User Post: How Do You Know When You've Had Too Much To Drink?

I'm suffering from jet-lag. You know the kind when the room is a little unsteady and you have a migraine. Kind of like a hangover. So I figured now was as good a time as any to write about drinking. Anyone who knows me well, knows I'm a total light weight when it comes to alcohol. A good sniff of the cork is almost all I need.

I don't mind a nice buzz, but I don't really like being too tipsy or worse, drunk. Walking unsteadily and slurring my words holds no appeal for me. I have a hard enough time walking in my heels when I'm sober. I'm not judging. Really. I just don't want that to be me. I know my limits and I don't want to embarrass myself or share something that's too personal. At least notthat way. If I'm going to make a complete fool of myself or spill some juicy secrets, I want to be fully present when I'm doing it. And remember having done it the next day.

Which brings me to a small dinner party I was lucky enough to be invited to a few weeks ago. The champagne was flowing, the food was fabulous, there was dancing on the table and a lively dancing train (which some say I started). We were all having a great time, but there came a time when some of us seriously needed to be cut off from more libations. (Names protected to protect the not so innocent.)

Here are some signs that you or your host might want to say "No" to more of the bubbly:

1. Sharing family secrets. I don't really want to know that so and so's marriage is hanging by a thread or how often they have sex. If you're saying intimate things you wouldn't say sober, maybe it's time to scale back a bit.
2. The mean drinker. Tell me how you really feel. No, please don't.
3. When you can't stand, walk or pee on your own volition. Or other gross stuff. No explanation needed.
4. Can you hear me? Why is everyone yelling in here? They start to speak very loud.
5. You start hitting on my husband. Hands off girlfriend!

Aside from that, please do dance on the table or chair. (I'm all about celebrating life!) And with the right 70's Disco and half a Mimosa, I'll be next to you swinging the napkin over my head. But that's as far as I go. I've got things to do tomorrow.

Cheers!

Do you stop yourself when you think you've had too much or is a nasty hangover the ultimate goal?

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How to Soothe Sore Feet

Freeing your feet from the constraints of shoes is a rite of summer, but there can be consequences come fall.

"Walking around barefoot — whether at the beach, pool, or just indoors — is horrible for your feet and can cause dryness, scaling, and calluses," says Blake Feeney, spa director at Canyon Ranch SpaClub Las Vegas. Without arch support, your feet can also feel sore and strained. To soothe and smooth soles at home, Feeney suggests using products that contain peppermint (try this Peppermint Cocoa Scrub) or menthol, both of which cool and refresh. 

And you don't have to be a massage therapist to reap the rewards of a rubdown; according to Feeney, any manipulation of your muscles should ease tension and rev up circulation to the feet. You can also try using a small, chilled plastic water bottle: Lay it on its side, then roll your foot over the top of it, back and forth from your toes to your heels. "The bottle will mold to your foot and give it an even massage," notes Feeney — helping you greet fall with your best foot forward.

The Ultimate At-Home Foot Treatment: For super-soft feet, exfoliate from your soles to your calves with a sugar scrub (we like this DIY Blueberry & Brown Sugar Scrub), making sure to focus on rough spots. Next, remove the scrub with a towel soaked in warm water, then massage in a shea butter-based cream. - Megan O'Neill

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Naked Yoga Allegedly Boosts Self-Confidence -- Would You Try It?

OK, so apparently I'm the only one who thought naked yoga was something to be done in the privacy of one's own home — preferably in a dim-lit area void of mirrors, windows and nosy, sniffing dogs. But, according to a new report, "exposing" yourself to the benefits of this practice in a public class along with other sans-clothes enthusiasts is a growing trend.

I'm all for a little nakedness from time to time, but all of this brings up more questions than answers. Like, how exactly is one supposed to focus in class when you have someone else's asana all up in your space? Is that boob or butt supposed to be your new drishti? What happens during poses like wide-leg straddle, crow and half-moon when your lady parts are on full display? Won't men be wagging their dog all over the place? How are you supposed to react when the teacher comes up behind you to give you an assist during downward dog? Doesn't your mat get all kinds of  yuck on it? And, what's a girl supposed to do during that time of the month? See? Questions.

But according to some naked yoga aficionados, shedding one's clothes brings a new level of honesty and authenticity to the practice — something that can easily get lost in the fashion and branding surrounding yoga, Isis Phoenix, a yoga instructor at Naked Yoga NYC told MyHealthNewsDaily.

"A new reality is created in the first 15 minutes of class — a reality where people can be naked and practice yoga in the room, and it's OK. Nobody's going to point and laugh."

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What's The Best Time Of Day To Eat For Weight Loss?

By SHAPE.com Diet Doctor, Mike Roussell, PhD.

We know that when you're trying to lose weight, you're flooded with all kinds of tips and tricks on the best way to do it. Sometimes that can get overwhelming, and you're left with more questions than answers. So we went to Dr. Mike Roussell, to see if he could answer some of our readers' most pressing questions. Here's what the diet doctor had to say about the best time to consume calories for weight loss:

Q: "If trying to lose weight, when should you consume the majority of your calories? Morning, afternoon, or spread evenly throughout the day?" –Apryl Dervay, via SHAPE magazine's Facebook.

A: I prefer that you to keep your calorie intake spread evenly throughout the day, while changing the types of foods—namely carbohydrate-based foods—that you're eating as the day goes on and your activity level changes. Your body's ability to process carbohydrates (which scientists call insulin sensitivity) decreases as the day goes on. That means you'll more efficiently metabolize (use as energy) carbohydrates in the morning compared to later at night. And the more efficiently your body can use the food you give it, the easier it is to lose weight.

RELATED: Does Fat Affect Your Brain Like Marijuana Does?

Exercise is the one x-factor that greatly increases your insulin sensitivity and your body's ability to use the carbohydrates you eat for fuel and not store them away in fat cells. This is why you should eat a majority of the starchy and grain-based carbohydrates (potatoes, rice, oats, whole grain pasta, quinoa, sprouted grain breads, etc) after your workout and first thing in the morning. During your other meals, vegetables (especially green leafy and fibrous ones), fruits, and legumes should be your main sources of carbohydrates. Round out each healthy meal with a protein source (eggs or egg whites, lean beef, chicken, fish, etc.), and nut, seeds, or oils (olive oil, canola oil, sesame oil, and coconut oil).

RELATED: Top 50 Summer Foods for Weight Loss

Eating the majority of your starchy and grain-based carbohydrates in the morning or following exercise also helps control overall calorie and carbohydrate intake, allowing you to lose weight without having to painstakingly count calories . If you find that your weight loss has slowed, try eliminating starchy carbohydrates from breakfast and replacing them with fruits (berry and Greek yogurt parfait) or vegetables (omelet with tomatoes, feta cheese, and greens).

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Restaurant Survival: 7 Ways to Stay on Track When Dining Out

When on a diet, you inevitably have to give up a lot of your favorite indulgences. No more secret stashes of ice cream in your freezer, no more Friday night pizza binges and definitely no more eating until you feel like you're going to explode. While you will have to make a lot of sad sacrifices, giving up your social life shouldn't be one of them.

We all have that "weight conscious" friend who will literally think of any excuse in the book to skip out on an outing that involves ordering from a restaurant menu. It's like she has a fear of dining out or something. And when she actually works up enough courage to come out, she usually ends up ordering nothing but a diet coke, claiming she's not hungry, yet spends the whole night picking and nibbling off of everyone else's plates.

By the end of the night, you probably wish she hadn't bothered to come. Now I don't mean to be harsh - I get that restaurants can be quite intimidating for someone watching her waistline, but eating out doesn't have to be scary. Here are 7 ways to navigate your way through the dining out process and make sure you don't derail your diet.

1. Sides Matter
I know it may be hard to side step the french fries, but you can substitute greasy sides for a salad at just about any restaurant on the planet. If that seems boring to you, have a look at the list of sides on the menu. Just because the waiter doesn't mention it in the choices, doesn't mean you can't make the swap.

2. Doggy bags are your new best friend
This is by far my favorite, and most effective, diet tip. Before you even get your meal, ask you waiter to put half of it in a doggy bag. Don't worry about still being hungry. Restaurant portions are huge, so chances are that you could easily split the whole plate with two other people and still be satisfied. It's all about portion control.

3. Don't be afraid to "have it your way"
FYI Burger King isn't the only place that let's you have it your way. It's ok to be a little demanding about how you want your food prepared at a restaurant. Ask for light dressing on your salad, no cheese on your sandwich or that your order be grilled instead of pan fried. It's amazing how many calories you can save with little tweaks.

4. Skip the bread basket
The bread basket is my ultimate downfall when dining out. I could devour the whole thing without any help from the table. But I don't have to tell you how bad of an idea this is. It's mindless eating and should be avoided at all costs. If you can't just take one piece of bread and move on, then don't even ask for a basket at all. The same goes for the chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant.

5. Get hydrated
Make sure you have a couple glasses of water before you even start your meal. The water will take up space in your stomach and curb your appetite. We often mistake thirst for hunger, so if you stay hydrated, then you lower your risk of overeating.

6. Don't dine on an empty stomach
It's so easy to skip me

als when you know you're going out to dinner that night. But doing so is actually more harmful than helpful. It's actually better to eat something small, like a piece of fruit, an hour or so before your meal so that you avoid stuffing yourself at dinner.

7. Look out for menu "trap" words
Breaded, tempura, smothered, creamy and loaded are just some of the dangerous words we see lurking on menu item descriptions. They are just another way of saying fatty, fried food. Avoid at all cost!

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How confident are you in your running?

Are you too cocky or too chicken? An off-kilter confidence level can trip up even the most dedicated runner. Having too little faith can hold back an otherwise ambitious competitor, while feeling invincible can lead to an early flameout. Take this decidedly unscientific quiz to find your Confidence Quotient, and then look to the answer key for ways to adjust your attitude.

The starter's pistol goes off in three days. You're:
A) Sick to your stomach, wondering, "What was I thinking when I entered?"
B) Laying out your race gear, thinking, "I am so going to nail a PR this time!"
C) Anxious but excited; you've worked hard and are ready to compete.

10 Mental Tricks to Run Better

You show up for a group recovery run only to realize it's speedwork day. Your first thought is:
A) "Shoot. Guess I'm running by myself this morning."
B) "Even better. Let's do this!"
C) "No biggie. I'll warm up with them and see if I'm up for a more intense workout."

Your new training partner suggests an on-the-spot superfast tempo run. You feel:
A) Discouraged. What if you're not as fast as she hoped?
B) Excited. It's going to be fun kicking her butt!
C) Happy. Slow or fast, her enthusiasm is contagious.

Time Crunched?  How to Make Every Minute Count

At a local 10-K, you decide to line up:
A) Near the back, behind everyone who looks like a real runner but in front of the people with strollers.
B) At the starting line, with your finger on your stopwatch.
C) Depends on your goals for that particular race, and who you're running it with.


If you chose MOSTLY A's
You tend to lack confidence, preferring to play it safe with your running. Doubting your ability can lead to performance anxiety, which may show up as cramping and stomach issues on the course.

Mind over matter: Come up with counterarguments to your cautious thoughts, says sports psychologist Sharon Chirban. Play out various race-day scenarios. Before the start, visualize your prior best performances.

If you chose MOSTLY B's
You have plenty of confidence and enjoy pushing the envelope with your running. Overestimating your ability can lead to injury from overtraining if you begin to neglect your body's signals and limits.

Mind over matter: Put an external feedback loop in place, says Jeffrey L. Brown, coauthor of The Winner's Brain. A partner or coach can keep your ambitions on a healthier scale. Try yoga to develop an honest mind-body link.

If you chose MOSTLY C's
You have the confidence to go outside of your comfort zone while respecting your body's limits. This level of "contextual confidence" is most conducive to successful performance. It helps you decide to push yourself, or to back off, and feel good either way.

Mind over matter: To get here, shift your focus from the finish line to the day-to-day gains. Learn from every run and you've established the foundation of true confidence, says Chirban.

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