FitSugar

3 Natural Ways to Stay Energized - No Coffee Needed

Michele Foley — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 01:22:10 PDT

Whether you wake up in the morning feeling like you have half a brain, or you deal with a regular afternoon slump, there are ways to perk yourself up that don't involve a trip to the coffee shop. Keep reading to see three natural - and easy - ways to lift yourself out of a sluggish streak.

Exercise: One of the easiest ways to beat a bout of fatigue is to get up and get moving! Even a little stretching is enough to get the blood flowing, loosen up muscles, and wake up a tired body. Try this energy-boosting yoga series if you need a little jump in the day, or, even better, get outside. Studies show that regular exercise can boost energy levels by 20 percent, and that a dose of natural light increases alertness and brain activity. Try and fit an afternoon run into your schedule or make a point to go for an outdoor walk during your lunch break.

Eat the right foods: It's easy to make poor food choices when you're tired, but resist the urge to grab a sugar-laden soda or candy bar. Instead, go for a healthy energy-boosting snack instead. Something that's a good mix of complex carbs, protein, and fiber will perk you up and sustain you through the day. If you're feeling exceptionally sluggish, treat yourself to a cup of green tea, which will also help get your metabolic rate up.

Drink water: Sometimes combating fatigue is as easy as reaching for a glass of water - fatigue is one of the first signs of dehydration, after all. Make sure you always carry a water bottle with you or that you sip from a glass throughout the day.

Quick Ways to Beat the Afternoon Slump

Anna Monette Roberts — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:14:05 PDT

It hits you quick, usually at 3 p.m. on the dot. You become fidgety, your brain starts to lose focus, and your eyes begin to droop. Sometimes, caffeine isn't enough to ward off the afternoon slump, so here are some quick ways you can regain your energy and focus, depending on how intense of a boost you need.

Small: Using an acupressure technique, squeeze the webbed skin in between your thumb and pointer finger with the thumb and pointer finger from your opposing hand. Massage the area for about a minute on each hand. This common pressure point will relieve headaches, itchy eyes, and stiffness of the shoulders and arms.
Medium: Besides twisting your body from side to side, consider taking mini breaks every 20 minutes or so to do some quick desk exercises. Learn how to properly sit at your desk, release your neck and wrists, and stretch your back to increase blood flow and energy.
Hard: If you work from home or in an unconventional office setting, do a headstand to reap the most intense yet rewarding energy boost. This inverted pose will circulate all that stagnant blood back through your heart, warm you up, and give you lasting energy.

Your Natural Body Clock and Your Exercise Routine

Leta Shy — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 08:00:54 PST

If you're having trouble sticking to an exercise routine, it may be time to pay attention to your circadian rhythm. Everyone's clock differs, and although getting in a run in the morning can improve your body's performance and fat-burning capabilities, if you can't get yourself to get out of bed in time, then all that benefit, of course, is lost.

Determining your internal body clock will help you be more aware of when you are most productive, which you can use to your advantage for exercising as well as in other areas of your life. If your energy levels peak in the afternoon, try going for a brisk walk or hit the gym on your lunch break. If you are an evening person, change into your gym clothes at work, so you can be sure to take advantage of your unspent energy.

Sticking to a set time to exercise every day is beneficial; it'll help you to start making exercise a habit. This questionnaire can help you be aware of your natural circadian rhythm, although when I took it I was not surprised to find that I am a borderline evening person! With the end of Daylight Saving Time already making us more tired than usual, figuring out when you'll be most motivated for fitness can help you maintain a fitness habit.

When is your best time to exercise?

Source: Flickr User lululemon athletica

Apple Cider Vinegar Fires Up the Cylinders

Michele Bell — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 09:00:48 PDT

Did you know that more than 50 percent of Americans drink at least one cup of coffee a day? That statistic may not be too surprising if you're one of them. While the dark drink certainly has its benefits, there are other ways to get a boost of energy - and I'm not talking 'bout sodas.

The next time you need a jolt of energy, try sipping on apple cider vinegar. The tart liquid is known to boost one's immunity and help with digestive issues, but it's also credited for adding some pep to one's step. A couple of tablespoons of the golden liquid mixed with a full glass of water can make the difference between a productive energy driven day and an afternoon snooze fest doozy. Before you run to the pantry to make yourself the concoction, heed these two tips: Drink it with a straw to protect your pearly whites and if you're prone to heartburn, you might want to try adding some baking soda to the mix.

How FitSugar Readers Recharge Their Batteries

Michele Bell — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 12:30:00 PDT

Postlunch food comas, caffeine lows, and staring at the computer can get people down in the afternoon. Unfortunately, we don't always have the opportunity to siesta the sleepy eyes away. A curious mind, I wanted to know what keeps FitSugar readers re-energized throughout their days. While napping may seem to be the obvious choice, some readers get pretty creative when they need to recharge their batteries.

Jumping jacks help runfaster when she's stuck at her desk.
OneHungryMess relies on a quick jog and a hot shower to do the trick.
Pilates always recharges pixystik4u.
Depending on her day, GirlOverboard takes a power nap, walks around, or sits on her yoga ball for an hour.
Spectra works out when she gets home from work.

Ready to read the rest?

Carbohydrate Mouth Rinse: Cool or Not?

FitSugar — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 10:00:54 PDT

Eating gels, energy bars, and goo is so passé. As reported by the New York Times, athletes can get the same burst of energy from just gargling a carb solution. No eating, no wrappers, no muscle cramps - just gargle and spit. A study found that just having the carbs enter your mouth tricks the body into thinking energy is on the way, which provides the extra energy your body needs to perform. In studies, athletes who rinsed their mouths with a carb solution performed as well as those who fueled up on food or a sports beverage. They also outperformed athletes who were given a placebo mouth rinse.

Of course, spitting out a carb rinse won't satisfy hunger, so endurance athletes are probably better off getting the added nutrition from eating or drinking during a race. And while you can buy carbohydrate mouth rinses at some health stores, you can also make your own. Keep in mind that using artificial sweeteners will have no effect though.

7 Ways to Go From Zzzzz to Zing!

FitSugar — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 03:47:52 PST

I'll admit that I'm not a morning person, but I've discovered some ways to help me feel more alert and energetic in the morning. Give these techniques a try and I'm sure you'll have more pep in your step!

Increase Your Energy Today and Tomorrow

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:00:52 PDT

It feels like the dreary weather and shorter days conspire to zap my energy. How about you? You can fight back in the moment and the long term with these five strategies.

D-Mix Energy Elixir: Cool or Not?

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:00:54 PDT

There's a ton of energy boosting stuff out there - drinks, bars, gels, and chews, to name a few. Now there's D-Mix, an energy elixir that tries to set itself apart by billing itself as the "world's first customizable energy elixir." D-Mix comes in coffee and mint flavors and is a concentrated liquid serum, which, according to the website, you can pump into just about anything. They even provide non-alcoholic cocktail recipes that they think D-Mix will complement.

Each one-ounce bottle of D-Mix contains:

400 mg of energy (caffeine and guarana)
14 vitamins and minerals
5,000 mg of antioxidants
50,000 percent of vitamin B12
21 amino acids
23 fruits and herbs including acai and goji berries

We tried the mixes in our office, first on their own and then in water. Given all the stuff they're made of, I was surprised they weren't too medicinal tasting. Instead, they were similar to children's chewable vitamins, but with a fake-sugar aftertaste that sits on your tongue for a while. I think if diluted enough you'd probably not taste much of the flavor at all.

There's a little chart on the back of the bottle for the amount of liquid you should pump into your drink depending on your weight, but the idea is you can take in as little or as much as you want depending on your needs.

I can see how this product might take off, since the needs of a six-foot-tall bodybuilder are probably different than my own. But the slick marketing campaign and flashy packaging has me wondering if this is bad media hype. Would you use D-Mix?

Do You Rinse Dishes Before Loading the Dishwasher?

SavvySugar — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:00:28 PDT

It's second nature for me to rinse a dirty dish before placing it in my dishwasher; it's what I was taught to do growing up, and the habit always made sense until I came across a tip from Consumer Reports.

The value focused publication suggests that if saving money and water are household goals, we should do the opposite and resist rinsing. CR estimates that just 10 percent of Americans have stopped prerinsing their dishes. What's your dish ritual?