by Carol Gioia

Created on: January 14, 2010

The best way to boost your energy is to exercise. When you feel lethargic during the day, the best antidote is to get moving. A brisk 10 minute walk will do more to raise your energy level than taking a long nap.

To give your energy a jump-start in the morning, have a 30 minute exercise plan in place upon awakening. Either an aerobic workout or a early morning walk will achieve the same benefit of boosting your metabolism.

Be sure to follow up your exercise regimen with a nutritious breakfast. Those who complain that exercise makes them tired are potentially skipping the most important meal of the day. Breakfast will fuel your energy and allow you to get through to lunch without that mid-morning slump.

After lunch, another brisk 20 minute walk will give you the needed energy to feel productive for the rest of the day.

Tiredness suffered as a result of exercise is due to over exercising. If you exercise to the point of exhaustion, it is only natural that you will feel tired afterward. The same is true if you are unaccustomed to exercising and suddenly begin a rigorous exercise routine.

Tips to boost energy with exercise:

* Begin slowly

If you are not accustomed to exercising as a routine, begin in small increments, increasing your workout daily until you reach a comfortable level that is designed to achieve your workout goals.

* Stretch first

Before setting out to walk, or participating in an aerobics routine, get your muscles ready by doing some stretching exercises. If you fail to prepare your body for the exercise activity, you will have sore muscles and a feeling of tiredness when your exercise plan is completed.

* Drink plenty of water

Ensure to drink plenty of water when you are exercising and afterward. If you work up a sweat, your body will become dehydrated and the result will be an all over feeling of tiredness. Staying adequately hydrated throughout the day will keep your energy level high.

* Monitor your snacks

If you are snacking on items with high sugar content or caffeine-laden drinks you will feel tired. You might attribute your tiredness to your exercise, when in reality it is the unhealthy food items you are consuming that is the culprit.

* Be consistent with exercise

Once you set a pattern for your exercise program, be faithful to maintaining the schedule.

If your body has become accustomed to daily exercise and you suddenly curtail the practice, fatigue might set in. One of the reasons many individuals complain about Monday morning fatigue is the fact that they exercise all week, take the weekend off, and experience the results of their lapse on Monday morning. The antidote, of course, is to resume the weekly exercise regimen and energy will resurface to get you through the day.

Exercise is a proven energy booster. If you are exercising, and still feeling tired, examine your other habits. Ensure you are consuming enough calories to compensate for the exercise, drinking plenty of fluids to keep your body hydrated, and getting eight hours of restful sleep. Don’t allow exercise to take the blame for other unhealthy habits.

Exercise, coupled with healthy-living behaviors, will boost your energy, both mentally and physically and banish feelings of tiredness.

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