10 ENERGY BOOSTING POWER HOUSE FOODS !!

Ok , coffee is not breakfast !! LOL  Arming ourselves with a good breakfast will help to jumpstart of motabolisms.  So many of us start the day with our protein drinks - and nothing more . Something as quick as Oatmeal can make such a difference .  Your body acutually goes to Carbs for energy . Not the sugar kind but the good carbs . This is so important to understand . So many come to WLS saying they are keeping to a 20 gram carb ratio. I am here to tell you that you must get in good carbs in order for them to bind with your proteins. This complete the chain and will give you that energy your body is looking for .  Try these foods for energy . I for one love oatmeal , and it does give me that boost .  Our 10 Favorite Energy Foods

1. Whole wheat pasta
2. Oatmeal
3. Fruit smoothies made with low-fat yogurt
4. Peanut butter
5. Dried fruit (apricots, cranberries, raisins, figs)
6. Yams
7. Beans
8. Apples
9. Carrots
10. Chickpeas

Eat breakfast! This is absolutely the #1 "eating for energy" strategy. It gets your metabolism off to a strong start and makes nighttime snacking a thing of the past. (Coffee is not breakfast.)

Avoid grease (burgers and fries) and high-fat dairy foods (pizza, ice cream, cheese) and choose lower-fat versions instead. Focus on whole grains, which are good sources of vitamin B, aiding the metabolic production of energy.

Don’t forget iron as energy-boosting mineral.  Have a great day !! And go have some Breakfast !!  Tink

Tink, Just wondering...I have a protein shake before I run in the am then have oatmeal about 2 1/2 hours later....is this good or am I waiting too long for "breakfast"? Tammy

Tam.  You really do want to fuel properly before your run . I would do your protein first . Wait 30 minutes , do your oatmeal and then try the run . Make sure you wait a little bit before you take off running . You don't want to jumble up the oatmeal .  When doing any hard work outs like running , you want to always make sure you are fueled properly . I always start out with atleast the protein and oatmeal .. or some almonds or beans . The two together are awesome for keeping your motabolism up .  Make sure after the run, especially if it is a long run to refuel with some more protein and a carb.  Maybe another shake , or some dense protein from fish or meat . Remember too , that it is not the protein count we want for fuel , it is our calories and carbs. Yes, protein is a great factor in the equation , but you need the fuel , and that will come with the combanation of it all . Give it a try ... see how it works .. perhaps you are on to more fuel for that run !  Take care ,  Nat

Tink, I am usually running between 330 and 4 am.  I can not get up that much earlier to eat before I run.  Plus, this time of year I still get sick several times a day (from a sinus drainage) and NEVER eat until I am going to be inside for a while.  I have breakfast at my desk.  If I tried to eat before I ran I know the results would be getting sick several times during my run.  I have been adding a banana in the am for the potassium.  Do you have any suggesstions??? Tam

Your eating brekfast - and that is the whole point here .. and a good breakfast at that !!! .  I was wondering how your sinuses where doing ., I remember one year we did the Boogie and Splash and you were having a hard time .  I would try this. Do your protein , Run ... and power up with some oatmeal and maybe throw in some almonds or nuts to go with the oatmeal . The banana is great as well , it too is a carb and will help with the fuel replacement as well as the potassium .  Let me know how it goes ,  Nat

Tam, breaking in here about your sinuses..... have you tried any of the sinus rinses like NeilMed?  They really do help and are completely natural.  ~~Gail~~

Gail, Break in, break in!  I am willing to try almost anything to help with this.  It is such a mess I have a hard time enjoying any time outdoors.  I get sick several times a day, not from food but from drainage.  It has been happening since before surgery.  I have tried almost everything, but this is one brand I have not tried.  I am gonna get some this week.  Is it RX or do I find it at Wal Mart, etc?  Thanks so much! Tammy

It's right over the counter in the aisle where they have all the other "remedies" for sinus stuff.  Basically it's a saline nasal rinse.  It's better than the regular saline ones that come pre-mixed, because it really get up there and cleans out all the crud.  I know, TMI, but honest to God, it does help.    Don't be alarmed if the first time it feels a little weird; it goes in one side and comes out the other.  :)  But because it has no real drugs, you can use it as often as you like.  One piece of advice, do NOT use regular tap water.  Use distilled or boiled water.  It actually tells you that in the packaging, but I understand from my niece, who told me about the product, that regular water can burn a little because of all the additive the cities put in it.    You should also try Mucinex D.  It helps, too.  That's been recommended to me and my daughter by a number of physicians.  My DD's ENT recommended it to her because of her chronic sinus problems.   Let me know how it goes, and good luck, Tam. Gail

Personally, I would not go for the oatmeal.  Too much fiber can, well, cause runner's trots in some people.  And when out on a run, on the road, runner's trots is NOT something that you want with no bathrooms around   Now, I'm not saying avoid this - try it and see if it works, just be prepared if it doesn't. When working on my personal trainer course work, one thing that was suggested that really worked for me was 1 tbsp of peanut butter, with 1/2 banana sliced on a 1/2 very well toasted multi-grain english muffin.  This will give you a carbs and protein without over-filling your pouch and making you sluggish or ill. Yogurt w/ some berries or raisins is also a great pre-run snack.  Good blend of carbs and protein.  You could add a few almonds if you wanted. A good post-run snack (you need to refuel) is cheese and crackers, sliced turkey on triscuits or other multi-grain cracker, small baked potato, or the other half of that banana with peanut butter and english muffin. Enjoy!

Jill, Good to read about the other types (peanut butter/banana) and good foods.  They are ones I have been doing since I began runing!  I have not spoken to anyone about it but it is good to read that I am doing ok with the decisions!  Thanks bunchez! Tam