Watching my children at play, I am struck by their boundless energy. They run from one activity to the next. There is no walking. Can you keep up with your kids?

There are some very simple things that we can all do to rev up our metabolisms and boost our energy:

First, eat a good breakfast. For many of us who have to get up and go to work, coming up with something that is both quick and nutritious can be a challenge. It is absolutely imperative that you give your body adequate fuel to run on. Your body has an innate intelligence; it conserves resources when they are scarce. If you don’t feed your body, particularly in the morning, your metabolism will come to a screeching halt. The empty stomach and coffee routine, though apparently effective in the short term, is draining in the long run.

Secondly, stay away from, or at least moderate consumption of, certain foods. Sugar, caffeine, white flour products, and hydrogenated fats are the obvious ones to avoid. (Notice saturated fat is not on my list!) Cereals and grains are also foods that I personally have to watch and not over-do. A good way to figure out your optimal fuel is to pay attention to your body. Your ideal fuel mix will keep you satiated until your next meal. If you have a noticeable energy drop in either the mid-morning or mid-afternoon, you’re not providing the right fuel.

Finally, exercise is critical to boosting metabolism. This is another place where you really have to pay attention. Is the exercise you’re doing actually revving you up? Or is it draining you? I began to notice that my three-mile jog really wasn’t giving me any kind of boost at all. All I felt was achy, sore and tired. I changed my workout routine so that now, I still do my three-mile loop, but I do it in bursts. I don’t jog. I run. I run until I am taxed, and then I walk. I walk until I am fully rested. Then I run again. With this type of workout, I still get that muscle burn I like, and I feel really rejuvenated afterwards.

If you’re experiencing low energy or low libido, or if you’re overweight, your body can be showing signs of a slow metabolism. We can all come up with excuses for why we can’t do this or that, but, to be honest, in order to make health changes, you have to make lifestyle changes. One of my favorite quotes, oft repeated to patients, is Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity: “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” So pay attention to your body, and make the lifestyle changes it needs. Your body will thank you with abundant energy.

Dr. Chris Hastings is a former Olympic athlete turned Chiropractor who specializes in Functional Medicine and Exercise Physiology. He practices at Sojourns Community Health Clinic. He is also the happy father of two young children who have no idea the lengths he will go to keep up. Hastings is a Chiropractic Physician at Sojourns Community Health Clinic. For more information please contact Sojourns Community Health Clinic at 802-722-4023, 4923 US Route 5, Westminster, VT, www.sojourns.org. Find us on Facebook and check out our blog: http://www.reformer802.com/journey2wellness.