Good Evening Everyone!
I hope you all had a great Spring Break. We snuck away to the Oregon Coast for a few days and it felt great to slow down and relax for a few days. Everyone is so busy with work and school that it was fun to reconnect and enjoy some real quality time.
I hope you enjoyed some rest and relaxation too.
Today, I want to talk about an issue that comes up for many of my clients, detoxers and possibly you too– the MIDDAY SLUMP!
It’s coming. You can feel it. You’re trying desperately to will it away, but, inevitably the clock strikes 3:00pm-the witching hour. Suddenly, you are exhausted. The thought of striking the letters on the computer keyboard or picking up the kids from school and getting them to their various activities, seem like daunting tasks, not to mention you can barely keep your eyes open.
Argh! — You think to yourself. When this happened yesterday you swore it wouldn’t happen again. As you walk to the café to get a cup of coffee, you wonder how to avoid this midday slump tomorrow.
Here’s the good news: there are steps you can take to energize your body throughout the day and avoid this desperate feeling.
1) Eat Breakfast
The best place to start is with breakfast. Before we even talk about what to eat, let’s recognize that it’s important TO EAT breakfast. Yep, I am a breakfast pusher! Your body has been in a state of rest, relaxation and recharging for several hours. It needs fuel in the form of carbohydrates, protein and good fat to get going in the morning. Instead of processed cereal and milk, why not go for steel-cut oatmeal with almonds and blueberries? Or, prepare a couple of hard-boiled eggs that you can ‘grab-n-go’ in a hurry. Pair them with a brown rice cake with almond butter and banana and you’re starting your day off on the right foot.
2) Hydrate
It’s also important to remember to drink water throughout the day. Yep, I am a water pusher too! Dehydration is certain to cause sleepiness and fatigue. Imagine that a few glasses of water could be the difference between your 3pm exhaustion and vitality.
To keep things interesting make a pitcher of water with 1 cup of cucumber slices and mint leaves or make my favorite water combination and add 1 sliced orange, 1 sliced, lemon and 1 sliced lime + a handful of fresh basil. Yum! This water combination is so refreshing and keeps the munchies at bay.
3) Eat every 3-4 hours
Aim to eat every 3-4 hours to keep your blood sugar steady and provide you with the energy you need to get through the day.
4) Add Healthy Snacks to the Mix
Don’t forget to put some thought into your snacks. You want to be sure to stay away from excess fats and sugars, as in candy bars and most packaged food. These fatty foods will make you feel lethargic and the sugars will provide an initial spike, but then you’ll feel the afternoon slump as you come down from the sugar high. Take a few minutes at home to prepare trail mix with almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, Goji berries and Incan berries. For sweetness, you can add some cacao nibs or mini chocolate chips (I prefer Enjoy Life brand because their products are free of common allergens).
5) Do a Mini Workout
A quick 10 minute workout will get your blood flowing, boost your energy and snap you out of that midday slump in no time. Get up and take a quick stroll around the block or office building, turn on some music and dance, or do the following 5 exercises for 1 minute each, twice through:
Mini Burst Workout
- Jumping Jacks- 1 minute
- Squats- 1 minute
- Alternating Lunges- 1 minute
- Push-Up (Full or on your knees) 1 minute
- Plank- 1 minute
Repeat one more time
Once you are done, your cheeks will be flushed and rosy, and your energy will be high!
The midday madness doesn’t have to continue. You can control how your body feels by nourishing it with healthy food (and water) and movement throughout the day.
Now before I go, I want to let you know that I extended Early Bird Pricing for the Bliss Detox Spring Fling thru tomorrow, Monday, March 31st at Midnight due to Spring Break travels. I know many of you wanted to sign up but were traveling so I extended the reduced pricing. Yay! Remember to use REFINERY20 to get an extra 20% off.
The Bliss Detox Spring Fling starts April 7th! I am so excited and I can’t wait to support you through the detox.
In Health and Happiness,
