Don't have enough energy to finish the workout? Don't depend on energy drinks to keep you slogging to the end. Make a few, small changes to your daily routine and watch that natural energy ignite!

Did you know that as caffeine is a stimulant to the central nervous system, it can make you tired? Cheryl Forberg, a registered dietician says, “a once-a-day dose in the morning in tea or coffee is fine. But people can create a vicious cycle, when they keep ingesting more caffeine to counteract the exhaustion they feel, after the previous dose wears off. The cumulative effects of the day’s caffeine—such as increased heart rate and a rise in blood pressure—can also keep you from getting your night’s sleep.”

Timing is important

High intensity exercise should be performed at the beginning of your workouts, when you are fresh. Your body has a neuromuscular system which is highly fatigue-prone, at high intensities. Performing these exercises in a fatigued state will compromise what you are trying to accomplish.

Perform compound exercises such as squats, deadlifts, lunges, bench press and bentover rows, early in your workout. Compound exercises work multiple joints and major muscle areas. You need to be fresh to do them properly. Single joint, less demanding exercises such as bicep curls and calf raises should be done later in your workout.

Intelligent eating and drinking

You must eat at least 1-2 hours before your workout, so you’re not running on fumes.You might also be dehydrated. “Water serves as a medium for the body to perform its life-sustaining functions, such as regulating body temperature and eliminating waste”, says Toby Amidor, a registered dietician.

“If you don’t ingest enough water to help these metabolic reactions occur, you’ll become tired orlight-headed”. Drink about half your weight in water each day.

Get enough sleep

If you are sleep-deprived, you won’t be able to adequately complete a demanding workout.

Keep It Compact

Keep your workout time to 1 hour or less. You don’t need marathon training sessions, to have effective workouts.

Make Realistic Goals

Don’t take on an advanced exercise, before you are ready for it. For instance, you may have to “work up” to being able to do high intensity interval cardio sessions.