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?

Book Club :: Mindy Kaling's, Why Not Me? Part One - For the Ladies

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Welcome to The Great Vibes Guide's first Book Club!

It makes me (Emily, here!) extremely happy to have a virtual space where we can stay up to date on new books, documentaries, short stories, poignant articles, and other literary and media finds to keep us filled with Great Vibes and less, well, boring. Isn't it always more interesting to have someone bring up a fascinating article they recently read rather than the image they scrolled across in Facebook? I think so. Let's get started, shall we?

By now we're about 65 pages into Mindy Kaling's Why Not Me? and I don't know about you, but I'm loving it. (side note:: still haven't grabbed the book but want to join the fun? Buy it here. seriously. do it.) I appreciate her honest and open voice, her unapologetic nature, and her ability to call out social norms that have gotten the best of us all at one point or another. It's fun to relax and be a part of a conversation; she comes across like the best friend sitting at the other end of the couch sipping wine and bitching about her day at work or the drama of the moment. It's not stressful or monotonous but companionable and fun.

Reading this book is easy, but she calls attention to a lot of important issues I thought we could touch on today. Use the questions provided as jumping off points or share something you found interesting and worth chatting about. Whether you've read the whole section or just the first couple pages, I want you to chime in, and share your thoughts in the comments below!

For next time :: The Next Section for December 4th

Question Time

First of All, Pace::

+ Was this too much to read in such a short time? Shall we keep the pace the same or slow it down for next time?

Hello Again::

+ Did you read Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)?

+ What did you think of her couldn't-care-less approach to others' opinions of her? I'm a big fan of the phrase 'give less f***s' to keep my expectations in check and make sure that I'm rocking my authenticity at 100%.

How to Look Spectacular: A Starlet's Confession::

+ Do you think it's productive to draw attention to the media's obsession of the perfect appearance, or do you think it only fuels the fire?

+ What are some ways media could change for the better in regards to modeling men and women?

Some Thoughts on Weddings::

+ Do you like weddings? Are you the person who had/has the details all ready and waiting for the groom or bride?

+ I really appreciate her spotlight on the best "best friend" days (p.26). Do you feel similarly to friends you still call best friends but who might not be as present in everyday life as they once were?

Mindy Kaling, Sorority Girl::

+ What are your thoughts on her experience with Sigma Delt and being "deemed" something?

+ She ends her relationship with Sigma Delt via email. Ever ended/had someone end a relationship or organization via technology?

(Minor) Fame Has Changed Me::

+ On page 48, Kaling writes, "I wish I had always acted like I was a little bit famous". Based on the things she can and cannot do now that she is famous, what do you think she meant?

+ Should we all act a little bit famous?

+ How might you change if you were famous?

Things to Bring to My Dinner Party::

+ I find this chapter hilarious, because I'm always envisioning elaborate and beautiful dinner parties for when I'm older and have more money. What was your favorite item listed? I loved, "an enormous vintage diamond engagement ring you are giving me because you are going to announce at dinner that I am yours".

+ What non-food item would you have guests bring?

Player::

+ She talks a little about words like "BFF" and "girl crush" on page 59. Did you ever do something similarly over a phrase you later used or still use shamelessly?

+ Ever had a there-one-moment-gone-the-next friend or lover? Gossip to your hearts content.

Any other thoughts?

That's all of the questions I have to spark conversation for now... Hop down to the comments and give it a whirl -- no thought too big, small, unwanted (within reason), or otherwise!

Still haven't grabbed the book but after reading the great questions about to be talked about want to join in the fun? Buy it here.

+ I'm curious. What do you think about a book club? Have you ever done one in the past? If you start it, do you think you'll finish it?

*affiliate links were used in this post :: thanks for supporting The Great Vibes Guide & me! Xx.

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?

Book Club :: Mindy Kaling's, Why Not Me?

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book-club-edits.jpg

Update:: Part One |

Hey all, it's Emily here! I've been thinking about doing a virtual book club for a long while, and after receiving a particularly good read for my birthday, I thought we'd give it a go! I want to read slowly - none of this read-the-whole-book-in-a-week club where you never have enough time, nor do you actually want to read it that fast, and it ends up being a hopeless discussion that bores everyone to tears. Heck no! I think the best part is how I plan to loosely define 'book' -- books, articles, documentaries, movies, the sky's the limit on what we can check out and discuss! 

To kick it all off, I thought we could start with Mindy Kaling's newest novel, Why Not Me?

Something lighthearted to celebrate my birthday and keep the stress levels low. I read her first book a year or so ago, and it was fabulous. I laughed, I teared up, and I learned some valuable advice from a sassy woman who knows her place in the world and is determined to go after it all. If that isn't Great Vibes, I don't know what is. Snag the book on the right, and we'll kick off the book club by reading the section titled "For the Ladies". It's a fast read and we'll meet back here next Friday (the 13th) & chat about it over virtual coffee and cake. Can't wait! Xx.

 

+ I'm curious. What do you think about a book club? Have you ever done one in the past? If you start it, do you think you'll finish it?

*affiliate links were used in this post :: thanks for supporting The Great Vibes Guide & me! Xx.

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?