As you begin hanging out with us here are some other tips to maximize your well-being:

• Eat breakfast within an hour of waking. This is an important tip to re-start your metabolism. You will eat your meals and snacks every two to three hours to keep blood sugar balanced and energy levels consistent throughout your day.

• Be properly hydrated by drinking adequate water (and avoiding excess caffeine and alcohol). We recommend you drink water even before signs of thirst appear (8-10 glasses daily) including a cup of water 30 minutes before meals to aid in digestion. Minimize your consumption of alcoholic beverages and drink green tea daily (remember, no sugar!)  Begin focusing on water as your beverage of choice to increase energy and encourage your metabolism. Half your body weight in ounces is your minimum goal.

• Plan your day so that your last meal is at least 2 to 3 hours before your bedtime. This is an important secret to your success.

• Strive for 7 to 8 hours of sleep in a completely dark room. Restorative processes are at work while we sleep that will encourage repair, lower cravings, and balance stress hormones.

• Be comfortable giving in once in a while - if you eat carrot sticks when you've been wanting dark chocolate for three days, then you are not going to knock the craving out and it's likely to spill over into a molten chocolate lava cake with a gazillion calories as opposed to a few squares of a bar.  Spread your splurges out and your body won't become accustomed to this food, yet you'll quell those cravings.