Ok guys, it’s time to start putting your workout gear to good use and actually using it to workout! Fill out this contract from Oakley Women to keep you on track! Visit Oakley.com/Contract and fill out your own contract. They have a lot of great examples and templates you can use – or you can create your own like I did. Then, chose a photo or upload one of you or something else that inspires you and voilà - you have your very own fitness contract. As a bonus – if you share your contract on Pinterest or Instagram and use #oakleywomencontract and @oakleywomen – you will be entered into a contest to win cool prizes like glasses and gear!

Over the next few weeks, I will be doing live trainer Q&A’s on my Facebook page and other brand’s Facebook pages! Tomorrow  (1/11/13) join me on Hail Merry’s page at 3pm Central where I’ll be answering your questions live! Ask me about all things health and fitness!

Cari’s Top 10 Tips For Reducing Stress at Work

1. Start the night before by getting enough sleep. Most people put their jobs, their families and other obligations first. But, the truth is that if you aren’t well rested – you won’t be able to fully devote yourself to other people and obligations. Aim for at least 8 hours a night. Turn the tv off and start to wind down an hour earlier tonight and see how you feel tomorrow.

2. Make sure you start your day with breakfast – even if it’s at your desk. When you eat breakfast it will jumpstart your metabolism and give you more energy throughout the day. When you don’t eat enough or skip breakfast, it causes your blood sugar to be low and it will make you feel sluggish and sometimes more stressed.

3. Take a break every 1-2 hours and use that time just for you. Do some breathing exercises, stretch or go walk around. Taking time out of your day for yourself will give you a sense of control, will help you de-stress and it’s good for your mind and body.

4. Avoid the vending machines and office “goodies” in the break-room. If you snack on junk all day, that’s just going to stress your body. Instead, pack your lunch and snacks each day and make sure you are eating something healthy every 2-3 hours. Eating 3 meals a day is very “old school” and only slows your metabolism. If your stomach is growling in the afternoon – eat! Don’t wait until you get home and have dinner or you will just overeat. Good office snacks include: lowfat string cheese, fruit, nuts, hard-boiled eggs, lowfat greek yogurt, wheat crackers with natural nut butter, whey protein (look for a low-cal/low-fat brand) and unsalted almonds. Continue Reading…

Join me  and Oakley for this fun 4-week challenge to get you fit and beautiful inside and out! Plus, the top finishers will win Oakley glasses, an Oakley outfit and a virtual training session with me! The contest starts October 15th and runs for 4 weeks.  Join HERE!

Shape Magazine recently asked me for my favorite post-workout snack! Check out my favorite (#8), along with a lot of other great options from some top trainers!

Bombshell Bootcamp starts in 2 weeks!  I’ve partnered up with my friend and fitness instructor, Carrie Barnhart (she’s also the former Captain of the Rockets Power Dancers!) and we are going to whip you into shape!

[email protected] or [email protected]

Hi guys! I’ll be in NYC next week to lead workouts in Times Square as part of NBC Universal’s “Healthy Week”! Join us in taking a step towards a healthier lifestyle in this iconic installation, where every step counts towards a charitable donation to the American Cancer Society “Choose You” initiative. A running ticker collects all the footsteps (via sensors on the steps) with a goal of 1 million steps! You can also follow along with me as I lead workouts on stage! You can view the schedule HERE. Right now, I’m scheduled to be on stage at these times:

Tuesday May 24th 12:30pm – Workout with me and former Biggest Loser winners!

Wednesday May 25th 10am – Morning Yoga Workout!

I’ll also be in ExerciseTV’s booth during the day giving out custom workout plans! Come say hello!

Hey guys! I just wanted to send these links again so you can follow me on my Facebook and Twitter pages! I also give a lot of nutrition tips on there too!

Did you know that today is World Kidney Day? Probably not. I wouldn’t have either, except that one of my best friends, Nancy, had a transplant over 3 years ago and has taught me a lot about the importance of kidneys! Kidney disease effects hundreds of millions of people all over the world and over 26 million here in the U.S.! If you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or a family history of these conditions…you too could be at risk! It’s important to stay active, keep your blood pressure low and maintain a healthy weight by making smart food choices.

Continue Reading…

My client Erica Rose will be on tv tonight on ABC’s The Bachelor!

They are airing special clips of the “Bachelor Reunion” during the normal show…so be sure to look for her! She’s been training hard in order to get ready for this show and her other recent appearances on shows like Vh1′s You’re Cut Off, The Dr. Phil Show and others. We keep the workouts fun and include a mix of balance training, spinning, weights and yoga.
Also, Erica and I have decided to partner on a new workout project and will be making a fitness dvd this month called “Stiletto Bikini Blast”! We wanted to make a cute, fun workout video that’s perfect for summer with a unique twist. Check back soon for more details!

I know many of you are still trying new gyms, workouts, classes, etc. since it’s still the start of the new year. Getting a trainer is a great way to jumpstart your workouts and get you on track. But, choosing the right trainer can be hard and most people don’t know what they should be looking for or what makes a good trainer.

Make sure they are certified and I would ask them who their certification is through or see if they have that info. on their website. Good ones are ACE, NASM, AFAA, etc. Nutrition advice can be hit or miss with trainers. Really, they should have a nutrition degree or RD certification to give you a specific diet plan….but most trainers (including me) will give tips or advice. If it sounds too crazy, like no carbs or consuming too much protein, then get a second opinion. Continue Reading…

I hope you guys are enjoying the first few days of 2011 and have been thinking about how you can make 2011 your fittest year ever! Maybe you already started by doing my “Lose Weight by New Year’s Eve” challenge?

My goals for Cari-Fit.com this year include doing more blog posts, making more short workout videos for you guys and also to reach 5,000 subscribers! Thanks to all of my current subscribers! Please keep forwarding my site to all your friends, family and coworkers. I plan kick things up a notch this year so that I can provide you guys the best fitness information and tools out there! I welcome any feedback you have and if there is something you’d like for me to cover,  please let me know!

Happy New Year!
-Cari

Fall Training Camp Cari’s Fall Training Camp is designed to help you kick-start a healthy lifestyle and introduce you to the wide range of fun and healthy fitness activities you can do in Houston. It includes a variety of strength training and cardio activities including: boxing, resistance bands, running, yoga and more. In addition, monthly members will get a food journal (and reviews by Cari), nutrition advice, assessment with goal setting and body analysis. Cari will also take the group on an optional grocery store tour to learn how to shop healthy; on a restaurant tour to learn to order healthy; and an optional shopping trip to buy functional and stylish workout clothes and the latest gear. Memberships are $200/month or you can pay $20 for a single class.

To sign up click HERE or to get more information, email me at [email protected]

Get in shape NOW – before the Holidays! It’s not too late to join!

What’s Included?

• 2 Outdoor workouts a week at various locations so you won’t get bored (Spotts Park, Memorial Park, Sabine bridge, etc).  They will consist of cardio + strength training. Workouts will include upper body, lower body and abs by mixing in boxing, resistance bands, kettlebells, plyometrics and more!

• Package Also Includes (*For monthly members): a Food Journal; Personal Assessment and Goal Setting; Before/After Photos and Measurements; Yoga Classes at Joy Yoga; Kenyan Way Workouts, Cari’s Exclusive Recommendations for Online ExerciseTV Videos and Home Workouts, Workout Plan for Other days and a Copy of Cari’s new ExerciseTV dvd!

• Saturday Classes Include: a Grocery Store Tour, Shopping Tour (gear, watches, shoes, clothes,etc) at Luke’s Locker; Restaurant Tour (how to decide what to order at your fave places) and more… Continue Reading…

I was recently asked to be on Dara Torres’ blog tour for her new book: Gold Medal Fitness!

I’m super excited because I’m a big fan of hers. I just started reading her book and I love it. You can read more about her and her book on her site: DaraTorres.com. Be sure to check back next week when I cover “Recovery: They Key to Your Performance”.