A long weekend of beach days, pool parties, barbecues, and traveling most likely involved copious amounts of food and drink. After overindulging in all of the things, the return to real life can be a real struggle. All of the alcohol and unhealthy food continues to wreak havoc on the body even after the partying stops. Is it even possible to make it through the first day back?
According to health experts, binge eating over a holiday weekend is very common. Many people come face to face with temptations and often intake lots of carbs, hydrogenated oils, fried foods, refined sugars, and meat. Many of these foods can lead to heartburn, bloating, gas, or the more serious issue of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Excessive consumption of alcohol can also harm the body, putting it into a state of dehydration. The body needs an enzyme called dehydrogenase to metabolize alcohol. Drinking too much can overwhelm the body and this enzyme can’t keep up, which causes the sugar from alcohol to linger in the body. This often leads to hangovers and dehydration.
Overeating and over-drinking is quite common, but it’s possible to undo the damage of the long weekend. Continue reading to learn how to get back on track and promote detoxification from the long weekend.
Consider Cutting Alcohol
Some people live by the motto that a little hair of the dog will get them back on track. If you drank too much, it’s better to dramatically decrease your alcohol intake, or cut it out completely for at least a week. Alcohol puts the body in a state of dehydration, so it’s your job to rehydrate the body. The best way to do that is to focus on drinking lots of water following the indulgent weekend. You may also want to consider adding a healthy, low-sugar electrolyte powder to your water for added hydration benefits.
Eat A Nutritious Breakfast
You may want to avoid food altogether after a weekend of eating tons of food, but this is not the wisest decision. Focusing on more nutritious meals is better than skipping meals. Start with breakfast, as a nutrient-dense breakfast can improve metabolism and prevent unhealthy cravings later in the day. A fruit and vegetable smoothie or bowl of unsweetened, probiotic-rich Greek yogurt with fresh berries can be great options.
Focus On Fiber
Whether you want to enjoy a snack or a meal, focus your efforts on consuming fibrous foods when you’re hungry. Not only does fiber help to keep you full, but it also works to move food through the digestive tract. Eliminate processed foods, fast foods, and other heavy, unhealthy meals because you consumed enough over the long weekend. Complex carbohydrates that are rich in fiber include sweet potatoes, quinoa, oats, and fruits and vegetables. Nutritionists explain that these types of foods help stabilize blood sugar levels, helping you avoid overeating.
Drink Water…And Eat It Too!
It’s no secret that water is life, and you need to get a lot in your system after an indulgent weekend. If you are not the type of person to regularly consume water, though, you can enhance hydration efforts by eating water-rich foods. Cucumbers, leafy greens, melons, and other foods can help promote optimal digestion and reverse bloating. Excess consumption of alcohol and sugary snacks can still cause you to crave caffeine and unhealthy snacks. Keep away from those things and focus on water and water-rich foods. The goal should be to hydrate your cells and promote detoxification, and adding more water to your diet is a great way to do this.
Sweat It Out
There’s nothing like feeling the weight of an indulgent weekend to make you want to exercise. That being said, many people think that they should just take the rest of the week off, considering they already went off the rails. Don’t focus your energy on the negatives because that can induce poorer eating and drinking habits. Instead, it’s better to leave the past in the past and move forward with positive momentum. Engage in a HIIT workout, attend a hot yoga class, or get your pilates on. Try to do workouts that combine strength and cardiovascular exercises to get the heart pumping. The more you sweat, the more you detox!
