A workout and a hot shower rev my engine each morning. If these strategies don't work for you and you can't seem to wake from your sleepy fog each day, try these eight foods. RealAge says they'll perk you right up, assuming you've had a good seven hours of sleep.

• A speck of sweet: A bit of sugar in your coffee or some honey in your smoothie can wake you up. Just don't overdo it -- the opposite may happen and you'll soon feel drowsy.
• A whole-wheat bagel: After a night of sleep, your brain needs carbs. Not a lot -- half of a whole-wheat bagel will do just fine. So will a bowl of oatmeal.
• Lox on a bagel: Salmon contains a fat known as DHA, which helps get rid of cellular waste products that make your brain feel sluggish.
• Spicy V8: This will surely warm your engine. If tomatoes are too acidic, throw a tablespoon of peeled fresh ginger into hot tea or a cold smoothie.
• Soy: It helps clear your mind. Drink a glass of calcium-fortified soymilk, pour it over whole-grain cereal, or toss some chopped tofu into scrambled eggs.
• Ice water: A small glass will get your blood pumping and will give your metabolism a slight boost.
• Coffee: Caffeine = alertness. Just don't drink until you jitter -- getting too wired won't help matters any.
• If all else fails: Pop a ginger-flavored Altoids, a few Red Hots, or a Listerine strip.

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One thing I seem to keep hearing consistently on how to be successful with a fitness/exercise regimen is to get it out of the way first thing every morning. Which means early, before work. Ugh.

I love my sleep, so getting up before I absolutely have to is generally out of the question. But therein lies the rub: why can't I wrap my head around the fact that I absolutely have to workout ?

I'm going to try these tricks from over at eDiets from a reformed "snoozer" like me. He lists tips like setting the clock 9 minutes ahead, preparing everything (clothes, lunch, etc) the night before, and setting the alarm to go off 15 minutes earlier (to allow for a couple snooze sessions) which are all pretty standard. But his last one of setting up an espresso machine on the nightstand (so all you have to do is hit the power and the aroma helps you wake up by the next snooze) is pretty ingenious. I think I'm gonna give it a shot -- it'll be like living in a Folger's commercial!

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