After a night of heavy drinking, you're probably looking for a quick fix for your hangover. Could a workout do the trick?
Unfortunately,
the sweat-it-out theory is a myth. The reason: Your body can metabolize
about one drink—a 12-ounce (oz) beer, 5oz of wine, or 1.5oz of
liquor—per hour. By the time you wake up in the morning, the alcohol has
already passed through your system.
But that doesn't mean breaking a sweat is a bad idea.
"The
qualities that make exercise an effective anti-depressant can help you
feel better," according to Katarina Borer, Ph.D., professor at the
University of Michigan's School of Kinesiology. Exercise releases a
surge of neurochemicals and
hormones—like endorphins, norepinepherine,
and even adrenaline—that boost your energy, mood, motivation, and
pleasure, she says. Plus, burning off a few extra calories may diminish
some of your guilt for overindulging the night before.
So
while a workout won't erase the effects of the drinks—or those photos
on Facebook—it may give you the kick in the butt you need to make it
through the day.
"The key is to get your heart rate up
and your muscles burning just enough to stimulate the release of these
body chemicals without pushing yourself too hard, since you're already
likely fatigued and dehydrated," says Tony Gentilcore, C.S.C.S.,
co-founder of Cressey Performance in Hudson, Massachusetts, who created
the quick 20-minute hangover helper below.
Grab some
water and a pair of 15- to 20-pound dumbbells. Perform each exercise
back-to-back, resting only when needed. After you've completed all 6
exercises, rest for 60 to 90 seconds. That's 1 round. Repeat the circuit
as many times as possible in 20 minutes.
No comments:
Post a Comment