energy / good snacks?

[cooper18]

hi,
i'm looking for any suggestions!!
any ideas for energy?? (other than energy drinks and caffeine?) would be great.. i don't know if its just related to the b/c i'm taking or what, but i am tired, and out of energy all the time... i drink some low carb energy drinks once in awhile, diet soda, or often chai tea, but that just prevents me from falling asleep at night..
i am going to be starting a new job soon tho, and will be on my feet constantly, without really a "break" or downtime for meals. (restaurant industry) so i'm wanting to look for ways to eat better, keep up some healthy energy- rather than downing caffeine and having a crash a few hours later..
i know that exercise is a big thing, and would help- but i'm currently dealing with recovering from knee injuries that prohibit me from doing alot of basic stuff- like jogging, running, etc.

thanks!

also, other than bananas, what other foods should a person avoid that are high in potassium? (highly recommended by gyno to avoid, due to b/c pills)

[Crusadin]

Stay on a good diet. Avoid high fat foods and carbonated drinks, and high-sugar products. You are probably not out of energy, but your body and mind are probably just used to sleep. Fight your laziness, keep yourself occupied, if possible do a 5KM walk daily, due to your knee injury I do not suggest walking on inclined hills up or down.

All meat products are high in potassium, Especially fish, however.. fish are a good source of energy. Especially tuna.

And remember, keep your sleep schedule balanced. A good recommended 7-8 hour sleep

[maggieanne]

I have struggled with the same problems off and on.

I'm sure you've heard of REM sleep right? Rapid Eye Movement cycles really. It's the deepest part of each cycle of sleep during the night. I learned that these cycles last an average of 90 minutes. It may vary from person to person. So its been studied that you should sleep in 90 minute intervals. If you only have time for 8 hours of sleep you should sleep for 7.5 hours, that's five 90 minute REM cycles. That way you're not interrupting cycles in the middle, which can cause fatigue and difficulty rolling out of bed at 6am.

Try that. Allow yourself some wiggle room for the timing of your REM cycles. The more you listen to your body and respond, the easier it will be. Sleep is hands down the best way to up your energy level. Keep it as regular and routine as possible.

Hope i explained that clearly enough. Good luck!!

Maggie Anne

[sourpuss]

For a quick snack while you are at work try a piece of string cheese and an orange. I've found that to keep me full for a while and the orange gives me good energy. Also, have you tried those Emergen-C drink packs? I drink those on occasion and they give me a good boost of energy.

[cooper18]

thanks for the feedback! i appreciate it

[SeaBella]

Try eat more fish, avocado, berries, carrots, nuts, whole meal pasta as well as brown rice, and finally, drinking plenty of water specially when you get up to detoxify your body.
Including these foods in your diet on a regular basis you will soon show positive results.

[LadyLane]

For quick protein snacks on the go, you can do:

A handful of almonds

A handful of cashews

Same with walnuts

String cheese

A little trail mix of almonds, raisins and a few chocolate chips

Oh, I had a list of high potassium foods somewhere, my husband had to avoid them for a while... you can Google "high potassium foods" (sorry, I know that sounds so obvious, haha) - that's how I got the list.

Anyway, hope that helps.