Energy Boost

by Leslie Aronson — April 25, 2008

Do you ever excuse yourself from a workout because you feel you have no energy? Although this is sometimes a convenient excuse to get out of schlepping to the gym, a good workout could be exactly what you need to boost your energy level. As Runner's World reports, exercise can boost your energy by getting your blood moving. If you can make it through the first 10 minutes of a workout while feeling low on energy, chances are you'll feel energized enough by those first 10 minutes to finish a normal routine. Your eating could also be to blame - if you try exercising with depleted blood sugar you could find yourself crashing and burning. But, as Runner's World suggests, if you eat small meals every 3 hours or a caffeine/carb snack an hour before your workout, you won't be as prone to an energy crash. I have found that lack of sleep also effects how well I run. If I'm exhausted after work, a 15- or 20-minute nap before hitting a trail is often exactly what I need to feel energized enough to enjoy my run. Keeping a log of how much you sleep, what you eat, your energy level, and specific exercise can reveal patterns in how your body works. Ultimately, this can show you what works best for your body and what doesn't, and behaviors/foods you should avoid or make part of your regular routine.