how do you stay awake through that 2:30pm spell at work? (Page 2)

When do you eat lunch?  I get to work at 7am but don't eat lunch until 1-130.  I snack all morning though.  This creates a longer morning for me when I am at my best.  By the time I am done with lunch I only have a few hours left and eating constantly throughout the day, I don't really experience that afternoon crash.  I then eat another snack before leaving work so I have some fuel for my afternoon workouts.  i don't do coffee, have never had an energy drink in my life, and rarely have caffeine. 

I notice the same problem when my lunches aren't properly balanced.  If I eat a higher protein lunch with no simple carbs (40% prot, 40% carb, 20% fat), then I'm fine all afternoon.  If I was lazy packing my lunch and it's carb heavy (like a sandwich), then come 2:30-3, I'm ready for a nap.

To fuel afternoon workouts, I eat a complex carb snack about 2 hours before the workout.  That helps too - since it means I get to perk myself up with a snack right during the afternoon lull and I'm fueled for a 5:30 workout.

If you have the option, I recommend taking lunch later in the day.  Power through your morning, take a midmorning break where you take in some calories, then go to lunch at like 1:30 or 2:00.

I either swim or run at lunch and when I get back I don't have that afternoon crash.

When I take lunch at noon I will hit the wall hard at 3:00.

I start work at 7.30, have lunch at 11.30 and leave at 4.30.
Lunch is only 30 mins for me and it takes 5 mins each way to get out to the parking lot so no room for a nap and food unfortunately.

I guess I could see if I can work later and tak a longer lunch, but I have to pick mu boy up from daycare on the way home, so I can't be too late.

Time of lunch could be flexible though, maybe I need to pack my lunch bag better for morning snacking and leave the frozen dinner leftovers until later in the day.

This is what my bosses and mine afternoon french press looks like AFTER it has been pressed and the coffee drunk...that 3 inches is solid packed ground...FYI I am an Ironman ready to race a HIM in 1.5 weeks, he is an ultra cyclist(rode across the country) and has a marathon on deck.





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That's hilarious! I'm sure we'll talk more tonight in the insomnia thread.

I got to the bathroom, hide in the stall, & take a quick catnap with my head on my hands! LOL! Seriously! I did change up my eating, though & that seems to help. I run or swim at lunch & eat at my desk when I get back. I've found that eating a natural PB sandwich on whole wheat bread, an apple & a Diet Coke (I know, I know) has kept tiredness at bay. I also snack on pretzels & it really helps. I'm nowhere near as tired AND I'm full longer! =)

I have suffered greatly with this affliction and have done a few things recently to get me through. I feel better if I limit my coffee through the morning hours and replace those extra cups of coffee with water. I found that I was chronically dehydrating myself through the day. I am now doing a few 30 minute OWS a week during lunch at the lake which is just a few miles from my office. Just a nice easy pace in the cool water really feels great and perks me up for a while afterwards. If all else fails I veg out here.

I get the same thing at about 2:00pm, especially now that I am finishing up my Thesis (Master's Degree) and spending most of my day at my computer working on one word document that is 150 pages and counting....
I usually go through 3 coffees per day, but occasionally I do not enjoy the coffee and instead will simply get up and walk around for a few minutes, do some push-ups, stretches, anything to get the HR up a bit. This seems to wake me up when I am not in the mood for coffee.

Well.........I have to deal with that pesky 4:00 am spell at work.
Night shift worker. 

Trade ya!

 

Do some pushups or some quick exercise to get the blood flowing. That works for me, along with the snacking idea

your circadian rhythms are at their lowest between about 2-5, I'd go with a siesta.

I catch an hour nap or go outside and mow lawn. Sleep is more important than work.

Quick glace at "BT Ladies 2010" and "Pace Booty" thread does the trick for me...

x2... apples are healthier