Is Working Out on a Hangover a Good Idea?

A lot of people think that the perfect way to get rid of a hangover after a big drinking session is to hit the gym, but is this really the wisest thing? Exercise is of course very good for you and there is the temptation to try and make up for the previous night's sins by putting your body through its paces the morning after. But are you in actual fact doing your body more damage?

Your body will be very dehydrated after drinking as alcohol is a diuretic which means it makes the body lose more water than it receives which is why the morning after you are likely to experience dry mouth, headaches and the like. Exercise causes you to sweat therefore losing more of your body's stores and for this reason some people say it might not be a great idea on a hangover.

However if you did choose to exercise then most gym instructors would strongly urge that the most important thing is to make sure you take a big bottle of water with you, and that you keep rehydrating as you go. Drinking plenty of water is really important which is why most gyms will also usually have a water cooler, but it's advisable to make sure first before you go.

For the same reason, it's best (although it's tempting on a hangover!) to forego caffeine. Who doesn't instantly reach for a cup of tea or coffee on a hangover, but you will actually be making your body work harder and feel more dehydrated.

Another thing to be mindful of is that exercise will also affect your breathing so if you are short of breath when you wake up the morning after a few drinks then you should probably give joining in with your usual gym workouts a miss.

Although having a good workout will make you feel less guilty about the calorie consumption the night before, it's no good if you actually put your body under more strain. You should never go if the weather's exceptionally hot either or if the air conditioning is broken because you are likely to overheat and put yourself at risk. You should also make sure you have had a proper night's sleep and feel able to concentrate properly.

In conclusion, if you genuinely feel like you would feel better after a workout then you could go to the gym on a hangover - and the endorphins released might even make you feel better - however, don't be fooled by the old adage that you'll 'sweat it out quicker'. You might be interested to learn that in actual fact, 1 drink is metabolized in an hour (12 ounce beer, 5 ounces of wine, 1.5 ounces of liquor) so depending on how much you drank, it might not speed up feeling better any faster.

So have a think about that and then applying the previously mentioned points, decide whether to work out the morning after based on that - just be safe and drink water!