Bittersweet :-/

Even after two days after my mini food crawl I am still feeling sluggish, bloated and just plain ol' fat!  The saying "you are what you eat" is soooo true!  I ate like crap, now I feel like crap.  If only I could remember how I felt the times when I just want to eat everything in sight, I'd be golden.  I know you've felt like this after a heavy meal or eating too much of one thing.  I describe it as the "Blah" feeling and I'm ready for it to go away!  I spoke with one of my friends who happens to be a nutritionist about my "symptoms of the Blah blues" and her suggestion was to drink lots of water to flush out my system.  So I thought I'd share a few tips on how to feel normal again after over indulging:

                          1) Drink LOTS and LOTS of water
                          2) Eat more leafy greens than normal
                          3) Try to avoid processed foods for at least 3-5 days
                          4) Cut back on sodium rich foods
                          5) Increase physical activity
                          6) Incorporate at least 1/2 cup of fruit daily
                          7) Get more rest
                          8) Cut back on protein (maybe 3-4 oz, 2 or 3 times a day)
Follow these 7 tips and I guarantee you'll feel better in about 3 days.  Basically this is a simple detox that still allows good, clean foods so the body can in a sense repair itself and begin functioning again.  If your body is not used to the sodium or carbohydrate overload you may notice some "swelling" and definitely some bloating.  But don't worry, this plan works.  It will take some advance preparation if you're not accustomed to cooking on a daily basis.  If after a few days you're still feeling a little blocked up, try taking a laxative or a magnesium supplement.  This, along with the increased water intake should help things move along (if ya know what I mean).

Also, for those who are on high protein diets, you may experience the same bloated, blah feeling.  Digestive enzymes are amazing and work wonders!  These enzymes help break down the protein and carbohydrates in food distribute them through the body.  Basically they're easy on the tummy and that's all that matters.  Any local drug store or health food store will carry any of these items.  Feel free to comment and/or make suggestions!  I'm open :)  There will be more healthy food posts coming soon, including some recipes I have made up on the fly!