A One Beer Hangover?

Ever had a hangover from one beer? Or just one mixed drink?

Lately, I've been feeling (and seeing) the pounds I've put on in the last year or two. So, I've made a strong effort to hit the treadmill for a few miles every day. Of course, I've also tried to lessen my favorite downfall, French fries. So far, so good – but check me in a few months to be sure I'm still on the right track!

In addition to cutting bad-for-me foods and increasing exercise, I'm reading "Make the Connection" by Bob Green and Oprah Winfrey. Everyone knows Oprah has see-sawed with her weight over the last two decades. One of her most positive influences has been Bob Green, a personal trainer who showed her what to eat, why to eat and how to eat. Pretty good info they put into this here book. The book came out in the mid-90s and I'm a bit confused by some of the information (as we know, oat bran used to be the best thing you could eat, now it's irrelevant. Bob says don't eat nuts, but every issue of Men's Health in 2008 talks about their nutritional quality. What to believe, what to believe?)

One of Bob's rules for weight loss success is to limit or eliminate alcohol. Booze having high calories isn't probably any sort of news, but did you know the effects of alcohol at higher elevations are more intense?

Bob talked about how, when he moved to Telluride, CO, he went out to a pub with friends. At the pub, he had one beer. The next morning? Hangover city! At the opening of the spa where he worked, he had a glass of wine. Next morning? Second verse, same as the first. He just felt like crap. The only thing he could attribute this to was the increased effects of alcohol at high elevations (he was just under 10K feet, BTW).

A few years ago, I heard a story of an unruly passenger on a cross country flight. The passenger had had several drinks and started to get lippy with the flight attendants. When one of the flight attendants told the pilot, the pilot instructed the passenger be given free drinks for the duration of the flight. A ploy to pacify an angry passenger? Maybe... but the pilot also then asked ground control to take the plane up another several thousand feet. The pilot knew the increased elevation, along with the copious amounts of booze, would soon take hold on the passenger. Next thing ya know? The passenger is passed out to the world. I cannot vouch for the truth of this story, but it helps prove the point.

Just something to be aware of, folks – alcohol's effects are greatly increased at high elevations.