5 Ways to Gain Energy
From Fasting + Ocean Swims
To the power of positive thinking
Energy is currency baby! We gotta find ways to stock pile when we can, replenish when spent too much and recognize what actions are depleting our stash. I’ve been thinking about what gives us energy a lot lately. In some ways it’s really complicated and totally unique. Age, hormones, finances, jobs, family life, personality . . . our human-ness makes what works for each of us different. Then there’s some basics like hydration, sleep, adequate nutrition that have to be met to even give us a shot at being energized.
When I have the energy to enjoy a work day or play day, and still be able to make a healthy dinner and then play back yard volley ball with my son, I go to bed happy + fullfilled. But some days the couch calls me by 6 and I’m spent!
Certain habits make a huge difference to energy levels so I wanted to share a few of my favs in case you could use a little boost as well!
SLEEP
and why we need enough rest to FEEL GOOD.
I know it seems obvious. If you aren’t getting enough sleep, you’re going to be tired. But it’s good to remember our bodies need good sleep AND good rest.
I recently heard a great piece of wisdom when it comes to building muscle, but I think it applies well to our overall energy levels as well. At the gym, we lift weights to build muscle. First, we have to exhaust muscles in order to create tiny micro tears, that, when healed, become stronger. But without the adequate rest and the nutrition your body needs, the muscle can’t repair and grow efficiently. You’ll just keep stressing the muscle out if you don’t give it the rest and nutrients it needs to repair.
I like to think of our energy stores in the same way. If we are constantly on the go, working hard, moving our bodies and/or challenging our minds . . . we are creating these micro zaps on our energy store. We will end up depleted and exhausted. Rest and sleep is so healing and restoring for our bodies. Mentally, physically and emotionally.
So if you are zapped, maybe look at - not what you need to do more of, but what you need to do less of.
FASTING
Intermittent fasting and juice fasting are fantastic tools to increase energy levels
Intermittent fasting is shortening your eating window during the day therefore; increasing your fasting window. It’s important to still hit all of your macro and micro nutrient goals during that window and find a method that works consistently for you and your lifestyle. It could be as simple as 12/12 - keep your eating window to 12 hours - say from 8am-8pm to allow your body adequate time to digest, rest and repair. Some go up to 16 hours of fasting and 8 hours of eating . . . I personally love 14 /10. I wrap up eating around 7PM and am ready for breakfast at 9AM. It’s that rest and healing that really appeals to me. My digestion feels awesome when I give it that longer period of rest. Along the lines of a healthy digestion is giving you more energy. Fasting is helping make your metabolism work more efficiently.
During the period where you are fasted, your body needs an energy source and turns to reserves of excess fats as opposed to it’s usually love of using carbohydrates as its primary source of energy. This process gives you a great boost in energy. If you are thinking about trying intermittent fasting, I would strongly recommend you work with a trained professional and go about it slowly and safely. More is not better FYI. Just because you think you could go longer, I personally don’t think you should. Getting all of your micro and macro nutrients is vital and you need time to get in all those healthy nourishing meals!
Juice fasting is the same thing as juice cleansing. We are abstaining from eating foods and opting for liquids - in our case 100% raw cold pressed juice and freshly made nut mylks. You are flooding your body with so many vitamins and nutrients that are healing and energizing, while giving your digestion system a break and therefore; tons of rest. It takes us about 10 lbs of produce to make the juice for a 1 day fast so it is no wonder our customers are surprised by the level of energy they feel when drinking our juice.
THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING
& how your energy creates your reality
I lift weights, I go to the gym, I run a company, I have 2 kids and a dog . . . but the thing that zaps my energy more than anything else is when I am stuck in a negative head space. This morning I shared my current goal of creating more new nuero pathways of positive thinking with my acupuncturist and she had a huge reaction! She basically said that by choosing to do that work, the universe is going throw some huge challenges my way - like . .. let’s see what you’ve got Andrea! Welp! I think she might be onto something.
Our energy creates our reality
But being in a positive head space is a life long journey and one that is not constant or guaranteed, so like those water soluble vitamins I mentioned earlier - you need to keep replenishing all day long!
My top tips for being in a positive head space is to start my day with a spiritual practice. It could be gratitude journaling, participating in a manifestation challenge, meditating, listening to positive affirmations . . . 5 minutes in the morning to align my thoughts to my goal of positive thinking.
ADEQUATE NUTRITION
and the importance of hitting both macro and micro nutrient goals
Fuelling our bodies in a way that give us energy, sparks joy and makes FEEL GOOD is one of my greatest passions in life.
For a lot of years I was hyper focused on the micro nutrient side of the street. Simply for their effects on fighting disease and longevity. I know a lot of gym folk can get really focused on the macro side of things as that’s what’s key for building muscle. But what I have come to learn is that when it comes to energy, being healthy and living a long healthy life is a balanced approach!
Macro nutrients include protein, fat, and carbs. They are all essential. We need protein to repair and build muscle. We need fats to absorb fat soluble vitamins. But when it comes to energy in particular, carbohydrates are king. Carbs are our bodies most important fuel source. They are fast acting energy as soon as we gobble them up. They energize our brains and our body and keep us going! My favourite sources are sweet potatoes and quinoa, which I love to incorporate in many lunches! If you find you are tired, have a look at your intake of healthy carbs and experiment with getting more of them with how you feel energetically.
When it comes to micro nutrients, they include vitamins and minerals are are essential for energy production. When we get into the nitty gritty and compare fat soluble and water soluble, it’s the water soluble vitamins like B and C that have the greatest impact on energy. And since your body can’t hang on to water soluble vitamins to use later, it’s vital to be replenishing them all day long, as the excess is getting flushed out in our urine. If you have ever drank a raw cold pressed juice and just felt like your body starting vibrating at a higher level, it’s due in large part to all of those energizing water soluble vitamins. That, and consuming plant foods in their raw form means you are consuming their life force! And to bring it all home, raw juice is free of fibre - therefore your digestion system is at rest. And we know how healing rest can be!
Juicing for healing. Juicing for energy. Juicing for the LIFE FORCE!
JUMPING IN THE WATER
Especially cold water!
It’s a thing. I’m into it. You gotta try it!
Although I do love it early in the morning - my current fav is if I am feel tired - especially that tricky time between work and having to make dinner when sometimes you really have to rally to stay off skip the dishes and the couch. Cold dip, cold shower, cold face wash. It’s really powerful way to instantly energize you. Since the ocean and the weather has warmed up, I can’t really call it cold plunging when it’s summer - but the energizing effects of jumping into water still do wonders!