Energised to talk

It's Monday morning and you're feeling tired. So, you reach for that morning pick-me-up, a coffee with two sugars please! But why are we're so tired?

Nutritional biochemist Dr Libby Weaver has a morning ritual she doesn't compromise and it doesn't include coffee. 'I schedule my downtime and prioritise it,” says Libby.


Nutritional biochemist Dr Libby Weaver. Photo: Supplied.

Usually involving a gentle walk in nature, and a form of restorative yoga.

Dr Libby will explain how energy is made, what depletes it, why we are we so tired and what we can do to get more energy, when she comes to Tauranga on October 14, as part of her ‘Why Are You So Tired?' Australasian tour.

She will be releasing her new book ‘Exhausted to Energised', as part of the tour.

So, what are the main drivers behind the apparent epidemic of tiredness among people today?

'The reasons are different for each and every one of us,” says Libby. 'But I think one of the main reasons is we're taking on more and more, demanding more of ourselves mentally and physically than ever before.

'Many people struggle with restorative sleep, fill themselves with stimulants including caffeine because they aren't sleeping well and often surround themselves (often unintentionally) with people who drain their energy.

'There are many biochemical and emotional processes at the heart of whether we feel energised or not and this is really what I want people to understand.”

The body has many ways of telling us we're physically, mentally and/or emotionally exhausted, says Libby.

These can include fatigue, low mood, anxious feelings, apathy, unrefreshed sleep or insomnia, brain fog, lowered resistance to infections, stiffness, digestive system problems, ‘unexplained' changes in body fat levels, and signs of rapid ageing.

'When we are running on empty, our body does its best to let us know that it is time to slow down, rest, better support and enhance detoxification pathways, repair, replenish and restore. Yet too many people ignore this, throw another pill down, or write it off to: ‘I must be getting old'.”

Libby's top five tips for more energy include working on closing tasks, emails or jobs haven't been resolved.

Incorporate more resistance training or muscle building exercise. This helps to build lean muscle mass.

Explore your immune system function, whether it's a susceptibility to viruses or infections, glandular fever or hay fever, anything that triggers your immune system can be fatiguing.

Be conscious of how your perceptions influence your mood and energy state.

Stop sitting on energy, exercise.

Dr Libby's ‘Why Are You So Tired?' tour is at Sir Tristram Lounge, Tauranga Racecourse, on October 14, from 7pm-8.30pm. Tickets cost $39.95 from www.drlibby.com

WIN WITH THE SUN

The Weekend Sun has two double passes to give away to the lucky readers who can name one of Libby's top tips for saving energy?

Enter online at www.sunlive.co.nz under the competitions section.

Entries must be received before Wednesday, October 7.

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1 comment

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Posted on 04-10-2015 22:03 | By Mel B

I wish she was attending a bigger venue so more of us could listen to her. Her new book Exhausted to Energized is full of great information and definitely worth the purchase.


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