TIME FOR A PICK-ME-UP
During an endurance run (runs of more than one and a half hours) I’ve always got an energy gel in the back pocket of my running pants. A slimy chemical substance which gives a huge boost. The taste is sickly sweet and it is actually pretty yuck. But still, I need that little boost, otherwise I don’t feel I can keep it up. Sometimes I even have a hankering for these disgusting little jellies after sitting too long at my computer.
I don’t do it though. These things on their own are not so healthy for your body. But there are plenty of good alternatives. Besides the good old ‘go to bed early’ tip here are a few extra ideas to help give you a boost during the day.
Drink a glass of tonic. Believe me, you’ll immediately bounce.
Do you make a lot of phone calls at work? Make them standing up. You will stretch your muscles and your breath becomes deeper allowing more oxygen into your blood which will flow into your brain.
Make a green smoothie with a lot of spinach, for example this one. The iron in spinach helps to give the energy needed to not be sluggish and tired.
Drink a cup of broth or buy a sachet of miso soup from the health food store and mix it with boiling water. There’s a lot of salt in it and this can pick you up.
Go for a brisk walk around the block. This will really pick you up. And if the sun shines, it also helps to catch some rays. It gives you energy, it makes you happy and they even say that a little bit of sun helps to increase your libido!
Eat a banana for an instant energy boost. It is packed with carbohydrates, but don’t be afraid of that. They contain several types of carbohydrates and good sugars that go immediately into your bloodstream which gives you energy. I would say, go bananas!
