Have you ever felt totally drained, totally tapped out, like all of your energy is gone? By way of a non-scientific survey of my patients, friends, family members and co-workers, I am gonna guess the answer is yes which is why, your body’s energy budget was the topic of this week’s podcast (keep reading for highlights 
) and why my workshop next week will integrate precisely what you need to do to preserve your budget so that you can thrive mentally, emotionally and physically- that’s what wellness is, isn’t it.
Here is a overview of what you can expect to achieve after 150 minutes with me at A New Approach to Sustainable Weight and Wellness in the New Year workshop next week:
- Understand why you find yourself back at the fridge 2 hours after eating a full meal. And what you can do about it
- Learn how sleep, movement, and contemplative practices are essential to healthy weight, disease prevention and good mental health and learn how you can get it all in on a time budget.
- Understand why despite knowing what to do, you are not doing and get tips on how you can get out of your own way
- Ask your questions! If you have been a reader of this newsletter or listener of the HealthBite podcast, here is your chance to ask me your burning questions personally!
How does this all relate to our body’s energy budget? (the topic for this week’s pod 
) Because our overall energy is a sum of what we put in and what we take out. And when we are taxing our bodies with stress, difficult emotions, hard work without putting in the ingredients we are more likely to be depleted and less likely to engage in our lives in a meaningful and purposeful way.
So what are these ingredients?
- FOOD
What about the food that we eat? We all know that we can fill ourselves with non-nutritive foods. You eat enough chips and you will at some point feel full. But full does not mean nourished, or satiated. The food that we eat does matter in terms of not only receiving energy but the kind of energy. Because merely filling ourselves with whatever we find in the pantry or on Ubereats actually leaves us more depleted in the long run. What if we thought of food as truly nourishment?
2. SLEEP 
Sleep is essential for repleting our energy stores. Not just because it is rest but because a lot happens during sleep. Our bodies power down, reducing our metabolic energy needs, it clears out chemicals, unused neurotransmitters, consolidates memories, prunes and primes our neurons. Sleeping restores our energy stores but it also reduces our debt the next day.
When we are well rested, we feel better- we know this- we are less irritable, studies show we are less likely to feel anxious and depressed, we are more focused, have more creativity, greater ability to concentrate, are less reactive in our relationships and better able to tolerate stress.
3. SPIRITUAL PRACTICE 
This is a heavy word for many. For me, this is a catch phrase for all the contemplative ways in which we give ourselves time and space for reflection, introspection and growth. This can include breathing and meditation, time in nature, journaling, prayer, movement like yoga, tai chi amongst others. Engagement in these practices is in essence a personal time out. And a way to increase your body’s reserve, your body’s energy budget. Studies show that engagement in any of the above is a way in which you can build up your natural reserve and resilience to the seemingly chaotic events around you.
Which practice resonates? What practice might you incorporate and commit to? I promise the commitment will pay you back in dividends!
Don’t forget to sign up for next week’s workshop. And if you are still on the fence looking for a sign, here it is. Use the code LETSDOTHIS at check out and you get 50% off the price of the entire workshop plus access to view replay. Signups close tomorrow Friday 2/9 at 5 PM PST.
I can’t wait to see you then!
xx,
dr. adrienne
