So..... Halloween is over. The mess is cleaned up. The costumes are put away and all the treats are gone. Maybe there are a few pieces of candy still hanging around.
Halloween is so much fun. Most of the excitement is because of the kids, but grown-ups know how to have a good time, too! All that overindulging in too many treats: cupcakes and chocolate. Chips and Dip. Candy-Corn flavored Jello-shots. Who can resist all that? Halloween only comes once a year, but now that it's over, chances are you're feeling pretty awful.
Lousy. Tired. Moody. Bloated. As if you have a nasty hangover.
The truth is - YOU DO! You have a JUNK FOOD HANGOVER!
The cruel trick of Halloween is how awful you feel after all those treats!
Here's how to feel better and get right back on track:
Forgive yourself.
That's right. Go easy on yourself. So... you ate twenty-five mini Tootsie Rolls and three cupcakes. And a brownie. With ice cream. And washed it all down with Whipped Cream flavored vodka shots! Who cares? That was yesterday and today is a brand-new day. MOVE ON! Punishing yourself for what you did yesterday won't do you or anyone else a bit of good today. The only thing it will do is trap you. Yep. Punishing yourself sets you up for failure. You'll just keep on eating and making poor choices because you already feel bad about yourself. STOP IT! NOW!!!
Get up and move.
I know you're feeling sluggish right now, but you have to shift all that stuff around and get it out of your system. Resist the urge to sit around and try to squeeze in some kind of exercise. Nothing too crazy. If you don't normally spend hours at the gym- don't do it today. There are little things you can do. Take a stroll around your office building during your lunch break. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk around the mall and start your Holiday shopping. Go bike riding or hiking in the woods. Vacuum. Dust. Turn on music and dance around the house. Kiss somebody. Have sex!
Drink plenty of water.
Treat yourself to plenty of big glasses of filtered water with freshly squeezed lemon juice. Water helps to flush out all the toxins that are causing havoc in your body right now. Lemon juice wakes up your liver and helps it filter better and faster. You feel lousy right now because your liver is working overtime trying to process all that junk!
Focus on Protein.
After over-indulging, your body will naturally crave carbohydrates and sweets. Your body likes the "high" and it wants to keep that "high"! Curb those cravings by eating high quality sources of protein today. Foods rich in protein and Omega-Three Fatty Acids will help keep you grounded and improve your mood. Go for grilled wild salmon for dinner. Skip the potatoes and rice. Have a large tossed green salad or steamed veggies like broccoli or kale.
Eat Healthy Fat.
Munch on nuts like almonds, walnuts or pistachios. Spread a small amount of almond or natural peanut butter on celery sticks or organic green apple slices. Toss fresh, diced avocado into your salad. Good fat helps keep you satisfied longer so you will be less tempted to reach for any leftover Halloween treats.
Enjoy Lots of Veggies.
Double up on your vegetables. Vegetables are rich in fiber. Fiber is good for your digestion and helps move things through your body quickly. You really want to get rid of all that junk that's making you feel so lousy, don't you?
Sip Some Soup.
Soup is gentle on your over-taxed digestive system. Low-sodium vegetable broth is perfect. Miso soup is great, too. Try to avoid processed, canned varieties like noodle soups and cream-based soups.
Ginger Tea to the Rescue.
If your stomach is a feeling a bit queasy, drink some hot, homemade ginger tea. It's good for your digestion and will help soothe an upset tummy. Home Made Ginger Tea
REST UP!
Take the next few evenings off .and do something relaxing: watch movies, build a fire, play cards or board games with the family. Climb into bed a little earlier than usual if you can. Give yourself and your body a break.
Treat yourself with loving care over these next few days.
Your body, mind and spirit will thank you!
Yours in Good Health,
Cynthia
xo
