Energy bars

I've always wondered about energy bars. Do they really give you energy? And, what about all the sugar they contain? They're at grocery stores, Jamba Juice, and on college campuses throughout the nation.

Easily accessible foods that may or may not be good for your body. Plus, with health and fitness becoming a trend now, (hopefully people just want to be healthy for themselves) there are tons of nutrition and energy bars out there to alter/enhance post and pre-workout results. Do they really?

The key is to look closely at ingredients, and know what they are.

Protein Bars: Be careful which of these you pick up. Often times, certain gross ingredients (something like pigs feet) are disguised as something different, some sort of gelatin or collagen. Try to steer clear of that. If you do want to opt for something with protein in it, go for whey, or whey-casein. I was reading in Men's Health that an experiment Baylor University did, reported that men who consumed protein with whey and casein pre-workout, gained muscle quicker than those who just consumed whey.

Sugars: Often times you'll find high amounts of sugar in protein bars. Yes, they might have some energetic boost for you before your workout and some protein, but some of these busters are loaded with sugar. Sugar, or high fructose corn syrup, which is not good for you, at all. When your body tastes something sweet, it automatically believes it's sugar, so to speak, and your blood sugar levels rise. Sadly, this cancels out any benefits you could have gotten from some more whole foods. Like my mom always told me, the less ingredients there are, the better. Usually when the ingredients list is miles long and half the ingredients are unpronounceable, best to put that bar back on the shelf.

Energy- Sometimes do you feel tired after you eat your, "energy bar?" Well, partly, all the sugar you are consuming makes you sleepy, and these bars really don't give you energy. You'll just pack on extra calories. (Don't want that? Opt for something healthier) There are times when you can eat them, like after an intense workout.

Hit the hay on time tonight

Try something new tonight: We all know how important it is to sleep, and feeling tired throughout the day is less than exceptional.

Right before bed, instead of watching some crazy TV show, or any sort of depressing news, opt for something a little more relaxing. Sometimes reading a a leisurely book before bed will help your mind wind down and your body sink comfortably into bed. 

If you like listening to music, listen to something soothing, songs with the sounds of nature or running water is always relaxing. It's all up to you.

So, instead of waking up tomorrow and complaining about how tired you might be, or just feeling drowsy, try our your new routine. Hit the hay on time and set an alarm clock if you use one at the same time everyday. Keep this schedule up and your body will thank you.

Outdoor workouts

Sometimes a simple change in scenery can keep your workouts from getting boring and drawn out. It's as easy as stepping outside and taking a deep breath and deciding to take your workout outside.

Recently, my boyfriend and I went on a hike, a long hike that was a great full body workout. I could feel those muscles working, not just my legs my but also my arms and shoulders. Along the hike, there were ropes for people to help keep their balance in places that were a bit slippery.

Taking your workouts to an off-beaten trail, or just a well-known hike with steps and hills, you'll begin to feel a difference and see your muscles begin to be more shapely, as well as feel the power as you hike.

The scenery at the top of a hike is rewarding, all that work and you're at the top of the world! Go ahead, step outside and give it a try.

If you're not an outside person, or a hiker, just opt for a paved road hike, something that's easier but still you can get in touch with nature and get some time outside to breath and relax.

We love a good nap

Whether you're an afternoon napper, or a evening napper to prepare for the night, we really should only nap between 15 to 30 minutes. You know sometimes you feel like you just can't get up yet? And that nap turns into a hour or two? You wake up, bam, you're more sleepy than when you started out...

Well, in my YouBeauty newsletter from the YouBeauty website, created by Dr. Mehmet Oz, and Dr. Michael Roizen, they explained that sleeping any longer than 15 to 30 minutes, your body goes into, delta sleep. They explain delta sleep as the point in sleep where it's a really deep sleep and when it is interrupted you'll feel more tired.

Sometimes, a half hour or less may seem too short, but keep in mind that this can help increase your alertness and help you make decisions.

They also said that a good nap gives your nervous system time to charge itself back up, helping you be more alert and improve your mood. You might not be as grumpy.  and it'll help your eyes look brighter too! Schedule in some cat naps in the day, and you'll be more alert! I mean, who can resist that?

Get to it now!

zzzz.