Shannon's Scene: Take Two

Mid-afternoon blahs?
Is the 3pm hour getting you down?  Actually for me, it starts at more like 2pm (just two hours after lunchtime) during training days.

Lately those 5-hour energy commercials have driven me to facepalm on more than one occasion.  As you know, my philosophy on caffeine is ‘treat it like a treat’ and not the norm, so naturally I don’t advocate for the caffeine-induced pick-me-ups.  

What I can recommend are things that work for me when I need an energy boost and work the same for me when I need a pre-workout boost as well.

1. Water - I know, I know, everybody knows… but get up, get a cool burst of water, and even drink it while taking a little walk break.
2. Walk it out - Not surprisingly, I’m going to suggest a brief activity.  Back in Dallas, my coworkers and I had a daily date to walk the stairs.  We were on the fourth of a five-story building and would walk to the top, all the way down, and back to our floor around 2pm everyday.
   
   I’d also suggest a lap around the parking lot/garage (in pairs of course) on a nice day out.  If nothing else, take a lap around your floor.  Just get that heart moving a little.
3. Light up your life - Get outside, and if you can’t… go take in the view of the outside from a window for a few minutes.
   
   
4. Protein boost - For me, I’m usually in need of something with some staying power and a protein boost fits the bill.  Yes, I’m a vegetarian, but this deficiency has applied to people I know who are just as carnivorous as a true Texan (I’m a little crooked since I deny meat…their words not mine).
   
   So what to eat?  Nothing big, you don’t need much to get the boost you’re looking for.  Try a tablespoon of nut butter, a serving of yogurt, or combine the two with half a banana.  Even a small smoothie with some element of protein (whether in the form of powder or otherwise). 

If you can avoid the caffeine in the afternoon, you’ll feel better, rest better at night, and the bonus is that a combination of the above will help in getting you through the rest of your afternoon until dinner and down time.

I leave you with my favorite energy snack; I use it before an afternoon run, a couple hours before a yoga class, or when I have a little hitch in my giddyup…

Protein Poof

1 tbsp crunchy peanut butter

1 tbsp Greek yogurt (I like honey flavored)

1 tbsp chia seeds

sometimes half a banana

…mash it up, scarf, and you’re good to go!