Boost Your Energy. Why Your Health and Fitness Matters

Hi,

Have you ever felt life dealt you a bad hand? Times when you wondered why it had to be so hard, times when you wished for it to get easier?

Reflecting on those times, it’s a lot clearer now why I felt that way. I was putting my body through a wringer and it was worn out. And actually my mind was too.

If you look back on such occasions, you too might realize why you were having a rough time, why things had a certain rhythm.

And it’s a lot easier now to understand that things would have indeed gotten easier if I had asked myself a better question, one like “How can I give myself the strength to get through this?”

Not surprisingly, the answer often boils down to energy, and finding ways to boost your energy level.

When your body is filled with vibrant energy, it becomes so much easier to breeze through adversity, realize your goals and master the key seven areas of your life.

In fact, your health IS one of the seven key areas of life. A well cared-for body is essential to becoming fulfilled in the other six. Your body really is your temple – it is the place you inhabit every minute of every day. You are worth a clean and well-cared-for environment, aren’t you?

And a healthy body is a powerful friend… It gives you feelings of courage, and physical strength to face challenges. It also gives you more choice, and a calm and positive outlook on situations.

As Lao Tzu said: “We do not see things the way they are. We see things the way we are.”

In other words, when you give your body the tools it needs to think clearly and be lighthearted, we can see being stuck in traffic as a wonderful chance for some ‘me time’ instead of a big hassle. Or the late notice on the phone bill will be seen as a chance to work on our fear of negotiating, instead of reason to panic and lose sleep.

At a certain level, emotions are chemicals that your body produces as responses to situations. These chemicals race through your body and make you feel emotions like joy, sadness or anger.

To me this spells good news because it means you can supply your body with the ingredients it needs to help you feel calmer, happier, more confident. And in most cases it is free, or just a few groceries away.

For example…

Milk contains casein, which is a mood-stabilizer. Did your Mom ever give you a glass of warm milk at bedtime? Without knowing it, she was being a good food scientist. The casein in milk slows the breathing and relaxes your muscles, inducing a sense of contentment – and helps us drift off to sleep. A small piece of cheese can have the same effect.

A twenty or thirty-minute walk, at a good pace, produces endorphins. Endorphins are like a body’s natural ‘joy chemical.’ They literally give you a sort of high, making you feel ten feet tall. One similar kind of natural chemical is phenylethylamine (also known as PEA), which is responsible for those kick-up-your-heels, feeling on-top-of-the-world sensations that love and attraction can bring. And wouldn’t you know PEA is found in chocolate? Goes a long way towards explaining those cravings, doesn’t it?

If you feel like the glass is half empty – drink it. Dehydration can be responsible for feelings of failure, your bad moods, sleepiness, lack of concentration and headaches. Keep in mind that when you take a headache pill, often it’s the water you wash it down with that acts faster than the drug. So why not go ahead and keep a large water bottle near you at all times during the day and make sure it is empty by the afternoon. Little and often is the key.

The “little and often” principle applies to food too. Regular, small intakes of a variety of foods will help you keep your blood sugar stable, which also keeps your moods stable.

And remember variety is important. Thankfully as a child all I knew was a Mediterranean diet. Heaping salads, olive oil, fish, not too much red meat, and loads of fresh vegetables. I’m grateful for these early lessons in healthy eating habits. Today I love other foods too, and I have a deep understanding of how important variety is.

Food science is not as advanced as we think it is. Different foods work together in ways that we know about, but often don’t really understand. We do know that it is good for your body (and your spirit) to regularly try new flavors and experiment with new foods. Isn’t there a saying, “Variety is the spice of life”?

And although the idea of eating healthy and nutrition  is now firmly planted in my psyche, it’s easy to get out of whack. This is where being aware of the signals (see earlier post on warning signs) is helpful, because if you’re feeling sluggish, tired, moody and unmotivated, then maybe it’s time for you to go back to energy basics…

When you feel like the world is ending, it is amazing how something as simple as a quiet space, a good meal, a stretch and a nap can completely alter your perception.

A stretch? Yep, a stretch…

Stretching lets blood flow into cramped muscles, and with blood comes oxygen, sugars, minerals and nutrients. A two-minute stretch of your neck, arms and a couple of leg muscles can be as invigorating as a half hour nap.

Also, remember to breathe. Sounds silly, I know, but think for a minute about how shallow your breathing probably is right now, and how a slumped posture cramps your lungs. A full inhale and exhale should take 10 seconds and push your belly way out. Try it now. Feels better already, doesn’t it?

Energy is the source of life, and fuel for your dreams. So next time you wish for things to get easier, just say “Hold it! How can I give myself the strength to get through this?”

Boost your energy and you give yourself the gift of unlimited potential.

Ciao!

Taylor