Cassey Ho's Blog, page 105

Stop holding yourself back, get POP Pilates certified!

Hey guys!

Did you know that POP Pilates classes are in crazy high-demand right now? In Hawaii, classes are averaging about 80-100 students a class! It’s wild sauce! That’s more than when I used to get when I taught a weekly class! Haha.

I think the reason why the format is connecting with so many people is because it doesn’t FEEL like a work out. It doesn’t feel like a chore that you have to drag your butt to do. It’s fun to take and it’s fun to teach. This strong community is what’s keeping POP Pilates so special. The sisterhood is UNBREAKABLE. The people who teach are kind, enthusiastic, inspirational, and overall – just great humans.

So to my current instructors, thank you for making POP what is is today. And to those of you poking your head into the POP door…let me invite you inside. Don’t be afraid. If there’s a burning fire inside you telling you to get certified but you’re ignoring it because you’re scared…let’s chat.

I’m not kidding when I say that this is the best job ever. Want a career that pays, gives you a free gym membership, and is meaningful? This is it. Teaching fitness truly changes people’s lives. Don’t think you fit in? Right now we have seasoned instructors who have been teaching for many years, but we also have new, younger instructors who are actually POPsters turned POP Instructors! I think you can find a place in that range. And guess what? You’re going to grow, no matter where you start! You have a network of people who can act as mentors to help you reach your potential.

Oh yah and our kick butt Master Trainer team will make SURE you’re ready to teach after a training!

Still not convinced? OK. Let’s go through those thoughts running around in your head.

#1. You feel like you’re not “fit” enough.

But what is “fit” really? Do you think you don’t “look” like a fitness instructor? Well, fitness instructors, especially POP instructors DO NOT need to look a certain way. We do not and will never judge your appearance. What matters is that you are able to move safe and effectively with good form – and we teach you that in training! As an instructor, you also do not have to be moving and “performing” the entire time. You get up and walk around to check on your students’ form and alignment. So, you get breaks to talk and coach without moving at the same time. Let that fear of being “fit” enough GO! You are enough. What matters is the magic and passion you hold.

#2. You’re worried about landing a job.

POP is in HIGH demand right now! Classes are booming and gyms want POP on their class schedule ASAP! So you are in good hands. We also have a “Job Opportunity” section in our online portal when you get certified. We keep you updated when specific gyms are looking for instructors. If you live in an area where there are no chain gyms such as 24 Hour Fitness or Life Time Fitness, DO NOT WORRY! We have many successful instructors on our team who do not even live in the U.S. They are internationally based and have been able to find gyms, studios and clubs to teach POP at! You can teach anywhere – there are no limitations. You get to bring this format to people who don’t even know what it is and then they fall in love with it. It’s literally the best feeling ever.

BONUS: We have special marketing materials for you to use when advertising your classes!

#3. You’re scared about the training process. 

If you take a live training, it is an 8 hour workshop of learning, team building and A LOT of moving. We teach you the POP format, the exercises, how to move with the beat of the music and so much more. Most importantly, you leave feeling on top of the world! You will gain true friendships in POP trainings. It’s a magical experience.

During training you may receive Conditional Approval to teach, which means you can take that confirmation to gyms and start teaching right away, but you also have 60 days to submit a 30-minute video of you teaching POP. This video does NOT have to be formal – it can be in your living room :) We just need to see that you know the POP format (which you learn in training and it’s in your POP manual), that you can move safe and effectively and that you can coach. All of these things are taught in training and then you have 60 days to study and master it! The video does not have to be perfect. Just like real, live classes – things happen. You may forget the choreo – and that’s okay! As long as you jump back in and carry on like nothing happened you are fine! We are very realistic and give you constructive feedback on your evaluation.

Oh yes. And you earn THIS bracelet at the end of the training. This is something that cannot be bought. Only earned. So if you see someone wearing it, he or she is a part of the #POPArmy.

#4. You feel like you’re too shy to teach in front of a crowd.

Well, my friends, THIS is the perfect opportunity to get out of your comfort zone! Of course your first few classes may be intimidating. Getting up in front of a group of people who are expecting you to give them an awesome class can be scary! What if you forget the moves, your cues, etc!? Don’t worry! Once the music starts, you will remember everything and if you make a mistake, it’s all good! It happens to all of us – even instructors who have been teaching for YEARS! Remember, you are the leader, the expert in the format. Act confident, stand tall and OWN your class. After a few classes you won’t even know what shy is!

#5. You think more experienced Pilates students will come to your class and judge you.

First off, you need to remember and KNOW that POP Pilates is NOT classical Pilates. I was trained in classical Pilates but I teach in a very unique and non-traditional way! POP is a choreographed Pilates class to pop music – which has never been seen before. In fact, many of the moves you probably haven’t seen before either! I invent them as I am choreographing. In the training, we give you the format and moves to follow. You don’t have to go worrying about matching moves to music. That’s all planned for you! Bottom line? You can’t let someone who is an expert in another format make you feel unknowledgeable about your format. It’s different!

The best advice I can give you is to follow your heart and your passion. If getting POP certified has been on your mind for a while, then it means you should do it. The POP team is here to help you along the way. We set you up for success. The Master Trainer team will prepare you 100%. I’ve hand selected the people who I know can represent my brand well and who know their stuff. Trust me. You are in great hands.

Above are some upcoming trainings. You can see the entire list here. And remember, even if you’re outside the US, you can still get trained too! You’re eligible for PPOW – the POP Pilates Online Workshop.

If you have any more questions that I didn’t address, comment below. I’ll answer them for ya!

Top 5 fitness myths you think are true…

Hey guys!

Let me ask you this…

How many times have you heard that carbs are bad? Or doing crunches all day will get you a six pack? Or that you need to do lots and lots of cardio to lose weight?

Well, today I’m going to address some of the most common health and fitness myths out there and share with you a better solution instead!

Myth #1 – Crunches are the key to flat abs.

Want flat abs? CRUNCHES ALL DAY! Just kidding.

Doing ab exercises like crunches or sit-ups are great for strengthening your core.  But know that ab exercises aren’t the magic ingredient to flat abs and a toned tummy. You need to ensure you are burning body fat so your ab muscles can actually show through! HIIT routines like PIIT28 paired with eating clean are IT.

Doing my POP Pilates videos will DEFINITELY help build those core muscles, but you’ll notice that my workouts contain a lot more than just crunches. We do movements that encourage you to truly engage your core by pressing your back into the mat and lifting into Pilates stance. Right THERE you are working your abs a lot more than doing 100 fast sit-ups. Moves like double leg lifts, hip twists, and train track abs will truly strengthen your abs like crazy! Pair them with HIIT and you will see results!

Here’s a great fat-burning ab routine you can do!

 

Myth #2 – Carbs are bad.

We hear it over and over again and again – that carbs are bad and should be avoided. But this is WRONG WRONG WRONG!

We need carbs to provide us with ENERGY. And I’m not just talking energy to do our workouts, but energy to simply live, work, think and exists. Have you avoided carbs before and then felt super groggy, drained and even confused? That’s because your brain NEEDS those carbs to function. Generalizing that carbs are bad is just silly.

Did you know that fruits and vegetables are carbs too? Healthy grains like oats and quinoa are also carbs. Not just white bread, white rice and pasta! Healthy non-refined, non-processed carbs are part of a healthy diet! They also carry fiber which keeps us full longer.

Stick to healthy carbs in your regular diet, and try to avoid those not-so-healthy carbs like donuts, cakes and pastries on a regular basis. Even though they are delicious, they aren’t good for our waistline or our health. But of course, enjoy them in moderation because that’s what a balanced diet is all about!

Myth #3 – You can spot reduce fat.

Unfortunately this isn’t true. We all carry more fat in different areas of our bodies. Some of us carry it in our thighs, others in our tummies, or even our arms. So doing a million crunches like I mentioned before won’t flatten your stomach. Doing doing 100 squats won’t lean out your thighs. Doing cardio will help, but we all tend to lose fat in certain areas more than others, and even quicker than others. Hence why the boobs tend to go first! Sad, I know.

So, now it’s time to check in with your diet. Remember, nutrition is responsible for a HUGE part of weight loss. Eating clean, whole nutritious foods and removing processed foods is the best way to help with this. Our bodies are all shaped differently and genetically carry more weight in some areas than others. So it may be easier for one person to maintain a six-pack, but someone who carries more weight in their stomach area will find it harder. It’s about working with YOUR body and doing what you can to enhance your beautiful features.

Myth #4 – Strength training will make you big and bulky.

Many women are afraid to strength train and lift weights because they think they will get all bulky and manly, but that is NOT TRUE! What is “bulky” anyways!? What strength training WILL do is build beautiful lean muscle mass that will show through. It actually decreases body fat and you’ll look leaner even though you have more muscle on you!

And besides looks, you’ll BE STRONGER not just in your workouts, but in every day life. Don’t be afraid to get stronger and push your limits. The results will surprise you.. in a GOOD way! Oh, and another reason many women are afraid to lift weights is because they think they number on the scale will go up. They will gain weight! This may be true, but remember, assess your progress by how you feel, what you can do and progress pics!

Myth #5 – Cardio is the answer to weight loss.

Running for hours on the cardio machine is not the answer to losing weight. So if you do that and you are miserable about it, know that you don’t have to! Of course, if you enjoy it, then do it!

I’m all about doing what makes you happy! But it’s common for people to think that long amounts of cardio is the answer to weight loss. That’s not true. What is more effective is strength training combined with HIIT workouts. Just like my PIIT28 program does – it combines the two!

This is Alexia’s 28 Day transformation. Incredible what effective workouts and clean eating can do! See how she did it here.

This is beautiful Corina! You can read her transformation story here.

Why is it more effective? Because you turn into a fat-burning machine for over the next 24 hours (or more). Yep! Your metabolism boosts after your workout even when you’re sitting on the couch. Another element that is important here is nutrition. Eating healthy is just as important as exercise. You cannot out-exercise a bad diet. So combining a nutritious diet, with HIIT workouts and strength training will get you to your goals much quicker than hours on the treadmill.

There you have it! 5 of the most common health and fitness myths. Which one were you once fooled by?

If social media is toxic for you…do these 4 things.

Hey guys!

Today we are talking about something that I’m sure all of you are very familiar with…SOCIAL MEDIA.

Without it, there wouldn’t even be Blogilates! YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter are the ways I am able to share with you my workouts, healthy meals and everything in between. Because of it, we’ve been able to create a loving and supportive community worldwide!

I am forever grateful for it…but…sometimes social media can be harmful to you. Especially when you start using it to compare yourself to others instead of using it as MOTIVATION.

You know what I mean…

Do you ever find yourself scrolling through Instagram endlessly looking at pictures of other people, maybe even other POPsters, friends or complete strangers, and you start comparing yourself to them? Since social media is highly visual, we tend to look at other people and compare our bodies to them. Then the thoughts start to run wild…

Why am I not skinny like her?

She has nicer abs than me.

She’s prettier than me.

She has it all together.

Why isn’t my life as good as hers?

See how toxic it can be? I’m guilty of it too. Sometimes I’ll find myself seeing pictures of other people and start to question my own body and worth. But that’s wrong. Like I always tell you, comparison is the thief of joy.

I am going to share with you some quick and simple tips that will help you stop scrolling through IG every morning wishing you looked like someone else, and instead USING social media as a positive motivational tool.

Tip #1 – Unfollow or unfriend people who instantly make you feel bad about yourself.

If you look at at account and you instantly get a negative feeling – whether it be comparison, jealousy or whatever. Then know that it’s OKAY to completely unfollow someone. The people you follow should be people who inspire and motivate you to reach your goals and be a better person. You don’t want toxic people in your real every day life, so they shouldn’t be on your social media either.

Tip #2 – Know the difference between social media and real life.

Pictures can be photoshopped and changed. We can take pics at different angles with certain lighting to make ourselves look leaner, or have a bigger booty, or nicer abs. Know that a picture is just a picture. It is not always reality. Also, people tend to “play themselves up” on social media. What I mean by that is we tend to only highlight the GOOD moments in life instead of showing weaknesses or struggles. It may seem like someone’s life is all together, but it may not be 100% realistic. So be smart about what you see and don’t let it get to you – it may not be true.

Tip #3 – Accept that we are all different.

When you look at someone’s profile and you see their fitness journey – know that their body and their life is DIFFERENT than yours. We aren’t all the same. So, it’s not realistic to even start comparing ourselves to others. Instead, use their journey and progress as MOTIVATION for you to start living healthier and working harder.

Tip #4 – Know when to put the phone down and live.

Social media is a huge part of my business. Like I said before, without it, there wouldn’t even be Blogilates! But we need to learn when it’s time to put the phone down and start to live in the moment. That is when you will truly start to live and do things for yourself, not for others. That is when you will stop comparing yourself to strangers on the Internet and start LOVING yourself and your body because YOU are amazing. Even I have to take the time to turn off and just relax. Honestly, social media can be stressful and it shouldn’t be!

Social media is an amazing outlet that allows us connect and create friendships worldwide. It can be used as motivation and inspiration. But when you find yourself getting down and jealous of other people, it’s time to take a moment and step back. Either unfollow them, or figure out WHY their one simple post is making you feel that way. Is it because you’re insecure of yourself? You don’t feel good enough? Well YOU ARE. You are capable and you are strong. So I encourage you to be that positive, real role-model on Instagram, Facebook, etc. Be that person who is real and honest about their journey. It will push others to do the same. That’s why I encourage you to post about your PIIT28 journey. The success and happiness that you achieve will motivate others to achieve that too!

Do you find social media overall a positive and motivational, or degrading and harmful? Leave your thoughts below!

March 2017 Workout Calendar!

Hey guys!

It’s time for the MARCH CALENDAR! What. Even.

March is also the first month of Spring. OMG I cannot wait for beautiful blooms, warmer weather, and later sunsets. It’s the season of growth and rejuvenation!

So I have 3 very special things for you in this blog post as we all prepare to blossom into our best selves!

#1. THE MARCH 2017 WORKOUT CALENDAR

Download jpeg | Download linkable PDF

All you have to do is do each workout video once through and check off as you go! You’ve got 6 days of work and 1 day of rest. Follow closely and you shall see your mood, body and strength improve!

If you download the PDF, just click on the workout of the day and it will take you directly to the YouTube video!

And if you’re a beginner and you don’t feel ready for this calendar yet, no worries! Start out with my Beginner’s Calendar!

#2. JOIN THE STRETCH REVOLUTION!

My personal goal is to become more flexible, so if you want to join in on my stretch journey, then let’s start all together in March! I put together 30 days of stretches that I want you to hold for at least 1 min each per day. Of course you can do longer, but the minimum is 1 minute for the stretch of the day! You will LOVE how the poses will open you up!

I will also be doing an IG Story of how to get into the pose each day, so be sure to follow me on IG @blogilates to see that. And you will also see my POP Pilates Master Trainers showing you variations of the poses in case you want to modify for your stretch levels! Just follow the hashtag #stretchrevolution.

#3. BIG BIG BIG POPFLEX PRIZE IF YOU STRETCH WITH ME!

I see how much you guys genuinely love POPFLEX (that warms my heart more than you’ll ever know), so I want to give someone another fair chance to own all of this – no matter who you are or where you’re from. So here’s how you can score the POPFLEX Spring Fit Kit pictured above!

THE RULES

Screenshot and regram the challenge graphic on your Instagram!
Follow @blogilates, @poppilatesofficial, and @popflex_active
Do the stretch of the day and hold for at least 1 minute!
Post the stretch of the day for all 30 days of the challenge and hashtag #StretchRevolution

So there ya have it! 3 very special things for you this March! I hope you join in and stretch with me! And if you have some POPFLEX already, wear it in your pics! That way, you may be featured on the popflexactive.com homepage!

Love you guys and good luck!!

Get Super Stretchy with me!

Hey guys!

I literally CANNOT even believe that March is almost here. Like, what?? Like, Spring next month?? HUH! I’m still so cold!

You guys have been SOOOO on it with PIIT28 and/or following the Feb Workout Calendar that I am guessing your muscles need a little bit of a tune up! So that means that in March we will all dedicate ourselves to stretchy time. To motivate you to do this, I’m turning the challenge into a contest too!

It could be yours! This is the Ultimate Spring Fit Kit from POPFLEX, worth over $265! You’ll get:

The Dark Bloom Couture Yoga Mat – 6mm of thick cushion
Heart Strings Bra in Dark Bloom
Heart Strings Bra in Cabernet
Curious Crop Top in Plum
Wishing Star Capri in Dark Bloom
Wishing Star Capri in Plum
Adventure Zip Legging in Cabernet

And if you want it, then you’re gonna have to show me how far you’ll streeeeeeeeeetch for it! I want you to participate in all 30 days of the #StretchRevolution Challenge which begins on Wed March 1st! Here’s how to enter:

THE RULES

Screenshot and regram the challenge graphic on your Instagram!
Follow @blogilates, @poppilatesofficial, and @popflex_active
Do the stretch of the day and hold for at least 1 minute!
Post the stretch of the day for all 30 days of the challenge and hashtag #StretchRevolution

If you find that some of the stretches are hard for your to do at the moment, then be sure to check the hashtag #StretchRevolution for modifications. My POP Pilates Program Director and Master Trainers like @julesfultz and @cakesmashfitness will be offering wonderful options! And we’ll repost the best pics on the POP Pilates and POPFLEX IG to help inspire other POPsters!

I will also do my best to IG Story how to do the stretch daily so that you guys are good to go for the photo! Also, make sure that your IG is public so that I can see your posts! We will announce 1 random winner on March 31st, 2017! You can be from any country and be any age! And of course, if you win, you will get everything above in YOUR SIZE! And now, we run from size 2-16! Woohoo!

Good luck everyone! Love you so much!

 

Why you lose motivation and what you can do about it.

Hey guys!

How are you doing? No, really. Honestly.

Are you still staying on track and being consistent with the goals you made for the new year? The truth is, we are most motivated at the start of the year and then that motivation begins to slow down. But why? What happens to that fire and drive? Why does it diminish? Where does it go!!???

Well, today, we’re gonna talk about all that!

Here are some of the main reasons you tend to lose motivation:

#1. You get bored!

When you’re working towards something, which usually takes a lot of determination, time and patience, it may seem like it’s never ending. Day after day, it feels like you’re not even accomplishing anything, even though you’re working SO HARD. And sometimes the tasks may seem mundane and boring. So of COURSE you’re going to lose motivation if you’re bored doing something day in and day out.

What to do about it?

Get creative – have fun! Okay so maybe eating healthy and meal prepping is the most boring task and you dread it every week. So, turn it into something fun! Invite friends over to have a big cook fest! Meal prep with friends and fam, and put on some good music! It’s like social hour while you’re getting your healthy meals prepped for the week. Trust me, it’s a lot more fun when you’re doing it with people you love, rather than alone. Plus, you may even motivate them to eat healthier!

Now, if your workouts seem boring, then maybe it’s time to switch it up. Your workouts SHOULD NOT be boring – they should be fun and you should look forward to them. So, try something new. Try a new fitness class. Workout with a buddy. Or alternate different styles of workouts throughout the week. For example, do Pilates one day, yoga another and weight lifting on other days. Mix things up! It’s all about variety (and that’s also how you get great results!).

#2. Results aren’t happening fast enough!

Okay so maybe you want to lose 5 lbs, or be able to do 30 burpees in a minute (ugh can you imagine!!!) or do 3 unassisted pull ups – all awesome goals! But you didn’t reach your goal in a few days, a week, or even a month. You get upset and you lose motivation. It’s natural to get frustrated and just throw the towel in.

What to do about it?

Know your goal and accept that it’s going to take a long time to reach it. Think about it this way – if it wasn’t tough and grueling, would the end result be worth it? Probably not. When you FINALLY reach your goal, you’ll be even more proud of yourself because you know how much work it took. Set realistic goals and be okay with the fact that it might take a while. Results take time.

#3. You’re not being honest with yourself!

Are you sticking with your plan? Are you staying true to one YOLO meal a week? Or are you sneaking in more YOLOs than you wanted? Are you committed to your workouts?  Or are you slacking on a regular basis? A lot of the time, we aren’t seeing results, and therefore lose motivation because we aren’t truly being honest with ourselves and our actions.

What to do about it?

Ensure you get the job done by:

Writing down your to-do list
Journaling your food intake
Make your workouts fun
Being proud of yourself and rewarding yourself for accomplishing your tasks. Maybe even reward yourself by relaxing and watching your fave TV show after your workout. Or having the most rejuvenating bubble bath at the end of the day. Stay true to your goals and your plan. That’s the ONLY way you will see results.

#4. You’re procrastinating!

Oh this is a big one! We are all guilty of it. We want to do something. The drive and desire is there, buttttttt let’s just put it off for a few hours. What if you intended to do your workout at 9am, but decided to meet a friend for breakfast instead. But then after your meal you decide to go shopping, then one thing leads to the next and your workout is missed that day! Okay, one day isn’t the end of the world, but if these habits keep happening, you’ll never reach your goal, right?

What to do about it?

Stay committed. Write down what tasks you need to do that day and make SURE you finish them. Make them a priority. Your friends will understand if you’d rather have lunch than breakfast so you can get your workout in, or if you need to reschedule your shopping date until later. Once you get into the habit of procrastination, it BECOMES a habit! And that’s one you don’t want. Say no to procrastination when the thought creeps up. You’ll be much happier with yourself when you get the job done!

With all that being said, motivation is a mindset. Motivation comes and goes. People rely on motivation and they think they should be motivated all the time and that’s how they will get the job done. But that’s not true. If you only worked out and ate healthy when you were motivated, would you get where you want to be? Probably not. Trust me. Even I have days when I’m not motivated, but I don’t let that stop me. I push myself to get into the office and work because I KNOW that I won’t regret it. And you know what? It’s usually on those unmotivated days when you have the best workout, or do your best work.

Be honest, how are your goals going so far? Let me know in the comments below. Let’s keep each other accountable!

Win a $250 POPFLEX Shopping Spree!

 

Hey there guys!

First of all, I am LOVINGGGGG all of your Instagram posts in your POPFLEX! When I wake up every morning, the first thing I check is the #POPFLEX hashtag! I die (0f happiness) every time I see one of you guys modeling the clothes.

Keep going outside, showing me your best Pilates and Yoga poses, and let that inner Top Model SHINE!!! We all have one inside of us – promise :)

Plus, when you guys post your pics to Instagram, you have a chance to be featured on the POPFLEX website! It’s actually really important that you post so that other girls can see how the clothes fit on YOU. It’s impossible for us to shoot the clothes on every body type ever, but with your help, we can do it together!

Pretty cool huh? Just make sure you’re using #POPFLEX or else I won’t be able to find your photo!

Now…guys…I am soooooo thrilled to announce our biggest POPFLEX Giveaway EVAHHH!!!!! I’m going to give you a chance to go on a POPFLEX SHOPPING SPREE!

That’s right. I want you to go on a $250 shopping spree for ANYTHING in the store! ANYTHING!!! FILL UP THAT CART, GIRL!

So here’s how to enter to win…

#1. Go to popflexactive.com and make an account.

#2. Fill up your shopping cart with $250 worth of ANYTHING!

#3. Then add those items to your wish list. 

Your wish list will be auto saved as long as you have an account (but we already took care of that in step 1). Then on Tuesday Feb 21, 2017 at 11:59PM the contest will close. I will pick one super lucky POPster to win all the activewear of her dreams!

Good luck! I hope the winner is YOU!!!

Comment below and share you wish list link below when you’re done. I’d love to see what you chose!

My Dark Bloom Photoshoot.

Hey Guys!

Happy Dark Bloom launch day! Lexi and I just finished doing a live stream a couple hours ago and I am STILL ON A HIGH!!! It was so much fun talking to you guys and sharing the stories behind the new POPFLEX pieces. We worked sooooo incredibly hard on this and seeing your excitement makes all of those sleepless nights, sample disasters and bad fitting sessions all worth it. Here’s the live stream in case you missed it!

A couple months back in December, we did my photoshoot for Dark Bloom in the Malibu mountains. I was sooooo sad that I couldn’t show you everything. But since we’re now “fully bloomed”, I can finally share the pics with you! Big thanks to the entire Blogifam for bearing the penetrating cold and the tumultuous winds with me to get these magnificent shots!

Any for anyone curious, I wear a size 4 in all of POPFLEX Active. I am 5′ 5″ and wear a small in most true-to-size brands (as in not vanity sized brands, because I can fit into xxs or xs depending on brand) and a 4 and or 6 in Lululemon.

Evil Queen vibes.

I’m wearing the Queen’s Coat in Night.

We bought the bike just for the shoot. I thought the color was going to be more butter but it came out banana. I freaked out a little bit, but then, turns out it looks great on camera!

I’m wearing the Zenith Zip Bra and the Fly Away Run Short in Dark Bloom! Also try layering your run shorts with the POP Shorts if you want more inner thigh coverage and 2 extra pockets!

Hand stands. Practiced for MONTHS. I am not great at them. And when the day came and I had to do it onto a tree overlooking a cliff, my nerves crept in. I fell multiple times, my muscles gave out, and I almost started crying. But I picked myself back up, tightened my core, and BELIEVED. That’s when we got the shot.

I’m wearing the Wishing Star Capri in Dark Bloom.

This tree pose was surprisingly soooooo hard to do with my eyes closed! Open, no prob. Closed, another story!!! I nearly tipped over several times! We thought getting me in tree pose in front of a tree would be a nice thing to try. I love how powerful the photo is. It looks calm and still. But really, I was wavering!

I am wearing the Curious Crop Top in Dark Bloom and the Highness Leggings.

My friend Laura who is firstly an awesome person and secondly a super talented professional ballerina, helped me prepare for this shoot. Working with her helped increase my flexibility while bringing out the dancer inside.

I am wearing the Enchanted Shrug in Night, the Pull on my Heart Strings Bra in Night, and the Wishing Star Capri in Plum.

BTS shot. Then you can appreciate…

…the final result.

The colors of the wind were vibrant that Winter day!

This.

I love this shot.

A blend of now and what’s to come.

I’m wearing the Wishing Star Capri in Plum and…you will see next time ;)

Big thank you to the incredible people in this photo. Lexi, Laura, Sam, Daniel, Tiffany, and Leslie! I am SOOOOOO GRATEFUL to have you guys in my life. Your passion for what you do and your love for the Blogifam is just so pure. I am so happy that I get to be around these amazing human beings and can’t wait to make more beautiful things together.

Hope you guys enjoyed my Dark Bloom photoshoot pics! Which one is your fave?

Oh and did you buy anything yet!!??? Don’t forget to sign up for the POPFLEX Rewards Program so you can earn points while shopping!

Tell me what you got!!!!

Avocado Taco Boats – 28 Day Reset approved!

 

Hey guys!

I am so excited to share this melt-in-your-mouth dish! Like really…get ready for a taste-bud explosion!

Aside from being super adorbs (who doesn’t like food it its own little boat?!) there’s a lot going on in terms of texture, taste, spice, color and health benefits. Did you know that we can increase our fullness and satisfaction by activating more taste buds and senses?

Think about it…after too many sweet meals and treats, you kind of just want more sweet stuff, but the craving doesn’t go away even when you eat more sweets. It’s that bottomless pit feeling that comes from meals that are all sweet, or all salty. Sure, other things play into this, like blood sugar spikes and empty calories not filling us up, but try it and see for yourself. Instead of devouring a bag of chips, have 8 chips with a spicy hummus dip squeezed with lemon. Not only will you get a nice dose of protein and healthy carbs, but you’ll satisfy your need for spice, sour, and bitter with a little creaminess thrown in too.

That leads us to this little beauty that sits inside one of nature’s perfect foods: the avocado.

The creaminess of this little fruit is the perfect counterpart to the chewy seasoned turkey meat, slightly crunchy bell peppers and spicy sriracha drizzle. You can totally put your favorite taco seasonings and additions into your meat mixture.

I wanted to pack as much flavor as possible into this meal without a long list of ingredients. To do that, I chose a really flavorful red salsa with a decent amount of heat, because I like things SPICYYYY. A squeeze of lime adds a little acidity, and of course, garlic powder brings it all home. A 1/2 packet of taco seasoning would add a lot of flavor too, but just be sure to read your labels because some contain MSG and a long list of other ingredients, that, in my opinion, have no place in a seasoning mix.

Check out the label from a common seasoning from the grocery store:

Whey (milk)
Sugar
Potato Starch or Modified Corn Starch
Citric Acid
Maltodextrin
Autolyzed Yeast Extract (another name for MSG)
Caramel Color (sulfites)
Cellulose
Ethoxyquin (Preservative)

Too much weird stuff I don’t want in my food. Better to make your own!

So let’s get to the recipe! If you eat one boat with a small side salad, this is completely PIIT28 approved! You could swap this in for a Reset meal, or eat any time on the plan. If you’re super hungry and can’t stop at just one boat, have two, but don’t add guacamole to the top. These are super low carb, and the fat they do contain is the healthy kind, coming mostly from the heart-healthy avocado. These are an awesome Super Bowl snack too!

We start by scooping out a little avocado goodness into a bowl to create the boats and make our guacamole topping.

AVOCADO TACO BOATS

Yield: 6 servings

Serving Size: 1 avocado boat (1/2 avocado)

Prep Time: 20 min

Cook Time: 12 min

Ingredients:

3 ripe avocados
1 teaspoon olive or avocado oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup yellow onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 pound 8% fat ground turkey
1/2 cup salsa
Juice of 1 lime
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt & pepper to taste
2 green onion, chopped
Sriracha to taste
1/4 cup cilantro leaves

Guacamole Topper:

Reserved avocado flesh
2 tablespoons salsa
1 green onion, chopped
1 teaspoon lime juice
Salt & pepper to taste

Method:

Preheat oven to 400°F.
Coat a large skillet with cooking spray and then add the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and saute for 1 minute before adding the onion, and stir both together for 3 minutes.
Add the bell pepper and saute for 1 minute, then add the ground turkey and brown on all sides (about 5 minutes). Stir in the salsa, lime juice, garlic powder, salt and pepper and cook until turkey is no longer pink inside.
Remove from heat, stir in half of the green onion and set aside.
Cut each avocado in half and remove the pit in each. Set the avocado halves in a baking dish. Scoop out a little flesh from each avocado and place into a bowl. Spoon turkey mixture into each avocado and pack down a bit. Sprinkle the tops with remaining green onion and bake for 12 minutes.
While the boats are baking, add the guacamole topper ingredients to the bowl with the reserved avocado flesh and mash.
Top each boat with 1-2 tablespoons of the guacamole (you may have some left over), drizzle with Sriracha and sprinkle with cilantro.

Before going into the oven. Aren’t they cute?!

Nutritional Info:

Calories: 329 | Protein: 16g | Fat: 24g | Net Carbs: 6g | Fiber: 9.5g

Comment below if you give these a try! What else can we put in an avocado?

AMAZING PIIT28 and 28 Day Reset Transformations!!!

Hey guys!

So many of you completed some type of a challenge in January – be it the Blogilates Calendar, PIIT28, and/or the 28 Day Reset. YOU are amazing for sticking with the program, doing your best, never quitting and of course for sharing your journey with everyone online.

I’m recognizing the POPsters below for their STANDOUT physical and mental transformations! I am so inspired by these women for making their health goals a priority even through the tough times. THIS is NOT easy, but what matters most is fighting through the struggle and coming out stronger.

Ready for some major inspiration!?

Meet Kirsten (@kirstendaviss)

“#PIIT28 I DID IT! I didn’t really want to post this but here’s my #beforeandafterpiit There’s only 28 days between these two pictures!! I didn’t weigh or measure myself before because I wasn’t doing it to lose weight – but look how much happier I am :) It makes me so happy to have watched everyone and their own progress, despite everyone’s struggles and if you’re still going, YOU CAN DO IT! I’m going to take a couple days break and then maybe I’ll go again!”

 

Meet Alexia

“I started the PIIT28 challenge on January 2nd which is the photo on the left and the photo on the right is on day 28. I did the 28day Reset along with the workout program on top of starting my final focus in nursing. There were days when it was super late and I did not want to workout but pushed myself because I knew I would feel better once I did it. I also found it really helpful to prep my meals and snacks in advance especially on the busy days when I would have to go from the hospital to my job. At work they have us do wellness goals each month which really helped me to stay accountable to completing this program because I also made it my wellness goal for work. I didn’t weigh myself before and after because I don’t believe in scales (unless it is for a check up with the doc) but I can see and feel a huge difference in my body. I love how this Reset just toned me right up! I did measure myself and lost a 1/2 inch off my chest, an INCH off my waist, and 1/2 inch off my hips! BooYA!”

Meet Stephanie (@joylovefitmind),

“I’m so excited to start my second round of #PIIT28. I’m not quite ready for PIIT 2.0 yet. I want to be able to complete 1.0 without modifications first. Looking at this picture helps me remember why I started. I was so unhappy with my body, I hated the way I looked, I didn’t feel beautiful and didn’t have one ounce of confidence. Slowly but surely I’ve started to shed that old skin. I was lazy, I didn’t want to put the effort in and I wanted a quick fix. PIIT28 has helped me train my mind to actually want to workout. I’m nowhere near where I want to be but at least I’m not where I used to be. If I know it would be this easy I would have bought the program months ago. Excited to start round 2 on February 1st and even more excited to see my results on day 56. Who’s with me? We can do this!”

Meet Linda

“This was after 1 month of PIIT28 1.0 and 1.5 months of PIIT28 1.0 with both the bonus videos. Just started PIIT28 2.0 yesterday! Can’t wait to get even stronger!! :D”

 

 

 

Meet Liz (@e.liza_kb)

“#PIITstagram day 28 and I can’t believe we finished the first month already! I’ve never actually stayed on a program for an extended period of time and that makes this my first “before and after” transformation. This month I finally decided to try the PIIT28 program! It’s only 28 min per day (plus warm up and cool down for a total of 40 min). Overall, I have been sleeping better and I feel more energized which is great. The most noticeable change was a huge improvement in my endurance! In addition to PIIT28 I was keeping up with POP Pilates choreo practice and teaching. I mostly followed The 28 Day Reset but had to allow gluten as I was getting really bad headaches from excluding it. But by reducing dairy and processed sugar, I felt more “sharp” and articulate in my thoughts; also my skin finally cleared up! Can’t wait to see what the new month brings!”

 

 

Meet Allie (@alliep_poppilates)

“Here are my main progress pics from the last 2 months! I haven’t completed 2.11 yet today but I wanted to keep my tradition of taking morning pictures. 2 months. 2 rounds of PIIT. 3 weeks of eating #28dayreset approved foods. 1 week of half-assing it. I was so afraid not going 100% this last week would ruin me, but I still have changed so much in the last 2 months! Since my last measurements on December 30th, 2016 I lost 5 inches and about 5 pounds. I feel amazing and when I was strictly on the reset I had no bloating and no acne! I’m so proud of how far I have came recently and I can’t wait to continue! I don’t know if I’m going to start 3.0 right away. I might experiment at the gym and take some new fitness classes. We will see!”

 

Meet Noys (@noysnuess)

“Here is my 5 months transformation since I started PIIT28. I am so happy with me. Thank you Cassey, for teaching us that WE CAN! Did PIIT28 1.0 two times and now finishing 2.0 to try 3.0”

Meet Lisa (@lisa.piit28)

“This is after 4 rounds of 1.0 and 2 rounds of 2.0. Starting 3.0 today and couldn’t be more excited! PIIT28 has seriously changed my life :) And I love all the support from the whole PIIT28 community”

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WOW! It’s not just your before and after pics that amaze me. It’s your captions. It’s that you’re FEELING so much better about yourself. You’re confident, your skin is clearer, you’re experiencing less bloating, you have more energy – THAT is the greatest reward. I am so proud of you all!  You are motivating ME to be stronger and healthier!

Combining The Blogilates Reset and PIIT28 is the best combination for these results.

So what now? Keep going. If you’re unsure what to do after completing The Reset, I have a full blog post HERE explaining it all. Most importantly, continue to be active and eat healthy, it’s all about balance and happiness.

What is your goal for the next month?