Are you dragging your face on the floor at 3 p.m. but buzzing with energy come bedtime? Is your stomach forever on the fritz? Recurrent energy swings or bowel issues could be red flags for health conditions that might be undermining your efforts to build your energy, according to Koff.
Mom energy advice: See your internist once or twice a year for a check-up, including lab work, to assess your vitamins B, D, and iron levels. Once you've gotten to the bottom of any medical conditions that could be affecting your energy, discuss the best course of treatment with your health care provider.
Photo 8/8
Stop dieting!
Chronic dieters are no fun to be around: They're always cranky because their hunger is up and their energy levels are down. That's because traditional dieting revolves around restrictions and deprivations: Rather than a constant flow of energy, you experience highs and lows. Then, when you can't resist the cupcake's siren song any longer, you binge -- which sends your body into an energy tailspin.
Mom energy advice: Be a better mom to yourself. "You'd never let your kids out of house with just coffee in the morning, or serve them low-quality food," Koff says. "Why not hold the same standards for yourself?" Rather than diet, focus on better quality nutrition. Shoot for a balanced combo of carbs, protein, and fat at every meal and snack -- it's your best shot at sustained energy. And remember, all calories are not created equal: A 100-calorie pack of sandwich creme cookies won't fuel you nearly as well as 150 calories' worth of low-fat Greek yogurt.
Ever find yourself scarfing down a banana while texting your best friend while on the toilet? Your multitasking has officially spiraled out of control.
Yet that's precisely how so many moms (this one included) spend their free waking moments, only to collapse in bed at the end of the day, too exhausted to clean the mascara off their lashes or even change into PJs.
"From the moment you decide to become a mom, you're constantly giving your energy out," says Ashley Koff, RD, author of "Mom Energy: A Simple Plan to Live Fully Charged." But between nursing, diaper changes, car pools, and feeding the family -- not to mention the full-time jobs many mothers hold down on top of mommy duty -- we often forget to focus on bringing in quality energy. Instead, we slap Band-Aids on our fatigue in the form of espresso, diet soda, energy shots, or handfuls of candy for a quick but fleeting sugar high.
But you can perk yourself up for good. Here's our experts' high-octane advice ...
