Prepping for the Party

While we are all in the midst of last minute planning, obsessing, and sorting out everything for the big night out that somehow new years has become synonymous with, we can't forget that the next day often results in the aftermath: the inevitable hangover.

To learn how to start this New Year right while still having fun boozing and not being left feeling hung over the next day, then first we have to understand what a hangover is, and not the movie.  A hangover is the result of alcohol consumption in excess of what the body can properly metabolize.  It can result from a number of reasons including dehydration, the liver’s inability to rid itself of the poisons in alcohol, too much sugar when drinking, and if you don't have the enzyme to metabolize alcohol. 

Your hangover may resemble the feeling you imagine of what its like to be hit by a bus.  Maybe you have a headache that is pounding so hard you think your head might implode, or your stomach feels like it has been replaced by an active volcano, or any thought makes you so sad you can't understand or explain it.  All of these things clearly are not a desirable way to feel - and with that, let’s move on to my healthy suggestions of how to avoid these terrible symptoms or how to cure them if they do occur:

How to AVOID the hangover:

 - Drink water before, during, and after you are done drinking alcohol (keeps you properly hydrated)

 - Eat a hearty, well balanced meal prior to drinking, interestingly enough I just learned a meal that includes asparagus of all things (thanks E! Entertainment for that tidbit) is a great addition to your meal.  Other recommended dishes might include pizza, pasta, subs and other well balanced dishes of grains, vegetables, and protein.

 - Don’t mix too many different forms of alcohol, and when in doubt, choose clear alcohols over darker colored ones.

How to CURE the hangover:

 - Surprise, surprise --> drink more water

 - Drink a glass of juice, the fructose in fruit juices helps yours body rid itself of the excess alcohol toxins it's fighting.

 - As simple as it may sound, sleep and a showers can really help as well

 - Often drinking a bloody mary will help because the spicy combo of  new alcohol for your body to play with and vegetable juice with antioxidants and vitamins help replenish your system

 - Eat protein and vitamin rich foods - sorry everyone (including myself) that wants to reach for yummie greasy fries and food, but this can actually worsen your hangover, especially if you have the volcanic stomach kind.

I hope these simple suggestions help you all enjoy your best new year of partying yet! :)  CHEERS!!

It's Time

I finally am going to rededicate myself back to this blog.  The stress of a full time job, full time school, marathon training, and the holidays is now finally at a standstill.  

Over the December holiday's, unlike most of you who celebrate with your family, I usually take the time to be solo and do as little as possible.  This year was not any different, except my mom came to interrupt for a few days. 

One of my nothing activities includes reading the abundance of magazines I subscribe to that I don't have time the rest of the year to read.  As I was going through each health and fitness magazine, I couldn't help but recognize a trend for "how to indulge without the bulge this year". These are all articles where they tell you how to make things "lower-fat" (aka... tasteless in my opinion) or the ridiculously small morsel size you can eat of that stuffing or pie you really want this holiday season.  I mean really, how realistic is that? 

I can't tell you how much these articles frustrate me.  I have always lived my mantra of "balance" and in no way do these articles help you achieve that.  If anything they make you deprive yourself of the special holiday indulgence you really want and then the next day/days you over eat it or something else because your so upset when everyone else was eating it and telling you how amazing it was.

My thought, take one helping always of your favorite dish you look forward to every year around the holidays.  Do not fret over it and realize it’s the one thing of food that is special to you on that day and it's ok to eat it.  Tomorrow you won't have it again until the next year and poof - full proof holiday-ing in effect.

Now, I do recognize on these holiday meals you may eat more than your typical day, its ok and it is even ok when you feel disgusting the next day because in all reality you are not going to keep eating like this up for weeks.  I sure as heck know I do not hold back on my thanksgiving plate (point in case pictured below). Just keep in mind, one meal will not make you gain weight - its eating excess calories compared to the amount that you burn over a sustained period of time that will make you gain weight. 

So with that I say, “Cheers, Happy Holidays!” and here's to finding your own balance.