The Inspired Life
The Inspired Life
Energy Decoded: Energy & Endurance
Feeling constantly drained? You're not alone. The question "Why am I so tired?" haunts most of us at some point, but the answer lies deeper than just needing another cup of coffee.
Metabolism isn't merely a buzzword in fitness magazines—it's the fundamental process powering everything from your morning workout to your late-night brainstorming session. Think of it as your body's internal kitchen: carbs are the kindling that catches fire quickly but burns out fast; fats are the logs providing steady, long-lasting heat; and protein serves primarily as building material, though it can be burned for fuel when necessary. This elegant system explains why fad diets that eliminate entire food groups inevitably fail—your body genuinely needs all three macronutrients to function optimally.
Ready to transform your energy levels? Subscribe and join me next time as we explore Gut Health 101—how your digestive system influences your mood, immunity, and overall wellbeing. Until then, remember: fuel properly, pace yourself, and stay curious about the remarkable machine that carries you through each day.
If you like what you hear, subscribe and follow us on Spotify, iTunes and Amazonmusic. A new episode will come out every 1st and 15th of a month. You can also follow us on Instagram on theinspiredlifepodcast. If you want to mail me to discuss some of the things we are talking here or have a story to share on this podcast, email me at theinspiredlifeindia@gmail.com. This is Deepika and I thank you for listening.
Hey, hey, welcome back to the Inspired Life. I'm your host, deepika Rao, and you have landed on episode 5 of our series on understanding our bodies. Today, we are talking about something that every single one of us has asked ourselves at some point why am I so tired? Or how do I get more energy to keep going? We are diving into energy and endurance, how your body fuels movement, what metabolism really is, and what you can do to improve your stamina. And yes, we are going to keep this fun, simple and relatable. Let's get the buzzword out of the way.
Speaker 1:Metabolism what is metabolism really? It is your body's process of converting food into energy. It's happening all the time, even when you are asleep. It fuels everything from your workouts to your brain function to keep your organs working smoothly Real talk. This isn't just about whether you have a fast or slow metabolism. It's about how your body breaks down what you eat and turns it into energy for movement, repair and growth. Here's a simple breakdown.
Speaker 1:Carbs are your body's preferred quick energy source. Fats provide long-lasting fuel, especially during lower-intensity activities. Protein is mostly used for repair and building muscle, but can be converted to energy when needed. Think of your metabolism like a kitchen stove. Carbs are like kindling they catch fire fast but burn out quickly. Fats are like logs they burn slower and last longer. Protein that's like your cooking pan Meant to build build, not burn, but you can throw it in the fire in an emergency. Well, this proves the point that your body needs all three macronutrients carbs, fats, protein. All are important in their own right and your body cannot function optimally if you cut one of them out of your diet. So please, please, please, please, again, do not fall for diet plans or diet fads which ask you to cut out a certain food group, because your body does need everything, in different quantities, which might change and differ based on your goals and your current metabolism, your lifestyle and so many other factors. So please go ahead and refer to a professional, a nutritionist, who will help you with this, instead of following the latest fad where they ask you to eat more fat, cut your carbs, eat only protein and god knows what. Okay, let me come back and not digress more.
Speaker 1:Now let's look at the science of endurance without the jargon. Endurance is your body's ability to sustain activity over time, like running a 5k, cycling for an hour or even just getting through a busy day without crashing. Let's use this example right, because I love hikes. You're doing a long hike. In the beginning, your body uses stored carbohydrates called glycogen to give you energy, but as you keep going, it starts using fat for fuel. If you haven't trained your body to be efficient at this, you'll hit a wall, literally known as bonking. That's why building endurance isn't just about willpower. It's about training your body to efficiently switch energy systems.
Speaker 1:So how do we improve energy and endurance? Here's where it gets fun and practical. You can train your body to have better endurance and more consistent energy. Here's how. First, eat well, consistently. Not go binging on a weekend and say I start, we'll start eating better on monday. That's not how it works. Don't skip meals or under eat. If you're active, your body needs fuel period.
Speaker 1:Next is train your aerobic base. Long, slow activities like walking, jogging, cycling or swimming at a moderate pace improve your fat burning efficiency. So, yes, cardio is healthy, cardio is important, but the pace is even more important than just doing cardio. So steady state, slow activities is what will help you improve your fat burning efficiency. Then include interval training short bursts of effort followed by rest, like HIIT. High intensity interval training help your body use energy more flexibly, then hydrate like it matters, because it does. Even mild dehydration makes your body work harder and slows down your energy production.
Speaker 1:And come on, let's not forget this right Sleep. It's not sexy, but absolutely essential. Most of your recovery and energy regeneration happens while you're sleeping. And finally, stress management. Chronic stress drains your energy and keeps your body in survival mode. More breath work, less burnout.
Speaker 1:You know that friend who seems to have endless energy, do you? I have one, okay, one of my oldest college friends, very good friend. He definitely, at all times, 24-7, 365 days, seems like the bunny in that ad. What was that ad? Duracell ad, right, the power bunnies who are perpetually going. They at least shut down when the battery's over.
Speaker 1:This guy would not cannot calm down. In the 20 odd years we've been friends, I think the only time I've seen him a little subdued was just after a knee surgery, a very. You know he had a major accident and had to go through a knee surgery. He was in extreme pain. So you understand. It took a surgery in his knee and extreme pain for him to calm down. Otherwise he is hyper. He doesn't need anything to make him hyper, right? He doesn't need anything extra make him hyper. Right, he doesn't need anything extra. He just, genuinely, naturally, is like that A bundle of energy. It's not magic, right? People like this. They have probably built solid habits Eating well, moving daily, resting properly and this stays true to my friend too.
Speaker 1:It's not about pushing all the time, it's about finding a rhythm your body can sustain. You know, for that matter, I have a personal experience, too right, with energy and endurance, and so my body teaches me how to sustain it and function better in a more optimum way. So I always pretty much enjoy working out in a fasted state, which means I do not eat or drink. I used to not eat or drink before I go to my workout in the morning. So I work out really early in the mornings, which meant that my last meal was at least 12 hours in the past. So dinner at around 6.30, 7, max 7. And then I am at the gym by 5.30 or so. It's like, okay, my math is bad, so 10 hours, okay, so I'm 10 hours, um, later I'm working out.
Speaker 1:So there would be times when I would hit the wall, right, so I won't be able to work out, and I just thought that you know, there's something off with my with my energy, with my training technique something I'm not doing right but the moment I just made a small change, like drinking my protein shake before or during my workout, then after, or maybe even having a spoon of nut butter or eating a banana before training, my energy levels went through the roof. Simple fuel, huge payoff. So please pay attention to what your body is telling you. So there you go Energy and endurance decoded for you. It's not about hacks or quick fixes. It's about understanding how your body fuels itself and making choices that support it.
Speaker 1:Next time we're getting into Gut Health 101. How your belly talks to your brain, why digestion matters for your mood and immunity, and how to take care of that gut garden. If this episode helped you rethink your energy habits, send it to a friend, subscribe or drop a review. I'll see you next time. Until then, fuel up, pace yourself and stay curious. This is Bipika Rao signing off.