te indicator of having a good fitness and strength level can be measured by the amount of energy we have. To fit everything into our busy lifestyles we need high energy levels. When we have loads of energy we tend to be happier and more enthusiastic, more motivated to be active and in turn can enjoy an enhanced quality of life.

Constantly being tired and having low energy levels can lead to apathy and the blues, which in not favorable to getting the most out of life.

What if you have no energy to exercise? Without exercise you will have no energy causing a vicious cycle. But breaking the cycle with a proper balanced exercise program is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself.

Exercise is more effective at giving an energy boost than even prescription stimulants. It has been proven time and again that regular exercise increases your energy, vitality, mood and your whole outlook on life. As strange as it seems, exercise will actually give you energy rather than take it away.

The human body when it’s in motion has to produce energy through various metabolic processes. When we’re not in motion, those processes simply slow down. Exercise contributes to higher energy levels by increasing oxygen flow to the brain which thrives on oxygen. As your heartbeat increases with a vigorous workout, more blood surges through the brain; more oxygen gets absorbed by your brain cells, which helps relieve fatigue. Also boosted are the body’s feel good chemicals, the endorphins and you feel more mentally alert, energetic and have an overall happier disposition.

The number one way to boost your energy levels is to perform strength training exercise. This will get you stronger which in turn will increase your metabolism (this is the rate your body burns fuel). This increase in your metabolism is the key to keep you feeling energized throughout the day. Your better conditioned muscles will make every task that much easier, regardless of body weight.

However, just as regular exercise creates an upward spiral of good spirits, loads of motivation and tons of energy, not getting any or enough exercise can toss you into a pit of low energy and little motivation. So what do you do when you’ve hit a slump, haven’t been active in a while and are having a hard time even scrounging up enough energy just to get out of bed in the morning?

Make your personal fitness a priority in your life, not only in getting started, but also in keeping it going. If you’ve got too much on your plate, it might be necessary to turn down offers to happy hour or dinners out, or less TV if it means having time to exercise. Be prepared to learn new skills to make your journey as easy as possible. Enlist the help of a fitness professional or trainer to help you get started and to have someone to check in with every few weeks to keep you on track.

Consistency is probably the most important part of your exercise program. The more consistent it is the more you will get out of it, and the more you will enjoy it. Improved strength and fitness, like life is a journey and all you have to do is take the first step. Your energy has got to be high on your priority list. If you have no energy, you will not be able to enjoy your life to the fullest. Making good choices right now will not only boost your energy, it will rejuvenate your life.

For many people the thought of morning exercise is just too much to take on. Most people opt for the evening under the guise that they are unable to get out of bed earlier. However, there are some genuine benefits that may make you consider building morning exercise into your routine.

1. Higher Metabolism = Higher Fat Burn

The first good reason to exercise in the morning is that it will increase your metabolism. Studies have found that by working out in the morning, you can increase fat burn by two to three times compared with exercising at other times of day. For those of you that are trying to lose weight, you will immediately appreciate the difference this could make. When you wake up and exercise, you are immediately switching your body on and telling it to get to work. You need to make sure that you do between 30 minutes to an hour of exercise and preferably some cardio at least three times a week to gain the full benefit of making this change.

2. Increase Energy Levels and Alertness

When you exercise in the morning, you will start to see an improvement in your energy level and alertness throughout the remainder of the day. Exercise, even in the form of a light walk, is a really great way of fighting fatigue. If you find that you take a while to get started in the morning, this could help remedy that issue. It may seem strange at first but once you form a regular routine there is plenty of evidence to suggest that this is a natural energy boost that will be far more effective in the long term than reaching for a coffee when you crawl out of bed.

3. Less Likely To Have Your Routine Disrupted

When you exercise during the day or in the evening, it is a lot easier to be distracted by other parts of your life. We all have competing demands on our time and in most cases, people will say that their barrier to regular exercise is lack of time. This is not exactly true. For most people, there is time in the morning to exercise; you are just not accustomed to waking up a bit earlier. It takes a bit of getting used to, but if you can start waking up earlier on a regular basis, it starts to become normal. You are far less likely to face disruptions or distractions from exercise in the morning. You can just get up, do it and then get on with your day. 

4. Better sleep

Exercising in the morning is also proven to improve your quality of sleep meaning you will sleep more soundly throughout the night. If you exercise in the evening, you are too alert and energized afterward to be able to fall into a restful nights sleep. It often takes time to wind down afterwards. By comparison, when you exercise in the morning it sends a clear signal to your body that it is daytime rather than nighttime and that helps set your body clock over time. If you suffer from poor sleep, it is worth experimenting with this to see if it works for you.

These are some great reasons to consider morning exercise. If you have any questions please just post a comment below. 

Want an energy boost to your system that will not give you the jitters or keep you awake at night? Some herbs will boost your energy levels and are easy to add to your diet. Sometimes it is what you do NOT eat that gives you a boost in energy! So what are some alternatives to that third cup of Starbuck’s Coffee?

1. Digestive enzymes break down proteins, fats, carbohydrates and fiber making it possible to benefit from the nutrients found in those foods. Enzymes turn the food we eat into energy and unlock this energy for use in the body. Did you ever notice that children can eat a big meal and then go play, but adults who eat a big meal usually need a nap. By the time you hit forty you have lost most of your body’s natural ability to manufacture enzymes. You get tired because it takes a lot of energy to digest that meal. Where do we get enzymes from? There are two basic sources: The raw food we eat contains enzymes to help break down that particular piece of food. Our body also produces some enzymes. The two glands providing the majority of digestive chemicals utilized by the gastrointestinal tract are the liver and the pancreas. The more cooking and processing of food destroys all or most of the enzymes. The more diet consists of raw foods like salads, the more natural energy you will have. Since most of the foods we eat are cooked or heavily processed in some way and the raw foods we do eat contain only enough enzymes to process that particular food, our bodies must produce the majority of the digestive enzymes we require. Again, we also lose the ability to produce these enzymes after we reach forty. For these reasons it is recommended that we supplement our diet with enzymes. Many enzymes have also been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect which is a bonus.

2. Cayenne. There is no other herb which increases your blood flow faster than cayenne. Cayenne moves blood. It is a circulatory tonic and helps improve circulation. More blood means more oxygen racing through your body. This is just what your metabolism needed. Because it is a natural metabolism booster many diet supplements now add cayenne to their formulas. Cayenne also supports heart health, improves the immune system and is a huge aid to the digestive system.

3. Ginseng. Ginseng has long been used as a total systemic tonic. Ginseng is commonly used as an adaptogen, meaning it normalizes physical functioning depending on what the individual needs (for example, it will lower high blood pressure, but raise low blood pressure). It is also used to reduce the effects of stress, improve athletic performance, boost energy levels, enhance memory, and stimulate the immune system. Ginseng is known as a preventative herb as well as a curative herb. It is said to remove both mental and physical fatigue. Most people who use ginseng over a two to three month period experience a sense of well-being and stamina and say it improves both mental and physical performance. Ginseng has been said to improve erectile function, help relieve stress and help with stabilizing blood sugar levels for diabetics. It is a very common addition to any energy or diet product and comes in many shapes and forms. Like other herbs and supplements potency varies from product to product. I suggest always buying a fresh, reputable and potent brand.

4. 24 hour fast. The body spends up to one third of your energy on digestion and elimination. By avoiding solid food and only taking in liquids like water and fresh organic juices you give the body a break. It can now use some of its stored energy to fight disease and eliminate toxins in the body. By eliminating toxins the body is dumping them into the digestive tract to be eliminated. If the digestive tract (colon) is not clean and working well the toxins will just get reabsorbed into the bloodstream making you fell sick. If your colon is clean and you properly eliminate those toxins you get a general feeling of wellness, more energy and more mental clarity. Fasting, even just one day month will help eliminate salt and sugar cravings. After a fast you are usually hungry for food that has high nutrient content, like green vegetables..

Dr. Paul Bragg states: “… fasting is not a cure of any disease or ailment. The purpose of the fast is to allow the body full range and scope to fulfill its self-healing, self-repairing, self-rejuvenating functions to the best advantage. …Fasting is probably the fastest and safest way or means of regaining health ever conceived by the human man. … Fasting puts the body in a condition where all the Vital Force of the body is used to flush out the causes of body miseries.”

5. Colon and parasite cleanse. If you are over the age of thirty and have never done a colon cleanse you are in for a tremendous health boost. If you do your cleanse and eat a healthy diet with mostly fruits and vegetables and very little red meat or no meat at all you will feel lighter. You will focus easier. Your memory will improve and your energy will go up. You will just feel better over all. You have probably heard the saying that death begins in the colon. Well, good health and more energy also begin in the colon!

6. Superfoods. Superfoods are foods or food products that are high in nutrient density. Superfoods are usually green superfoods, high in both vitamins and minerals. Why are superfoods so important to natural energy levels?

One reason is that our soils are so depleted and over-farmed and we, as a country, elect to only replace the Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorus. These are the macro nutrients our foods need but not the micro-nutrients (trace minerals) which are essential to our energy and immune systems. Superfoods usually contain sea minerals from Blue-Green Algae, Spirulina, Kelp and Chlorella and other mineral dense foods that help to ensure that we are getting all the nutrients our body needs to fight disease and not run out of gas.