Body Wrap Gal Donna Susor

It's so easy to go overboard at a holiday party when there's a delicious meal on the table. Whether it's a salt binge, too many sweets, or a combination of the two, don't resign yourself to feeling uncomfortable all day long. These tips will help you feel better sooner.

Start chugging (water, that is): Be sure to hydrate before bed and have a full cup of water ready to drink as soon as you wake up. Former Canyon Ranch director and group fitness expert Aimee Nicotera says that you should try to drink two to three liters of water throughout the day. It may feel counterintuitive to drink a lot of anything when you're feeling full, but you'll start feeling better immediately.

Freshen up: Aimee suggests starting out the morning with a hot shower, so there's no time to sit around and succumb to that "blah state." Taking the initiative ASAP will make everything else feel easier. Once you're all cleaned up, don't just reach for any old outfit; choose clothing that makes you feel confident and comfortable. "Feeling better mentally is an important part of feeling better physically," says Aimee.

Fill up with morning fiber: One of the worst things you can do after overindulging is skip out on breakfast and mess with your metabolism. Instead, enjoy a filling breakfast like a cup of oatmeal or bowl of high-fiber cereal. A breakfast that's full of fiber will support healthy digestion and keep your stomach satisfied throughout the morning. This way, you won't be ravenous for a huge lunch or snack on whatever's in sight and stay stuck in the cycle.

Stretch and twist: According to yoga teacher Tara Stiles, it's plain and simple: "Twists just get things moving." After a big holiday meal, get things moving with a fire-building yoga sequence full of twists that support digestion and release toxins. If you don't have time for a full sequence, take two minutes to move through a handful yoga poses for digestion — especially that Reclining Twist!

Get in some cardio: Even if you're feeling bloated and sluggish, hitting up a quality cardio session to sweat things out is some of your best defense against the dreaded food hangover. Whether you head to your favorite cardio class or spend 30 minutes on the treadmill, you'll feel 10 times better after a little exercise.

Keep your meals clean: You don't have to go overboard with a liquid diet or crazy detox, but do your best to eat clean all day long. Reach for balanced, light meals full of fresh seasonal produce and whole grains. Steer clear of processed foods and too much sugar or salt — your body will thank you later.

Let it be: After you've had a fun night out, don't be unkind to your yourself. There's no reason you shouldn't be able to enjoy a festive holiday party freely, so don't allow negative self talk to take over. The best thing you can do is move forward with a positive attitude and happy memories of your fun.

There are many ways that you can improve your health like exercising, eating right, etc...but one of the most important things you can do is Alkalize (the opposite of acidic) your body. This process is important because it can help rid your body of toxins.  Here are four simple steps that you can take to help alkalize your body.

1.  Stop Drinking Sodas

Did you know that sugar is one of the most acidic foods we consume? We need over 30 glasses of neutral water just to neutralize the acidity of ONE can of soda.  Wow!  This one is going to be hard for me because I love Vanilla Coke and I enjoy one every now and then but after researching this I am reconsidering drinking soft drinks.

2.  Eat More Fruits&Vegetables    

This is probably an obvious way to alkalize your body, but I think it's a good reminder for us all. Sweet potatoes, asparagus, squash, peppers, and other vegetables are excellent choices. There are other ways to get your recommended dosages and more with alkalizing drinking powder. In my personal experience this is my favorite ways of getting my daily fruits and vegetables because it's quick and easy. 

3. Switch from cows milk to almond, soy, or rice milk

Cows milk has shown to produce an abundance of mucous in the human body. There are also few adults who can metabolize the protein in cow’s milk properly.  Almond, soy and or rice milk are excellent alternatives to dairy.  I have not implemented almond milk completely into my life yet but I do use it in a meal replacement shake that I drink rather than using cow's milk.  With everything else that I put into the shake I can hardly tell a difference in the way the milk tastes. My goal for the next 6 months is to implement almond milk into my diet every day and remove the dairy!

4.  Drink Pure Alkaline Water – lots of it!

Pure water meaning water that is filtered. At a minimum, you should be drinking 7 ounces of water for every 10 lbs of your body weight. So, if you weigh 130lbs, you need to drink a minimum of 91 ounces of pure water (that’s about 3 liters).  A simple way to alkalize your water is with a dash of baking soda. There are also wonderful alkalizing agents you can purchase to buffer and alkalize the water (like a Jupiter water ionizer). Not only do I need to drink more water on a daily basis but I need to drink alkalized water and lots of it!

Start implementing these steps into your life slowly, and if you are overwhelmed, don't try to do them all at once.  Try one step for 6 weeks and make it a habit and once you feel like it has become a routine then I would move on to the next one.