Fatigue is there an energy crisis? According to the statistics, yes! Why are we so tired? In this book, we will attempt to answer this question and discuss solutions to the energy crisis. We will determine how we can assist our body in the attainment and preservation of energy. Lets start with some basic information. Then we will end this section with a look at the Energy Equation.

HOW IS THE BODY FUELED?

Before we get into details of discussing the energy equation, we must first look at how the body receives energy and how it uses fuel to create energy. Knowing the basics of how the body works will enable us to discover the best way to fuel the body and to understand how the body will burn this energy to create movement. We must also keep in mind that every body is different and unique in its requirements for energy. What works for one person may be a complete disaster for another. So, keep this in mind as we discover the basics of how our body works.

THE FIRST FUEL

Did you know that there is fuel right now available in your cells? As you are sitting in your chair, your body has fuel available for you if you decided to jump up and leap into the air. How is this possible you ask? Well, lets take a look.

In your muscle tissue there is a short-term energy source available without the need for oxygen. This energy source is called ATP (Adenosine Tri-phosphate) and CP (Creatine Phosphate). We give you these large words so you can impress your friends during your next scrabble game. This energy source is just enough to allow you to leap into the air and it lasts for about 10 seconds. Then if you decide to jump up and down many times your amazing body has yet another source of stored energy in the muscle cells. This uses another energy pathway called the lactic acid system. It sounds kind of painful and in fact youll notice that your muscles will start to send a burning sensation to your brain. That is lactic acid build up in your muscle tissue. What happens is that your muscles have to convert carbohydrates into ATP to provide movement. Without the presence of oxygen, carbohydrates are only partially broken down and that produces lactic acid.

This is why we need to slow down and use our aerobic pathway to get more energy to do lots of smaller jumps. The aerobic pathway is our long-term energy production pathway and it allows us to keep jumping. The fuels in this pathway are both fat and stored carbohydrates. Proteins can be used, but are not the preferred fuel.

FOOD AS FUEL

Our body needs energy from food to keep up the supply of ATP for energy production. We need to continually feed our machine good quality food for fuel to make it work. Just like a car engine - it will run smoothly with proper care but with neglect it will need extra tune-ups and maintenance.

The two sources of food in the body that are converted to energy are Carbohydrates and Fats. Proteins are needed to continuously repair and build muscle and tissue.

Food is an indirect fuel source, as it cannot be used directly by our muscles for energy. Instead the energy is released from the breakdown of foodstuffs and used to manufacture a biochemical compound, the ATP we discussed earlier. So, it is very important that we fuel our body correctly with what it needs to perform at peak efficiency.

When our body receives the food that we give it, it has to decide what to do with it. What is used for energy production, what is absorbed as nutrients, what is expelled as waste products and if there is extra - it will be stored as fat. We will discuss this more fully in our nutrition section.

WATER AS FUEL

Water is another absolute source of energy. Water is basic to our very being. Simply put, we cant live without it. Our brain and our body are made up of mostly water. We need water to help our body break down our food enabling us to use the vitamins and minerals needed to build our bodys cells.

If we are dehydrated, we become fatigued and lose our energy very quickly. Did you know that the number one cause of fatigue is the lack of water in our body?

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AS FUEL

We also need physical activity in our lives to keep our energy levels high. If you dont use it, you lose it! Our bodies are designed to move and move them we must. We need to exercise and massage our internal organs, oxygenate our blood and tone our muscles to allow us to live our lives.

To feel energetic, we need to have toned, strong muscles, and the ability to move quickly and with confidence.

REST AS FUEL

Another definite need for energy is sufficient rest; rest for our body and rest for our mind. In this Workbook, we will examine sleep and our bodys need for rejuvenation time to rebuild and repair to keep us energized.