You went out last night with some friends, and you got completely obliterated.  Smashed.  Drunk as a skunk.  Three sheets to the wind.  It was a wonderful time, most of which you don't remember, but there's a message on your machine from a voice that you don't recognize complimenting your table dancing skills, so it had to have been a great night.  However, you now have the hangover from hell, and you'd rather put a bullet in your head than get out of bed.  You're sweaty and cold, your head hurts...well pretty much all of you hurts...you do a quick body scan...nope, not one single body part that does NOT hurt.  Excellent.  Now what?

One of the best cures for a hang over is "the hair of the dog that bit you." In other words, just a shot, no more, no less, of whatever got you hung-over in the first place. If you mix and match drinks like I do, this can be confusing.  Try to remember the last thing you ingested before your memory fails you completely.  This is often the drink that SHOULD have been your last, and for hang over remedy purposes, I recommend this one.  If you can't manage to remember what that was, then try to remember what you drank the most of.  Failing that, just take a shot of the strongest thing in your liquor cabinet.  This works even better when followed by a steaming cup of very strong coffee fixed to your own tastes. Wait one hour, and you're golden.

Another fabulous cure for a hangover is to not get one in the first place! This requires a bit of pre-planning, but if it's possible to accomplish this, you will thank you in the morning. First, stay hydrated! During the 24 hour period before you will be getting completely smashed, drink at least a gallon of water. Mix in whatever other non-alcoholic beverages you would like, but be sure you drink that gallon! Carry it around with you if you must! Then, when your night (or day) of rowdy drunkeness is concluded, drink at least one eight ounce glass of water. Keep another glass by your bedside and drink up each time you wake (TRUST ME, you will be waking up several times to relieve your abused bladder!). If you have done this properly, you should not wake up with a hangover. However, in the off chance that you do, be sure that during the 24 hour period starting with waking up, drink another gallon of water. The faster you get this down, the faster you will feel better, but DO NOT, I say again, DO NOT guzzle, as this will more than likely make you feel worse than you did before! Do not be shy about using the bathroom. Your body is trying desperately (with the aid of the water) to clense your system, and urination will aid in this process, thus making you feel better faster.

SWEAT!!!  Yes, I know, you feel like you've been hit by a Mack truck, and you're very angry at your friends for not getting his liscense plate.  GET UP ANYWAY and go to the gym, or go for a run.  Pop in that tae-bo dvd, do what you must to get your body moving and your heart rate elevated.  Exercise releases endorphins, and endorphins make you feel good.  Further, sweat is yet another way that your body releases toxins from your system.  Be sure to stretch before and after.  This not only prevents injury (roughly 70% of sports- or exercise- related injuries occur because of improper stretching or lack there of) but it will also motivate you.  Nothing like a good stretch to make those sore muscle begin to feel just a bit better!