Travel Right at Night

…. Friends don’t let friends sleep it off in a parking lot

It’s the weekend again! Yes, again!! How are you feeling? Are you recovered from St. Paddy’s day? Spring is officially here, and that means more time socializing with friends outdoors under the sun and definitely more libations and adult beverages.  We all know the saying, “friends don’t let friends drive drunk” and we wouldn’t let someone we love get behind the wheel and drive them (or us) home. But equally as important: please don’t leave someone you love alone in a bar or alone to sleep off their buzz in the car. The story of Terrilynn Monette (http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20681602,00.html ) really hit home for me,  as she is a 26 year old school teacher in New Orleans who was at a local bar celebrating her nomination for teacher of the year with her friends this past March 2^nd. The bartender cut her off saying she’d had too much to drink, and at the end of the night Terrilynn told her friends she would sleep off her buzz in the car. And they let her!! Devastatingly, Terrilynn has not been seen since.

Leaving a friend who has had one too many is never a good idea!  Part of the Live Right at Night mantra includes Playing and Traveling Right at Night!  That means before you head out you should have a game plan created regarding how you will get home.  If you or your friends have too much to drink opt to take a cab or car service home and check in to be sure everyone makes it home safely. Even better?  Why not have a good old-fashioned sleepover if one of you is a bit too drunk to drive home.

Let’s also talk about how alcohol realistically leaves your system: sleeping off the shots or drinks you’ve had sounds responsible in theory but there’s nothing you can do once you’re intoxicated to speed up the process of removing alcohol from your body.  Just because you have been to sleep doesn’t mean you aren’t still affected by alcohol. (Just think about how you feel the morning after when you have a hangover, you aren’t your normal peppy self). A quick power nap won’t make you less inebriated.  Taking a cold shower, or having a cup of coffee won’t make your body metabolize or breakdown the alcohol in your system faster. The two factors that determine how fast your liver gets rid of the alcohol in your body is 1) the amount you had to drink and 2) the time in which you drank all that hooch. And if your liver is damaged in any way then the process can take even longer.

This weekend if you’re out partying, make sure you have a plan in place to get home safely. If you’re planning a night out, have a designated driver identified before you leave the house. And if you live life spontaneously and end up drinking the night away, call a cab or have someone take you home. ….. Don’t put yourself or others at risk!

Wishing you a fabulous spring weekend.

Smooches

Dr. V

#Live Right AT Night ….  Hangover Tips for St. Patty’s Day … Drink and Recover Right At Night

Oh yes ladies and gents it’s that time of the week again … the WEEKEND!! And this weekend is extra special because not only is March 17^th my daddy’s birthday, Happy Birthday Dad, it’s also St. Patrick’s Day! I have a feeling you may be out partying into the wee hours of Monday Morning. Here’s a few hangover tips to help you Drink Right At Night so you can actually make it into the office on Monday morning.

BEFORE:

• Hydrate & eat something – begin your night of partying on a full stomach!
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• Know how you’re getting home before you leave the house – have a plan that is safe and secure that you won’t have to think about while out celebrating.
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• Prepare for your arrival home & the morning after: eye cream and bottled water in the fridge, alarm clock set for Monday!
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• Avoid any green body glitter, hair color or anything else that will impress at a parade but not in the office!

DURING:

• Match each pint of beer or mysterious green cocktail with a tall glass of water.  Or switch to soda water & lime to stay sober no one has to know it’s not a cocktail.
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• Have a buddy! Who will keep you in check and make sure you have a safe trip home.

AFTER:

• When you arrive home REHYDRATE with water or coconut water – get potassium & other electrolytes back into your body!
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• Prep your face for The Morning After- wash, hydrate, & use your fab face creams!
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• Sleep with an elevated pillow to relieve eye puffiness!

The Monday After: 

• Keep the hydration going: include water & natural fruit juices like cranberry or apple juice to put natural sugars back into your body.
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• Don’t skip breakfast:
  • Try wholegrain bread – a great source of detoxifying B vitamins!
  • Eggs – are packed with cysteine which can help clean up leftover toxins from alcohol in your body.
  • HOLD the COFFEE – that Cup o’Joe you normally have in the AM will dehydrate you more. Wait a while before having coffee, tea, or other caffeinated beverages.
  • Toss a banana in your bag for a natural potassium boost! Enjoy it as a snack especially if you still don’t feel fab after breakfast.

Have a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day and don’t kiss every blarney guy (stone) you meet at the bar.

Wishing you a fabulous weekend & St. Patty’s Day!

Smooches,

Dr. V

 

 

 

Hey ladies .. YES it’ that time again – the weekend!!! Whoo hoo! But before you check out mentally at work and start surfing Bluefly, Gilt and mytheresa.com at 9:01am while you sip your coffee at your desk let’s talk about the “Get Right & Go Bag” every girl should have locked and loaded for the weekend.

Expectant moms aren’t the only ones who should pack a bag and have it ready at the door to grab and go. So should you! At this point you’re probably wondering “what exactly is this “Get Right & Go Bag?”  Well let’s talk about it: Every man and woman regardless if he or she is in a committed monogamous relationship or in the casual dating game should ensure that his or her sexual health is taken care of and never in jeopardy, because you never want to be that person who gets up out of bed while you’re seconds away from “doing it” to go search through your junk drawer or bathroom for a condom (that hopefully hasn’t expired or is half open  🙂

Here are my top recommendations that you should always have in your “Get Right & Go Bag”

“Get Right & Go Bag”

• CondomS .. Yes – MORE THAN ONE
• Lubricant
• Mouthwash
• Toothbrush & Toothpaste
• Breathmints or gum
• $20.00
• A pair of flip-flops
• A multivitamin

The condoms and lubricant are for … well HELLO! The $20 is because you never know, “it” may not be all you expected and you may need to hop a cab for a quick get away. The flip-flops are so you can kick off your shoes and keep comfortable after a long night of dancing or walking in your heels (barefoot walking is never sexy). The gum, mints, toothpaste and toothbrush keep you fresh in case you don’t go home. And the multivitamin will help any hangovers and keep you going well into the next day.

All these items are within your reach to keep you right while you’re on the go; because we know you have a busy life and we want to ensure happy and healthy living is easy and accessible for you. With your “Get Right & Go Bag” you have tools at your fingertips to be happy and healthy, so use them to Live Right At Night tonight and every night.

Wishing you a safe and sexy weekend,

Smooches

Dr. V

 

Hello weekend!!! Thank goodness it’s here again. This week it couldn’t have come fast enough. In this week’s installment of Live Right At Night we will be talking about Eating Right at Night. Specifically, I want to know how many of you have ever come home after the club a little tipsy, or perhaps gotten tipsy at the house and decided around 2 am “dang, I’m hungry, let me cook something.” And then, as soon as you fire up the stove or turn on the oven you fall asleep. Does this sound like a familiar story?

It’s ok, you can admit it, you’re amongst friends here and across the pond.  Did you know that in London alcohol consumption has been blamed for 25% of household fires. The London Fire Brigade reports that over the past 3 years almost 4,500 house fires have been caused by people between the ages of 18-24 who earn more than $100,000 a year. That’s right young professional Brits cook while drunk too. Here in the US 40% of house fires and 36% percent of fire-related injuries are caused by cooking fires.

To save you the drama (and health risks) here are a couple tips to keep your buzz going and your home safe this weekend:

1) Don’t cook while you’re drunk!  End of story.  If you must eat, order take-out.

2) If you are starving and don’t want take out  – use the microwave – sans metal utensils!

3) Get a fire extinguisher for your kitchen – this should be a must in every home or apartment.

4) Make sure you have smoke detectors in every room with FRESH batteries.

On top of all these tips, everyone in your home should know what to do when the smoke alarm goes off so it’s important to have an escape plan just in case you have a fire in your home. Smoke detectors should be checked weekly, and batteries changed every 6 months.  Also make sure you have a carbon monoxide detector within 10 feet of all bedrooms. If you do have a house fire remember to touch the door with the back of your hand before opening it. Always stay low to the floor if you need to crawl through smoke, as there is more air closer to the floor. Have a designated meeting place once you get out of the house and make sure to call 911.

So ladies and gents let’s add to the well-known mantra about not drinking and driving a “don’t drink and cook”.  Satisfy your late-night cravings in safer ways with take-out or just use the microwave.

Wishing you a fabulous weekend.

Smooches,

Dr. V