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Post by natalie on Sept 6, 2009 10:30:25 GMT
So, working in a dive center is hard work anyway, chuck in Nitrogen, and your even more tired!
diving 3-4 times a day is really starting to take its toll on me, i am always tired when i have finnished work, and no ammount of sleep seems to be enough! (Im not complaining though!!!!!)
Any one have any tips on how to keep the energy levels up?
Thanks Guys! xx
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Post by Dive Bunnie on Sept 6, 2009 11:47:25 GMT
Hehe.. don't we just know that!
One thing we have here is that the instructors and guides dive on Nitrox, we do so much diving over such a period of time, often without days off and when teaching, will do several ascents and descents within a very short period of time (CESA's, alternate air ascents etc) so the Nitrox does help. We certainly load less nitrogen over all, and I do find I am a little less sleepy. However, I still regularly go to bed well before 9pm (well I am up at around 6am or earlier most mornings).
I would say sleep when you are tired (but not when working of course hehe), cat naps are good on your days off, or in the early evening if you are planning to head out later.
Also make sure that you eat really well. Diving uses a surprising amount of energy. Lots of different vegetables, and high protein, foods to keep you sustained and healthy.
Do take the odd day off. I usually try to take a day off each week if we are not too busy. And if you can, maybe take a week out every 3 months or so, to go off and explore your new home. It is amazing how that can recharge your batteries.
Hope that helps.
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Post by natalie on Sept 6, 2009 16:18:08 GMT
Some good tips, thanks! the majority of divers we take are all trydives, so i am always up and down, and then up again! My computer is always beeping at me, telling me off! I wish we had the facilities to dive on nitrox, but we just have normal air in this center. After reading your comment about eating well, i tryed to think of the last time i ate a good balanced meal, and it was a long time ago! I always skip breakfast, and dinner is usually around 3:00, and it's usually a sandwich if i have time. Then tea is at home, and well, i know how to cook basic things, but i can never think of anything. If you have any quick, easy (and cheap!) recipies to pass on, that would be great! xx
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Post by waterbabe on Sept 7, 2009 5:31:37 GMT
Don't skip breakfast.
It should be "breakfast of a king, lunch of a prince and supper of a pauper" but it's not always easy to do it like that.
But breakfast is not a meal to be skipped, you haven't eaten for hours, so if you get up and go diving, not eating till 3, you are running on an empty tank.
;D
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Post by Dive Bunnie on Sept 10, 2009 3:14:48 GMT
Ok so here are a couple of very cheap n cheerful (and easy!) things that I used to cook when I first moved here.. and still do...
Cheap n easy salad:
chopped onion chopped tomato chopped any other salad veg you fancy, cucumber, rocket or whatever 1 tin sweet corn 1 tin kidney beans 1 tin tuna (ideally in olive oil) Throw it all in a bowl and then add a bit of flavour:
salt n pepper to taste splash of balsamic vinegar (or lemon juice) splash of olive oil teaspoon of grainy mustard and dollop of mayonnaise if you fancy
Stir it all together and voila! A salad, that is tasty and also healthy... skip the mayo if you are trying to avoid the saturated fats.
For variety you can add bits of cheese, a chopped hard boiled egg or even cook up a bit of pasta with a dollop of pesto and stir that into your salad. A handful of nuts also make a nice crunchy addition if you fancy.
It makes quite a bit, so if you are living on your own it will keep for a couple of days, saving on hassle every other day.
I also have a one pot rice dish.. kind of kedgerie (not sure if that is the correct spelling)
Stuff to put in: turmeric cumin (if you can't get these spices, a bit of black pepper will do) olive oil chopped onions mushromms 1 tin tuna 1 cup rice any other veg you fancy adding (peas, sweetcorn etc)
fry the cumin and turmeric (if you can get it there) a 1/4 tspn of each, until you smell the spice coming through or you see it start to turn a shade darker. (if you don't do this, the spice won't cook properly and taste raw) Add olive oil, chopped onions, mushrooms and garlic and fry till the onions are translucent and mushrooms soft. Add tuna, then add the cup of rice and stir in until the rice is lightly covered with oil and warming through. Then add 2 cups of water, add salt n pepper to taste, stir and cover with a lid. Once it is boiling, turn the gas right down so it just gently bubbles and leave until the rice soaks up all the water (it takes around 20 mins, more if the rice is brown). In the last five minutes add any extra veges like peas, corn, even spinach works. If the rice is still a bit hard when the water is gone, then boil a kettle and add a bit more.
Hope they help... nothing fancy, but both quite healthy.. especially the more veges you add... remember with the rice, you don't want to add the veges too early or they will overcook.
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Post by bubblemaker on Sept 26, 2009 5:16:06 GMT
And she cooks as well!!
Delia Smith underwater.
;D
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