Show of hands for everyone who’s felt bloated in the worst way the morning after a night of heavy eating? Your fingers feel swollen, you can’t suck your stomach in, and you just generally feel sloppy, right? I expect every single one of you reading this to nod at the screen because honestly, we all do it! Thing is, I never regret it. It’s fine (and glorious) to go all out every once in a while. That’s life, and some of the best memories I have are from nights where my girlfriends and I stayed up all night eating junk food and indulging in mindless chatter and conversation. There’s no need to beat yourself up over eating too much. It happens, we wake up, and we mind what we put into our body the next day. Life is a balancing act.
I wanted to share a couple habits of mine for those morning-after-days when I’m tempted to walk around the house sans pants because I feel so sluggish to wear or do anything. Minding what I put into my body the next day does wonders for my mental state, and helps with the bloat. These are just a few things that help me – it may be different for everyone, but let’s hear it for some detoxing inspiration ;)
Note: I am not a doctor or a nutritionist – this is just a personal piece including my own personal habits. Please read it as such.
Warm Water with Lemon
First thing’s first – wake that body up. Within the half-hour of waking up (yes, that means no rolling around in bed – get up!), I will drink an 8 oz glass of warm water with lemon. It helps with detox and cleansing. Lemon juice is known to flush out the toxins and bad stuff – it’s powerful stuff. It’s no wonder we use it in our cleaning products! It helps to speed up urination, too – seriously, get all that crap out of my body and let me get on with my day. Awesome, step one done.
Green Smoothie or Juice
Yes, more fluids… sorta. A green smoothie is a refreshing option, but be mindful what you put into it. I will typically add 1/2 banana, tons of spinach or kale (or both), grapefruit, and strawberries. Grapefruit brightens it up and is super low in calories. It’s full of vitamin C, and a great remedy for constipation. If you want to get things moving down there, grapefruit is your girl. If you’d prefer juice, I recommend a green juice. Try one of these five green juice combinations, or the green juice pictured above, which I like to call the Skywalker. A light breakfast bursting with nutrition.
Detox Soup
My infamous sprouts detox soup is my favorite on a bloated day. Primarily broth, but also features mung bean sprouts, onion, and pea pods. And listen – it is surprisingly filling!
More Water
Seriously, just keep a bottle on you all day. Water water water. Keep drinking!
Take a Walk
Just pick yourself up and take a walk around the neighborhood – or go to a local park. Getting up and moving will not only make you feel better and give you a burst of energy, but the fresh air is revitalizing. Plus, you’ll feel accomplished having gotten active. Sometimes, I have to force myself to put on my sneakers, but once you get moving, there is no way you’ll regret it. Have you ever regretted a walk? No.
Fruit
Watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe… these are all low-calorie, low-sugar fruits that are great to munch on through the day. Watermelon is a plus for me because it’s super hydrating – more water, yeah?
Drink Peppermint Tea
There’s nothing like a hot cup of tea when you are feeling crappy and bloated. Not only does this count as more fluids, but peppermint tea in particular is known to help fight bloat. It can help relax GI muscles and dissipate the gas filling your stomach. Chamomile tea has a similar affect, as do other teas. You can learn more about all the health and wellness benefits that tea offers. Drink up!
Veggies for Dinner
Maybe it’s just me (or maybe not!) but a pile of veggies on my plate is heaven. Add some great spices such as turmeric or garam masala for a rich flavor and I am a happy camper. Zucchini, carrots, mushrooms… all great options. I personally tend to avoid cruciferous vegetables (they can make you feel even more bloated – opposite of what we are trying to accomplish here) and potatoes because of the starch. Sometimes I’ll have a side of brown rice or quinoa, too. Healthy and clean.
Dark Chocolate
Didn’t expect to find this one on here, huh? This is just my personal tips, remember?! So, personally… I need something sweet everyday. It’s just one of those habits I have! If I am going to reach for anything on a day like this, it will be a small square of dark chocolate. Just a square is enough to curb my sweet tooth. Eat your antioxidants, kids.
So there you have it – my typical “detox” type day. You won’t ever find me fasting or not eating, because I get way too agitated (read: hangry) when I don’t eat. I don’t think you should deprive yourself just because you went overboard the night before. Mindful eats, tons of fluids, and movement. This is what gets me through the day after.
I want to hear what helps you! Let me know some of your own tips in the comments… I think we could all use the inspiration. Hey, we’re human and we’re totally entitled to a night of cake, cookies, pizza, and drinks. No regrets, just moving forward ;) xx bianca
