Post-binge workout: a session for beating a head-splitting hangover

Cooling off: Sophie Goodchild uses a foam roller under the watchful eye of Nick Mays to work out the cramps of an alcohol binge
Sophie Goodchild10 April 2012

A head-splitting hangover at work is never welcome. But refusing "just one more" can require too much willpower for work-hard, play-hard Londoners, especially during the party season.

Instead, we rely on a cocktail of hangover "cures" to get us through the fuzz and pain of the day ahead - Red Bull and Berocca, anyone? But such remedies are short-lived. Instead, exercise and life coach Nick Mays has now created what he claims is a guaranteed solution: the hangover workout. Mays, who helps keep comedian David Walliams fit, has devised a one-hour session for those who want to beat the pounding head and afternoon slump.

"My philosophy is 'work hard at your job and have fun but also stay fit and healthy'," says Mays, whose clients also include actor Hugh Dancy and Mario Testino, the society photographer.

"Once a week I'll let my hair down and allow myself a night off and not beat myself up about it. It's about making small changes and creating plans that are easy to maintain."

Mays, based at SWEAT at hotel W London in Leicester Square, claims a tailored workout is ideal for countering the effects of a big session.

"It makes you feel better," he says. "You release endorphins [the body's happy chemicals], which boost your mood naturally. You also get the blood circulating so you shift the toxins faster, and you generally feel re-energised by getting your heart rate up."

But does it work? I sampled the workout after a gentle warm-up (and a glass or two).

Re-energise
This whole-body workout includes press-ups, stretches and suspension training to boost your metabolism. "A fatty breakfast initially works as a hangover cure, then you slump when your glucose levels drop," says Nick. "But a circuit workout will burn excess calories, exercise all the muscle groups and generally kick-start your system."

Muscle cooler
Muscles can become drained of minerals after a booze binge. The result is painful cramps. Nick gets me to place a foam cylinder under my thighs with my legs outstretched and arms on the floor. Then I roll gently backwards and forwards to relax the muscles.

The toxin sweat
A quick sauna and steam session helps sweat out any lingering toxins.

Rehydrate
That queasy feeling after a binge is caused by the excess production of stomach acid. Nick says: "The temptation is to drink litres of orange juice but it's high in acid and calories." Instead, a chlorophyll drink will restore the body's alkaline levels.

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