Cassey Ho's Blog, page 100

December 2017 Workout Calendar!

You guys, it’s December!!!! WHAT?!? I sorta can’t contain my excitement. Seriously. I feel like a kid on Christmas simply knowing Christmas is coming. Like for real, that’s my level of giddiness.

Actually – hold on – giddiness levels are like x800 this year!!! Why? Cuz in just a few weeks, I’ll be hosting the annual Blogilates Holiday Party and it is 90s themed! Yea – I’m talking Saved By the Bell, young Britney, Fresh Prince, lava lamps, butterfly clips, chokers, slap bracelets, VHS tapes, and Lisa Frank galore.

Every person who is invited HAS TO come in 90s gear or else they are not allowed in. Plus…we’ll even be having 90s themed food. Mmmhmm. Like Dunkaroos, baby bottle pops, gushers, warheads, lunchables!!! Err wait…is 90s themed food just food when I was a kid? LOL. I don’t know. BUT IT’S HAPPENING AND I CANNOT.

ANYWAY!!!

There’s something so magical about December. It’s all about togetherness and picking out gifts for the people you love the most. I’m always filled with so much gratitude during this time.

But, December also marks the end of the year, so it’s a final chance to think about YOU.  What have you accomplished this year? Are you happy with how you performed in 2017? With a month left, can you push hard to get your priorities in order and start thinking what you want to tackle in January? YES! YOU CAN! You guys, December is the last month to go, “Alright, I’ve got 31 days to KILL it. And I’m not gonna let myself down!”

Let’s finish 2017 off with a bang! I’ve got a killer December calendar for you so you’ll be ready grab 2018 by the horns! I have a feeling the new year is gonna be amazing. Can you feel it?!!!

Download linked PDF | Download hi-res JPEG

If this is your first Blogilates workout calendar, you’ll want to know the following:

You can find each video by simply clicking on the link in the PDF (all located at youtube.com/blogilates)
Do each video once through unless otherwise directed
Check off as you go
Fridays are stretch & rest days, so no work outs!

Good luck guys! Who’s ready for the holidaze!!??

7 Healthy Tips For Managing Your Stress

Hi guys!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and got some good deals on Black Friday and Cyber Monday! (BTW did you take advantage of the 50% off PIIT28 Sale yet!? If not….do it, because I’ll be doing a HUGE challenge in January to celebrate the start of 2018!)

I’ve started holiday shopping but still have sooooo much to do. What about you guys? This time of year is always such a weird mix of excitement and stress. Like, I love it. But also, it’s a looooot. It’s easy to get stressed out.

So I thought today I’d let you know some of my tips for managing stress and anxiety. Because phew, just thinking about those long lines Christmas shopping has me like

How to easily stay motivated during the holidays!

Hey guys!

Just like a lot of people, I sometimes struggle to stay motivated to workout and eat healthy during the holiday season. IT’S JUST SO HARD! There are so many delicious treats and big oversized sweaters to snuggle into :P Plus, when everyone has gathered around for food and laughter, sometimes the last thing you wanna do is commit to a sweat sesh. But it’s so important to keep your body moving. In fact, staying active during the holidays can make your winter memories even more fun! You’ll have more energy to do all the fun things you want!

So how do you do it? Here are a couple (easy!) things you can try to stay on track this holiday season.

1. Go for a walk.

If you’re physically able (and you’re not stuck in a blizzard or something scary like that), go for a 3o minute walk every day. Bring along family members, pets, and/ or friends! Our workouts don’t have to be crazy every time. The point is to move your body. Doesn’t need to be intense. You don’t have to be shaking. Just move your body. Think of those 30 minutes as you time.

2. Make healthy substitutions.

Okay I actually find it really fun to find a yummy recipe on Pinterest and figure out how to make it healthier. It’s like a game to me! What can I substitute? How can I keep the awesome flavor and add health benefits? You’d be surprised how many delicious recipes are out there that are good for you!

3. Have a buddy.

It is SO much better working out when you have someone with you. You have someone to talk to, someone to get through the burn with, and someone to keep you accountable. See if any of your relatives or friends want to be your workout pal for the holiday season. Maybe choose a day that works with both your schedules and have that be your day. Plus, it’s a nice way to catch up!

4. Be silly.

Dance it out! Close your door and blast your favorite song. Make it a party. Dancing is SO good for you and it doesn’t even feel like a workout. Let loose.

5. Cut yourself some slack.

Yes, it’s the holiday season and you’re probably going to indulge more than usual. THAT’S OKAY! Beating yourself up over stuff just hurts you in the long run. Move your body. Enjoy your time. And allow yourself permission to have some wiggle room. It’ll be okay. I promise.

Do you have any holiday traditions? What are you doing this year?

Thank you for forgiving me.

Happy Small Business Saturday!

I’m currently at the POPFLEX warehouse making sure all your orders are getting pushed out quickly and perfectly!

How to deal with jealousy in friendships

Hi guys!

Let’s talk about jealousy. I hate this feeling. In a way, it’s almost worse than being sad or upset because it’s like you’re doing it to yourself and yet you can’t stop it from coming on. It’s frustrating.

But you know what? We ALL experience it. Yes, it’s annoying. Yes, it can teeter into unhealthy territory. But it IS normal. You aren’t going to completely rid yourself of jealousy. That’s like asking yourself to stop being human. Not gonna happen!

When it comes to jealousy, I think it’s important to:

A) acknowledge it exists and

B) learn how to work through it.

I’ve noticed that in friendships, jealousies can arise in such weird ways. It’s like when we see our friend hanging out with someone new and feel that sting of betrayal. Even though like OF COURSE IT’S NOT BETRAYAL! Your friend can have other friends! But jealousy isn’t very level-headed. Jealousy just reacts. Jealousy just feels.

There are also some friendships where a certain level of competition exists. It’s left unsaid, of course. No one actually admits to it. I mean, Facebook “humble brags” anyone?

When you see your high school friend get a job promotion, get engaged, buy a new house, or lose a bunch of weight – you’re supposed to feel happy for them, but somehow you feel like you’re in a competition with them to be better. Why? I don’t think we want to feel this way, we just do. So the next question is…how do we combat it?

Jealousy in itself is not necessarily a problem. It becomes a problem when it causes you to act out or when you sit and wallow in it. Try to think of jealousy like a balloon floating by. You can see it. There’s no denying it’s right there. But it’s not permanent. It’s okay to say, “Yep, it’s here right now. I’m feeling jealous.” But then allow it to continue floating on. Don’t make it your entire focus. Let it go.

Another thing you can do and…hear me out, okay? You can talk about it with your friend. Mhm. Sounds scary! But sometimes when we speak about the stuff that is bothering us, we take away some of its power. You might be surprised. If you can talk about your feelings, as irrational and ridiculous as they might be, it can help you work through them. It might even bring you closer to your friend because it’s a level of intimacy and honesty!

I have a story for you. Years ago when I was just getting my foot in the group fitness door, I was auditioning at a bunch of gyms trying to secure a job as a Pilates instructor. I remember going through my very first audition at Equinox and praying every night that I would get hired. It was my dream. They only took the best in the industry. I waited weeks for an answer. Then I found out through a short email that I had been rejected. They said I wasn’t ready.

Meanwhile, my younger sister was auditioning at another top level gym and found out that she got the job. I cannot tell you HOW MUCH I HATED feeling jealous of her. How come I couldn’t be happy for my sister? I love her so much, would never want her to not achieve her dreams, yet – I couldn’t genuinely be proud of her.

You see, this story shows that jealously comes from a place of feeling less than. And you know what? “Less than” is simply a state of mind. I didn’t not feel whole, so I could not give from my empty heart.

So how did I fix my state of mind? I talked it out. I talked to Sam and he set me straight. He told me I sounded silly and that if I didn’t want to feel jealous I should work harder and ace the Equinox audition next year. So that’s exactly what I did. When I started to focus my energy on getting better, my emptiness filled with hope and happiness. And then, I was no longer jealous of my little sister. I now had a full heart to pour genuine love from.

And guess what, I also ended up telling her I was jealous of her and we laughed it out. She thought it was the most ridiculous yet flattering thing. See – talking helps. It’s healing. You just gotta be truthful.

Look, jealousy is exhausting. But know that it IS normal. The trick is not letting it consume us. We need to acknowledge it and quickly get over it!

How do you deal with jealousy? Have you had any friendships where jealousy was a big issue?

 

My Fave 2017 Gifts For All My Girlfriends (All Under $50)

Hey guys!

I can’t believe it’s the holiday season. Like, WHAT??? There are Christmas trees, twinkly lights and candy canes up everywhere! I. LOVE. IT.

As we embark upon the gift giving season, I wanted to put together a 2017 gift guide of my favorite things to share with you guys. These are things I’ve actually purchased as presents for my loved ones, things people have given me, or just items I found online that I think are honestly really cool. I also want you to know that none of these brands have sponsored me in this post, so these are real deal products that I just genuinely like!

All of these gift ideas are things that I think your girlfriends would love! They are all under $50, but as I know we’re all always on a budget, I’ve got price category breakdowns for items starting at under $15! Ok read through and let me know which one you like best!

UNDER $15
1. LUSH bath bombs

Sometimes after a stressful day all you want to do is unwind with a luxurious bath. And that’s when these LUSH bath bombs come in handy! They are so fun and colorful, they basically turn your bath into an art project. OH AND the best part, they’re totally cruelty free and 100% vegetarian. Totally recommend.

Price: $7.95

2. ban.do compliment pencils 

These pencils are so cute, I cannot. We all need some affirmations from time to time. Why not let your pencil be your lil’ positive buddy?

Price: $10

3. FaceTory face masks 

I love face masks. Seriously. LOVE face masks. These FaceTory masks are awesome because you can buy a set of masks or sign up a friend to receive a monthly subscription. Face masks are definitely a big part of my skin care routine. They can help hydrate skin, remove excess oils and help improve the overall appearance of your pores.

Price $5.95 a month

4. EcoTools 6 Piece Starter Set

Love this brush combo! It includes tools for powder/blush, concealer, full shadow, spoolie, angled liner and even a cosmetic bag! It makes applying make up so much easier and smooth. You’ll look truly flawless. *cue Beyoncé*

Price: $7.85

5. Hooded travel pillow

I travel often and having the right accessories really helps make the process so much better. This cute pink travel pillow has an attached French terry hood so you can cover your eyes and fall asleep…in style!

Price: $12.90

6. Poop emoji baking tray

Get creative in the kitchen with this emoji baking tray! It’s sure to have people laughing (and maybe wondering if they want to actually eat that brownie…).

Price: $12.99

7. Meal Prep Pad

Half the battle with eating healthy is scheduling things out. Meal prepping is the key in saving money and staying on track. With this pad, you can plan out what meals you’re going to have throughout the week on the left and then use the easy-to-tear perforated grocery check list on the right when you’re headed to the grocery store.

Price: $12.50

UNDER $25
1. Mini waffle maker

Waffles are already delicious…but when they’re mini, omg, they’re so much better. Great dorm gift!

Price: $18.00

2. Winky eye slippers

Slippers always make a great gift. Plus, these come in millennial pink!

Price: $18

3. Honey pot

How cute is this honey pot?! It reminds me of a hipster version of Winnie the Pooh. It’s such a cute statement piece for any kitchen.

Price: $20

4. Casetify card holder

This cute iridescent card pocket is perfect to hold your credit cards and ID. That means you don’t need to bring an entire purse to every outing! Just bring your phone – it attaches right to the back!

Price: $19.95

5. Passport and luggage tag set

Ok to be completely honest, I HAD to include this one because finding a decently priced thing at Anthropologie aint easy! So I think this is a steal! Perfect gift for the traveler friend.

Price: $24

6. Plush Panda Robe

Pandas are cute but you’re even cuter, tbh. This robe is so cozy and perfect for those lazy Sundays when you just want to hang around and be comfy.

Price: $24.90

UNDER $50
1. 2018 Fit Planner

Yes, we’re biased because this is our brand new baby, the 2018 Fit Planner. You get a water tracker, food tracker, sleep tracker, habit tracker, workout planner and to-do lists galore! Plus, rose gold. I mean, c’mon.

Price: $36

2. Fine Tip Colorful Pens for journaling

These 24 pens are beautiful, and even come in neon colors! I like using these for my planner and color coding what I have to do!

Price: $29.95

3. Cinema Lightbox

This is the perfect way to brighten a room. Like, literally. Includes 100 letters, numbers and characters so you can make a new funny or inspiring message every day!

Price: $39.99

4. Capri Blue Iridescent Jar Candle

This is literally my favorite smelling candle ever. It smells like tropical passion. It’s in my office right now and it’s LIT :P

Price: $30

5. Hot Tools curling iron in rainbow gold

I LOVE this curling iron. It’s one of the only ones that keeps my curls in tact. I have the gold version, but then…I saw the rainbow gold version…and now I am in a dilemma. 

Price: $44.97

7. Yonanas Frozen Healthy Dessert Maker

This is amazing because it turns frozen fruit into dessert. You know how I always tell everyone to make Nice Cream (banana ice cream) but so many people don’t have a food processor? Well here ya go! An all in one machine! Perfect for satisfying that sweet tooth on the 28 Day Reset!

Price: $48.99

8. GlamGlow Gravitymud Firming Treatment Mask

You know what’s the coolest thing about this mask? As it dries on your face, it leaves it looking like a glistening pearl. Then…you get to peel it off real slow (so satisfying) and see all the impurities it lifted off your face.

Price: $43.86

Well, that ya go! I hope you guys enjoyed this gift guide! Let me know if you want another one! I had so much fun putting this together for you!

 

You’re going to fall sometimes. But you can always get back up.

Hi guys!!

So the other day, I was having dinner at a restaurant and saw the cutest little boy walking by with his mom! He was holding a huge iPad in his tiny hands and looking down at some game, totally distracted. He was doing all fine until the pathway turned into a mini set of stairs…and then before anyone could do anything, the poor lil thing face planted to the ground. At first it was pure silence. Then, the type of hysterical cry that makes your heart clench.

His mom immediately picked him up and comforted him. He was upset, of course. But after a few sniffles, he started smiling again. He was fine! And they kept on walking.

You’ve totally see this happen before, right? You know, there’s some little kid running around a playground and, out of nowhere, the kid just falls. And, oh boy, they fall HARD! There’s usually tears and maybe a bandaid necessary.

For a moment, the world came crashing down for that child. It was embarrassing and scary. And it hurt! They might need a little consoling. A hug. Someone saying, “You’re okay!”

But do you notice how quickly they bounce back? The tears dry up. The bandaid is applied. 10 minutes later, that kid is laughing and playing again.

This ability doesn’t go away just because we grow up. We’re still capable of getting back up after we fall. It’s just that, as adults, we feel shame, pity, embarrassment and we worry about what others think of us. So, we need to stop that. We need to brush it off and start again. It really begins with our mental strength to recover.

Our falls aren’t always physical. They can be emotional. Maybe you were broken up with. Maybe you lost an opportunity you REALLY wanted. Maybe you messed up. You failed somehow. You fall down. I’m not gonna lie, it’s a terrible feeling. But you can bounce back! You are never stuck at that low place. I promise, even if that’s how it seems. Feelings are TEMPORARY!

Sometimes our hardest falls actually push us to a place we never could have dreamed! It’s life. It’s balance.

Whenever I fall in different aspects of my life, I am going to remember that little boy and how he brushed it off. I’m going to stop feeling sorry for myself and instead smile, look for solutions and get on with it! I’m going to remember how he was brave. And how he didn’t let one bad experience ruin the rest of the day. We can keep going!

Let’s remind each other of that sometimes, okay? We can do this. We might fall, but we’re just going to get back up!

Did you ever have an experience like a “fall” that actually lead you to a better place? Would love to hear your stories!

When does competition become unhealthy?

Hey guys,

Let’s talk about competition! In honor of today’s topic, I would like to share a photo of me wrestling both of The Bella Twins :P (I have a collab coming up next week with Nikki and Brie that I think you will really enjoy!)

I know I’ve said I don’t like competition a bunch of times. But I think you deserve to know why it’s not for me, but how it can be good for other people.

Okay, first off, competition is not meant to be a bad thing. It has so many benefits. It pushes us to try harder, to be better, and to always strive for the next level. Those are good things! Competition is a great source of inspiration. It’s why musicians have “influences”. It’s why athletes like training with people who are “more skilled” than they are. It breeds growth and excitement.

If you attend a group fitness class, you might find yourself pushing more than you would if you were working out in your living room. It’s not that you’re in competition with the other people in class. It should always be a supportive, encouraging environment! But naturally, you’re going to go a little harder. You’re going to give it something extra, you know?

These are all the positive aspects to competition! We grow. We challenge ourselves. We become better versions of ourselves. We learn new skills. We reach higher places.

But when does competition become a problem? When does it transform from something motivational to something unhealthy?

Competition should be a motivating factor, but not something that consumes your entire life. Because honestly, you’re never going to be perfect. And someone is always going to be better than you at something. That’s not something to obsess over! That’s not something to ruin your self-esteem and self-image over. That’s just a fact. And it’s okay.

Your self-worth is not determined by what someone else is doing. It is not determined by how you stack up to the people you see on social media, your friends, your family.

Competition can plant these toxic seeds in us. We compare ourselves to everyone else. We want to be the best. We want to be the best one. But guess what? The only person you are ever REALLY competing with is YOURSELF. That’s it! And the cool thing about that is it’s not a race you have to win in a certain amount of time. It’s lifelong. And you get to decide the pace. You get to make the final call.

I still have moments when I need to check in with myself and make sure I’m competing WITH ME and only me. And real talk, it can be sooooo hard sometimes. But it’s always better for my mental health when I remember I am not competing with the other people I see. Just me.

How about you guys? Are you competitive? Has competition ever negatively affected you? Share your stories!

The 2018 Fit Planner is finally here!!!

Omg! The 2018 Fit Planner is FINALLY here! You guys, the Blogifam has been working so hard on it for so long that it feels surreal to finally share it.

We’ve been designing Fit Planners for 5 years now! Can you believe it? And I love that every year I can say that the newest one is the best one! Truly! We really listened to your comments on the last planner (all the things you liked and the stuff you didn’t) and took it all to heart.

We basically designed this with you guys – you just didn’t know it was happening. 

It’s okay to “break up” with a friend

 

Hey guys,

November is here and it’s finally getting colder in LA. It was starting to feel like summer would LITERALLY not end, but now we’re getting a taste of sweater weather and I’m excited! Better late than never!

Speaking of sweater weather, have you heard of cuffing season?

The idea is that people start coupling off when it gets colder. At first I was like, this is silly, but it’s…kind of true??? Maybe it’s the pressure of the holidays. All those plus-ones just looming in the distance. But people do seem to get together more in the colder months. 

In honor of cuffing season, today I wanted to talk about heartbreak. But no, not cuffing related heartbreak! Though I guess it’s normal to assume when we hear “heartbreak” it’s associated with a romantic partnership ending.

We’ve all seen couples break up. We’ve seen our friends lovesick over someone when things didn’t work out. It’s actually quite a unifying experience, heartache. Why do you think so many songs are written about it?! Because we all GET it. No matter where we’re from or who we are, we know what heartbreak is about. Taylor writes about an ex and we’re like, “YEAH GIRL! BEEN THERE!”

But heartbreak isn’t always because of a significant other. What about our platonic relationships? What about when you “break up” with a friend? How do you deal?

I had a very VERY close friend in college. It was one of the most magical friendships I ever had. We were like Will & Grace…less than lovers but more than friends. He was my GBF (gay best friend – not even sure if that is politically correct, but I think I need to give you this fact in order for you to understand the rest of the story). We cared for each other and loved each other as much as friends could. I even told him that in the future, should he ever decide to have a baby, I would donate my eggs to him and his partner.

I still can’t really explain to you why what happened next, happened, but when Sam stepped into the picture, this magical relationship broke. It just stopped working like a toy that ran out of batteries. And the sad part was, none of us knew where to find the batteries.

My GBF just didn’t talk to me in the same way anymore…he said he was happy for me…but he wouldn’t want to get to know Sam. We started hanging out less. I felt like he was abandoning me, but the truth is, looking back now, I think he felt abandoned too.

I was heart broken. Completely devastated that I was losing my best friend in the world. I was crying in my car, listening to Leona Lewis sad songs and feeling so confused. Eventually, we had a heart to heart and decided that it would be best to stop spending time with each other because it hurt him too much. So we literally and officially “broke up”.

I didn’t know friend break ups could be a thing until I experienced one. And let me tell you, it hurts just as bad as a breakup between lovers.

Losing someone is HARD. Always. No matter what context it’s in. Sometimes it’s necessary. Sometimes there are people who are creating too much toxic energy in our lives. And sometimes…you just drift apart. No one is at fault. Life happens and you simply find yourselves going down two different paths.

Relationships take WORK. They require commitment and not everything is sunshine and puppies all the time. The friendships that really matter, the ones that are meant to survive, make it through the hard moments. The friendships that you’re going to have until you’re old and wrinkly and reminiscing about the good old days will stay.

But if someone repeatedly hurts you, if “a friend” doesn’t support you or treats you poorly, that is probably not a friend you want to stick around forever. And guess what? That’s. Okay.

There’s this weird guilt that comes with friendship break ups. Because, again, we’re not used to it. We know the deal with romantic break ups. They happen. They suck. You deal. You move on. No one really talks about the process of parting ways with a friend. But it’s just as real and painful.

It’s perfectly okay to decide someone no longer serves a good purpose in your life. (Like how my GBF knew that keeping me in his life caused too much pain.) It’s perfectly okay to recognize a friendship has run its course. People change. What we want changes. What we want to be surrounded with changes.

If a friend keeps causing you heartache, take some time to reflect. Have you talked about it? Are they receptive to your feelings? Do you even enjoy spending time together anymore? Ask yourself some honest questions and let yourself sit with it for a bit. If it’s time to move forward, don’t feel bad about doing just that.

You have to protect your heart. And if you’re around people who are destroying it rather than taking care of it, you should find new people to be around. Because there are beautiful, amazing people who will give you the love you need. Those people are worth finding. Trust me.

Have you ever “broken up” with a friend? What was the reasoning? What happened?