Energy

[nisa-138]

I'd like to hit the gym at least 3 to 4 times a week but I'm very tired.

This is my day:
I get up at 5 in the morning & then catch the 6:40 train. I start work at 8 & get off at 4:10. I catch the 4:28 train & get to my town at 5. By the time I get to the gym, it's 5:30.

I feel completely drained by then. What can I do to gain energy?

[Logic86]

Try some flax seed oil

[7:30femmefatale]

there are lots of natural/herbal energy boosters. if you just walk into a GNC or any health foods store, you should see tons of them.

i can't recommend any b/c i haven't tried any.. i'm stuck on good ol' caffeine unfortunately.. :(

*slams 3 redbulls* :evil:

[Priest B. Pimpish]

1. Get enough sleep. Doesn't matter what time you wake up, if you sleep at least 8 hours you should have energy to sustain you throughout the day.
2. Workout later. Nothing wrong with working out at night, showering, then going to bed. Or take a 30-minute nap when you get home to refresh.
3. Diet. Eat something with complex carbs an hour or so before your workout. Don't drink pop and eat cheeseburgers and wonder why you're so tired mid-day. But then don't eat a crappy salad that is lacking in nutrients either. Eat for energy!!!

NOW GET OUT THERE HONEY!!!!!! *SLAPS YOUR ASS HARD*

[elle simple]

that's a really full day woman, props on getting yourself to the gym after all that~

I started taking b-complex vitamins after Dr. Weil recommended them in his book, and was surprised to find they gave me a noticable boost -- I cant even take them in the evenings or I wont sleep. (The one I take is a 'stress formula,' but it gives energy too) -- good for lots of stuff:


The B-complex vitamins are actually a group of eight vitamins, which include thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pyridoxine (B6), folic acid (B9), cyanocobalamin (B12), pantothenic acid and biotin. These vitamins are essential for:

The breakdown of carbohydrates into glucose (this provides energy for the body)
The breakdown of fats and proteins (which aids the normal functioning of the nervous system)
Muscle tone in the stomach and intestinal tract
Skin
Hair
Eyes
Mouth
Liver




I tried Ginseng but didnt feel it worked for me. I may not have taken enough or very consistently tho.


A trendy herb right now is Rhodiola Rosea (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodiola_Rosea) -- supposed to be good for fatigue, among other things, so I take it before I go to the gym (not that my workouts require mad endurance lol), but its a subtle sort of tonic (an adaptogen) that may or may not work for you.

[offthabooks]

Rhodiola Rosea (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodiola_Rosea) -- supposed to be good for fatigue, among other things, so I take it before I go to the gym (not that my workouts require mad endurance lol), but its a subtle sort of tonic (an adaptogen) that may or may not work for you.
I've been taking this for awhile now....tons of benefits. I started taking it cuz I had heard it can really help to counteract some of the effects of stress on the body.

I always find even when I'm really tired, once I actually start my workout, my energy goes up & I have no problem continuing. Seems like actually getting there & getting started on it can be the hardest part.

[Logic86]

2. Workout later. Nothing wrong with working out at night, showering, then going to bed. Or take a 30-minute nap when you get home to refresh.

motabolism(sp) is at its lowest at night you get much out of your workout better to do it in the morning

[Shaolin Temple]

When I workout twice (which i'm not doing now since I just started my new job), I would do something like this

5:30ish - (as late as 5:50) Jogging session/stretching/etc
6:30ish - Get Ready
7:00ish - Breakfast
7:30ish - Leave for Work
9:30ish - (no later than 10) snack 1
1pm - Lunch
3:30 or 4 - Snack 2
6:30 - Dinner (smallest meal of the big three)
7:30pm - workout
9pm - Sleep (if I elect to snack after a workout, I wait at least 45 minutes before I sleep)

In my gym bag I have snacks and almost never have to worry about food. I also carry supplements as well.

Do you eat breakfast, and I mean a full breakfast? Do you eat throughout the day? Do you sleep AT LEAST 8 hours a day, and once in a while get that 10 hour sleep. Like during a off jogging day I sometimes get my 10+ hours of sleep and sometimes even two nights in a row and I feel the energy.

Sometimes it is beyond the simple metabolism issue. Sleep is very underrated. If you want to perform well during your workouts, sleep.

[fudgegruck]

yo, i just copped me some of that NOxplode or whatever. it's supposed to pump you up for a workout and the people i know who've used it have been alllll about it.

i just took my first dose and i'm about to hit the gym. i'll report my findings. before this i would just do the energy drink thing, but that sh1t gets expensive.

if you don't want to use stimulants maybe you can take a little nap before hitting the gym.

[elle simple]

I've been taking this for awhile now....tons of benefits. I started taking it cuz I had heard it can really help to counteract some of the effects of stress on the body.


I like it, too. I feel it works for me and I like that it's not something you take indefinitely, just for as long as it works for you. The thing is, I'm seeing it all over the place now (http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=Rhodiola+supplement&spell=1) -- even just today these Origins moisturizer$$$ (http://www.origins.com/templates/products/mp.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY5813) -- and there are different types being hyped left and right. Some of which look suspiciously like the latest miracle-pill type pitch. Buyer beware.

[Bk's Mr Incredible]

Rhodiola
http://medwards6.qhealthzone.com/Products/Thumbnail.aspx?ctg=12690&ast=401695&rtl=12683
Double X multivitamin/multimineral/phytonutrient
http://medwards6.qhealthzone.com/Products/Product.aspx?ItemNo=A0244
B Vitamin
http://medwards6.qhealthzone.com/Products/Product.aspx?ItemNo=A4206
I use the B vitamin and double x everyday, good stuff

[fudgegruck]

the verdict is in. NOxplode works. crazy energy and mad stamina. you know how if you do flat bench first and incline bench second, you can do less on incline than you could if you started with that? i had a much better workout than usual on my flat bench tonight and then did incline bench as strong as i would have if i started out with that ****.

f*ck all that flaxseed bull****. go to hihealth or gnc or something and pick a canister up. pricey but worth it.

[nisa-138]

1. Get enough sleep. Doesn't matter what time you wake up, if you sleep at least 8 hours you should have energy to sustain you throughout the day.
2. Workout later. Nothing wrong with working out at night, showering, then going to bed. Or take a 30-minute nap when you get home to refresh.
3. Diet. Eat something with complex carbs an hour or so before your workout. Don't drink pop and eat cheeseburgers and wonder why you're so tired mid-day. But then don't eat a crappy salad that is lacking in nutrients either. Eat for energy!!!
NOW GET OUT THERE HONEY!!!!!! *SLAPS YOUR ASS HARD*

1. I try going to bed at 10. Yesterday I went to sleep at 11 cuz someone kept me on the phone.

2. The gym I go to (Lucille Roberts) closes at 9 & I try to work out for at least 90 mins. By the time I leave, I have to go home & make lunch for work. It's like there's not enough time in the world.

3. Nah, I'm good during the week. I drink lots of water & I don't eat greasy food. Saturday's a different story since that's my cheat day.

[nisa-138]

that's a really full day woman, props on getting yourself to the gym after all that~
I started taking b-complex vitamins after Dr. Weil recommended them in his book, and was surprised to find they gave me a noticable boost -- I cant even take them in the evenings or I wont sleep. (The one I take is a 'stress formula,' but it gives energy too) -- good for lots of stuff:
I tried Ginseng but didnt feel it worked for me. I may not have taken enough or very consistently tho.
A trendy herb right now is Rhodiola Rosea (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodiola_Rosea) -- supposed to be good for fatigue, among other things, so I take it before I go to the gym (not that my workouts require mad endurance lol), but its a subtle sort of tonic (an adaptogen) that may or may not work for you.

"In one study, the Rhodiola rosea group decreased proofreading errors by 88%..." Wow. I'm an editor & that herb sounds perfect.

Thanks for the info.

[nisa-138]

I've been taking this for awhile now....tons of benefits. I started taking it cuz I had heard it can really help to counteract some of the effects of stress on the body.
I always find even when I'm really tired, once I actually start my workout, my energy goes up & I have no problem continuing. Seems like actually getting there & getting started on it can be the hardest part.

Very true. I feel like I'm dragging myself initially but then I eventually get into. I usually feel good afterwards. I just wish I had more time in the day. Most people I know that get good sleep don't work out.

[nisa-138]

When I workout twice (which i'm not doing now since I just started my new job), I would do something like this
5:30ish - (as late as 5:50) Jogging session/stretching/etc
6:30ish - Get Ready
7:00ish - Breakfast
7:30ish - Leave for Work
9:30ish - (no later than 10) snack 1
1pm - Lunch
3:30 or 4 - Snack 2
6:30 - Dinner (smallest meal of the big three)
7:30pm - workout
9pm - Sleep (if I elect to snack after a workout, I wait at least 45 minutes before I sleep)
In my gym bag I have snacks and almost never have to worry about food. I also carry supplements as well.
Do you eat breakfast, and I mean a full breakfast? Do you eat throughout the day? Do you sleep AT LEAST 8 hours a day, and once in a while get that 10 hour sleep. Like during a off jogging day I sometimes get my 10+ hours of sleep and sometimes even two nights in a row and I feel the energy.
Sometimes it is beyond the simple metabolism issue. Sleep is very underrated. If you want to perform well during your workouts, sleep.

Gotta respect your discipline. Seems like you've got your routine down.

I eat breakfast everyday or else I'd have a headache. Normally I eat a bowl of Cheerios. If I don't have time for that, then I'll eat a bagel on the train ride to work. Then at work, I'll eat an apple or grapes. I tried eating every 4 hrs but then my portions are usually bigger than they should be. Janet Jackson was talking about her big weight loss & said that it's very important to eat & to do so every 2 to 3 hrs. So now I eat smaller portions every 3 hrs. Heavier portions give me the itis.

I was really good w/ this exercising & eating right business before when I was at home living w/ my moms & going to college & working a part-time. Now that I'm out on my own & working full-time, I feel really pressed for time & good sleep seems like a luxury.

What are your meals throughout the day BTW?

[nisa-138]

motabolism(sp) is at its lowest at night you get much out of your workout better to do it in the morning

If I could work out earlier, I would. But my gym opens at 9 & I'd hate to wake up earlier then 5.

[offthabooks]

Very true. I feel like I'm dragging myself initially but then I eventually get into. I usually feel good afterwards. I just wish I had more time in the day. Most people I know that get good sleep don't work out.
I think the time committment is relatively small when you put it into perspective tho. I work 3 jobs...all of my workdays range between 12-18 hours. I'm on a pretty set 4x a week workout schedule now (all of my workouts are at night). Even tho I am dead ass tired when I get off of work, I force myself to go to the gym. I don't even think about it, I just do it.

[offthabooks]

Exercising after work is soooo difficult for me becuase all I want to do is just go home and crash. But then when I work out in the morning, my hair sweats out and I'd have to wake up jive early to exercise AND do my hair. So i'm changing to nights as soon as I muster up the energy.
Oh yeah and for energy i've been drinking Arizona Green tea energy drinks.
there's many nights I feel the same. I think of it like this tho...if I use "I'm tired" as an excuse not to work out one night, what's to say I won't use it the next night? only times I really skip workouts are when I'm sick, then I def don't push myself. I keep hearing how much better it is to workout in the morning, but I just can't do it. I'm def not a morning person, it's a miracle I get myself out of bed & to work each morning...imagine going to the gym too, not happening!

you're still on those energy drinks?