8 Transformational Energy Boosters

By Dr. Leslie Van Romer and Dr. Narinder Duggal of MD/DC Connect

Like it or not, you are judged by how you look. In your social life, in business, and in opportunities—career and personal. Not fair, you cry? Oh well, if you want fair you are residing on the wrong planet.

Looks can open doors, and looks can close doors. It’s as simple as that. Of course there must be substance behind the door once it’s open, but how you look is the front-line secret code to "open-says-me."

Let’s face it. When we look around, and in the mirror, most of us don’t resemble those drop-dead gorgeous faces and rock-hard, perfect bodies we see on screen. If most of us fall into the average Jane or Joe category, what makes one person an attention-grabber and door-opener and another person not?

Why can one person attract, just like a magnet, the right people, circumstances, and opportunities at the right time, while another person, with comparable looks, smarts, and credentials, continually self-sabotages success and smashes his or her nose into shut doors?

People appeal is not just about physical features. It’s about that intangible something that changes ordinary looks into an opportunity jumpstart.

One ingredient that magically transforms looks into magnetism is energy. Think about it.

It takes energy to radiate and smile from the inside out and to bounce instead of step.

It takes energy to hop out of bed in the morning with delight and wonderment for the simple gift of a brand new day.

It takes energy to work hard with a good attitude, whether at the office or at home.

It takes energy to focus and to stay on purpose for the long-haul with determination and courage.

It takes energy to organize and lead effectively, whether it be a multi-billion dollar empire, a classroom of twenty-five kids, or a household.

The question remains: what fuels energy?

Transition these eight energizers into your life every day and experience the ultimate super-high on every level:

1. Fill-up on lots of whole, unrefined fruits and vegetables.

Regardless of the hype and confusion, unrefined carbohydrates (no, not protein or fat) found in whole fruits and vegetables are our most efficient sources of energy. Raw fruits and vegetables are even better.

Want no-fuss, fast food? You can’t get faster than fresh fruit - wash, open mouth, bite and chew. A green-leafy vegetable salad or cut-up veggies can quickly be prepared the night before, ready to zip out the door in the morning.

Today’s energy comes from whole plant foods that you ate yesterday.

2. Drink homemade fruit and vegetable juices.

The best nutrition comes from the juice in fruits and vegetables, not the fiber. Yes, we need fiber and get it from all our other whole fruits and vegetables. However, juice separated from the pulp is a quick shot of energy that fuels into your system within fifteen minutes. Normally, it takes 24 hours for fruits and vegetables to process into usable energy.

Juice fruits of your choice and vegetables like carrots, celery and apples at home and bring them with you to work or while running errands. Remember that "juicing" is not the same as "blending" – a juicer is needed to separate the juice from the pulp. Instead of filling your cup with coffee in the morning, how about filling it up with the best pick-me-up there is – fresh juice.

3. Exercise aerobically (pumping the heart and lungs) a minimum of 60 minutes a day. Exercise forces oxygen, a primary source of energy, into all the cells. Moderate walking is an excellent, easy energizer.

4. Sleep from 7 to 8.5 hours a night.

The importance of sleep cannot be overstated. Uninterrupted sleep is necessary for the body to heal, restore, and re-energize.
Minor shifts in your habits and lifestyle will help you get a full night’s sleep. Give yourself two hours from the time you last ate to the time you go to bed. Daily exercise, ideally 60 minutes, is a must for a good night’s sleep, but avoid exercising right before you go to sleep. Be sure your sleep environment is quiet and peaceful. And of course, stimulants, such as coffee, caffeinated teas and soft drinks are not conducive to a good night’s sleep.

5. Avoid or, even better, eliminate processed and refined foods.

White sugar and white flour products are some of the foods that deplete energy. They are commonly found in 99% of all breads, bagels, baked goodies, pastries, desserts, candy, condiments, snack foods, and packaged and even canned foods (read labels).

6. Avoid foods laden with added oils, fat, and cholesterol.

Dietary fat and cholesterol from animal products and processed oils (yes, even olive oil) clog blood vessels, making the heart beat harder, zapping energy. Blood flow gets sluggish immediately after eating a meal loaded with fat and cholesterol.

You can tell that by paying attention to yourself. How do you feel after eating a big meal centered on meat and dairy products? In a word, tired.

7. Eliminate artificial depressants and stimulants.

Alcohol, whether one glass of wine or several cocktails, is a well-known depressant. Depressants do just that—depress energy.

Coffee is a drug-like stimulant. It offers a quick pick-me-up, but is followed by the inevitable "drop-me-down." With regular use, coffee exhausts the adrenal glands, which are critical for sustained energy. Coffee also makes the bladder, kidneys, liver and other organs work harder, draining energy.

8. Breathe fresh air.

Don’t smoke. It goes without saying: smoking robs your body of oxygen. Less oxygen equals less energy. No energy equals no life.

Do you have to incorporate all eight energy boosters into your life? Of course not. You don’t "have" to do anything. You "get" to make your own choices, and you "get" to experience the consequences of those choices.

Maybe we can’t all be super models, but you can energize yourself into a super magnet that attracts the right thinking, the right actions, the right people, and the right chain of events into your life to create your ideal life.

The choice is yours.

Dr.Leslie Van Romer is a motivational health speaker, writer and lifestyle coach. Visit Dr. Leslie at http://DrLeslieVanRomer.com for practical direction, hope and inspiration.