This is Week 1 of the November Challenge and the first in the FOCUS series – fitness! I have the talented Nathalie Lussier, the Raw Foods Witch, to share her expertise in this guest article.
I’ve been there before: you wake up tired because you stayed up late, ate crap food to give you the “fuel” to keep going, and now you can’t think straight.
When I first started eating healthier, I had no idea it would have such an impact on my mental fitness, let alone my motivation.
I ate the typical North American diet, lots of processed food, premade stuff, and fast food. I managed my “energy” and mid-afternoon slumps with lots of iced tea, soda, and sweets of all kinds.
Since then I’ve eliminated processed food, caffeine, and sugar. But you don’t have to get as extreme as I have to experience mental clarity, bursts of energy, and rocket fuel for your business.
Here’s a quick lesson that I wish I had learned in school that explains what happens to our blood sugar when we eat.
If you’re eating complex carbs (that means fresh fruits and vegetables) your body has to work through the fiber to get to the sugar. So you don’t experience a sugar spike or crash. If you’re eating refined sugar, or refined carbs like breads, pasta, or sweets then your body gets a rush of sugar right off the bat.
At this point your body tries to combat the spike and ends up creating a crash. This just creates a vicious energy draining cycle, and can lead to even more dire consequences like diabetes.
Okay, now that I’ve scared you off a little, let’s look at how to manage your energy by leading a fit and healthy life instead!
Drink Plenty of Water
We all know that drinking water is important, but how many of us actually drink enough water daily?
We’re made up of 70% water, and if you’re eating an average American diet then you’re eating lots of food that is low water content. The key here is to be prepared by having water on hand, and building water breaks into your day.
Move Your Body
If you’re running a business, chances are that you’re spending hours upon hours sitting down in front of a computer. The scary statistics show that sitting down for more than 6 hours per day in itself increases chances of heart disease and cancer.
That right there is the excuse you’ve been needing to get up from your desk and go for a walk, stretch, and get a few bursts of exercise in during the day.
I recommend walking because it’s both good for the body, and it’s a great way to generate ideas and solve problems. You know you get your best ideas away from your desk!
Get Off to a Good Start
Getting a good breakfast in can totally transform your day, and if every day is more productive, think of the impact this will have on your business long term.
I highly recommend you start making a green smoothie first thing in the morning. Depending on who you ask you’ll be eating too many simple carbs and sugar, or too much protein first thing in the morning.
Why not go with the most nutritious food on the planet pound for pound? Green leafy vegetables!
You can get a simple recipe here.
Avoid The Afternoon Slump
If you feel a lull in the afternoon after your lunch, then it’s likely because you’re taxing your digestion system. Try eating only two types of foods and your body will thank you by not diverting all your blood to your belly.
For example if you’re going to have meat, eat it with vegetables but avoid eating it with starch – so have a salad with some meat, not a meat sandwich.
Likewise, if you’re going to have pasta have it with vegetables – not with cheese, seafood, or meat. Those two categories don’t digest at the same speed and they’re a recipe for digestion disaster!
Sleep Is Good
Sleeping early is something our mothers emphasized, but it’s something most business owners struggle with. After all, we’re likely juggling far too much and trying to get everything done.
One of the recommendations I like to give when it comes to sleep is that every hour before midnight is worth two after midnight.
So if you go to bed at 10 and wake up at 7, it’s like getting (2 x 2) + 7 = 11 hours of sleep. On the other hand, if you went to bed at midnight and woke up at 9, you’d be getting only 9 hours. So sleeping early really does help you feel better in the end!
Like with most things, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with lots of suggestions. I recommend you pick one or two of these recommendations, and try it out for the next 30 days.
Then add the next one, and see how your body can gradually reach a more energetic state… and how much more business will flow your way because of it!
Nathalie Lussier is a Software Engineer turned business owner, known as the Raw Foods Witch.
She turned down a career on Wall Street to help people eat more fruits and veggies, and now blogs about making healthy lifestyle choices easier for busy people like you.
From curing cravings, to designing a web presence with social media and videos, she is making her mark on the world one carrot at a time.