Happy & Healthy

WHAT TO DO IF YOU'RE FULL

With so many delicious things on the Christmas table these days, it is often difficult to listen to your body. We just keep eating, snacking, and munching while our body has actually been signaling to stop for a long time. The result: a three-month pregnant belly, a sugar rush from here to Tokyo, a nauseous feeling, and also a bad mood. You are probably inclined to dive onto that couch and start binge-watching Netflix. Better not.

What to do and not do if you are dealing with that bloated belly?

1. Stay upright. Wait at least two hours before crashing on the couch; this will prevent acid reflux in your esophagus. The what? When you lie down, the food in your stomach can partially “sink” back into your esophagus due to gravity. Your stomach has a thick wall that can withstand stomach acid, but your esophagus does not.

2. Get moving. Plan an extra workout. And you don't have to run ten kilometers. Even though it feels like there's no point in exercising with a full belly, believe me, there is. Moving a bit will cause your brain to produce endorphins. You know, that happiness hormone. You'll need it when you're slumped at the Christmas table. The start of the workout might be a bit tough, but in the end, you'll be proud of yourself. Not in the mood for intense exercise? Take a nice walk in the woods. The perfect way to clear your head and come back to yourself. Even if you only go for half an hour, really, it will do you good.

3. The dumbest thing you can do is to stop eating right now. Did you have a heavy Christmas breakfast? Then go for a light salad at lunch so that by the time dinner starts, you feel a bit lighter. When you skip an important meal, you'll only get hungrier later in the day.

4. Even dumber if you step on that scale right now. It's very motivating to step on the scale the morning after your Christmas dinner. At that moment, you are definitely heavier because your body is retaining water. This is due to the salt intake, which is probably higher than normal. So, let's postpone weighing for another week, after you've had a few balance days.

5. Drink water. Water not only keeps your metabolism going, but it also ensures that your intestines work well. And you want that. Nothing is more annoying than being blocked up from a binge. Additionally, drinking plenty of water also helps you go number two faster. And yes, that is a relief.

6. Skip the Christmas pastries and go for green tea. This helps to counteract the accumulation of fat in your body and helps keep your cholesterol in check.

7. Go easy with alcohol. This is filling, and you might want to avoid it for now.

8. Go to bed on time. Have a good night. Tomorrow you'll wake up fresh and fruity next to your bed, ready to start a new day healthily.

And furthermore, enjoy yourself, girlfriends.