Don't attend a holiday party without reading this!

Holiday parties are in full swing!

Don't let the instant gratification and temptations sacrifice what you want MOST for your health. Here are some tips to help you thrive! Eat before you go. If you aren’t sure what type of food will be waiting to greet you at the door, do not make the mistake of showing up hungry. When in doubt, eat crudité and hummus. Name one holiday party you have attended that doesn’t have raw veggies and hummus... bet you can’t do it! (Avoid the sour cream trans fat dip like the plague!) O.P.R. You know it well by now: stick to one plate and enjoy what you will. Pick your poison. Alcohol, dessert, fried finger foods… someone stop me! Pick one treat to have, and fill up on the healthy stuff.  Drink clear liquor. Clear liquor is best, and drink water in between so you wake up the next day looking remarkably fresh and fantastic. (watch this video for a laugh... and a good explanation on the best types of alcohol) Make it about the company, not the food. We tend to stuff our face when we feel socially awkward. “Oh look there’s Tom’s annoying boss. Let me just stuff my face with these mini hot dogs and he won’t try to talk to me.” Sound familiar? Try to focus on the people, and if the party sucks, don’t eat, LEAVE! To cleanse or not to cleanse... Do I think it is important to cleanse? Yes, I believe as the seasons change, or with the beginning of a new year, it is wise to give the body a little help in renewing itself, but I want it to arise out of a compassionate desire to reach for better health, not as a quick fix to undo bad behaviors. I think it would be a great idea to cleanse with the new year, but be careful to recognize what is driving you to do so (love or punishment?). We love these cleanse packets from Designs for Health because they provide the body a deeper cleanse using the highest quality nutrients and extraction methods. If you decide to couple it with the food guidelines of our 10 day detox then you will reap the benefits of the synergy between food and herbs. As we all agree that the pressure to cleanse during this time of year is a tad redundant, I want to make sure that IF you decide that doing a cleanse is the right choice for you at this time, that you have access to the highest quality products and support. For this reason, we are offering 10% savings on our favorite cleanse packets throughout the month of December and January. (Please consult your doctor before you do any sort of cleansing or supplement regimen.) So, to cleanse or not to cleanse? This is entirely up to you. What I wish for everyone during this eating season is a level of food consciousness that helps guide you through the holiday parties and gatherings. Let's all set the intention to reflect back on this holiday season and feel proud of the eating choices we have made. We will share the goal of having our bodies be the physical manifestation of how much we love and care for ourselves.  Click here to purchase the cleanse packets and receive 10% savings with discount code NW10% plus FREE shipping! Success Stories: Congrats Maria, Sara and Anthony!

Spent too much time wrapping presents?  Don't forget that your health takes first priority. Here's one of our favorite quick and easy crock pot recipes!  Crock Pot Moroccan Lamb Stew

Water 101

The solution to pollution is dilution!

It's 4pm and you look over at your water bottle and it's filled to the brim.You realize you aren't even close to reaching your daily water goal. You know who you are (I'm watching you)! If you're one of my clients, past or present, you know that drinking half of your body weight in ounces of filtered water daily is my recommendation. Have you ever wondered WHY this magic number is one of the keys to unlocking your ultimate health and vitality? Do you know why you shouldn't drink out of plastic water bottles? Check out my latest article, Water 101, in the November issue of Austin Fit Magazine for the answers to these questions... and so much more. Still having trouble getting those ounces down? Start the day by waking up and grabbing your bottle (I drink 32 ounces right when I get out of bed, I reach my goal faster and avoid late-night trips to the john).   Set an alarm (or two... or three) on your phone.    Keep a bottle in your car, at your desk, by your bedside, everywhere!   Buy a large glass or stainless steel water bottle and do the math to figure out how many bottles you need per day (puh-lease, no one's counting regular glasses). Do you need help figuring out how much YOU need to drink? Take your body weight in pounds and divide by two. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, your magic number is 75 ounces!   Don't forget to add to your goal if you are you doing a lot of heavy exercise (especially if you find yourself a sweaty monster afterwards). I love to add these electrolytes to my water on workout days for extra support. Tired of plain water? Add some flavor!    Our favorites include lemon, lime, orange and cucumber, but there are endless possibilities. You can add these straight to your bottle or purchase a fruit infusion pitcher.   Grab some fizz!    Buy a soda streamer and carbonate your own filtered water. We love to add a pinch of sea salt and a lime wedge to ours. LaCroix, Topo Chico and Pellegrino are a few of our favorite store-bought "sodas". Success Stories: It's been a while since we've posted some success stories, and man do we have a bunch to catch up on! Way to go Hailey, Ashley, Joi and Kristi!

Looking for something sweet to warm you up at night? Try this yummy Carly-approved hot chocolate recipe! Spicy Hot Chocolate

Which button will you press?

Time to Reflect...

Thanksgiving is over and by now you are either shopping on Amazon to find your favorite jeans in the next size up, or you are feeling victorious over the first holiday showdown. For those of you reading this filled with T-giving regret, I have the perfect solution for you.     PRESS THE RESET BUTTON.   You have now come to the holiday crossroad. You can either press the Tap Out Button, be reckless for the rest of the year and join all the poor souls on January 1st, or you can take a deep breath, forgive yourself, do some good ol' fashioned reflection and press the Reset Button.     Pressing the Reset Button allows you to accept yourself as a work in progress. It also means you believe in yourself enough to try again and expect a better outcome. Anytime we feel our behaviors aren't in alignment with living our best life (think about the way we speak to our spouses when we are upset, or our mother when she is nagging us, a stranger in traffic, etc...) we can practice self forgiveness and make an intention for the next time this opportunity crosses our path.     Reflection is a huge piece of moving forward with the confidence in making a different choice. Using Thanksgiving as an example, what was it that triggered you? Was it the chaotic environment? Too many options for food? Annoying cousin Janice talking your ear off? We need to understand why our behaviors manifested in that way, get to the root and make a plan from there. Only then does pressing the Reset Button carry it's full power.     If you did well for Thanksgiving, then mazel tov! Rinse and repeat.     Make the commitment that no matter what, you won't ever press the Tap Out Button on yourself or your life. Stay tuned in, be present and always strive for more.   xoxo Carly Success Story: Congrats Livia, you're a rockstar!      "About a year ago I decided that I needed a big change in my life. I was unhappy with my body, the way I was living, my relationships, etc. That's when I found Carly. After seeing her and following the tips she gave me, I found that everything started falling into place. I started losing weight and I removed all of the people and all of the stuff that was causing me harm (emotionally and physically). My life started to change. I've grown so much in the past year and I feel happier than I have ever felt. I just wanted to say thank you to the people who supported me through this journey! I know my body and my life isn't perfect but that's okay, I accept it and love it just the way it is. Love you guys!" Recipe of the Week: Moo Shu Pork