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What could you do if you had more energy? Most people I know, including myself and my clients, would love to have more energy throughout the day. We all want energy so we can be productive and creative at work and at home. But we also want energy so we can enjoy our downtime, rather than feeling too exhausted at the end of the day or the weekend to play.
Does your energy slump around 3pm? Do you have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning? Do you find that you need coffee and sugar throughout the day to keep yourself going? If so, keep reading. It’s no fun being tired all the time, and I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be this way.
I know, because I was once where you are. A few years ago I was addicted to caffeine. I literally could not function in the morning without a cup of coffee. In the middle of the day my energy would slump and I would have to run out to the closest Starbucks to get another cup of coffee. I was a slave to the stuff and I really did not feel my best in the morning or the afternoon.
But here’s the thing. I didn’t realize that I could feel better until I made some changes. I am going to tell you about three changes I made that boosted my energy, naturally. These changes may sound simple, but they worked for me.
Change #1: Increased Water Consumption
I always thought I consumed a lot of water. After all, I had a water bottle with me wherever I went. When I started tracking how little water I was consuming, I was shocked! Increasing my water consumption immediately increased my energy. This is just one of many reasons to increase your water consumption.
Change #2: Switched my Sweetener
When I was a coffee drinker, I always put milk and several packets of sugar in my coffee. I was then introduced to and quickly fell in love with a delicious, 100% natural, unrefined sweetener called agave nectar. This sweetener comes from a cactus plant, it is sweeter than sugar, and it has a low glycemic index which means is doesn’t affect your blood sugar as much as sugar. Agave nectar is one of many natural sweeteners to choose from. I found, by making this switch, that my energy remained more stable throughout the day.
Change #3: Something I NEVER thought I’d do
I love coffee and I used to love the feeling of having that first cup in the morning. I NEVER thought I’d give it up. What I learned, as I gradually weaned myself off coffee, is that caffeine was giving me a false sense of energy. Yes, the coffee gave me a pick me up that I needed in the morning and the afternoon, but when I got off coffee I found that I didn’t need the pick me up anymore. When you consume caffeine, it pumps adrenaline into the body. Like my mentor Joshua Rosenthal says, "Problem is it’s like being broke and getting a cash advance on your credit card, someday you have to repay the money together with hefty interest."
There are many ways to boost your energy, naturally. When I work with my clients, I first get to the bottom of why they don’t have all the energy they want and need to enjoy life fully. Then, step-by-step, I work with them to address the underlying issues. It might be due to their sleep schedule, what they’re eating, what they’re NOT eating, or their exercise.
Women: are you sick and tired of feeling unhealthy and down on yourself?
If you are ready to make lasting lifestyle changes for yourself and your family, stop your war with food, and get healthy, Amy Lippmann, Certified Holistic Health Counselor, can help.
Sample Amy’s work by listening to a F*REE AUDIO, “Finally, How to Get Healthy Meals on the Table, In No Time.” You will also receive a complete transcript, pantry essentials list, her mix-and-match meal planning chart, healthy recipes, and much more. Grab your copy now at http://www.wellnesshealthcoaching.com and start feeling better about your health and fitness.
© 2008 Amy Lippmann, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
