What a weekend! And it isn't over yet. I have one more party to attend later on this afternoon. It's a graduation thing, so I am hoping it will be somewhat tame and reserved. A bunch of 18 year old boys fresh out of high school? I highly doubt it will be anything but tame and reserved, but my plan is to find a comfortable chair in a shady spot, relax and sip water with fresh lemon.
I am tired of eating. And drinking. I don't make a habit of over-doing either regularly, but blame it on the fact that the festivities around here began a week ago. My friends have been visiting from Georgia since last Thursday. We've been getting together almost every single night and we definitely pulled out all the stops with a huge Independence Day Bash. I definitely overindulged a bit and now I feel like crap!
How do I actually feel?
Sluggish.
Bloated.
Moody
Heavy.
Irritated.
Unhealthy.
Anyone else feeling this way?
I eat healthy and take care of my body every day and I am always energetic, even tempered, happy and 99.9% of the time, I feel really, really healthy. If and when I let my good habits slide, even just a little, I recognize the difference and the symptoms almost immediately. Time to get back on the path.... TODAY.
If you've done a bit of over indulging for the past few days, here are a few easy tips to get right back on the path to better health and wellness.
1. Hydrate.
Your body needs and craves water, so drink up. Your body wants rid itself of what it no longer needs and drinking plenty of water will help everything move much faster. Add a few slices of fresh lemon to your water. Lemons are cleansing and will help your overtaxed liver to detoxify. Focus on foods that are rich in water content. Choose a fruit smoothie over eggs or rolls and bagels for breakfast. Reach for lots fresh vegetables. Eat green tossed salads, minus the fatty dressing. Go with a lighter dressing, like extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Or, squeeze the juice of a fresh lemon over your salad. Make a fruit salad instead reaching for cookies, cakes and pies. Watermelon is perfect. It's naturally sweet and loaded with water and amazing nutrients your body needs to recover and repair itself.
2. Be Gentle.
Skip the alcohol if at all possible. Choose a light white wine, if you must drink. It's a bit easier on your system. Opt for tea instead of coffee. Tea is soothing to your stomach. Sip low sodium vegetable broth in between meals or if you feel hungry. Also, try to avoid steak, burgers, hot dogs, etc. over the next few days. Those types of meats are much too heavy for your body to handle right now on top of everything else you've piled in there. Your digestive system is already working double time and this is why you feel so tired and sluggish. Stick with grilled fish or chicken. The best choice is protein from plant sources. Also, try to avoid overly spicy foods and rich creams and sauces.
3. Move.
Exercise is the best way to help rid your body of excess fat and toxins. If you're not an exercise junkie, now is NOT the time to start a rigorous routine, especially if you've overdone it on the eating and drinking for the past few days. Start off nice and easy. Go for a long walk, hike in the woods, or do some yoga.
4. Rest.
You're probably feeling tired anyway, so listen to your body and give it what it needs. Relax on the beach, sit out in the yard with a good book, take an afternoon nap. Soak in a relaxing bath. Get a massage. Rest is essential. When you are at rest, your body is healing and restoring itself.
5. Lose the Guilt
So... you overindulged! BIG DEAL! Avoid falling into the trap of emotionally torturing yourself over what you've put into your body these past few days. Don't give into the guilt. You're human. You're normal. If you punish yourself or feel guilty, it will be that much more difficult to get back on the path. Forgive yourself and move on!
Yours in Good Health,
Cynthia
xo
