Ask HN: How do you stave off food comatose after lunch? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: How do you stave off food comatose after lunch?

#11

Post by jwilliams » Wed, Mar 25, 2009, 9:40 PM UTC

abossy wrote: post #7

Oxryly wrote: post #2

Reduce sugar & other carbs during lunch (replace with protein & fiber as much as possible.) Instead of caffeine you could try Yerba Mate tea... more brain energy, less jitters.

I second the Yerba Mate suggestion. It jolts the mind without giving you that over-caffeinated coffee feeling.

Peppermint tea works for me as well (I must admit -- it doesn't have that true allure of a coffee though).

Re: Ask HN: How do you stave off food comatose after lunch?

#12

Post by jwilliams » Wed, Mar 25, 2009, 9:42 PM UTC

pg wrote: post #10

As other posters have said, avoid starch and sugar. Walking quite far to lunch is good. Then you have to walk the same distance after lunch.

... And, if it's with a friend/colleague it's a great time to talk and un-muddle your thoughts.

Re: Ask HN: How do you stave off food comatose after lunch?

#13

Post by mgj » Wed, Mar 25, 2009, 10:38 PM UTC

Eat less. I've also heard it's good for your health to eat less if you can.

One of the common themes I hear from people who come to the US from overseas is that food portions are quite large here.

Re: Ask HN: How do you stave off food comatose after lunch?

#14

Post by radu_floricica » Wed, Mar 25, 2009, 11:08 PM UTC

Somewhat off-topic: I realized recently it's more important when and how you get your caffeine then how much. There's a reason 5 o'clock tea is famous. For me morning caffeine is wasted or worse, and the best time is around 3-5 in the afternoon, or a couple of hours after lunch. Metabolisms differ, of course.

Also I switched to black tea: wider spectrum and longer lasting, but smaller punch. Don't abuse it though, may not feel like it but it's as strong as coffee.

Re: Ask HN: How do you stave off food comatose after lunch?

#15

Post by Oxryly » Thu, Mar 26, 2009, 12:50 AM UTC

derwiki wrote: post #8

Oxryly wrote: post #2

Reduce sugar & other carbs during lunch (replace with protein & fiber as much as possible.) Instead of caffeine you could try Yerba Mate tea... more brain energy, less jitters.

Do you build the same dependency on it that you do with coffee?

No... it has a different problem: you can use just a little and it'll work, but use too much and you may feel a little anxiety.

Re: Ask HN: How do you stave off food comatose after lunch?

#16

Post by icey » Thu, Mar 26, 2009, 1:49 AM UTC

On the topic of protein rich lunches; what do people usually do?

I like to take a lunch to the office since the need to eat seems to come up at varying times of the day.

Re: Ask HN: How do you stave off food comatose after lunch?

#17

Post by notaddicted » Thu, Mar 26, 2009, 2:32 AM UTC

Oxryly wrote: post #2

Reduce sugar & other carbs during lunch (replace with protein & fiber as much as possible.) Instead of caffeine you could try Yerba Mate tea... more brain energy, less jitters.

I second the diet recommendation. It makes a big difference for me when I can manage not to eat sweets and empty carbs.

I just throw down an espresso after lunch and I feel good.

Re: Ask HN: How do you stave off food comatose after lunch?

#18

Post by racerboy » Thu, Mar 26, 2009, 7:11 PM UTC

Take whatever you are eating for lunch and immediately cut it in half. Eat the first half and save the rest for as long as you can, eating it ideally 3 hours later. For instance, I eat 1/2 at about 10:30-11am and half at around 1-1:30. You will no longer get the food coma and over the long run it will help you speed up metabolism, lose weight, etc.