Halloween has passed, the costumes stored, and the skeleton decorations traded in for autumn wreaths made of foliage and corn husks. But there’s one thing lingering from October in my house and it’s a pumpkin shaped bucket filled to the brim with Snickers, Twix, and Milky Ways.
I won’t pretend to be a candy snob. I love these sugary, super highly processed, junky candies and every November after Halloween, I take pleasure in enjoying them. But I have a confession! Every once in awhile, I overindulge and before I know it, there is a trail of wrappers surrounding my desk staring back at me.
Shortly after I overdo it, I feel those familiar feelings. Grimy teeth, a bloated belly, brain fog. Sometimes, I’ll wake up the next morning with small pimples scattered over my chin, one of my telltale signs of excessive sugar consumption. Oh, and constipation. Not fun to talk about (or experience!) but when my digestion is off, it’s my body’s red flag saying, “Hey! What are we doing here? Let’s get back on track!”
Do you know your signs?
Do you know your telltale signs when you’ve veered off course? It sounds obvious perhaps, but not everyone is in tune to their bodies signals and may not register that these symptoms aren’t normal. If that’s you and you want to explore how you can feel more connected to yourself, I invite you to book a free consultation with me.
In the meantime, I’d love to share some tips to recover from a sugar hangover and get back on track to feeling well.
Don’t beat yourself up
It’s tempting to feel guilty or ashamed after overindulging, but what good does that do? Negative self-talk isn’t helpful, especially when you’re already not feeling your best physically. Instead, treat yourself with more compassion and love. Accept that it happened. It could have been a one-time thing, or it may happen again. That’s life and there are more important things to worry about than feeling bad about enjoying food.
Make water your BFF
The best cure for any type of hangover is proper hydration. Sugar in particular is dehydrating when you have too much, so prioritize drinking water throughout the day. Being properly hydrated will help not only with digestion, but it can also help curb your cravings. If you’re looking for a new water bottle, my wife Inge just purchased this half-gallon jug from Ello and she says it’s been a great way to remember to drink enough water throughout the day.
Get fresh air and natural light
Fresh air and sunlight are good for your mind, body, and spirit! The next time you’re feeling the effects of having too much sugar (or any excessive indulgence), go for a walk and notice how you feel afterward. Bonus points if you have access to nature, but even walking in urban areas has benefits.
Nourish yourself with easy to digest foods
Counterbalance heavy sugar intake with lighter nourishing and easier-to-digest foods. My favorites include warm soup, bone broth, and roasted or sauteed veggies.
Eliminate Temptations
There will always be temptations in life and unless you’re a complete saint, it’s likely that you’ll give in once in a while and do the thing you’re not “supposed” to do. But do yourself a favor and protect yourself from temptation.
Do you know the saying, “out of sight, out of mind?”
If there are things in your life that make you feel out of control, protect yourself by not having them around. For me, this means not buying junk food. If we don’t have it easily accessible at home, I simply won’t eat it. In the case of the Halloween candy, I’ve enjoyed enough of it and now we’ll donate the rest. It’s not that I’m not strong enough to decline it, but if I know it doesn’t make me feel well afterward, why keep it around?
This same philosophy can be applied to other areas in your life as well. If there’s someone in your life you know you shouldn’t be seeing, delete their number from your phone and don’t follow them on social media. If alcohol is a problem for you, don’t meet your friends at a bar. If you’re staying up too late watching television, take the TV out of your room, etc. It’s a simple concept, but so much harder to put into practice.
Want more support?
I hope these sugar hangover tips are helpful. If you want more support in this area, I would love to hear from you. I’m currently taking on new health coaching clients for this month and next, so feel free to book a free consultation with me.
Top photo by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash.
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