Skip the energy drinks and extra large lattes and follow these simple guidelines to get all the energy you need from your food.
You Will Need
Breakfast
Complex carbohydrates
Good fat and protein
Frequent small meals
Water
Fresh fruit (optional)
Steps
STEP 1 Don't skip breakfast
Eat breakfast every day. You need to put fuel in to get energy out, and after a full night's sleep you're running on empty.
STEP 2 Skip the low-carb diet
Make complex carbohydrates the centerpiece of your diet. Carbs supply energy; you should get about half your calories from them. Complex carbohydrates from whole grains, fruits, and vegetables provide steady, lasting energy. Simple carbohydrates spike your blood sugar, causing a sugar rush and then a crash.
STEP 3 Eat good fat and high-quality protein
Include unsaturated fat and high-quality protein in your diet. Good fats from such sources as olive oil and nuts are a healthy concentrated energy source. Protein helps the body regulate energy use.
STEP 4 Eat more often
Eat more often. Frequent small meals -- five or six a day -- keep your metabolism up, your blood sugar stable, and your energy level constant.
STEP 5 Eat less
Don't eat too much. Overeating can literally weigh you down and start a negative energy spiral. Weight gain from overeating can make you feel sluggish and less like exercising, contributing to even lower energy.
Eat whole fresh fruit for snacks. The fiber in fruit makes your body burn its sugars slowly, for long-lasting energy.
STEP 6 Drink more
Drink plenty of water because dehydration leads to fatigue.
STEP 7 Drink less
Cut back on alcohol and caffeine. Alcohol disrupts sleep, leaving you tired the next day and the temporary boost from caffeine eventually leads to an energy letdown.
Potential energy is stored energy. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion -- the use of potential energy.