Most people have an energy lull in the afternoon. This is an opportunity either to improve or to (unfortunately) reduce your health and fitness. Marketers try selling blended caramel coffee drinks that have two candy bars’ worth of sugar and energy shooters that are the nutritional equivalent of soda.
These high-sugar “solutions” will pep you up for the moment, but they will put you on a blood-sugar rollercoaster. Also, the long-term metabolic impact of these kinds of foods can lead to progressive exhaustion and weight gain.
Here are five healthy alternatives:
1. Get 10 minutes of sunlight. Get moving and help your internal clock remember that you should be awake right now.
2. Check your lunch. If you’re sleepy after lunch, then the content and/or the quantity of your lunch isn’t supporting you. Focus on veggies and healthy fat and protein and skip the starch and sugar.
3. Sprint the stairs. If you’re on the second floor, then run as fast as you can up to the fifth-floor restroom. Nothing saps your energy more than sitting on your butt. Intense exercise stimulates your body to release its own natural supply of stimulants, getting you back into high gear.
4. Caffeinate with caution. Moderate amounts of caffeine aren’t usually a problem — unless you drink a caffeinated beverage too late in the day and your sleep is disrupted. Most people have a cutoff for caffeine between 2 and 4 p.m. in order to sleep well.
5. Stay hydrated. People confuse thirst with “I need a nap” and “I’m hungry.” Staying adequately hydrated helps you feel great, maintain focus and lose weight. Super-cold water is also a nice jolt, similar to the stair sprints. Hot weather, air conditioning and lots of talking all dry you out. Keep a water bottle near you.
You can sum it all up as follows: Eat a better lunch. Move. Get sunlight. Hydrate and (maybe) caffeinate.
A best-selling author and fitness expert, Josef Brandenburg owns True 180 Fitness in Georgetown. Information about his 14-Day Personal Training Experience may be found at true180.fitness.
