Christmas is coming around fast, and it’s that time of year…
…When a Sunday morning run, or game of football is exchanged for a big night out at the work Christmas party…
…that usually involves A LOT of dancing, and LOTS of alcohol!
All year long you’ve been working hard to exercise regularly, walking and running further distances, making healthier food choices and building great habits. But with this time of year, comes many different things that can put a stop in our tracks…
Office parties and family gatherings where you will drink far too much and end up feeling sore the next day.
Days of sitting around on the sofa because it’s “too cold” to exercise and you don’t want to brave the outdoors.
But while the rest of the world willingly drinks vast amounts, eats and gets themselves into a momentum of lazing around are you going to keep on track now so you can carry your healthy habits well on into the new year?…
If so, here’s a few festive thoughts on how to limit the impact a late night christmas party that can affect how well you will run the next day, and impact your chances of picking up an injury.
What most people don’t realise is that even if your Christmas party is on a Thursday, and you end up drinking a ‘little too much’, alcohol seriously dehydrates your body for days! So that means by the time Sunday comes around, your body is likely to still be crying out for fluids.
And if your body is dehydrated, this can make your muscles more prone to being pulled as they’re more tight than usual, AND they’ll take even longer to repair if you pull one!
So to avoid the likelihood of this happening and getting in the way of you keeping active this winter, slow down on the drinking and even have a few glasses of water between each one. Failing that, (because I know once the drink kicks in water is the last thing you’re going to think of…) have a large bottle of water ready waiting for you by your bed when you get home, so you can get plenty of water in your system for the next day.
Here’s another thing – as well as drinking a bit too much when you’re out partying until late, you’re likely to skip a warm-up the next day too.
Think about it, if you’re feeling sore the following morning, you’ll probably wake up later than usual, meaning you’ll turn up later to play a game of football, or head out later for your run, which means you probably won’t feel like warming up beforehand.
I know the feeling, I’ve been there too where I once thought I’d save more energy if I just went straight into playing a game – big mistake!
Thing is, with less fluids in your system and not having done your usual warm-up, you’re unlikely to finish the game or your run anyway, because your hamstrings and calf muscles have been neglected and waiting for that moment where you stretch a little too far, and will be sure to let you know that they’re not up to exercising with a “ping!”… (and I’m sure you know how painful a sudden “pop” can be!)
So there’s something for you to think about over the next few weeks if you’re involved in a sport, or go for regular runs at the weekend and find yourself at the office part until 2 am 😉
Have fun and remember to keep drinking water throughout the night! Otherwise I’ll be expecting a call from you Monday morning.
For more health tips like this, simply visit my website where you can claim your free copy of my sports and exercise tips report:http://www.paulgoughphysio.com/sports-injury-clinic
You might know Paul as an expert Columnist who writes weekly health articles for TWO of the North East's biggest daily Newspapers, The Northern Echo And The Hartlepool Mail, he is a regular Speaker at Industry Seminars around the globe and a Radio Personality, often heard on the BBC. Paul has been an expert guest on dozens of Radio shows and regularly interviewed in newspapers, magazines and trade journals all over the world, including the Guardian.
Paul’s background included working extensively in the Premier League with a Top Professional Football Team, and since quitting his job in Professional Football in 2007, his Physio Practice has become the fastest growing in the UK and biggest in the North East. So successful, that companies like BUPA, ASDA, The Vela Group And Coast & Country, repeatedly retain his Physio company's services to keep healthy their own staff and workforce. Paul Gough Physio Rooms is now a large multi-physio, multi clinic speciality practice in Darlington, Durham, Guisborough and Hartlepool.
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