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Find yourself dive-bombing the couch by midafternoon? Feeling more sluggish than a hungover sloth? Envying the boundless energy of your kids or grandchildren -- or even your on-the-go next-door neighbor? Don't blame your age; blame your lifestyle. Indeed, with just a few easy changes to your daily routine, we guarantee that the seemingly permanent imprint of your backside on the La-Z-Boy will rise up and vanish, along with your inertia. Your friends and family may start asking what you're taking. Tell them nothing, except some good healthy advice. 1. Nurse a coffee throughout the day. If you need a quadruple shot of espresso just to bring your eyelids to half-mast in the morning, you may be driving yourself deeper and deeper into a low-energy rut. Compelling research from Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and other institutions finds that frequent low doses of caffeine -- the amount in a quarter-cup of coffee -- were more effective than a few larger doses of caffeine in keeping people alert. 2. Lighten your glycemic load. Foods with a low glycemic load -- like beans, bran cereal, brown rice, whole wheat bread, and nuts -- have less impact on your blood sugar than foods with a high glycemic load -- like white rice, spaghetti, potatoes, cornflakes, and sugary juices and drinks. Eating more low-glycemic-load foods will help you keep your blood sugar steady and avoid the lightheadedness and "shakes" associated with blood sugar drops, which usually follow spikes. 3. Try an herbal remedy. If you have dried rosemary in your kitchen, crush a small handful and take a whiff or three. The herb's intense woody fragrance is known to herbalists as an invigorating stimulant. 4. Once a day, go for a 10-minute "thank you" walk. As you walk, focus your thoughts on what you feel most thankful for. After the walk, make a mental note of how you feel. "This simple technique combines the power of gratefulness with the positive effects of walking and exercise, flooding your brain with happy neurotransmitters and endorphins. It's a simple yet powerful exercise that energizes the mind and body and builds mental and physical muscle," says Jon Gordon, a professional speaker, energy coach, and author of Become an Energy Addict. |
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