Energy Drink/Coffee Alternatives....
 

I'm an energy drink junkie, and I need to find something else that'll wake me up. I've heard that eating an apple with help with delaying energy loss. I'm just wondering if there are any alternatives that people find that is working. I need it to be a healthy solution, and something that isn't full of sugars. I don't drink coffee either because it tastes bad to me.

Can anyone direct me to some information or any suggestions at all?

Don't hate me for this answer:

Water

(i.e. make sure you're drinking enough because dehydration zaps energy, which can lead to headaches and lethargy.)

If you want some actual "energy," though, try 50/50 fruit juice/water. You can't get much better than that for a healthy energy drink.

I generally recommend against the regular use of commercial energy drinks. Good for you for wanting to try a healthy alternative.

Do you like green tea? That can stimulate you without the crash that coffee or energy drinks might give.

Short bursts of exercise. I used to do push-ups when I worked in a cubicle. Knock out a few pushups or knee bends or whatever. Looks silly, but it's free and works well.

I'd also suggest water or a good juice. Try Naked juice, it's great for you and they're good for some energy. Watch out for juices loaded with sugar.

Just a warning for you though: If you stop drinking energy drinks cold turkey, you'll probably have caffeine withdrawal symptoms (ie headaches and sleepiness).

too late... I've had a headache and sleepiness all week long but I've been dealing with it. Although, no drugs or suppliments, I prefer as natural as possible (now).

I might increase the amount of water I drink or do the juice/water mix. Usually inbetween classes I walk the stairs because a 40 lb book bag and walking is a work out. Wakes me up usually, but my body is weird, when I play hockey, no matter the level of energy I have, I always have something there and I can go hard no matter what. I don't know but I always figured it was because I could will myself to do stuff, even though my body says no.

More sleep definitely helps :)

I know where you're coming from... I used to drink Red Bull like it was going out of style (or...was in style. I don't know, that's kind of a silly phrase, isn't it?)

Anyway, Cadre mentioned Naked juice, and it's great. I don't think I've had one that I didn't like (well, the protein one was a little chalky...but I digress.)

Also, make sure you're getting your vitamins! That definitely helps. Especially the B's.

B vitamins, for sure.

My energy "snack" is a combination of an 8 oz. glass of orange juice with a banana. The banana brings a whole host of vitamins and minerals to the table, including B vitamins and potassium. Orange juice provides additional potassium, folic acid, and vitamin C.

Good for you, and a good pick-me-up.

Green apples will wake you up very quickly. Eat one in the morning.

A good night's sleep, balanced diet and regular exercise will reduce fatigue. It will also help you in a million and one other ways.

I used to do coffee, and energy drinks. Now I prefer green tea, and low-sodium V8 juice! That gets me going in the morning.

Someone beat me to it, tea! White, black, or green. Throw in a little ginseng (made for tea...not from the pills yuck!) and youve got yourself an "energy drink" that's healthier than coffee, keeps you calm, and you can drink much more of it! Caffeine is about half of what it is for coffee, but it works almost as well (unless you're really addicted to caffeine, I mean it works almost as well once you get used to it).

Why do I get the feeling Alton Brown is being channeled here? ;)

I've read that an apple will pick you up more than a cup of coffee.

When I'm on a long driving trip or otherwise need to focus when tired I sometimes take a 5-Hour Energy. It's almost all B vitamins with no sugar or cafeine

For those long road trips, i drink coffee. In fact, coffee is pretty much why i get up in the morning. Why stay in bed when there's coffee to be had?

I find i don't need as much as i used to.

I like tea, but tend to be very picky about it. Good tea is pretty hard to find in the US, and even in the English bits of Canada where people drink more. Coffee is easier.

Has anyone mentioned yerba mate? The taste is OK, and it keeps me alert without keeping awake all night.

I'm the other way around, good coffee is hard to find :D

Everything else I would have mentioned has been said but one, ephedrine is a decent stimulant, and contrary to popular belief it is still legal (though in the US there is a daily and monthly limit as to how much you can buy, and your name and address will be logged to comply with the combat methamphetamine act). Truckers swear by it. It's not recommended for long-term use though the way you can drink coffee, more of something to pick you up when you're desperate. Back at least 10 years they would sell boxes of the stuff in pure form to anyone who wanted it (mini-thins, etc.), but now it can still be obtained at most any pharmacy as Primatene tablets (not Primatene mist, that is epinephrine), which are 12.5 mg ephedrine and 200 mg guaifenesin each. Pop 2 or 3 of those and you'll be good for a while. As you're canadian you may need to inquire locally as I dont know legal status or specific products over there.

Cocaine. Low in sugar, low in carbs.

rofl I didn't see that one coming.

Roasting it yourself makes it easier.

try Fuze drinks, they give a good boost of energy. Mine saved me at work today, I had no energy...felt like a very long shift.

I would definately recommend the vitamin B. If you read the labels on any of the energy drinks out there, you'll see that it has at least 100% of the daily recommeded allowances for a few of the Bs. And the green tea is a great way to start the morning. From June to October of last year, that's how I'd start each morning. Breakfast, vitamins, and green tea. Then bike 10 miles to class, bike another 10 miles to work after class. And I'm usually a coach potatoe :)

I can relate, but my situation is much worse. I can't give up coffee! Well, I probably could, but I'm not sure I particularly like the mellow, relaxed, slow-to-react and gently yawning version of myself that caffeine withdrawal reveals. But I hate having to have it. I'm well and truly hooked. Cold turkey is the only answer, I fear ...

Adderall. If you can get your hands on some, works wonders. It will keep you awake during the day, even a ten milligram dose.

Another vote for water, supplemented by fruit juice and vitamins.

Periodically I notice just how much coffee I'm shovelling down and switch to water for 2/3 of my drinks - makes me feel a lot better in general.

Are you talking about waking you up, or delaying energy loss? Adequate sleep and food help wake me up. As far as delaying energy loss, we do fat/protein. Along with her regular carbs, our diabetic daughter eats more fat/protein on mornings when she has P.E. It helps to slow the absorption of her carbs, which keeps her from crashing.

Some breakfasts that I eat that fit in with that (no meat): Eggs alongside some high-fiber toast, yogurt with granola and nuts, high-fiber toast with natural peanut butter, oatmeal with nuts and milk, high-fiber cereal with nuts and milk.

Nuts are a great source of healthy fats and proteins (they make a great snack at other times of day, combined with a piece of fruit), as are nut butters (just make sure to pick ones without added sugar). High-fiber carb choices, along with the combination of fats/protein suggested by ItWasMe, will stick to your ribs a lot longer, providing lasting energy.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for a reason. :) And I echo what ItWasMe said about sleep. You might try keeping a sleep diary--record how long you slept, how well you slept, and how you felt the day following that night of sleep. Using this information, you can figure out how long you ought to be sleeping, and adjust your bedtime/rising time accordingly. Personally, I need about 8.5 hours of sleep a night to feel good. I must get more that 7.5 to feel human. Anything less and I have no energy and turn into Superbitch.

Another pick-me-up snack I like is apple slices with almond butter and a glass of 1%.

I completely agree with Willravel. There really is no substitute for a healthy diet, regular exercise, and a good night's sleep.

However, if you just need a quick burst of energy, I know of a few tricks. One that I have been experimenting with lately is what the internet calls the caff-nap. This requires a cup of coffee, a comfortable place, and twenty minutes. Drink the coffee as quickly as is reasonable, set your alarm for twenty minutes, and get to bed - fast. If you do it right, you'll wake up feeling like you can fuck a bear.

Diet Mountain Dew - 0 calories, and it's basically 93 octane for the human body! No sugar either.