What is an Energy Cycle?
Jenn Schwartz June 2, 2009
You may already know why you break your diet. I hear the same reasons too often. They include two reoccurring variables: lack of self control and stress. By studying your daily energy cycle you will figure out a way to combat your insidious eating patterns. This achievement can be done by controlling stress and disarming your ability to self regulate your moods with food.
The Energy Cycle is a term used to describe a persons moods and energy levels related to their daily activity. The word energy is referring to anything the body ingests, the feelings caused by feedings such as tiredness, stress, excitement, and positivity. It is also referring to the amount of sleep you give your body. It is broadly used but the big picture is to observe how energy affects your way of life and most importantly your eating behavior.
Stress, Eating and Energy
Positive calm energy is achieved with the ability to have a calm outlook on your day/week and the ability to endure hunger when there is stress present. The moment is impermeable and will pass with or without a chocolate bar/ coffee. Positive energy also relates to proper sleep and exercise.
Low energy in the temperament equals increased tension and extra concentration on small tasks. This will cause unnecessary energy intake such as simple sugars and caffeine. When low energy is present, you will try to self regulate your mood with high energy foods such as sugar. Simple sugars metabolize fast giving the body a short lived erogenic benefit. This creates an energy cycle that is relying on simple sugars for energy.
Stress will drain your energy. The drain in energy could cause a search for high energy foods such as simple sugars, comfort food, or caffeine. The relief from stress by the high energy foods could cause an addiction.
Pay attention to your food choices when you are stressed or drained.
Counteractive measures must be planned! Impact Fitness offers a journal for this type of journal activity. Contact us for journal solutions. Here are some tips to get you started.
1. Observe your energy cycles and food choices
2. Anticipate times that are tense, low energy, stressful, depressive, lonely
3. Determine when you slip away from a calm energetic mood.
4. Arrange times for exercise, healthy, snacks, and invigorating breaks.
Stress and the body
The body does not know the difference between good and bad stress. The memory or behavior pattern is the determining factor of a good or bad physiological reaction. Our instinctual reaction to stress is termed “fight or flight”. This term describes the physiological reaction to bad stress which is the secretion of stress hormones. The key in this discussion is that this reaction causes the body to store fat in response to a “flight or fight” situation. The body is preparing for a fight or flight (escape) from the stimulation by storing fat in case of the absence of food. Bottom line is your life is not in danger in front of the computer unless you are chronically stressed. There is no need to store food. The best way to stay professional and successful is to control your reaction to stress. Good stress such as exercise leaves the mind consistent in calm energy because you know you are physically benefiting yourself from this stimulation Teach yourself to vision a calm energy moment when stress is coming on. Be vigilant with your energy observations in a journal and learn to control your reaction to stress. This will support your exercise program immensely.
4 Responses to “What is an Energy Cycle?”
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Hi. I like the way you write. Will you post some more articles?
Our next blog will be published today or tomorrow. Thank you for reading.
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I’ll be subscribing to your blog and I hope you post again soon!
Nice post…I need to do more of this!