Have you ever been partway through a workout and discovered that you’re just got no energy at all anymore? Well, I’ve tried to put together a list of eight different reasons why you might feel low on energy – and just how to change things so it doesn’t influence your workouts!

1. Banish boredom.
Boredom is exhausting! If you’re fed up on the treadmill, come off and do something else. Can’t stand stationery cycling? Then get off and do something more fun! Whatever you do in your workouts, mix it up enough to know that you’re not getting bored, or even add in a DVD workout or two! From belly dancing to rowing, from line dancing to salsa, from tai chi to pole dancing, it doesn’t matter but do it, have fun and enjoy it!

2. Don’t skimp on carbs.
Long distance athletes are known to “carb-load” before their big race so their muscles will always have enough fuel to keep them going for the whole race – and even doing this doesn’t mean that their fuel won’t run out or run too low. Carbohydrates provide plenty of energy for this and some of the best sources include baked potatoes (plus the skin), brown and wild rice, wholemeal pasta, couscous and wholemeal/wholegrain bread. Keep to your portion sizes but eat these foods guilt-free because they could really help with your workouts.

3. Rest easy.
Whether you’re missing sleep or working out too hard, try to get at least 7 to 8 hours quality sleep a night. Not only will this help your body to repair but it will also helps you metabolise food more efficiently, make you feel properly refreshed and relaxed and will help keep your body in a better condition.

4. Be a planner.
Do you ever try to fit exercise in first thing in the morning but oversleep? Or try to get in some after work but you just feel too tired? You wouldn’t be the first! Try to schedule your workouts for when you have more energy because you’re more likely to stick to it and get a better workout.

5. Drink Up.
Don’t skimp on water intake when you’re exercising. Aim for one glass before you start, take a few sips for every 10 to 15 minutes you’re exercising and a large glass when you’re finished. Don’t wait to feel thirsty because when you feel thirsty, you’re already 2% dehydrated and you need all the water to help you flush out the toxins and waste products produced by your exercising muscles.

6. Pump iron.
Iron is an element that your body needs to carry oxygen to the rest of your body’s tissues, so if you don’t have enough, you won’t be able to deliver an adequate oxygen supply to your muscles. If that happens, you could find yourself getting very tired very quickly but a simple blood test from your doctor could rule this out – and women are more inclined to have a lack of iron than men. Eating plenty of dark green leafy veg, lean red meat and fortified cereals could help you to get more iron but try to avoid iron supplements as these can not only make you very constipated but high doses of iron are toxic.

7. Eat for energy.
If you’re working out, it’s even more essential that you get enough energy and nutrients from the foods you eat. If you find yourself lagging in the energy department then you might just be not getting enough from your food. One way to change this is to eat more before you work out, especially if it’s a very intense session.

8. Deal with stress.
Sometimes it’s hard to sleep with worrying about something, or you just can’t turn your mind off and it plays over and over and over, or maybe you’re just so stressed with work and family life that it’s hard to fit in any time for yourself. Sound familiar? Well, you’re not alone. Maybe instead of seeing working out as another chore to do, you should see it as your de-stresser, as a release from all the mundane stuff you have to do to find time for yourself. Start seeing it as a break, and instead of finding stress sapping your energy, use it to fire your workouts instead and you might get more out of it than your bargained for.