They Say It's Your Birthday...

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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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!

Mark Ferris @ Under the Gun Saloon.
Go get a tattoo...NOW!

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