Tips for a Healthy Super Bowl

healthy-super-bowl-tips

Edit: The title of this post is Tips for a Healthy-ish Super Bowl. Let’s call a spade a spade. 

Warning: This is NOT one of those posts that advises you to make some whole30 dip to contribute to the party spread. Like, actually, can you not? It’s going to taste like shit and no one else will appreciate it. Sorry, it’s the truth. Instead, let’s talk what you can do before said party to prep your bod for a potential binge.

Okay, begin.

The weekend ahead poses a maj threat for most of us. It’s the Super Bowl, or as I like to refer to it, The Lady Gaga Concert. Who’s playing again?!  Cocktails, beer, appetizers, and day-long festivities that go well into the night. It’s so fun, but can make you feel like shit well into the week.

Especially with weekends like this, benders are bound to happen. IMO, if you’re not fluctuating you aren’t living. While I don’t like to keep myself on a leash, I’m not a fan of the food coma or hangover that usually follows. I try to use the 5 guardrails below to keep myself inline.

Go to Bed

Prioritize your sleep the night or two nights before. When you’re well rested you’re able to expend greater energy during your workouts AND you’re less likely to overeat. Sleep deprivation effects hunger and appetite throughout the day. When you’re tired you tend to be more impulsive and crave high-carbohydrate food, a double whammy. Stay well rested and you’re less likely to eat shit.

HIIT Your Workout

Even if you REALLY don’t want to – workout. With a workout like Barry’s, your body’s metabolism continues to burn more calories when at complete rest then it would if you’re sedentary. This effect is called excess post-exercise oxygen consumption, or EPOC. EPOC is the amount of oxygen required to restore itself to its normal state and explains why your body continues to burn calories after you’ve finished your workout. HIIT workouts put a greater demand on your body’s need for oxygen thus stimulating EPOC effect. Bottom line: HIIT is the most effective way to stimulate EPOC. If you know you’re going to rage, you best to get work. Your body will thank you for it LONG after all is said and done.

Focus on Hydration

Hydration is the cornerstone of a healthy body. It emphasizes the good shit like clear skin, eyes and energy levels. It flushes out the bad shit like toxins and keeps your blood pressure in check. Hydration also acts as an appetite suppressant. Just like being tired, when you’re thirsty your mind and body can mistake it for hunger which leads to impulsive eating. Also, you’re less likely to be hungover. Keep a water bottle with you at all times and chug.

Cut Yourself Off

If you missed this read on intermittent fasting, check it out. Intermittent fasting kind of sounds too good to be true. Basically, you can eat whatever you want as long as it’s within a certain window of time. If you’ve got a weekend or party in your future, stick to a 10-hour eating window. This will give your body time to burn and process your carbohydrate supply and utilize fat for fuel. Make a pact with yourself to stop eating at a certain time and restart 14 hours after. That may seem like a crazy concept, but I guarantee your mind will struggle more than your body. Give it a try and see for yourself.

Pick One

People always say, “Are you a salty or sweet person?” and I’m like “um, HI, BOTH?” If it’s edible, I want it. I pick one thing to go nuts on, the main dish or dessert. If I know those nachos are too good to resist, I’ll stay away from the sweet table. The second I know I’ll want that football shaped sugar cookie I take it easy appetizers and avoid sugary cocktails. It’s a nice compromise with yourself and I always find if I have one I’m not dying for the other. Life isn’t one big fucking free for all, people.

I may not understand football, and seriously am not 100% confident I know who’s playing (let me Google that…), but I do know I won’t feel bad about the escapades that go down along with it.

 

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