I have noticed that I lack a lot of energy lately. I’ve started to “push harder” at the gym doing heavier weights. At the same time I have noticed a distinct drop in my energy levels and an increase in sleepiness no matter how much sleep I get.
My protein intake is quite high, since I want to build muscle to burn fat . This is because my metabolism is quite slow (I am almost 45) and building muscle is the only way I can effectively boost my metabolism. This approach has worked well however I notice my energy levels are much lower.
Recently a personal trainer told me that you should drink a lot more water if you drink a lot of whey powder or if your protein intake is high.
I started today by drinking about 2 liters of water. The effect was almost immediate I had a lot more energy and it has lasted me through the day and night. My productivity increased also as a result.
According to professor Stanley Goldfarb, professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania,
“There is no clear evidence of benefit from drinking increased amounts of water .. There is also no clear evidence of lack of benefit” .
Professor Stanley does point out that people who engage in vigorous exercise should drink more water to avoid dehydration. The effects of dehydration are tiredness and lack of energy. Bingo, similar to my symptoms.
So how much water should we drink. The Institute Of Medicine recommends that men drink 3 liters of fluids (13 cups) a day and that women drink 2.2 liters (a bit over 6 cups) of fluids a day. A good test is to ensure that your urine is colorless or slightly yellow. if so then you are probably drinking enough water.
Fluids don’t have to be pure water. For example some fruits contain 90 to 100 percent water by weight. Even milk is composed mostly of water.
It will be interesting how my energy levels go and level of productivity as I keep up my 2 liters of water daily intake. Maybe I will write more blog entries. I’ll keep this blog updated with my observations.
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About Danny Sheehan
Danny lives in Hong Kong but is originally from Australia. He is Married to Maggie and together they have two children with whom they enjoy sharing and enjoying an exciting life with daily. Danny's passions are freedom, adventure and discovery, mainly in nature and science but also spiritually. He is a great believer in living in the NOW.
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Healthy Living