy Yourself!
Let your partner, friends, and family members know of your need to be energised so they can help motivate you to get involved and become more active. Their encouragement and support will help you follow through with your revitalisation programme. Have fun while improving your physical and emotional energy levels to help lift your spirits.

See some great healthy snack ideas in our Health Section!

Tracey Bastone in an independent Fitness Consultant, contact her on: 01732 742732 or email nrg.uk@virgin.net