Oh this was so bad.
What good is getting your butt kicked 5-6 times a week if you don't take the time to show it off every once and a while? Man, I wish I had pictures from that night!
I think there were quite a few CrossFitters last weekend whom were anxiously gnawing at the bit to put some sexy lingerie and underwear and crash Dennis' party. Wow! I'm glad to see that there are so many positive benefits people are having as a result of our programming. I mean, not to make mountains out of mole hills or anything, but I can now tell how well rounded all of you are! Sure, the inorganic components of fitness (balance, accuracy, agility and coordination) may not have been optimal that night, but hey, we can't be perfect all of the time. This is also why I sometimes have the class train for the field sobriety test: I just want you to be prepared for the unexpected. Just kidding!
So, when Sunday morning comes around, what's the best way to detox? From recent experience, I can tell you that sleeping in, a bloody mary, two Aleves, a cup of cofffee does NOT help at all. Some experts will recommend that the
first thing to do is get as much water into your body as possible. Alcohol is a diuretic, it makes you want to urinate, it inhibits the production of the ante diuretic hormone. Your body becomes less capable of absorbing water. The fluids are passed straight to your kidneys and flushed out of your body.
Another thing is to keep away from animal fats. It used to be the done thing, when you are suffering from a hangover eat a big fried meal, plenty of fat. Don't do it! Fruit and vegetables are going to be your saviors, and low-fat poultry and fish. Lean meat, seeds, nuts, vegetables, some fruit, little starches and zero sugars. Sound familiar?
And the obvious advice is not to drink, or take any other stimulants, including caffeine.
The whole point of Alcohol Detox after binge drinking is to try and take all the crap out of your body that you have put into it by binge drinking. When you are drunk you will all sorts of ludicrous, nasty food down your throat, junk that you would never even look at if you were sober ("B-Line to the cake table!") So you have to detox from that crap as well.
The holidays are coming!
I found an interesting article by Dianne Carswell in the Washington Post about detoxing after the holidays. I have yet to try this myself, but I think it's good and wholesome information.
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FLUSH. Salty foods cause fluid retention and puffiness; those made with refined sugar cause spikes in blood sugar and, thus, cravings; and alcohol and caffeine cause dehydration. For your body's regenerative system to work, toxins must be flushed out -- and eight glasses of water a day won't do it alone. To truly purify your system while restoring essential vitamins and minerals, try a four-day regimen of fruit juices in the morning and vegetable juices in the afternoon along with your normal diet.
 Start making up for your seasonal sins with good-for-you home remedies. (Photos Nate Lankford For The Washington Post) |
| The first two days, before you consume anything else, drink 1 cup hot water blended with the juice of one lemon, 1/16 teaspoon cayenne pepper and 2 tablespoons maple syrup. Lemons are rich in bioflavonoids (pigments that act as excellent detoxifying catalysts); cayenne pepper is an anti-inflammatory; and maple syrup adds sweetness. The juice is intense, thus the two-day program -- your body needs time to absorb it, then recover. |
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Next, along with breakfast, have a blend of orange or half a pink grapefruit, two or three slices of pineapple, two stalks of celery, and a handful of raspberries. Or, mix one pink grapefruit with three apples (rich in the digestive aid pectin), a pinch of cinnamon (high in chromium, which helps balance blood sugar) and a bit of fresh ginger (which helps settle the stomach). If you're prone to problems with stomach acidity, you can dilute these citrus-based juices with water.
In the afternoon, try juices made with carrots, which are packed with healthy antioxidants. Combine four carrots, a sprig of parsley (rich in chlorophyll, which helps stimulate digestive enzymes), 1/2 cucumber (high in water content) and 1/2 beet (which helps detoxify the bladder and kidneys); sweeten with a small apple if you're not a veggie fan. Another option is to combine two carrots with 1/4 small cucumber, one celery stalk and a small amount of Wakame (seaweed rich in vitamin C, calcium and iron).
NOURISH. You can't survive on juice alone, of course, but you should avoid sinful snacks. Select foods high in water content, such as cucumber, celery, lettuce and kale. Grapefruits are good metabolic stimulants; grapes are high in potassium (essential in maintaining normal kidney function); cantaloupes are high in digestive enzymes; and bananas and avocados digest slowly and help maintain blood sugar. Avoid alcohol, excessive caffeine, red meat and dairy products, and keep up your water intake. (Yes, we've all heard of the morning-after hangover hamburger, but it's best to stick to foods low in fat, high in nutrients.)
SOOTHE. The body can efficiently expel toxins through the pores of the skin. To hasten this process, combine in a bath 1 cup of Epsom salts and 1 to 2 tablespoons of an essential oil, such as lemon, jojoba, rosemary or olive. The ingredients' stimulating properties naturally draw toxins out. (Just be sure to test the oil first to make sure you're not allergic by applying a small amount to the underside of your forearm.)
Another option is to exfoliate the skin, which increases respiration and removes toxins. Combine 1/2 cup oatmeal, 1 tablespoon cornmeal and several drops almond oil with enough milk to form a paste. Apply by hand to the entire body (excluding the face) with gentle, circular motions. Rinse, then brush the skin using a loofah or sponge.
BEAUTIFY. You wear your hard-partying history on your face, too: an unhealthy pallor, puffiness, dark circles. To restore natural color, form a paste by mixing 1/2 cup plain yogurt (it brightens the skin), 2 teaspoons lemon juice (ditto) and honey (which softens the skin, improving appearance). Apply on clean skin, leave on for 15 minutes and rinse off with warm water.
Puffy eyes respond well to chamomile, which contains the soothing compound azulene. Boil a tea bag in 1 cup water, allow to cool, then soak two cotton pads in the tea for three minutes. Remove the pads and put them in the freezer for 15 minutes. Then position them on your closed eyes and relax with your head on a pillow for 20 minutes (elevating the head helps excess fluids associated with puffiness drain downward). Massage in eye cream afterward to hydrate and further stimulate blood flow.
For extremely dark under-eye circles, substitute black tea; it's high in soothing tannic acid, and its caffeine content dilates blood vessels, helping to draw blood away from the under-eye area. Cool, peeled, thinly sliced cucumbers are another soothing beauty-industry fave; press them in place under the eyes, let them sit for 15 minutes, then remove and rinse your face. Ahhh . . . Diana L. Carswell"
Last years Turkeu Bowl 
Look at this guy! 
