How To :: Manage Indulgence Overload in Three Easy Steps

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'Tis the Season ...

... for standing in the glow of the refrigerator to figure out what delicious food comes next; for hovering over the sink to inhale a slice of pie; for waking up with anxiety over what was eaten yesterday or the day before.

But no more! One day (or weekend) will not make or break your food habits - and if you think it will, it's the diet that is to blame, not yourself.

Waking up post-feast-weekend can leave you sluggish and, for lack of a better word, blah. So I've - Emily here! - included my top three tips for getting back to Great Vibes when I've forgotten myself and indulged like it's my middle name.

Drink Water like it's Liquid Gold - It Kind of Is.

My number one tip to surviving the holiday season is drinking water. It's the easiest, most effective way of flushing out toxins, rejuvenating your skin, and keeping you satisfied. I've done absolutely zero exercise, ate all I wanted, but made sure to have at least 64 oz. of water everyday over Thanksgiving weekend and not gained weight. That won't work for everyone, but my point is water is pure gold. If water tastes bland to you, try adding ginger or lemon (like the picture above) or infuse it with some berries. If you want to step it up a notch, try my top-secret (not-so-secret anymore) toxin flush of 1 cup of water with about a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in the morning upon first waking and again prior to going to bed. You'll be met with a happy tummy, a detoxified body, and a glowing complexion.

Move the Body, but Not Like You're Thinking.

Contrary to popular belief, the whole burn-the-equivalent-of-calories-in is wrong. You cannot hop on a treadmill and burn off that extra serving of mashed potatoes. Nope. What you can do, however, is be gentle with yourself and your initial movements post-food-coma. To begin, incorporate some slow burning, detoxing twists into your workout or yoga sequence. The reason you're puffy and uncomfortable is due to the build up of food and toxins being processed through your system. The digestive track gets to be slow moving and the stomach may become sensitive and irritable. By incorporating twists into your daily regimen, you can help your body naturally eliminate excess without it being a harmful shock to the system. If you're craving a vigorous run or yoga sequence, then by all means, please do it. Start slowly and then increase to a quicker pace. There's nothing worse than being mid-run and having your stomach cramp. But if you're sitting there saying you must even though you really just want to ease into your day, then do not do it. There's nothing less effective than a forced, high-intensity workout.

Eat More Food - Seriously, Do It.

"Let food be thy medicine" - Hippocrates

If you've overindulged, the answer is more food, not less of it. Remember what I said about exercising and how calories-in cannot be negated by burning the exact amount off? Well starving yourself the day after overindulgence does nothing more than make your body hold onto it's weight. Make room for foods that are easy to digest and extremely nutritious. Any of the recipes on The Great Vibes Guide are excellent for this. For an amazing and free detox recipe eBook, sign up for Minimalist Baker's newsletter. It includes easy to make and yummy to eat recipes that help you hit the reset button on your body. They are refreshing and absolutely delicious. The site is great in general. Dana and John bring priceless resources and incredible recipes to the online community that have me wanting to do a happy dance just thinking about it.

Wrapping back to the main point, foods can heal your body. Eat the good stuff.

Good thing we don't believe in guilt over here ...

If there is one thing I've learned, it is that life has no room for guilt or shame. You ate a meal. Maybe 10. If they exceed what you deem "good" or "acceptable", that is okay and I give you permission to forgive the unkind words spoken to yourself after eating that third slice of pie.

It's easy to get wrapped up in the fitness hype and dieting craze. However, your body is more than the food you eat. It's a miracle. So shower it with the love it deserves during this crazy and hectic holiday season. If you are still struggling, click here to reach out, and let's get you back on track. For the time being, drink lots of water, exercise in a way that makes you feel like royalty, and eat foods that make you glow.

The holidays are here. Make it a wonderful close to the year by treating yourself kindly. Xx.

P.S. Did you know you get a free 5 Tips to Great Vibes Guide & grocery store printable when you sign up for The Newsletter? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

P.S.S. Have you checked out all of the
other places Emily's spreading the Great Vibes?

Thoughts & Conversation

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What are your thoughts?

Yesterday, I (Emily, here!) posted this picture to social media. I was struck by the significance of these words and how we, especially females, will scan outward appearances to determine diet, health, lifestyle, so on and so forth. How unfair of us. Of me. I can't say I do this much after graduating from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, but I know I once did. To both others and myself.

Have you ever had your health judged by the size of your body? Do you judge your health based on the size of your body? Have you ever judged someone's health based off of their physical size? Do you think it's gender biased: do you think ladies are more likely to be ridiculed than men? 

I'm interested to hear your thoughts in the comments ...

P.S. Use the hashtag #thegreatvibesguide for anything that makes you feel like doing the happy dance or expressing your imperfectly perfect self.

P.S.S. Did you know you get a free Great Vibes Guide & grocery store printable when you sign up for The Newsletter? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

P.S.S.S. Have you checked out all of the
other places Emily's spreading the Great Vibes?

Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Pretzel, Popcorn Bark

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halloween-bark-title.jpg

Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Pretzel, Popcorn Bark, Say What? Yes. It's happening.

Can I (Emily, here!) get a woot woot for easy, fast, and absolutely amazing recipes? This bark is going to make you want to do the happy dance. No lies. I included it in the Halloween Recipe series because a) cravings hit when handing out candy to trick-or-treaters so better entertain your tastebuds with something fabulous, b) if you're going to a party - read: not a frat party - and want something sweet & savory to bring along that's not the norm, these are perfect, and c) I'm eating this during Halloween time, and therefore it belongs in the Halloween Recipe series. Plus, if you've ever had chocolate spiders or haystacks, these taste like the deconstructed version (with an addition of popcorn of course, because really, why not?).

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This recipe brings all of the Great Vibes because it's ...

5 ingredients
ready to eat in under 30 minutes
sweet
savory
crunchy
rich
decadent
versatile

Why love bark? Sometimes yumminess doesn't have to be complicated. Chocolate bark as a base sets you up for recipe success every time. Think of the options: nuts & seeds, dried fruit, other types of chocolate, peppermint for the holidays, etc.

Ingredients & steps after the jump ... 

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Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Pretzel, Popcorn Bark

Ingredients ::

+ Pretzels (gf, v)
+ Popcorn (homemade with olive oil)
+ Peanut Butter (unsalted, organic)
+ 1 bag of Chocolate Chips (gf, v)
+ Salt (Pink Himalayan Sea Salt) 

Recipe ::

  1. Make popcorn - follow instructions on the bag or microwave 2 tbsp - 1/4 cup organic popcorn kernels with 1 tbsp olive oil in a glass container with vented lid until it is more than 5 seconds between popping (about 4-5 minutes, depends on microwave; you can also do this on the stove).

  2. Melt chocolate in a bowl, in a double broiler or microwaving on high for 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until all of the chips have melted.

  3. Spread melted chocolate evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or silicon mat.

  4. Cover with crushed pretzels & popcorn.

  5. Drizzle with peanut butter.

  6. Place in refrigerator or freezer to harden.

  7. Break into pieces, and enjoy! Xx.

Notes::

Stores well in the refrigerator or freezer. Will be more melty in a warm room.

Notice in my ingredients where I've written organic and where I've written vegan. If these things are important to you, I encourage you to do the same. Finances, availability, and personal consumer choice can impact purchase decisions. My hope is that you closely follow the recipe, but make allowances where necessary -- my feelings won't be hurt and your taste buds will still have a party. Promise!

+ What are your favorite bark toppings?

P.S. Use the hashtag #thegreatvibesguide for anything that makes you feel like doing the happy dance or expressing your imperfectly perfect self.

P.S.S. Did you know you get a free Great Vibes Guide & grocery store printable when you sign up for The Newsletter? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

P.S.S.S. Have you checked out all of the
other places Emily's spreading the Great Vibes?