You don’t have to go through life constantly drained and fatigued — or rely on artificial stimulants to get you through the day.  Very often simple lifestyle changes can break long-standing negative habits that will recharge your batteries.  Here are some tips from my fatigue-busting program, Triple Your Endurance, to help you get started.

1.  Break your nightly habits

Think about how you spend your evenings. Once people finish work, they come home and eat. Next they plop down on the couch in front of the TV.  Your challenge is to do something different. Go for a walk. Ask your kids what they want to do for a change —usually you can’t go wrong with what they think up. I can venture to guess it’s usually an activity you don’t typically do, and it will most likely get you moving.

2. Give energy to get energy

Most people think they need energy in order to exercise… You’ll hear them say, “I’m too tired to exercise.” In reality they have it all wrong. You give energy to get energy. The key is to find exercises that give you amazing results.

Even if you are exercising in short bursts, you can string them together to add up to a full workout.  Lately, I have been consistently getting in a double workout every day. And in return my energy and effectiveness have doubled as well —this is a result of this simple energy begets energy principle.

3. Breathe deeply

Breathe like you were trapped in a musty garage or closed-in area and then stepped outside for some fresh air.  Aah! Inhale one big breath. This is a way to bring newfound life into your lungs and the rest of your body. As a result, your body will feel revitalized.  Breathing deeply will focus your mind, give you more energy, and help you think more clearly. You can breathe while you perform any sport, while you exercise, and my personal favorite, while you stand outdoors to center yourself with the mid-day sun shining down.

Deep breathing will also prepare you for any enduring challenge set before you. Back in 2002, I committed myself to getting back in shape and also to run a marathon.  Deep breathing allowed me to train with a guy half my size and complete the marathon without keeling over or getting painful charley horses. Breathing played a HUGE part in my success.

4. Feed your body high-powered fuel

So many fitness experts have opinions on nutrition. Let me give you the straight scoop on blasting fat.  It’s real simple. You ready? You don’t have to follow a calorie-counting plan. Or limit all carbs. Simply stay away from the CLUMPS or maybe simply limit the clumps. What is a clump you ask? It’s the food that when left overnight clumps up and coagulates when you pull it out to eat as leftovers. Examples are pasta, rice, and other starchy high-carb foods.

Guess what these foods do in your stomach? Something very similar to what they do in the fridge.  I know, I know, they don’t typically sit in your gut like that because your stomach acid breaks them down. But a clump is a lot harder to digest than a non-clumpy food. Clumpy foods leave you lethargic. Don’t believe me? Eat a big plate of pasta mixed with cheese and tune into your body one hour later (if not sooner).  Instead, think about lean meats and low-carb vegetables like salad greens, celery, green beans, and tomatoes.

5. Ignite your passion

I have yet to meet any artist in this world who is not excited to get to work on his creations. By the same token, I have yet to find an entrepreneur who needs an injection of excitement to live his dream. It just never happens — people who love what they do have a zest for life.  You don’t have to change careers to ignite your passion. Find a sport, craft, or other type of hobby you’ve been secretly wishing to pursue. My friend’s dad picked up watercolor painting after he retired, and is enjoying it tremendously.

For many more fatigue busters, you’ll want to grab a copy of Triple Your Endurance where I go into far more detail than I can cover in this newsletter.

[Ed. Note: Vince Palko is the author of Linebacker Fitness and creator of The Super Body Blitz and Triple Your Endurance. Vince has been enshrined in both his college, Bowling Green State University's and his high school's Hall of Fame for his performance on the football field.  Vince has a FREE fitness newsletter you can sign up for at www.VincePalko.com.]

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