Recovering From Post Holiday Weight + Inflammation

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There’s nothing wrong with a little fluctuation during a holiday or vacation. We wouldn’t be human if we didn’t indulge when celebrating with our family and friends. Over the holidays I gained 4 pounds, which may not seem a lot to you but, on my barely 5’2 petite frame, I felt it. Along with the little weight gain was temporary inflammation, breakouts, water retention, bloat, and brain fog. I have zero regrets for any of the food or drinks I consumed. It’s life, you guys. Getting back on track doesn’t have to be drastic or difficult.

Here are my tips on getting back on track and how I lost the 4 pounds:

Photographer: Soda Fountain Photo

Photographer: Soda Fountain Photo

  1. MOVE YOUR BODY

    A lot of the holidays are eating, traveling, more drinking, eating, sitting, more eating, more drinking and more sitting. Balance it out with some physical activity that you enjoy. Don’t waste your energy, money, or time on a workout you don’t like. This is NOT a punishment for the food you ate. Take your favorite group fitness class and ask a friend to join you. Take a walk outside for some fresh air or walk around your favorite museum. I love a good sweat session that combines cardio and weights like a Barry’s Bootcamp class or CorePower Yoga’s Yoga Sculpt.

  2. THERMOJET INFRARED BODY WRAP

    I booked an appointment at Leah Chavie Skincare for a 45 minute Thermojet Infrared Body Wrap Session. During the treatment, flexible wide silicone wraps are used for targeting specific areas of the body: arms, waist, hips, and legs. BENEFITS: soothe tight muscles and joints, aids in detoxification (you’ll sweat your butt off), aids in lymphatic drainage, cellulite reduction over time, improves circulation, and infrared reduces inflammation in the body. I prefer an Infrared Body Wrap over a steam room or sauna because I can lay down for a nap while breathing in room temperature air. A treat for my Chicagoans: Leah is offering my readers Thermojet Infrared Body Wrap for $75 until the end of Febuary (2/28/19). Mention CARLA JIAN when you call to book your appointment.

    SIDE NOTE: When you book your wrap at Leah’s, go ahead and treat yourself to one of her infamous facials. If you’ve watched my Instagram stories you know how much I LOVE Leah and it’s not a basic facial. She has changed the texture of my skin and has lightened my old acne scars. Mention CARLA JIAN for 30% off your FIRST facial.

    Follow Leah on Instagram for her latest and greatest on skincare.

  3. RESET YOUR DIGESTION

    The following day(s) after a great holiday feast I give my digestive system a break with Intermittent Fasting. My sweet spot is 14-15 hours. I start my morning with water, on a good day - warm water with, apple cider vinegar, and lemon, then Four Sigmatic Coffee with inulin fiber. I usually have breakfast around 10am and have my last meal by 7pm. Research Intermittent Fasting on your own to see what method works best for your lifestyle. For me, even 1 day of IF decreases a lot of the bloat. I prefer to IF 3-5 days a week and find that it increases my energy and clears my thinking.

  4. EAT MORE ANTI-INFLAMMATORY FOODS

    Some of my favorite inflammation fighting foods are turmeric, celery, dark leafy greens, ginger, green tea, salmon, bone broth, blueberries, and flaxseed to name a few. Basically colorful foods that are high in omega-3s, fiber, good fats, antioxidants, and lean protein.

  5. WATER

    HYDRATE! When consuming holiday cocktails and foods those salty/savory dishes are unfortunately high in sugar or sodium, which make you want them more, so the last thing you’re reaching for is water. Not enough water = dehydration. Dehydration signals are similar to hunger, so it may cause you to eat more when you’re really just thirsty. I prefer to drink my body weight (in ounces) because I sweat a lot from working out. So if you’re an active 125 pound person, aim close to 125 ounces.

  6. PROBIOTIC

    If you aren’t on a regular probiotic, get on one. Probiotics help balance the good bacteria in your digestive system. When my gut is out of whack I end up having acne breakouts and crazy bloating. Probiotics really help with my healthy glow and ease my digestion. Speak with your doctor to decide what probiotic is best for you.

  7. EAT MORE PLANT BASED

    Add more vegetables in to your meals. Enjoy them raw or cooked. The earth harvests what our bodies need so eat what’s in season, preferably organic or organic frozen veggies.

  8. AVOID FOODS THAT CAUSE INFLAMMATION

    It’s pretty clear what foods made me feel puffy, cause acne, and brain fog. I avoid those for at least a week. Having these foods cause havoc in my system so I’m okay with giving them up for a bit.

Notice how this is NOT about restriction or deprivation. I didn’t go on a juice cleanse or diet. It’s just about mindful eating and listening to your body. Your body is meant to feel amazing. Be good to it.

Hope these simple tips help you to get back on track! Let me know how these work for you.

Happy New Year!

Carla Jian

How to save money and time with Invisalign

DENTOLOGIE
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A smile is the best thing you can wear.

I'm in front of people all day teaching and talking on my Instagram stories. The one thing I've always been insecure about was my smile.  I’ve never had braces. After I had my wisdom teeth taken out and as I’ve gotten older my teeth have gotten worse. I have avoided certain angles or smiling when taking photos because of my crooked teeth.  So my goal this year was to fix it.  

What was wrong: My 2 front top teeth protruded out, my 2 bottom front teeth were very crowded and I knew that if I didn't do something about it, that one of the bottom teeth would eventually end up perpendicular to the one next to it (see photo below), and for years I was a teeth grinder so that made everything worse. 

IMG_4065_Facetune_16-09-2018-08-54-58.jpg

Why I chose SmileCycle by Dentologie

I knew that my Invisalign journey would be a long one so I wanted to go to a dentist that had a great reputation.  That's where SmileCycle by Dentologie comes in.  I also found out that a handful of my friends have already started their Invisalign with Smilecycle. Dentologie is a dentist practice right here in Chicago with locations in Streeterville and South Loop!  Other quick aligner services do not have the support of real-life dentists.  It’s important to me that I have access to a professional if I need anything. The office is not like your typical dentist.  The staff is warm, the decor is gorgeous, and I just felt comfortable that I had a dentist right there with me for my Invisalign journey.

Another great thing about Dentologie is that for the month of October, they have created limited-edition pink brush boxes filled with their favorite products, including a pink Quip toothbrush and toothpaste, Cocofloss, Burt’s Bees Chapstick, Marvis Toothpaste, and a 30-minute whitening service! All of this is valued at $350 but it only costs $150 and 100% of the proceeds will go towards the American Cancer Society. You can snag your brush box HERE.

But first, 3D Scan...

The first thing you need to do before getting started is to book your FREE 3D scan appointment.  It’s quick and easy.   After your appointment, you'll get photos and video showing your treatment plan.  

3D Scan before Invisalign and attachments

3D Scan before Invisalign and attachments

4 things to know before you pop in those first Invisalign aligners:

1.  Attachments:
Attachments aren’t the chicest things to wear BUT they shorten the total treatment time since they act as anchors so the aligners work better and faster.  People get really hung up on them but you can only see it if you’re looking right into my mouth.  It’s better than having to wear real metal braces. These are temporary and not that big of a deal.

3D Scan after 14 weeks with attachments

3D Scan after 14 weeks with attachments

3.  Decreased time and cost!
SmileCycle has been able to cut down the average number of office visits from 15 to 4 and the total wearing length from 1.5 years to six months. While traditional Invisalign treatments charge $5,000, SmileCycle cases cost only $2,500 making a better smile both accessible and affordable. SmileCycle offers two easy ways to pay and either way, it’s 60% less expensive than other options:
• $99 per month for 24 months and with a $300 down payment
• $2,500 up-front

4.  Commitment and Eating Habits
Go into this ready to wear your aligners for 22 hours a day.  The more committed you are to wearing them, the sooner you will be done. It’s entirely up to you! I also think I lost a few pounds because I’m not snacking as much. I carry a travel size floss, toothbrush, and toothpaste with me to avoid food getting stuck in your teeth while wearing the aligners. I try my best to floss and/or brush my teeth after I eat or drink coffee. You don’t want to get a cavity so just clean your teeth as much as you can.   

5.  Get over the pain
A lot of people ask me, “Does it hurt?”  Your teeth are shifting to become straighter...OF COURSE they are going to be sore!  But it’s worth it, and you have to be mindful of what types of foods you eat when you put in a new aligner.  I recommend eating softer foods for the first couple days after you put in a new set.

That’s all I got for now!  Let me know if you have any questions on how Dentologie styled my smile in the comments:

This is a sponsored post but my own authentic review and opinion.