"Pick me up" after lunch

krishnap1104
krishnap1104 Posts: 53 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
So I work 8-5 and take my lunch around 12:30pm and we get an hour. I go to the gym on Wednesdays for half an hour and do an intense workout with my trainer and eat my lunch at my desk. However, as soon as it hits 3pm I am extremely tired!! A lot of people told me to drink tea, but I don't like tea at all. Have any suggestions?
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Replies

  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Do you like anything with caffeine in it? Usually when I have something like a coffee, tea, or diet soda, it helps me perk up.
  • ASKyle
    ASKyle Posts: 1,475 Member
    Snack.

    Greek yogurt, apple, carrot sticks, protein bar are my afternoon snack options.

    Or caffeine that fits into your calorie goals if you just feel tired, not hungry.
  • positivepowers
    positivepowers Posts: 902 Member
    If you're so tired after your Wednesday workouts, why not put them off until after work? It sounds like that's what is making you tired.

    Dehydration and low sodium can make one sleepy as well. If you sweat a lot during your workouts you could be dehydrated. Try some water with a slightly salty snack, like lightly salted nuts.
  • Kimberly_Harper
    Kimberly_Harper Posts: 409 Member
    Perhaps water, and you might reconsider the tea idea - there are a TON of different tea flavors now. I didn't used to like tea, but did some experimenting and found that I like green tea with mint and/or chai flavors (Yogi and Tazo brands), and "Chocolate" tea (Numi and Indulgent Tea have choco tea).
  • krishnap1104
    krishnap1104 Posts: 53 Member
    I'm trying to refrain myself from any type of soda. I don't mind coffee, but I like milk with it which we don't have at work. I wished if I liked tea but I don't
  • krishnap1104
    krishnap1104 Posts: 53 Member
    positivepowers- my trainer is only available during lunch. I am just asking for ideas. Please don't tell me what to do.
  • Afura
    Afura Posts: 2,054 Member
    Try flavored teas? I like cinnamon stick and mint teas the most. Otherwise, get a small container and bring some milk for coffee. I don't workout till after work because it makes me so tired for the rest of the day
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    krishnap1104 wrote: »
    positivepowers- my trainer is only available during lunch. I am just asking for ideas. Please don't tell me what to do.

    I think that was just a friendly suggestion. @positivepowers was asking "why not" try that (and you explained why), not telling you that you must do it.

  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    Coffee. If the problem is milk, bring your own milk in single servings?
  • CherylG1983
    CherylG1983 Posts: 294 Member
    Do you like coffee? I have a coffee every afternoon with a handful of almonds and fruit. Today it was a melon mixture. Gives me the perking up I need for my workout after work.
  • kristieshannon
    kristieshannon Posts: 160 Member
    If you need a caffeine pick me up, I like the crystal lite single serving packets. They now have a couple flavored that have caffeine. It's a great way to get in some water too!
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    What is in the lunch?
  • punkrockgoth
    punkrockgoth Posts: 534 Member
    I haven't looked at your diary, or even to see if it's public, so I don't know what you're eating. I do find that personally, when I am eating a lot more sugars and less protein (especially around my workouts) I will have a really bad tired attack around 3. Caffeine kinda helps, but then I don't sleep, so I don't do that.

    So adding some protein to your lunch, having a protein snack, going for a quick walk around the building are all things that might help.
  • krishnap1104
    krishnap1104 Posts: 53 Member
    Just had an asiago cheese bagel and for breakfast I had a bottle the starbucks iced coffee with milk.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    Monster Ultra Zero - every afternoon...
  • Barbonica
    Barbonica Posts: 337 Member
    If this is only on the days you are working out at lunch, it is probably either some dehydration or perhaps you need to have a complex carb based snack before working out to make sure you have enough energy to get through the work out. I like 1/4 cup oatmeal with almond milk, add a few blueberries ... lots of energy for my workout without hitting the wall later. You don't have to cook it, just add the milk to the oatmeal and refrigerate for a few hours...it is good cold. Size of your snack will be dependent on you...what you have for breakfast, your age, weight, etc. Just play around and see what works. I found plain fruit does not give me that same energy kick.
  • MzManiak
    MzManiak Posts: 1,361 Member
    protein shake or protein bar after your workout
  • blues4miles
    blues4miles Posts: 1,481 Member
    I find this happens because my body cools down after working out and then I'm sitting there at my desk not moving. Your body cooling down and not moving are normal signs that it's bed time. Maybe get a sweater/jacket for when you start to cool down. Maybe use a timer to get up and stretch every 30 minutes or so after you get back. Is there someone you can go talk to around that time? I'm not saying it couldn't be food/caffeine related, but there might be other ways to address it as well.
  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    I sit on my *kitten* all day at work and still feel drowsy every day around 3. Desk naps are the answer.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Plenty of protein and fiber at lunch with some coffee - no more 3pm pick me up needed.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    krishnap1104 wrote: »
    Just had an asiago cheese bagel and for breakfast I had a bottle the starbucks iced coffee with milk.

    I'd crash after lunch too if I had that little calories and protein.

  • puffbrat
    puffbrat Posts: 2,806 Member
    If possible, a short walk outside or around the office could help perk you up. It makes a big difference for me. As some others have suggested, maybe you just need a snack. Sometimes I find that food can help me get through the 3pm slump.
  • H_Ock12
    H_Ock12 Posts: 1,152 Member
    A caffeine pill with a glass of water could help! A bottle of them are super cheap at the local drugstore.
  • krishnap1104
    krishnap1104 Posts: 53 Member
    What do you guys recommend for the a high protein lunch?
  • foxygirl14
    foxygirl14 Posts: 158 Member
    puffbrat wrote: »
    If possible, a short walk outside or around the office could help perk you up. It makes a big difference for me. As some others have suggested, maybe you just need a snack. Sometimes I find that food can help me get through the 3pm slump.

    This is exactly what works for me. I eat a piece of fruit and take a brisk walk around the outside of the building every day at 3:00pm. It really helps wake me up!
  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,741 Member
    Adequate protein and fat prior to your workout would help tremendously. I have to be very careful about making my lunches as nutritious as possible because 3:30 or 4:00 is when I go to the gym. Right during that dreaded sleepy time. I've adapted since I've been doing this for so long, but I can really tell when I'm slacking on my lunches. It affects my energy level immediately.
  • becomingvegannn
    becomingvegannn Posts: 15 Member
    Today I ate plain greek yogurt topped with raspberries and granola at 3pm! I need a pre-planned afternoon snack or I'll mindlessly eat anything and everything while sitting at my desk :#
  • gregproctor44
    gregproctor44 Posts: 237 Member
    It's an acquired taste, but apple cider vinegar (2 tbsp in 10 oz of water) is a good option. You get a little boost from it and it has number out other health benefits. I take it with sparking Orange LaCroix water.

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