This Primal Yogi
learned two very important things on her birthday this year:
She can’t party like
she used to…
AND
She’s can’t recover
like she used to either.
Now let me begin by saying that I was never the “party
animal.” I grew up a bit of a prude, thus I was never that well practiced at
going wild. But all in all, I could hold my own. I was also 20 pounds heavier
and eating ALL kinds of crap that was surely gumming up my symptom and masking
the effects in a haze of discomfort instead of total annihilation. Yet now,
after years of cleaning up my eating-act and recently going SUPER PALEO
(gluten/dairy/sugar-free!), everything that I put down my gullet affects me
IMMEDIATELY. Whether it’s the delicious, healthy and hearty dinner I had of
T-Bone steak, roasted asparagus and Brussels sprouts….or the three glasses of
champagne that went along with it. Giggles McGee here left this early birthday
dinner (FYI: not driving!) completely satiated, but also rosy cheeked and
rather chatty. I got home thinking, “HEYO, this is new.”
And I know it’s not just me! I've heard many people do this
kind of reflecting; listing the hours of beer pong and throwing back shots they
would do in college, and getting queasy at the thought of it now. I can even
fondly remember popping out of bed the next morning, bright-eyed and bushy
tailed after spending the evening in my friend’s room because I didn't want to
(i.e. couldn't and shouldn't ) drive home that night. As if the night before I
was actually secretly taking shots of water and mixing my club soda with…well,
more club soda.
|
Before... |
When the big birthday came, even with the proper
preparation—like a pre-game snack of a mega-smoothie and roasted chicken thigh,
and even going a little crazy with ribs and sweet potato fries for dinner—my
delicate 27-year-old constitution just didn't want to withstand that evening’s libation
corruption. A few sweet concoctions out
with friends from the box, and then an adventure of karaoke and brewskies in
the city, and this primal prima donna was DONE. Home and instantly to sleep.
|
...After. |
The next day, I had thoroughly intended to bask in the beautiful weather
and maybe get a few things done on the day after my birthday…but my brain had
other plans. In fact, Brain said, “GIRL! Cancel all your plans; your
punishment is to sit on the couch, unable to find a comfortable position that doesn't also make you want to ralph, and reflect on what you've done!”
Just the thought of watching other people work on their
kipping pull up made me sea-sick, and I sadly had to relinquish my spot in the
coveted gymnastics class. An entire day lost!
Let me now state that
I am in NO WAY saying that I should go back to the S.A.D. (Standard American
Diet) lifestyle so I can throw back more brews with my homies. AND this is not to
say that Primal/Paleo eaters are more susceptible to hangovers –‘cause that’s
just not true either.
Eating crappy and not exercising as much always had me in a
bit of a funk, so a hangover was just “one more thing.” I was perfectly trained
to cope. Now that I eat well, I realize the pros and the cons of my
indulgences. This is more of a light bulb moment, where I understand that I honestly
do like how I’m eating now. I really enjoy how I’m feeling recently. Hell, I’m even fond
of how I’m looking naked these days! And I know that it’s up to me to keep it
that way; I’m no longer in the age-range where health/beauty/recovery come
easily, and if fact…(*gulp*) I’m aware that it only gets harder from here to
maintain this goodness.
Just for some fun, here are a few stats (From the article by Sharon
Basaraba, “
How Your Body Changes with Age”) about the womanly figure--just kicking me in the pants to make sure I stay on track:
|
from skinnyconfidentail.com |
- For women, healthy
body fat percentages range from 21-33% (age 20-39 yrs) and between 23-34% (age
40-59 yrs).*These figures,
published in the American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition, are based on U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommendations
of a healthy body mass index range between 19-25.
- In women, a drop in
estrogen levels with menopause coincides with a shift of fat from the lower
portion of the body (a "pear" shape), toward the midsection (an
"apple" shape). This "belly fat" is comprised of both
subcutaneous fat under the abdominal skin, as well as fat that accumulates
around organs, called visceral adipose tissue, deep within the abdomen.
- Some researchers
estimate a yearly 1% loss of muscle mass, after the age of 30. Since muscle
burns more calories than fat, a smaller proportion of muscle on your body has
implications for your overall weight and health, as well as a loss of overall
strength, and increased disability.
- Bone mineral density
peaks around the age of 30, then may diminish -- especially in women in the
first years after menopause -- putting you at risk of bone-thinning diseases
like osteopenia, and osteoporosis.
So instead of wasting a day in my jammers on the couch
debating horrible food choices to calm my swirling brain, I should maybe pull
back on my evening intake. Still enjoy that glass or two of wine, but skip the
“I’ll have what he’s having” approach.
Oh, and don’t worry: I may have learned my lesson, but I
still had a swell birthday. J
IN FACT! I took my awesome lil’ mama out to get a tattoo!
Until next time, Cave-Kids.
Oh, and just in case we’re all
still a little slow to our “getting-too-old-for-this-shit” realizations, here
are some
Basic Primal Preventative Hangover Measures brought to you by
Mark’s Daily Apple.
- Drink until you’re
buzzed, then stop. Drink, but avoid
drunkenness. Let your glutathione catch up with your acetaldehyde.
- Drink water with your
alcohol. Have a glass handy
throughout the night. If you order a drink from the bartender, get a water with
it and slam it down before your sip your liquor. This should help keep you
hydrated. Even better – sprinkle a bit of mineral-rich sea salt in the water to provide electrolytes.
- Eat before you drink. An empty stomach makes for a cheap drunk, yeah,
but also a bad morning.
- Eat while you
drink. Something fatty, like a
rich cheese, is perfect, especially with wine. An old
trick in certain Mediterranean countries is to take a big spoonful of olive oil before a night of drinking.
- Drink two large glasses
of water immediately before bed. Again, add sea salt for the electrolytes. You can also drink
Pedialyte or coconut water for added electrolytes. Even if you've overdone it with the drinks, slamming the fluids before bed can mitigate the
worst of what’s to come.
Grr...urg...LOVE,
This Primal Yogi
*SOON ON THE BLOG*
A Primal Holiday Primer