MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 20: Bella Hadid is seen during Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2019 on September 20, 2018 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images)
REHAB EXPERT EXPLAINS WHAT SOCIAL DRINKERS CAN EXPECT
If you’re thinking about taking a post summer break from booze -do it. You may get turned onto a whole new mindset about how you choose to consume alcohol. We connected with Rehab Expert, Carrie Carlton, Clinical Director (LCSW) of Beachway Therapy Center in Boynton Beach, Florida; who offered us numerous benefits of taking a “Booze Break.” Studies have shown that a month-long respite from alcohol can significantly benefit one’s mental and physical health. Here’s why…
According to Fortune magazine in 2018, thanks to the “craft cocktail trend” the overall price for alcoholic beverage and therefor the general cost of alcohol has increased. Let’s say you hit a happy hour twice weekly and bought a round of drinks for 3 people at $15-$20 each, with tip that could be between $80 and $100. More if you are in major metropolitan cities. Then multiply that by twice per week for weeks in a month and you’re saving close to $400 per month just on after work happy hours. Add more money saved if you’re also a weekend social drinker. Add way more money if you’re buying bottles in the VIP for hundreds of dollars.
“People are often amazed at how much free cash they have to put towards other things they want to do such as paying down debt, vacations, car repairs, gym memberships, upgrades to their homes, etc., explains Carrie Carlton of Beachway Therapy Center, one of the most comprehensive Rehab programs on the East Coast.
While alcohol doesn’t directly cause acne it certainly messes with hormone levels and immune function which then lead to sallow skin, breakouts and puffy, flushed complexion. If you’re they type who can easily “Rose all day” and love mixed drinks featuring more sugar, syrups and other additives; you’ll quickly see a major change to the texture and tone to your skin. “It’s always great to snap selfies in the same room with the same light so you can really see the difference. Also pay attention to compliments. There will be a visible difference, encourages Carlton.”
A study in the journal of Obesity said that people who don’t drink eat less simply because alcohol heightens the senses. It makes the sauce and cheese on that pizza or those late-night bites all the more delicious. When you remove alcohol intake it diminishes your calorie intake. Think about 3 beers or glasses of wine at about 150 each. Those calories add up. “Your blood sugar and cholesterol levels start to really improve, and since alcohol dehydrates the body’s organs, taking a break from booze with help the body function better overall,” explains Carlton.
One of the other benefits of opting to go booze-free for a month is that you’ll notice you’re not sluggish. You’re no longer fading in the afternoon or hitting the snooze 3 times in the morning. You are clear and focused on what you want to accomplish in the day and you have the ability to follow through with a better mood. You’ll be able to concentrate on tasks which also helps you stimulate the part of your brain where memory takes place. This keeps us sharp as we age.
Often when we make a major change to our lives like choosing to lay off alcohol for a month our crew of cohorts changes. This frees up time for you to focus on you. Self care is important and often neglected when going out to socialize over drinks is the norm. When you’re no longer invited out to drink away the work day, you’re now free to get an after work fitness class in, take a workshop, listen to some audio books and check out a cool lecture. You start to realize there is plenty to do that doesn’t involve liquor and you start to meet new friends to do these things with.
“What’s interesting to note is that people who consider themselves “social drinkers” experience these improvements within a few days. People who struggle with alcoholism may actually cause more harm to themselves if they just decide to stop drinking cold turkey. Because there are many social drinkers teetering on the line of having a “drinking problem” given they tend to binge on the weekends with casual drinks with dinner mid-week; committing to going without alcohol may reveal there actually is a bigger issue going on. If someone can’t last a week without alcohol and feels nausea, gets terrible headaches, sweats, and are physically shaky and ill, consulting a doctor would be an important next step,” cautions Carrie Carlton.
As much as people might want to believe that taking a vacation from drinking makes up for the excess, Carrie Carlton says it’s simply not true. Excessive boozing and “drying out” for a month won’t even out the score with your liver. A month-long hiatus won’t heal your liver — which processes the sugar in alcohol and can be damaged by excessive drinking. Are you really “healing your liver”? No, though you are taking a month off from causing it any more damage.
About the expert:
Carrie Carlton, Clinical Director (LCSW), Clinical Supervisor at Beachway Therapy Center
Carrie holds a BSW and MSW in social work from Florida Atlantic University, an MA from Barry University (Miami), and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She also has a background in medical social work. Her understanding of cognitive behavioral therapy, solution focused therapy, and family systems guide her treatment of addicts and families. Her clients thrive under her guidance because of her honesty, empathy, and compassion. Recognizing the severe impact of addictions on both the addict and the families, Carrie is dedicated to consistently serve her clients.
About Beachway Therapy Center
Beachway provides a continuum of care, from PHP (Partial Hospitalization Program) to Outpatient services. The facility offers a fully individualized treatment plan that meets the clinical and medical needs of each client usually lasting between 30 and 90 days. Beachway provides an extremely low client to therapist ratio and under high level professional supervision, clients can begin to recover in a safe, residential-like environment. CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) motivational interviewing, addiction counseling, 12-Step orientation, DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy,) trauma-informed practices and a wide variety of supportive group therapies are offered.
Taking good care of your hands and nails is vital and celebrity manicurist and owner of As U Wish Nail Spa, Skyy Hadley is giving you the ultimate guide to nail care. Learn how to care for your nails with her tips and tricks as well as proper care essentials for keeping your nails healthy and beautiful.
Dancing With the Stars’ pro Hayley Erbert was photographed wearing Julie Vino at lMonday night’s Emmy Awards after parties. Hayley stepped out in a Julie Vino red couture gown (price available upon request, www.julievino.com) with her boyfriend, Derek Hough.
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 17: Derek Hough (L) and Hayley Erbert attend HBO’s Post Emmy Awards Reception at the Plaza at the Pacific Design Center on September 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)
Olivia Culpo was photographed wearing Henri Bendel in NYC recently! The Model Squad star looked sporty-chic carrying the Jetsetter Convertible Petrol Backpack ($328; www.henribendel.com) while leaving her hotel.
Vanessa Hudgens shared a photo wearing Silk Laundry over the weekend! The actress completed her simple, yet classic look with the 90’s Silk Slip Dress in Emerald Green ($170, www.silklaundry.com).
Lots of people enjoy a nice hot cup of coffee in the morning. Maybe it’s a simple black coffee on the way to work, or a piping hot Americano with plenty of cream and sugar. Either way, it’s a “pick me up” to start the day off right.
But what if you crave the bold taste of coffee in the evening? Here are four ways to enjoy coffee after hours in both beverage and food form.
Decaf Coffee
This first suggestion will seem obvious – drink decaffeinated coffee. Still, we bring it up because it is the essential building block to late-night coffee beverages. But what is decaffeinated coffee? How do they remove the caffeine?
The decaffeination process starts with green, unroasted coffee beans. The caffeine is then extracted using a chemical solvent or, in some cases, a process of water and osmosis to draw out the caffeine. This is an oversimplification, but it works for our purposes.
Unless you are looking to pull an all-nighter, decaf coffee is the way to go.
Luxury Coffee Cocktails & Nightcaps
So, you want a late-night coffee drink without the energetic buzz. We can understand that. But how do you feel about a boozy buzz?
Coffee cocktails and nightcaps are a great way to relax in the evening. You just can’t beat the complex taste of coffee and liquor. While there are dozens, if not hundreds of cocktail recipes, here are a few favorites to get you started.
Affogato: Something Special on Top
Affogato is one of life’s simple pleasures. It’s espresso poured on top of another dessert, thus marrying the essence of bitter with sweet. It’s a match made in heaven all right.
While the most popular form of affogato is espresso coffee poured over vanilla ice cream, there are numerous ways to make your desserts extra special with the addition of coffee. You can add espresso to a bowl of tiramisu; add a drizzle of mocha or caramel sauce if you really want something special. Or pour hot espresso over flan just before adding whipped cream and cinnamon on top. Yum!
Desserts: Cooking with Coffee
Speaking of desserts, another spectacular way to enjoy coffee in the evening is by including it in your baking. Again, these are just a sampling of recipes to try. Feel free to get creative. After all, what is more fun than desserts with coffee?
We bet you never knew coffee was so versatile. So, go ahead, try one of the above suggestions to enjoy coffee in the PM.
Gone are the days when only slim body shapes are considered beautiful. Women around the world are now flaunting their curves regardless of their size and shapes.
In fact, here are 10 plus-size models who look absolutely stunning in their lingerie:
Photo via Iskra Lawrence Instagram
This plus-size model is a body confidence activist who encourages women to love their bodies as they are, flaws and all. Her Instagram followers – she has 400 million of them – support her for her stance against airbrushing photos and her honest pictures featuring her cellulite and fleshy rolls.
Image via Barbienox Instagram
You might find Barbie modelling with Iskra Lawrence in some of her photoshoots, which is why she also shares Iskra’s no-Photoshop ideals in her photos. Her photos are often posted as they are taken: naturally with no enhancement or hiding features that society might consider flaws.
Image via Ashley Graham Instagram
A must-know in the plus-size modelling industry, Ashley Graham is the first model of her size to be featured in Sports Illustrated’s annual swimsuit issue. Several months later, she also took her body positivity messages to the TEDxTalk stage in Valencia, Spain, where her talk was entitled, “Plus-size? More Like My Size.”
Image via Philomena Kwao Instagram
Born in London, Philomena Kwao has modelled with Torrid and Lane Bryant. She dreams of modelling for Lancome and Vogue, and she wishes to model for mainstream stores such as H&M and United Colours of Benton. However, her ultimate dream is to encourage better worldwide healthcare access.
Image via Jordyn Woods Instagram
You’d have to be quite a big deal to be one of Kylie Jenner’s best friends, which is just one reason why Jordyn Woods is famous. Jordyn made her debut on “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” in 2007, and she later began her career in the fashion industry.
Image via Riley Instagram
This plus-size model isn’t afraid to show the behind-the-scenes shots from her photoshoots. You might have seen Riley modelling for ASOS, as well as Torrid and Nordstrom. If you’re looking to find out how beautiful bikini-clad plus-size models can be, Riley’s social media account is the one that you should visit.
Image via Taralynn Instagram
You might know her as “The Body.” Tara’s fame increased after she posed alongside Candice Huffine and Robyn Lawley on the cover of Vogue Italia in June 2011. She has also been featured in Elle Spain, Elle France and Glamour. Tara frequently shares the sad reality of her size leading to getting bullied in school.
Image via Margaret Macpherson Instagram
Part of the YouTube series Project WomanKIND, Margaret devoted her time and effort to help other women overcome their own body insecurities. You might also see her featured in plenty of Dita Von Teese’s lingerie shots.
Image via Quinn Miles Instagram
Born in Los Angeles, Quinn has been in the modelling business for several years, including experience with Old Navy and Macy’s. She wrote an article featured in Glamour with her body positivity message, and she encourages women to remain strong towards negative messages.
Marquita has been modelling career since she was 15. With so many years of experience, it’s no wonder that she has 109,000 followers on Instagram! She has modelled for Jean Paul Gaultier, and Marquita has also appeared on the cover of Vogue Italia.