How to Prepare for a Movie or TV Marathon (and Avoid Heartburn)
You’ve been waiting all week for today; a day where you will do nothing except watch allllll the episodes of that new series everyone has been talking about, while munching on snacks. The problem is that a lot of these snacks may cause heartburn, which can take away from your TV-filled day. Before you camp out on the couch and press “play” on your remote, make sure you have a foolproof plan in place to take your binge-watching experience to the next (relaxation) level, sans heartburn!
Preparing for a Binge-Watching Marathon
Free up your day. To properly enjoy a binge-fest, there should be very little time when you’re not on the couch. This means that all errands like grocery shopping should be done the day before. It’s also important to notify your friends that you will be indisposed. Sure, you can join in on the occasional group text convo, but otherwise, your BFF for the day is the TV.
Choose your outfit. Comfort is good, but if your binge-watching outfit is too comfortable, there’s the risk of nodding off during pivotal moments. And if it’s too tight, it could heighten your heartburn risk. Avoid straight pajamas or tight jeans and opt instead for non-constricting pants and your favorite sweatshirt.
Make wise snack decisions. Just because you’re spending most of the day in front of the TV doesn’t mean nutrition has to go out the window! Choose fun, grabbable foods like popcorn, cut-up veggies and fruit, a cheese plate, nuts, and a few finger sandwiches. If you deal with occasional heartburn, it’s a good idea to keep your binge-watching meals free of common trigger foods like alcohol, tomato sauce, chocolate, garlic, and onions. Having a bottle of TUMS Chewy Bites With Gas Relief at the ready is another good idea, since no one has time for a bout of heartburn or gas during a tense episode.
Dedicate time to stretching. After every episode, consider standing up and doing a few good stretches to keep your body from melting into the couch.
Consider sitting instead of lying. While you may want to sprawl out on the couch and lay flat on your belly, that position can cause stomach acid to flow into the esophagus, which can cause heartburn. Instead try sitting upright so you avoid any heartburn.
Multitask. Do you have a hat to knit? Coupons to clip? Thank-you cards to write? Multitasking while binge-watching is a great way to feel like you accomplished something (other than watching nine hour-long episodes).
Have zero regrets. For most of us, binge-watching is not a common occurrence, so don’t feel guilty about spending the day wrapped up in a blanket and plot twists. Use the time to relax and recharge and fully embrace that #couchlife.