The Today Show had a very interesting segment on 12 supplements to avoid.

Take note of the “Blue Man”

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You might start with an innocent cup of coffee, only to realize that down the road you need several cups to get you going and then some more to keep you going throughout the day. Then, when you try to stop, you get plagued with awful headaches.

Most energy drinks are unnatural and addicting. They’re usually packed with sugar, too. When you drink them, you get that “sugar high,” only to be followed by the inevitable crash. Then you need something else to pick you up. It’s a frustrating cycle that repeats itself every day.

Your best bet is to turn to natural ways to increase your energy. By incorporating some simple strategies into your daily routine, you’ll soon notice that you’re waking up feeling refreshed and your natural energy keeps you going even on your busiest days.

Try some of the following ways to increase your energy naturally:

1. Exercise in the morning. Getting up early to exercise might sound dreadful. After all, you know how tired you feel in the morning and the idea of getting up even earlier and doing physical activity just seems downright insane. It’s true that the first few mornings will be tough, and you may even feel like giving up altogether. But force yourself to give it a try.

· Even if you go in kicking and screaming, it’s likely that within a week you’ll actually find yourself enjoying it! You’ll crave that movement in the morning and it’ll fill you with much more energy than a cup of coffee.

2. Yoga. Yoga is an all-natural energy booster that’s been around since ancient times. It’s a series of stretches and body movements that you can practice at any time of day. Even if you enter a yoga session tense and stressed, you’ll exit feeling calm, relaxed, and energized. See if you can find a local yoga class, or for a lower cost option, buy a yoga DVD.

3. Avoid crash foods. Your diet is extremely important when it comes to how you feel throughout the day. Some foods may increase your energy initially, but then they cause you to crash in the end. Anything with high sugar content will cause this roller coaster effect.

· Shoot for eating things that are known for maintaining your energy throughout the day, such as foods that are high in protein.

4. Get enough sleep. A necessary amount of sleep will be different from person to person, but most people need 6-8 hours of sound sleep for the best results. Not getting enough sleep is a huge factor in low energy levels.

5. Eat your breakfast. It’s true that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but unfortunately, it’s the most popular one to skip. You may think that if you’re not particularly hungry that it’s better to skip this meal so you can eat more calories later. However, such thoughts play havoc with both your metabolism and your energy levels.

· When you skip breakfast, it sends your body into a natural starvation mode where it consumes muscle mass to continue its normal processes. The small amount of energy you receive is at the expense of your muscles and other important functions!

· On the other hand, when you eat breakfast, you’ll feel more alert and energized and give your body the necessary fuel for the beginning of the day.

Bringing these strategies into your regular daily routine will enable you to feel more energized throughout the day. If using all of them entails too much of a lifestyle change, simply add them one by one. Sooner than you think, you’ll be enjoying the benefits of an unending source of natural energy: YOU!

The CBS Early Show had a segment on how many people are too tired to have sex. If you’ve been following my posts, you know I’ve been on the sleep soap box for a while. I think it’s the essential ingredient for life in addition to water of course.

Dr. Ashton reviewed some very useful sleep hygiene tips.

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Notice what’s first on the list? Exercise. Spring is finally in the air, time to get moving.

I believe in the importance of sleep so much that I have a book in publication called Master Your Sleep, hopefully to be released late summer or this fall. Stay tuned.

Do you have trouble simultaneously identifying yourself as mommy and sexy wife?

The Today Show has a segment on “Mom Hair” as a symbol of losing your identity as a woman once you become a mom. Although the title is about moms and their hair, the discussion touched on deeper issues regarding what happens to us after we become mothers and how we feel about ourselves.

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I thought this segment covers a very important issue of losing sexual (romantic) interest when you become absorbed in the day to day tasks of child rearing. For some women it can be a very difficult balance. I’ve seen women who aren’t clinically depressed, but still think there is something wrong with them because they just don’t get excited about their husbands or have the desire to look attractive.

Sure it’s not good to feel this way, but there is a reason for it. Think of it this way… Just as a phone call from your Dad is not an aphrodisiac (for most), thoughts of a crying baby at your breast or poop in your fingernails isn’t going to help either.

However some women may have a mild postpartum depression that can last for a while if left unaddressed. So if you’re really dragging around and feeling horrible about yourself, it’s probably worth it to get a professional opinion.

For more information about my EZYWalk system, click here.