The Ultimate Anti-Hangover Guide

by Mal – Thursday, 15. March 2018

With St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner and a little social ride at Velocity, we thought there’s no better timing than to give some top tips on how to beat a hangover!

Worried about that dreaded hangover ruining your next day? If so, here are some tips:

Double up on multivitamins: Hangovers aren’t all about dehydration, the main issues are inflammation and oxidative stress. It’s much easier to prevent a hangover than it is to deal with it the next morning so mitigate the damage with loading up with antioxidants the night before. Pop an extra multivitamin or even drink a HEYLIFE Juice which are full of beetroot and ginger. Beetroot’s betalain pigments, display potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and chemo-preventive activity in vitro and in vivo. It is also a great post BURN and workout recovery drink as exercise also creates inflammation and oxidiative stress.

What to eat at the pre-party meal: The severity of a hangover isn’t just related to how much you drink, but how you metabolize alcohol which depends a lot on what you eat. Make sure before you start drinking you have eaten a meal containing a high concentration of amino acids and B vitamins that help process the nasty byproducts of alcohol. Red meat is the winner there. If you’re a vegetarian or vegan try to supplement with B vitamins or make a vegetarian protein shake.

Stick with clear liquor and no sugar mixers: Vodka and gin have fewer toxins and impurities than dark ones like whiskey and rum and try to only drink the good stuff. The top-shelf stuff is filtered the most to remove impurities and toxins, which can make your hangover less severe. And avoid the sugary mixers as this is a sure way to spike your glucose leading to a massive crash of fatigue and headaches the next day. You would never sit down and drink six cans of regular coco-cola’s on a Wednesday afternoon, so why do you think your body can handle the same sugar content on a Saturday night! Minimize the crashes and drink soda water or alternate with real fruit juice as at least then you may get some vitamins in your drink.

Skip the smokes (everyday but especially when drinking): Researchers found that when students drank heavily, smoking significantly increased the risk and severity of a hangover, according to a study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

Pop an ibuprofen and water before bed: If you have really overdone it then before you go to sleep pop on anti-inflammatory drug. Anything that contains ibuprofen or Naprosyn directly attacks the inflammation that alcohol causes. Always avoid painkillers that contain acetaminophen as you can seriously damage your liver and kidneys if you take them with alcohol.

Make eggs for breakfast: Eggs are a great source of cysteine, which helps break down a headache-causing toxin that’s produced when your body digests alcohol. Go with a plain poached egg or dry omelet, which won’t upset your stomach as much as greasy bacon or heavy breakfast meats.

Avoid herbal teas the next day: In a Sun Yat-Sen University experiment, researchers found that herbal teas make your body process alcohol more slowly, so your hangover lasts extra long.

Know when to sweat: If you aren’t dehydrated and drank lots of water the night before, then we swear there’s no better cure than to SWEAT IT OUT. On weekends we have rides at 10:00, 11:00 and 12:00 to help you do just that.

And while we at Velocity don’t shy away from a drink or two, we always recommend to drink responsibly, in moderation and with a buddy who will have your back.

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The Benefits of Working Out in the Morning

by Mal – Sunday, 18. March 2018

Prefer an AM sweat session? Whether you jump out of bed the minute your eyes open or slam the snooze button seven times before you take on your morning sweat session, one thing is for certain: morning exercisers are more likely to stick to their routines and approach their day with a positive and focused mind. Dedicated Velocity riders rise for our classes knowing our high-energy classes will help prepare them for the day ahead. Although 6:30 am may sound crazy, you better believe there’s demand. We asked a frequent Dawn Patrol rider to share her tricks for getting out of bed, staying committed and why she loves working out before the rest of the world is even awake.

Katie

My alarm goes off at: I set alarms for 5:30 am, 5:45 am and every 5 minutes after that (just in case) and I’m out the door by 6:10 am for the 6:30 class.
Pre-class fuel: I normally eat a piece of fruit or half of a protein bar before class. I also always have a glass of water or a hot tea on my commute for a little extra hydration.
The night before: Sleep? I don’t know that word. My goal for this year is to GET. MORE. SLEEP. If possible, I take a power nap during the day.
Post-class fuel: I reward myself with a coffee or a soy latte from my favorite coffee shop (ViCafe – https://vicafe.ch/) and then have a mason jar filled with overnight oats, including chia seeds, coconut milk yogurt, fruit, and a protein (peanut butter or protein powder).
Why I love an early morning ride: I am NOT a morning person; I love riding early because the endorphins power me through my day- it’s like nothing else in the world. No amount of coffee can take the place of a good sweat shortly after rolling out of bed! I am incredibly inspired by the dedication of the morning instructors. They are the definition of NO EXCUSES.

With all the hustle and bustle of work and life, it can be challenging to make the time to exercise. But exercising in the morning is a great way to create a positive routine and provides many added benefits beyond just keeping you fit. Research shows that those who exercise in the morning are more consistent exercisers than those who exercise later in the day. Our body loves routine. If you force yourself to get up when your alarm goes off, your body will thank you and pay you back by feeling rested and ready for the day. Here are just a few more reasons why you may be ready to make the switch if you aren’t an sweating it out in the morning already:

You’ll maximize your chances
If you’re the type of person who plans on working out after work, but then oftentimes something pops up unexpectedly so it just doesn’t happen, then the morning is for you. By getting up early, you are less likely to miss out on any fun activities later in the day or get distracted at home or work. Instead of scrambling to fit it all in and missing another workout, plan to do it first thing so you are sure to get it done.
You’ll be more productive
Exercising increases your productivity and gets your endorphins going. You will be more awake and ready to tackle your day by giving yourself that extra energy boost. Working out can increase your mental clarity for 4 to 10 hours post-exercise.
You’ll burn more fat
The benefits of exercise linger throughout the day. Your metabolism is boosted and you continue to burn calories after the workout is done. Use this benefit during the day when you are eating instead of when you are sleeping. By keeping your metabolism elevated, you will be burning more fat all day long.
You’ll sleep better
Studies have shown that women and men who wake up early for regular exercise sleep better than those who routinely exercise in the evening. Since exercise stimulates your body, when you exercise at night, it becomes more difficult to fully relax and drift into peaceful sleep.

We hope we’ve convinced you to give mornings a try. But if you’re also the kind of person to ignore the alarm and keep sleeping, stick with what works for you.