As you all know I am TRYING! Trying so hard to be a better person when it comes to caring for my body and more so for my future. It is a trial and an internal battle day in and day out. I am thankful that diet and nutrition has more of an immediate affect than your activity. I love cooking, and eating, and fresh ingredients! Getting in the kitchen and figuring out how to do ‘it’ all in a way that considers nutrition has become very fun for me.
The problem I have is finding energy to work out. I was doing well with the New Year work-outs. I am squatting with weights on the bar! I am dead-lifting more and more each week. BUT THEN– like the rest of the world and their failed resolutions– I took two weeks off! UGH, its like walking backwards. But… I was SO tired. I could not figure out why. I was EXHAUSTED after work each day. With daily chores, a hyper dog, and dinner to prepare and then clean – the idea of working out was actually infuriating me.
After assessing what had changed in those two weeks, I realized I was having a mid day crash. No, more like a mid-day NOSE DIVE. My sugar and caffeine intake was out of whack. Here is why … my beloved Nutribullet. I had been enjoying it so much, that I decided I would replace my normal morning breakfast with a delicious fruit and veggie smoothie! It was yummy, fun, and gave me huge amounts of energy to start my day. The only problem was that a couple of hours after-I was DEAD. So to combat my exhaustion I would add more and more coffee. Soon I became sleepy, but agitated. To top it off- I could not even sleep at night because of the caffeine charging through my body. It was a cycle and it was taking over my life!
So my focus is to consider all of this, make a change, and get back to getting stronger.
This week I am trying to ween off of 3-5 cups of coffee a day. Here is my new routine:
- 8:00 am: I start the day with one Cup-o-Joe (I cannot and will not give it up entirely, it is a ritual that I look forward to).
- 8:30 am: a PROTEIN PACKED breakfast (any variation of an egg, meat, and greens casserole).
- 12:00 pm: a light and healthy lunch.
- 2:00 pm: I will have one green tea to help me focus at the dip hours.
- 4:00 pm: When I get home I will have my happy healthy juicy smoothy. This way I have that jolt of energy to awaken my interest in a work out, and a full belly to hold me out for a later dinner.
So far – SO GOOD! I feel like a different person. I am relaxed and happier each day, and each evening. I am back to the basement with Michael. I feel happy to be back at it (which I will not admit to him). I am hoping to get a few yoga classes in again in the next couple of weeks.
If you struggle with energy through out the day- consider your diet, especially your caffeine and sugar intake. When you do go for a pick-me-up consider natural sugars or a lessor amount of caffeine. Be conscious of when you are storing up on sugars.
I am loving my nutri-bullet even more now that it is not only allowing me a few added servings of fruits and veggies each day, but also helping me get through the day with ease and ENERGY.
I am gradually working toward a 1:1 veggie to fruits ratio. I add as many super foods as possible (seeds, avocados, etc). Here are just a few of my most recent concoctions:
Banana, Spinach, Chia Seeds, Papaya, and Mango!
Blackberry, Raspberry, Blueberry, Strawberry, Kale, Walnuts, Chia Seeds, Flax Seed powder, and Almond/Coconut Milk!
One of my FAVS: Two Oranges, Two Carrots, Water, Ice !
Cucumbers, Celery, Green Apple, Ginger, Agave, and Lemon Juice!
New and Improved Shamrock Shake! Kale, Avocado, Mango, Pineapple, Banana, Chia Seeds, Flax Seed Powder, and Walnuts.
Carrots, Cranberries, Blood Orange, Papaya, Sunflower Seed Powder, Chia Seeds!
Best One Yet! Celery, Cucumber, Kiwi, Papaya, Spinach, Flax Seed Powder, Sunflower Seed Powder, Agave, and Lemon Juice!
Do you have a smoothie or juice recipe that I must try? Let me know, I am having a blast with these!
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