Carbohydrates are your body’s primary energy source and your brains only energy source! Skipping carbohydrates is like driving your car without gas. The formula for weight loss is very simple and not too glamorous…burn more calories than you consume. You can accomplish this in one of three ways: eat fewer calories, exercise more, or do a little of both!
Sugar and caffeine may seem like a quick fix when your energy level flags, but what about the after crash?
Trying to get a quick pick-me-up from a soda (even a diet one) or candy bar may give you increased energy for a short period of time, but when it wears off you can end up feeling even more tired than you were to start with.
The following food list, adapted from The Woman's Day Guide: Fighting Fatigue, are naturally high in vitamins and minerals and will give you a more easily sustainable lift:
1. Peanut butter
2. Yogurt
3. Banana
4. Cheese & Crackers
5. Turkey (breast) sandwich
6. Hard boiled egg
7. Chicken salad on whole wheat pita bread
8. Pasta salad
9. Baked potato with lowfat cheese topping
Not only do you need you eat right, but you also need to eat enough of the right foods. According to Kristine Clark, Ph.D., the director of sports nutrition at Pennsylvania State University, low calorie consumption is a major cause of fatigue in women today. Those who frequently diet may not even have enough fuel to sustain their body's optimal efficiency level.
According to Dr. Clark, in order to maintain a healthy energy level, a woman weighing 140 pounds needs to consume about 1500-1700 calories per day; add 300 more if you exercise regularly.
Always remember the three E's; Eat right, Eat enough and Exercise!
Don’t drink your fruit, eat it! Fiber from whole foods fills you up, helps lower cholesterol, improves digestion and elimination, and decreases the risk of diverticulosis and other diseases.
