Drains vs Charges

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Why do we always make sure our phone is charged at all times, but we let ourselves go dead?

You’ve been there, frantically searching for an outlet to plug your phone in at the airport, and then finally seeing the little lightning bolt inside your battery icon. You let out a sigh of relief.

You’ve also been here: 5 hours of sleep, thinking that it’s good enough, downing coffee, headed to Crossfit or Orange Theory, come home and eat a “huge salad” and proceed to work in front of your computer until 8 pm. Answering emails, texts, chugging more coffee…

If our phones had a “frantic mode”: next stage after being dead…operating on a backup energy system that was inefficient and slow… that’s what you would be.

This concept is taken from the Drains & Charge Analysis from my mentor, Sam Miller.

The “Drain” is actual physiological stress.

The “Charge” is the physiological restoration.

Understanding how to objectively look at your drains vs. charges will show you the balance between lifestyle stress and restoration. It’s difficult to do this for yourself- this is why having that third party (a.k.a= a coach, not just a macro calculator) comes in handy.

This matters because only then will you be able to understand:

  • WHAT is holding you back.
  • WHY you’re not getting the results you’re so desperately trying for.
  • WHEN it’s okay to back off.
  • HOW you can actually restore your body to function normally again.
  • WHO is actually caring about your health, vs who is caring about your wallet.

Examples:

D: A CrossFit athlete working out twice a day during finals week or stressed at work but going to the gym because there are #nodaysoff.

C: An overweight, type 2 diabetic walking for 30 minutes in the sun every day.

D: A powerlifter consuming low calories due to stress, or a possible eating disorder, or thinking that under-eating is the only way to see body changes

C: Someone who consistently eats out for every meal, over-consumes alcohol, and eats no veggies: going on a nutrient-dense nutrition plan incorporating good habits.

 

What are your Drains & Charges?