Where do you get your energy??

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Hi everyone I need an energy boost what do you eat or avoid, what do you do, or what is your secret potion that gets you up and moving? I guess I get motivated by seeing my progress but right now our house is torn apart by remodeling our living room is also our daughters bedroom until we get the addition finished. There are so many extra things to do like hauling rubble and painting I can't seem to find time for canning and freezing. Give me a boost... ronda

-- ronda (thejohnsons@localaccess.com), July 13, 2001

Answers

Hey ronda, yah.....that can be a problem. I have experienced it myself on and off throughout this process of "homesteading". As far as what to eat and what to avoid....I avoid high sugar content foods because they burn up fast and leave me whipped. Get up early and take a walk about your homestead and in your garden and inspire gratitude in your heart for what you have. Eat a good high protein breakfast and start the day. I have to make canning and freezing my priority or it will never get done. There is always another project calling me so my food preservation comes right after caring for my animals and family. Take some breaks to do the things you most love to do so you don't get all burnt out. Believe me, life goes too fast to not enjoy the process. Take care and enjoy..........

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), July 13, 2001.

lots of protein(red meat, peanuts) and carbs(bread), vitamin b-complex, bee pollen, vitamin c and a whole lot of strong black coffee with a few coca-colas in between.

-- somebody (something@somewhere.com), July 13, 2001.

Funny you should ask- I just found a book in the cut out bin at Barnes & Noble called "Natural Energy Boosters" by Carlson Wade. Has a lot of good info and advice. In my case, I stay away from sugar and caffeine, which rob me of energy; I take a bunch of vitamins and mineral supplements; and try to eat only whole, unprocessed foods as much as possible. Included in the book are a lot of "recipes" for snacks that provide a quick release of energy. My favorite one is simply a blended drink containing orange juice, a tbs of lecithin granules, a tbs of raw honey, and a few ice cubes processed in a blender for 2 minutes. Makes a delicious snack which provides a quick pick-me-up.

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), July 13, 2001.

Hello. I do the work that takes the most brain power while I am fresh and save the work that I can do on aotopilot for later. If I can get an hour or two nap in that helps and is like starting the day fresh again. During the work day I eat several small meals. Perhaps a 1/2 sandwich or a piece of fruit. If I eat too much it makes me tired,

-- ed (edfrhes@aol.com), July 13, 2001.

A quite spot, morning coffee and my cat in my lap.....Kirk

-- Kirk Davis (kirkay@yahoo.com), July 13, 2001.


If you're doing a lot of physical work, you want to start with a breakfast (notice that, break fast - you've been fasting) that will also stick with you and go on providing energy for a long while. That really means complex carbohydrate. Protein helps too - without that you'll be breaking down muscle mass as you work, have nothing to replace it, and start feeling washed out.

The old-fashioned farm breakfast worked for a good reason. Say porridge for long lasting energy, with sugar or honey for a quick boost (remember, you haven't eaten for around twelve hours), then bacon and eggs. Pick any number of equivalents (pancakes & syrup, ham and eggs; ham & eggs with hash browns; whatever. But try not to have too much fat in it - it's unlikely any of us are doing physical work as heavy as our ancestors, who could burn off a greasy meal and actually needed the concentrated energy fats give. Personally I skip the sugar too, but then I'm not doing physical work.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), July 14, 2001.


I find a good multivitamin and a dose of CoQ 10 keeps me going even though I've passed the big five-o, especially if I avoid too much processed food and high sugar treats.

-- Sandra Nelson (Magin@starband.net), July 14, 2001.

I don't do coffe anymore, it used to really get me moving but now I've got a baby nursing and do not want a wired little one!! what works for me is to make priorite. Writing down what needs to be done will really help with this. Decide what needs to be done first. Then just do it. I find that starting something is the hardest part, once I get going on it I have plenty of energy. If I stop, I lose momentum, so it helps to eat and munch as I work if I get hungry. Forget about getting it all done someday-you never will on a homestead. Make time for fun things whether you have other work to do or not.

-- daniel1@itss.net (daniel1@itss.net), July 14, 2001.

About the only way I can do what needs to be done is to do most of my "chores" first thing in the morning. Being a morning person, I find I have much more energy and ability early on. I usually get up about 5:30 a.m. and have most of what I'm going to do done by 11 a.m. including making most of our dinner. I set the dinner table right after breakfast so it's ready. Anything after that time that I can put off until the next day I do, like painting or cleaning out the chicken house. I also usually take a half hour nap in the afternoon, usually in the hammock. I also tend to be a list maker, so if something doesn't get done today I'll just tack it on to tomorrow's list.

I also agree with others who mention eating well. Sugar doesn't get me going, it wacks me out (except for an occasional chocolate for medicinal purposes only, of course). I usually eat toast w/jam or cottage cheese and peaches for breakfast or maybe I'll do a Mexican Omelet. Almost always I keep a big mixed salad in the refrigerator so that's what I'll eat whenever I'm hungry (with Raspberry Vinegarette dressing which is very delicious) and dinner is usually a meat and potatoes something because that's what DH likes. I also drink one Dr. Pepper in the morning then water the rest of the day.

But, no matter how well you treat yourself or how organized you might be under normal circumstances what you have going on right now isn't normal circumstances. Don't fret right this minute about not getting everything done. It's darn near impossible to do stuff when your house is torn apart. Not only is it difficult but all that confusion would make me not want to do stuff. So finish the remodeling and the addition and try not to sweat the other stuff. When your house is in shape you will be too.

A friend once told me "I CAN do it all; just not all at the same time."

Wishing you enough.

-- Trevilians (aka Dianne in Mass) (Trevilians@mediaone.net), July 14, 2001.


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