Cassey Ho's Blog, page 112

The Best Watermelon Slushy Ever!

Hey guys!

I’m hoping you’re taking advantage of the last weeks of your warm summer months by being outside, and maybe getting some outdoor workouts in on the beach or by the lake! There’s something about the fresh air and warm heat that feels extra healthy to me. Maybe it’s the extra sweat, or being one with nature, but no matter what it is, it’s a great feeling.

You know what else feels AH-MAZING?! Cold slushy drinks post-workout, especially if you are feeling dehydrated from the hot sun. There’s nothing more hydrating than watermelon and coconut water, and nothing tastes quite as good as freezing cold watermelon goodness! The texture is perfection!

It’s different from a smoothie, which has a creaminess to it. These slushies have more of a sorbet essence, and they taste just like a fresh watermelon. I like to add fresh basil to mine to add a punch of “herbiness” to contrast the sweetness (I know, it’s not a word, but it should be, because herb-y is what it is!). There are two ways to make these.  I’ll call one the fast version and one the slow version. The slow version can also end up like a shaved ice, so if you want to eat it with a spoon, be sure to try that version!

WATERMELON COCONUT WATER SLUSHY

Yield: 1 serving

Serving Size: 1 slushy

Prep Time: 5 min

(Fast Version)

Ingredients:

3 cups cubed watermelon, frozen overnight
1/2 cup coconut water
1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon honey
6-7 basil leaves

Method :

Place ingredients into a high-powered blender, and process until slushy, scraping sides several times to incorporate.

Nutrition Info:

Calories: 229| Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Net Carbs: 55g | Fiber: 3g

WATERMELON SLUSHY

Yield: 1 serving

Serving Size: 1 slushy

Prep Time: 5 min

Chill Time: 4-6 hours

(Slow Version)

Ingredients:

3 cups cubed watermelon
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons honey
6-7 basil leaves

Method :

Place ingredients into a high-powered blender and process for 15 seconds.
Pour contents into a shallow dish and cover. Place in freezer, and stir after 2 hours. Check after 4 hours to see if it’s frozen and slushy.  If not, stir and return to freezer for 2 more hours, spoon into a glass, and serve.
If desired, leave in freezer overnight, then scrape the frozen watermelon with a fork to make shaved ice. Emjoy with a spoon!

Nutrition Info:

Calories: 271| Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Net Carbs: 69g | Fiber: 3g

What’s your favorite frozen treat? Comment below!

Top 10 Road to Hana Stops!

Hey guys!

I am writing this post as I sit on the plane from Kahului Airport, Maui back to LAX. There is a bit of sadness in my heart as I leave the beautiful island…but luckily reality for me is not something that I avoid or despise, so don’t worry about me, I’ll be okay. *Cries quietly inside*

This is my second time on Maui. Sam and I were out here for a friend’s wedding and decided to make a vacay out of the trip…so there were A LOT of things I wanted to see and accomplish. One thing that we didn’t get to do last time was the Road to Hana – everyone scared us out of it, saying it would be too treacherous, that our car may break down in the pouring rain and that we’d be lucky to make it back.

I am happy to say that after renting a Ford Fusion, we (I mean Sam) calmly drove the road there and back and we were TOTALLY OK. You really don’t need a four wheel drive car or Jeep but a convertible would be nice!

So I want to share with you our amazing adventure. I feel a little troubled and apologize in advance to any locals reading my blog post as I don’t want to further populate your special spots. But I feel it is my duty to share these gorgeous experiences with those who may never get to see it.

THINGS TO PACK:

Snorkel gear
Sandals
Tennis shoes
Sunblock
Bug repellant
Swimsuit
Towels
Food & Snacks
Water
CA$H
Car charger and/or external charger for phone(s)
The Gypsy Guide App
Phone
Camera

TOP PLACES TO VISIT:

Keanae Arboretum
Pauwalu Point
Three Bears Falls (Upper Waikani Falls)
Nahiku Marketplace
Wainapanapa Caves + Black Sand Beach
Red Sand Beach *TOP SPOT*
Koki Beach
Wailua Falls
Oheo Pools (Seven Sacred Pools)
Pipiwai Trail + The Bamboo Forest

Sam and I decided to do an overnight stay in Hana since we didn’t want to be rushed, but I will tell you right now that it is not really necessary. You can totally do Road to Hana in one day if you start early (leave Kihei or Lahaina around 6:45am). The only problem is that EVERYONE does this, so the spots get crowded at the same times (which makes it tough for cool pics). Perhaps it would be smart to start early and drive all the way to the end and then slowly work your way back to go against the traffic?

We left Kihei around 9am and got gas for the last time in Paia. Such a cute town with so many cute bikini shops. Did not have time to go inside. Wish I did.

Then we were off. I turned on my Gypsy App which I downloaded because another blogger recommended it. I bought the “Road to Hana Tour” (about $5) which basically guides you along the way based on your GPS coordinates. So, you don’t even need service for it to work! I thought I was so cool and underground for knowing about this until I met another traveller who boasted about the app too. Hana, I guess everyone knows about it. Either way, if you’re going to Hana, I 100% recommend downloading it as you get to learn factoids along the way AND the app preps you for upcoming stops! Just know that it EATS YOUR BATTERY ALIVE. So you need to have your phone charging constantly!

1. KEANAE ARBORETUM

We drove over an hour before we stopped at our first location, the Keanae Arboretum. You get a close look at the Rainbow Eucalyptus trees which look like they have painter’s brush strokes on their thick trunks. Other than that…I don’t really see another reason for stopping here. The app said this is a highlight, but honestly, the Rainbow Eucalyptus trees you see near the beginning of your journey (on the left) are WAYYY cooler. They have blue stripes!

2. THREE BEARS FALLS (Upper Waikani Falls)

These falls were so cool and right by the highway! They look like big bear, middle child bear, and baby bear. Apparently when it’s raining really hard, the water flow gets so intense that all 3 falls blend into one big kahuna fall, and the three bears lose their uniqueness. We were lucky to see the three!

3. PAUWALU POINT

I really loved this spot because it was the first spot on the Road to Hana where we got to get up close and personal with the ocean. Oh and boy was she TURBULENT! The water is deep blue and the waves crashing against the dark black rock formations make for a stunning visual experience.

4. NAHIKU MARKETPLACE

At this point, more than halfway to Hana, we were getting hungry. There had been mini stands run by locals along the way selling fresh banana bread, fruits, and fish tacos. We decided to wait for the Nahiku Marketplace, which is a row of stands, for more food options. Be prepared to have cash, as most of these stands ONLY accept cash and I did not see an ATM machine! The fish taco I had was OK. The beef taco was better, but still, I much prefer the tacos from Coconuts! That was probs my fave fish taco of the entire trip…and I had A LOT of fish tacos! The only place that took credit card was the smoothie place to the left.

That is also where we bought some banana bread, and I must say…that was indeed buttery and memorable!

5. WAINAPANAPA CAVES + BLACK SAND BEACH

The app told a scary legend about a Hawaiian princess who was murdered here by her cruel chief husband. So, once a year there is a phenomenon in this very cave where the water turns red like blood as a reminder of the incident…but really…it’s just shrimp being born! It was a short 5 min hike down to the cave.

In the same place you also get to see the Black Sand Beach! This was one of the top things I wanted to see FOR SURE. When we got down, we saw a cool mini tube cave thing on the right. You have to duck your head low to get in, but once you do, you’ll see the light and it makes for a cool silhouette pic!

The sand is indeed black and it’s AWESOME.

Except that the rocks hurt. So I ended up wearing my sandals into the water and they floated away from me a couple times! This is not a beach for snorkeling or easy wading. The waves are quite big. Well, I’m scared of waves, so anything above my knees is big. But no really, I think most would consider them large as they will go up to your neck.

Black Sand Beach was very crowded around 2pm.

6. RED SAND BEACH

We finally made it to Hana and were rewarded with the BEST thing in the ENTIRE Road to Hana adventure. The app does not tell you about this place on the way there, so don’t forget to make a note and GO HERE. It is the most visually stimulating thing I have EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE. I mean, LOOK:

We did this on the way back to the Kahului airport on our final day so I did not get a chance to go in the water, but oh man, I would have gladly traded a couple Hana stops just to spend a good half day here.

Do you see how there’s a natural swimming pool with calmer waters because of the natural rock gate that barricades the crashing waves from the shore? YEAH. That will allow for peace swimming, and from what I hear, snorkeling too.

The hike here is tough to find and I almost slipped a few times. I was wearing full on tennis shoes and lost my balance more times than my life would like.

How to find it?

Park on the street in front of the Hana Community Center. Then look to the left of the Community Center beyond a green grassy field and you will see a tiny dirt trail not too far from the gate for the hotel guest parking gate. It’s a little hard to find. We missed it at first. You will walk through a bunch of tall grass. The whole time I kept telling myself – please no praying mantises please no grasshoppers please no snakes. I am happy to report that none of those touched me to my knowledge.

You will continue on the trail to walk left…and KEEP GOING for 10 min or so. And then you will see it. YOU WILL SEE THE HEAVEN THAT IS THE RED SAND BEACH.

If you go here, please be safe. It is EASY to fall off the cliff and tumble into the ocean. Please wear good shoes with grip, and hold on to the roots of the trees as you climb. If you can, get here EARLY like 7am-8am (makes sense for those staying the night in Hana and leaving the next day) and you won’t see any tourists. Seeing this place without people really adds to it’s glory.

7. KOKI BEACH

We stopped here because the app told us to and I really loved the scenery. We didn’t get in the water because we thought we forgot to lock the car, but I did get a chance to snap this shot. Once again, lots of waves at this beach. Not too many people around 3:30pm.

8. WAILUA FALLS

Another waterfall by the road that we needed to see! You can totally swim in the pool here but we decided we’d rather save pool swimming for the Oheo pools at the end. Awesome pic opportunity PLUS the rock walls also have water trickling down them which adds to the whole rainforest experience.

9. OHEO POOLS (Seven Sacred Pools)

I read EVERYWHERE that we needed to go 45 min past Hana to see the Oheo Pools which were dubbed the “Seven Sacred Pools” by some marketing people to keep people driving after they reached Hana. Apparently there are more than a dozen pools here so “seven” is just a word that sounded nice with “sacred”, and according to the app, these pools are not sacred at all. LOL.

$20 entrance fee (really parking fee) to get into Haleakala National Park. This ticket lasts for 3 days FYI so don’t pay again if you’re going to the top! The hike down to the pools took a mere several minutes (0.5 mile loop) and when we got there, we were a little disappointed to see a ton of people.

It was about 4:15pm. For sure, it was beautiful, but having so many tourists there took away from the experience. We decided not to swim and instead got ready for the Pipiwai trail.

Look, I’m not trying to say I don’t like tourists (because I am one) but I think the internet has really populated a bunch of places that once used to be cool and hidden hang out spots for the locals. I feel responsible now contributing to the tourism. But then again, I would feel selfish if I didn’t share this beauty with you. Hmm, how do you feel about this? Is it bad to share local spots with the internet? Will it lead to the over-visitation (and maybe destruction!??) of these sites?

10. PIPIWAI TRAIL & THE BAMBOO FOREST

After reading Unreal Hawaii’s blog post on the Pipiwai Trail, I knew I wanted to go here to see the Bamboo Forest up close and personal! We started the trail around 5pm and DID NOT want to walk back in the dark, so we made it a goal to get the Bamboo Forest but to not go all the way to the end, which I heard was a 4 hr – 4 mile loop!

Be prepared for SWEATINESS!!! Heart rate was UP UP UP. But it felt nice (in an OMG I’m dying kinda way) to be active after sitting in a car so much of the trip. Lots of roots, mud, and rocks. WEAR TENNIS SHOES OR HIKING SHOES.

Halfway to the Bamboo forest, you will see the Makihiku Falls from a distance. Keep going and you will pass a huge Banyan Tree too!

Then after more heart thumping hiking, you will reach this bridge…

which leads to the Bamboo Forest!

When we got to the forest, I was halfway expecting Pandas to pop out. Or like a ton of centipedes camouflaged as bamboo. I did not see either. HOWEVER, I do hear that centipedes are a thing. Just make sure you’re bug sprayed up. The forest was beautiful and quite majestic. Tried to take a pic here but lighting was bad for a human, so you get just the bamboo by itself!

After hiking back to the parking lot, we left for our VRBO house rental around 6:30ish. It was still light, so we were happy about that. I wish I could say that after getting to our place, we relaxed, ate, and slept peacefully into dreamland…but…THAT WAS SOOOOO NOT THE CASE.

The house was indeed lovely, and the owners left fresh Hawaiian flowers on the towels and the beds and even fresh fruit (bananas, avocados, star fruit, papaya) in the fridge for us. All was grand until…

I saw it.

I was reaching for a window to close it and as soon as the window slammed, I saw a dark grey mass skitter to the right of my hand.

It was…

…the biggest spider I had ever seen in my life.

It was the size of a crab.

A CRAB!!!!!!

I died. I died so many times. I just could not live.

I called the owner and left voicemails for help. I told them I was dying. I’m sorry if I sound like a whiny baby but I have arachnophobia TO THE MAX. And when you see a spider the size of a crab in your bathroom when you’re about to take a shower in your most vulnerable state and you have extreme arachnophobia, you feel like death is near.

All I can say is that eventually (like in a 30 min battle) between spider crab and 3 humans, humans won, but only kind of, because I slept in fear that night, waking up several times thinking there was a spider on me.

SO!!!

I hope you enjoyed this Road to Hana recap! If you ever go, just remember that this trip is more about the adventure than it is about actually getting to Hana. Enjoy the journey. Have a good playlist prepared. If you’re on Spotify, download the songs first. You will not have any service. Don’t forget the Gypsy Guide app, and don’t miss the Red Sand Beach. TAKE LOTS OF PICS. But boomerangs are better. And video is a plus if you want to be an overachiever.

Alrighty, just a couple more hours to LAX. Time to catch a few zzz’s since I’m a little sleep deprived…

Sushi Pizza Recipe!

Hey guys!

I know what you’re thinking…how on earth can you marry pizza and sushi?! I’m here to tell you, it’ possible, and it’s delicious!

Once again I’ve chosen my healthy swap: cauliflower instead of rice. One of the reasons people often feel hungry right after eating sushi is because of the rice. It has little fiber and lots of carbs, which usually lead to a blood sugar dip that leaves you feeling famished just hours after your California rolls.

Our Sushi Pizza, on the other hand, has a bunch of satiating elements, so you won’t be getting hungry for dinner after dinner. The cauliflower is loaded with fiber, which is filling. The white sauce that binds it all together is a cashew base, but with all the Asian-inspired notes you love: rice vinegar, sesame oil and soy sauce (except that I use coconut aminos to keep it gluten-free).

I’m telling you guys, you will absolutely LOVE this recipe. Once again, it’s very easy to make, and I am sharing two versions since I know some of you don’t like raw fish. So one version is vegan! :) I don’t know which one I like better?!

Both share the same base, so it really comes down to if you want to top it with sushi-grade buttery fish, or a pile of mushrooms that have been sautéed to perfection. Maybe make both? And if you do, tag me @blogilates and tell me which version you prefer!

Ohhhh! And If you have a Trader Joe’s near you, I highly encourage you to buy their organic frozen riced cauliflower.  You’ll not only save yourself 30 minutes of work, but it’s organic, less messy and just as good, if not better.

Here’s my newest Cheap Clean Eats episode on Sushi Pizza!

SUSHI PIZZA

Yield: 4 servings

Serving Size: 1/4 pizza

Prep Time: 20 min

Cook Time: 20 min

Ingredients:

1 large head cauliflower or 2 bags Trader Joe’s Riced Cauliflower
1/3 cup raw cashews, soaked in 2 cups water for 6 hours
1 1/2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 1/2 tablespoons coconut aminos
1 tablespoon water
1 1/2 teaspoons raw honey
1 teaspoon sesame oil

TOPPINGS:

8 ounces sushi grade tuna and salmon, sliced thin
1/4 avocado, sliced
1/2 sheet nori, cut into small pieces
3 tablespoons shredded carrot
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
1 green onion, sliced
1/4 cup seaweed salad (optional)
Sriracha, to taste
Pickled ginger (optional)

Method :

Preheat oven to 400°F.
Remove long stems from cauliflower and chop any large florets. Place in a food processor and pulse to “rice” the cauliflower. You want pieces no larger than short-grain rice. Transfer to a nonstick baking sheet or parchment and roast for 20 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes. Add to a nut bag and squeeze all the liquid out. You should be left with 1 1/2 cups of packed riced cauliflower. If using the bagged cauliflower, thaw completely and squeeze out all liquid.  2 bags equals 1 1/2 cups packed.
Drain and rinse the cashews, and add to a blender with the rice vinegar, coconut aminos, honey, water and sesame oil. Blend until completely smooth, scraping sides, if needed.
In a bowl, add cauliflower and 1/2 the white sauce and stir/mash to make a thick “dough.” Form a pizza crust with your hands by pressing down onto a plate.
Spoon remaining sauce onto the top and spread across the pizza. Begin layering the top with sushi, avocado, nori, carrot, green onion, and seaweed salad, if using. Sprinkle the top with sesame seeds and drizzle the top with Sriracha. Decorate with ginger, if desired.

Nutrition Info:

Calories: 252| Protein: 15g | Fat: 15g | Net Carbs: 10g | Fiber: 5g

MUSHROOM VEGAN SUSHI PIZZA

Yield: 4 servings

Serving Size: 1/4 pizza

Prep Time: 15 min

Cook Time: 20 min

Ingredients:

1 large head cauliflower or 2 bags Trader Joe’s Riced Cauliflower
1/3 cup raw cashews, soaked in 2 cups water for 6 hours
1 1/2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 1/2 tablespoons coconut aminos
1 tablespoon water
1 1/2 teaspoons raw honey
1 teaspoon sesame oil

TOPPINGS:

1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
10 ounces sliced crimini or baby bella mushrooms
2 tablespoons coconut aminos
1 green onion, sliced
1/2 avocado, sliced
1/4 cup shredded carrots
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Salt, to taste
Sriracha, to taste

Method :

Preheat oven to 400°F.
Remove long stems from cauliflower and chop any large florets. Place in a food processor and pulse to “rice” the cauliflower. You want pieces no larger than short-grain rice. Transfer to a nonstick baking sheet or parchment and roast for 20 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes. Add to a nut bag and squeeze all the liquid out. You should be left with 1 1/2 cups of packed riced cauliflower. If using the bagged cauliflower, thaw completely and squeeze out all liquid.  2 bags equals 1 1/2 cups packed.
Drain and rinse the cashews, and add to a blender with the rice vinegar, coconut aminos, honey, water and sesame oil. Blend until completely smooth, scraping sides, if needed.
In a bowl, add cauliflower and 1/2 the white sauce and stir/mash to make a thick “dough.” Form a pizza crust with your hands by pressing down onto a plate.
Spoon remaining sauce onto the top and spread across the pizza.
In a large pan, add the sesame oil and garlic and saute for 1 minute. Add the mushrooms, coconut aminos and green onion and saute for about 5 minutes, or until the mushrooms are soft. Spoon over the cauliflower crust, and decorate with avocado and carrots. Sprinkle the top with sesame seeds and salt, and drizzle with Sriracha, if desired.

Calories: 223| Protein: 9g | Fat: 13g | Net Carbs: 13g | Fiber: 6g

 

Corina’s PIIT28 Transformation

Hey guys!

Meet Corina (aka @chill678 on IG), our POPster of the month! Corina had an INCREDIBLE transformation through PIIT28, and we think you’re going to fall in love with her as much as I did during our interview. You know those people you just instantly click with, who somehow make you feel joyful, grateful and positive within seconds? Corina is one of those people. She lost a whopping 20 lbs in 4 months by adding PIIT28 workouts to her week! What I love about her most is her vulnerability and honesty, and the fact that she represents all of us who’ve been bullied growing up. Corina endured quite a bit in her younger years and could have let her insecurities get the better of her, but she didn’t! Somehow, despite a lot of negative self-talk, she knew she was worthy of happiness, better health and love. Corina admits that self-love is a PROCESS that takes time and constant reprogramming, but in the end, it is possible to appreciate yourself, recognize your accomplishments and even accept a compliment or two.

I hope you enjoy our interview and take the time to show her some love and support on Instagram. We are a strong community who is stronger together, so lean on each other, and lift those up who deserve it!

Q: Blogilates – Did you ever have any self-confidence issues? What were you not comfortable with and why?

A: Corina –  Absolutely! I had self-confidence issues my entire life. Wow, I am about to open myself up to you right now. I feel really vulnerable, but I also have a story to share that I think many girls can relate to. I remember being very young, around 5 years old, the first time someone pointed out a flaw I never knew existed. Why would I? I was just a little girl who hadn’t yet been introduced to any sort of judgement. I went to my 15-year old neighbor’s house with my older sister, and when he answered the door, he looked down at me and said, “What’s wrong with your eye?” I had no idea what he meant, but I instantly felt a sting in my heart. A flaw I had no personal control over was being pointed out. I was born with it; I had a lazy eye. I must have gone home and said something to my parents, because they were angels and had my eye corrected soon after so I wouldn’t have to go through life with people constantly staring at me or looking at me differently. Unfortunately, that didn’t help with my other flaws growing up. I was constantly picked on for everything: being short, having “hairy”arms and legs and crooked teeth, and wearing headgear, neck gear, braces and retainers for most of my childhood. I even had pink bottle cap glasses at the age of 12 with braces!! OMG! I was THAT girl. I was picked on throughout my entire childhood. There were two girls in high school who bullied me viciously. They called me fat and told me my body was disproportionate. I always cried about it to my dad, but he taught me how to grow thick skin, and how to not let other people’s opinions affect me, because they didn’t know me or my heart. I grew a thick skin, but those insecurities followed me into adulthood. I remember hearing critiques of body images growing up, and that affected my image of what a body should look like. I constantly compared myself to every girl out there, from their hair down to their shoes. It was a constant negative mindset about myself. I always saw something beautiful in everyone else, but I couldn’t find anything beautiful about myself. People now give me compliments about my changed body, or how they like my eyes, eyelashes, smile, hair, whatever, and I find I am uncomfortable accepting their nice words because I don’t always see what they see…BUT I am always working on this process!

Q: Blogilates – When you first signed up for PIIT28, what were you expecting?

A: Corina – I knew what Cassey was introducing to us would be effective. I trust Cassey, and I know that she is not going to put a product out there that she doesn’t wholeheartedly believe in. She wouldn’t create a program that didn’t work! So I knew, that if I stuck to it each day, the results would come. I was expecting a change, I just didn’t know what type of change I would have. I was definitely expecting a challenge; I knew it wouldn’t be easy to do.

Even though she created a great program, you have to do the work.

Q: Blogilates – Do you think you’ve accomplished your “dream body”?

A: Corina – No. I don’t believe I have because I don’t know what my “dream body” looks like right now. I am just focused on getting a lean, strong and defined body. I think every body is different and will get different results. I also feel like you can always improve, so I am constantly working on it. I am definitely happy though!

Q: Blogilates – What excited you most – the transformation you saw in the mirror or the transformation you felt inside? You can be honest! No judgement zone.

A: Corina – To be honest, I didn’t notice my transformation in the mirror right away. The first change I saw was within myself. I was getting stronger mentally each day, I was proud of myself after each workout, I started having a positive mindset and challenged myself daily to truly love myself… and after that, the physical changes started becoming more visible.

Q: Blogilates – Did you do the 28 day reset? If so, how has that changed your eating habits and views on food?

A: Corina – I don’t believe in diets. I believe in a healthy lifestyle. I did not do the Reset. However, I have very disciplined and strict views on food. I wholeheartedly believe that what you feed your body affects you internally and externally. From the age of 17, I have always been aware of what I put in my body. I gave up red meat and pork, and soda and juices, I never drink coffee, and I only drink water…tons of water! I lost 20 lbs right away and noticed how much I changed internally way back then. In my early 20’s I gave up carbs and sweets. I never really had a sweet tooth, thankfully. However, something happened to my body and it started rejecting the foods I was eating as I got older. I constantly had intense stomach pains, I was bloated, I wasn’t losing weight and I was having extreme migraines. I was introduced to a food intolerance test, which is a blood test that tells you what foods your body is intolerant to (basically the body can’t digest or breakdown these foods) and this changed my life! I am intolerant to 27 types of groups/foods..including bakers yeast, brewers yeast, cow’s milk and dairy, just to name a few…which then makes me gluten intolerant. So now I am now gluten-free, as much as possible. My view on food has grown intensely and I constantly promote how important it is to eat the right foods. My body now digests what I eat, I am not bloated, I hardly get sick and my energy is better. They call it junk food for a reason..it’s junk! Junk you are putting in your precious body, so I don’t do it. Since December 2015, I also cut out chicken, turkey and have become a pescatarian. This was one of the best decisions I’ve made aside from cutting out dairy and alcohol….I do miss a good glass of wine though =)

Q: Blogilates – What’s a typical daily meal plan look like for you now? (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, etc.)

A: Corina –  My breakfast is after my workouts and is a smoothie, made with fresh berries, spinach, ginger, and chia seeds. I also have what I call my green drink.. I mix spirulina, baobab, maca, acai, wheatgrass, chlorella, and lemon with water.. this is my go-to every morning before my workouts! My lunch is small, but includes some salmon, spinach, tomatoes and onions, sauteed together with garlic powder and pepper. Dinner is spiralized dishes which allows me to feel like I am having a pasta, but I am getting veggies in instead! Also tacos with corn tortillas with shrimp or salmon. SUSHI IS MY FAVE MEAL! Snacks and desserts typically include fruit, or I make homemade acai bowls.

Q: Blogilates – Any advice for POPsters going through PIIT28?

A: Corina –

1. Don’t set an end goal.. set a daily goal! I believe it’s easier to feel motivated by reaching a daily goal vs. reaching for an end goal and possibly getting frustrated along the way.

2. Join other Popsters and Piitsters on IG. This community is extraordinary! These girls are so inspirational, positive, encouraging, motivating. I don’t have anyone that works out with me, except for Cassey on my screen. But being a part of this community makes you feel like you are working out with thousands of other girls and guys!

3. Take before pics and measurements. But also take progress pics and measurements every two weeks. You will see the difference and this will keep you going and motivated!

4. Trust the program. Trust the Process. If you put in the work and follow the program, the results are going to happen…but you also have to watch your food!

5. Don’t be ashamed to do modified moves.. I still do them. OH those surfers! One legged plank jack?! Yeah, I am still modifying them!

6. Don’t make excuses. It’s not going to get you to your goal.

7. Make this a dedicated time in your schedule. Nothing can happen during this time. Treat it as an appointment. Every morning I kept my routine. Consistency is key to an effective outcome.

8. My knee hurt, my hips hurt. I didn’t let this stop me. I got a brace for my knee, I did stretches to open up my hips, and that worked, so I worked out daily and my knee and hips feel great. Listen to your body, but you don’t necessarily need to stop.

9. Don’t compare your results with others, but compare your results with your before image. See how far you have come; everyone is going to have different results, depending on the time they put into it, the effort they put in and the diet they choose to be on.

10. LOVE YOURSELF. Remain positive. Congratulate yourself after each workout. Look in the mirror, and give yourself a high five after a workout. I do all of this and my body loves the praise and responds to it and continues to make me stronger and leaner.

Q: Blogilates – What’s your “power phrase” for when you’re about to give up?

A: Corina – I have so many, and Cassey talks to me at all the right times. But right now these are my favorites:

1. Sore today or sorry tomorrow.

2. Train insane or remain the same.

3. I got this!! You got this! Just a few more. Whew! Good job Corina!

4. You are better today than you were yesterday.

Q: Blogilates – What do you love about the Blogilates Community?

A: Corina – How everyone is so supportive, encouraging, positive, loving, and inspiring! I have not met one negative person. These girls have motivated me to become better in so many different aspects of life!

Q: Blogilates – How do you feel right now?

A: Corina – Overwhelmed. I feel so privileged to be a part of this blog. I have worked so hard every day, so to be able to share my journey through this blog is beyond my wildest dreams. I feel vulnerable that I have opened up so much with my words, since IG is all an image, where people can create a story for you. And here I get to tell you my story. But this overwhelming feeling is all good things! I feel excited, I feel proud, accomplished, happy, confident, strong, unstoppable. I feel like myself again and that’s the best feeling of all. Thank you Cassey for creating such an amazing program and community. Thank you for being real, for being you, for being so relatable to millions of girls.

Thank you for changing my life!

See guys! I told you you’d fall in LOVE with Corina. Above is a pic we took in Hawaii about 14 weeks ago when I first met her after a meetup at 24 Hr Fitness!

I know she’s the voice of many of you out there. I’m sure Corina would agree that if she can do it, anyone can. A life of being bullied, an adulthood of insecurities and a long list of food sensitivities haven’t kept this POPster down, so take a good look in the mirror and think to yourself, “What would Corina do?” and then go out and DO it for yourself!

I love you so much! Please comment below if Corina’s story resonates with you and why!

Corina’s PIIT28 Transformation

Hey guys!

Meet Corina (aka @chill678), our POPster of the month! Corina had an INCREDIBLE transformation through PIIT28, and I think you’re going to fall in love with her as much as I did during our interview.

You know those people you just instantly click with, who somehow make you feel joyful, grateful and positive within seconds? Corina is one of those people. She lost a whopping 20 lbs in 4 months by adding PIIT28 workouts to her week! What I love about her most is her vulnerability and honesty, and the fact that she represents all of us who’ve been bullied growing up. Corina endured quite a bit in her younger years and could have let her insecurities get the better of her, but she didn’t! Somehow, despite a lot of negative self-talk, she knew she was worthy of happiness, better health, and love. Corina admits that self-love is a PROCESS that takes time and constant reprogramming, but in the end, it is possible to appreciate yourself, recognize your accomplishments and even accept a compliment or two.

I hope you enjoy this interview and take the time to show her some love and support on Instagram. We are a strong community that is stronger together…so lean on each other, and lift those up who deserve it!

Q: Blogilates – Did you ever have any self-confidence issues? What were you not comfortable with and why?

A: Corina – Absolutely! I had self-confidence issues my entire life. Wow, I am about to open myself up to you right now. I feel really vulnerable, but I also have a story to share that I think many girls can relate to. I remember being very young, around 5 years old, the first time someone pointed out a flaw I never knew existed. Why would I? I was just a little girl who hadn’t yet been introduced to any sort of judgement. I went to my 15-year old neighbor’s house with my older sister, and when he answered the door, he looked down at me and said, “What’s wrong with your eye?” I had no idea what he meant, but I instantly felt a sting in my heart. A flaw I had no personal control over was being pointed out. I was born with it; I had a lazy eye. I must have gone home and said something to my parents, because they were angels and had my eye corrected soon after so I wouldn’t have to go through life with people constantly staring at me or looking at me differently. Unfortunately, that didn’t help with my other flaws growing up. I was constantly picked on for everything: being short, having “hairy”arms and legs and crooked teeth, and wearing headgear, neck gear, braces and retainers for most of my childhood. I even had pink bottle cap glasses at the age of 12 with braces!! OMG! I was THAT girl. I was picked on throughout my entire childhood. There were two girls in high school who bullied me viciously. They called me fat and told me my body was disproportionate. I always cried about it to my dad, but he taught me how to grow thick skin, and how to not let other people’s opinions affect me, because they didn’t know me or my heart. I grew a thick skin, but those insecurities followed me into adulthood. I remember hearing critiques of body images growing up, and that affected my image of what a body should look like. I constantly compared myself to every girl out there, from their hair down to their shoes. It was a constant negative mindset about myself. I always saw something beautiful in everyone else, but I couldn’t find anything beautiful about myself. People now give me compliments about my changed body, or how they like my eyes, eyelashes, smile, hair, whatever, and I find I am uncomfortable accepting their nice words because I don’t always see what they see…BUT I am always working on this process!

Q: Blogilates – When you first signed up for PIIT28, what were you expecting?

A: Corina – I knew what Cassey was introducing to us would be effective. I trust Cassey, and I know that she is not going to put a product out there that she doesn’t wholeheartedly believe in. She wouldn’t create a program that didn’t work! So I knew, that if I stuck to it each day, the results would come. I was expecting a change, I just didn’t know what type of change I would have. I was definitely expecting a challenge; I knew it wouldn’t be easy to do.

Even though she created a great program, you have to do the work.

Q: Blogilates – What excited you most – the transformation you saw in the mirror or the transformation you felt inside? You can be honest! No judgement zone.

A: Corina – To be honest, I didn’t notice my transformation in the mirror right away. The first change I saw was within myself. I was getting stronger mentally each day, I was proud of myself after each workout, I started having a positive mindset and challenged myself daily to truly love myself… and after that, the physical changes started becoming more visible.

Q: Blogilates – What are your views on diets?

A: Corina – I don’t believe in diets. I believe in a healthy lifestyle. I did not do the Reset. However, I have very disciplined and strict views on food. I wholeheartedly believe that what you feed your body affects you internally and externally. From the age of 17, I have always been aware of what I put in my body. I gave up red meat and pork, and soda and juices, I never drink coffee, and I only drink water…tons of water! I lost 20 lbs right away and noticed how much I changed internally way back then. In my early 20’s I gave up carbs and sweets. I never really had a sweet tooth, thankfully. However, something happened to my body and it started rejecting the foods I was eating as I got older. I constantly had intense stomach pains, I was bloated, I wasn’t losing weight and I was having extreme migraines. I was introduced to a food intolerance test, which is a blood test that tells you what foods your body is intolerant to (basically the body can’t digest or breakdown these foods) and this changed my life! I am intolerant to 27 types of groups/foods..including bakers yeast, brewers yeast, cow’s milk and dairy, just to name a few…which then makes me gluten intolerant. So now I am now gluten-free, as much as possible. My view on food has grown intensely and I constantly promote how important it is to eat the right foods. My body now digests what I eat, I am not bloated, I hardly get sick and my energy is better. They call it junk food for a reason..it’s junk! Junk you are putting in your precious body, so I don’t do it. Since December 2015, I also cut out chicken, turkey and have become a pescatarian. This was one of the best decisions I’ve made aside from cutting out dairy and alcohol….I do miss a good glass of wine though =)

Q: Blogilates – What’s a typical daily meal plan look like for you now? (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, etc.)

A: Corina – My breakfast is after my workouts and is a smoothie, made with fresh berries, spinach, ginger, and chia seeds. I also have what I call my green drink.. I mix spirulina, baobab, maca, acai, wheatgrass, chlorella, and lemon with water.. this is my go-to every morning before my workouts! My lunch is small, but includes some salmon, spinach, tomatoes and onions, sauteed together with garlic powder and pepper. Dinner is spiralized dishes which allows me to feel like I am having a pasta, but I am getting veggies in instead! Also tacos with corn tortillas with shrimp or salmon. SUSHI IS MY FAVE MEAL! Snacks and desserts typically include fruit, or I make homemade acai bowls.

Q: Blogilates – Any advice for POPsters going through PIIT28?

A: Corina –

Don’t set an end goal.. set a daily goal! I believe it’s easier to feel motivated by reaching a daily goal vs. reaching for an end goal and possibly getting frustrated along the way.
Join other Popsters and Piitsters on IG. This community is extraordinary! These girls are so inspirational, positive, encouraging, motivating. I don’t have anyone that works out with me, except for Cassey on my screen. But being a part of this community makes you feel like you are working out with thousands of other girls and guys!
Take before pics and measurements. But also take progress pics and measurements every two weeks. You will see the difference and this will keep you going and motivated!
Trust the program. Trust the Process. If you put in the work and follow the program, the results are going to happen…but you also have to watch your food!
Don’t be ashamed to do modified moves.. I still do them. OH those surfers! One legged plank jack?! Yeah, I am still modifying them!
Don’t make excuses. It’s not going to get you to your goal.
Make this a dedicated time in your schedule. Nothing can happen during this time. Treat it as an appointment. Every morning I kept my routine. Consistency is key to an effective outcome.
My knee hurt, my hips hurt. I didn’t let this stop me. I got a brace for my knee, I did stretches to open up my hips, and that worked, so I worked out daily and my knee and hips feel great. Listen to your body, but you don’t necessarily need to stop.
Don’t compare your results with others, but compare your results with your before image. See how far you have come; everyone is going to have different results, depending on the time they put into it, the effort they put in and the diet they choose to be on.
LOVE YOURSELF. Remain positive. Congratulate yourself after each workout. Look in the mirror, and give yourself a high five after a workout. I do all of this and my body loves the praise and responds to it and continues to make me stronger and leaner.

Q: Blogilates – What’s your “power phrase” for when you’re about to give up?

A: Corina – I have so many, and Cassey talks to me at all the right times. But right now these are my favorites:

Sore today or sorry tomorrow.
Train insane or remain the same.
I got this!! You got this! Just a few more. Whew! Good job Corina!
You are better today than you were yesterday.

Q: Blogilates – What do you love about the Blogilates Community?

A: Corina – How everyone is so supportive, encouraging, positive, loving, and inspiring! I have not met one negative person. These girls have motivated me to become better in so many different aspects of life!

Q: Blogilates – How do you feel right now?

A: Corina – Overwhelmed. I feel so privileged to be a part of this blog. I have worked so hard every day, so to be able to share my journey through this blog is beyond my wildest dreams. I feel vulnerable that I have opened up so much with my words, since IG is all an image, where people can create a story for you. And here I get to tell you my story. But this overwhelming feeling is all good things! I feel excited, I feel proud, accomplished, happy, confident, strong, unstoppable. I feel like myself again and that’s the best feeling of all. Thank you Cassey for creating such an amazing program and community. Thank you for being real, for being you, for being so relatable to millions of girls.

Thank you for changing my life!

See guys! I told you you’d fall in LOVE with Corina. This is a pic of me and her about 14 weeks ago when I went to Hawaii to do a meetup and POP Pilates Instructor Training.

I know she’s the voice of many of you out there. I’m sure Corina would agree that if she can do it, anyone can. A life of being bullied, an adulthood of insecurities and a long list of food sensitivities haven’t kept this POPster down, so take a good look in the mirror and think to yourself, “What would Corina do?” and then go out and DO it for yourself!

I love you so much! Please comment below if Corina’s story resonates with you and why!

August 2016 Workout Calendar

Hey guys!

Can you believe we have arrived at the last FULL MONTH of SUMMER!!???? I’m crying inside. I am soooo in love with the warm weather, the shorts, the extra hours of daylight…oh my goodness…we all need to embrace the beauty of summer because it goes away so quickly! So, why don’t we close off summer with a bang? Let’s make it one to remember.

So starting right now I want you to commit to your body that you’re going to give it everything it needs. Nourish it with good food and train it to be stronger with great workouts.

Here is your workout Blogilates Workout Calendar for August 2016!

Click for high resolution calendar

As usual, do each workout on the calendar once through. You can find my playlists daily on YouTube.com/Blogilates or you can download the Blogilates Official App (free on iPhone and Android) and subscribe to the workout calendar there which will automatically provide you with the videos and the exclusive video of the month “Back Sculpt Song Challenge” (99c subscription to the app calendar) which you cannot find anywhere else.

Alright guys, I’m going to add something on for us that’s gonna be super fun. Are you ready for the last Instagram Challenge of the summer!!??? We’re going to be doing 28 days of abs to sculpt you a STRONGER CORE with the #AdoreTheCore Challenge!

If you want to join in, just repost this graphic on your Instagram and declare it so! And by participating all 28 days, you’ll be entered to win the POPFLEX Super Prize Package!

The #AdoreTheCore Challenge begins on Aug 1 and ends Aug 28! You’ll find all the details on the challenge here.

Alrighty guys – let’s make August 2016 a month to remember!

28 Day Ab Challenge!

Hey guys!

I haven’t done a monthly challenge for a while so…guess what!!?? We are going to do a HARD CORE challenge for the month of August!!! It’s all about dem abs! WOOHOO!!!

It’s time to #AdoreTheCore.

Unlike the other challenges you may see on IG, these aren’t just poses…they are a mixture of static and dynamic movements. You are meant to ACTUALLY DO THEM. Not just take a pic doing it. It’s  a 28 day challenge meant to strengthen your abs. It will be highly effective – trust me – as I know there are moves here that you probably haven’t done before. So, expect soreness.

You will execute one unique move each day from August 1-28! And I want you to Instagram a pic, video, or boomerang of you completing the move to basically sign off on the fact that you worked your abs! If you don’t have an IG account, no worries, just make one! You can even use the word “POP”, “PIIT”, “Blogilates” in your screen name if you’d like. You can make this your official fitness account! Once you have an account, comment below and let us know what it is so that we can follow each other!

To make this challenge a celebration of our amazing community, I will be hosting a giveaway for you guys!

If you participate in all 28 days of the #AdoreTheCore Challenge, you will have a chance to win the POPFLEX Super Prize Pack which includes:

1 Draw the Line Legging

1 Criss Cross Crop Bra

1 Pop Short

1 Siren Tank

1 Couture Yoga Mat

1 T.Y. Hello Kitty Mermaid Plush

To be eligible, you must:

Follow @popflex_active, @poppilatesofficial and @blogilates
Repost the challenge graphic above and tag 3 friends to join!
Commit to posting the move of the day all 28 days
Hashtag all your pics/vids/boomerangs with #adorethecore

You can be from any country and of any age! I will pick one random winner on the last day of August and announce on the blog!

Here’s a breakdown of what each move is! The goal is to do a minimum of 28 reps of each move daily, per side, unless it is a static hold – then you’ll want to hold it for a minimum of 28 sec…each side! The static holds have *’s next to them.

 

I will post the move daily on my Instagram – so be sure to follow @blogilates so you know how to interpret the exercise correctly! Please invite a friend to do it with you too – this is going to be so so so fun!! Let’s make this big guys!  Let’s do it together! Comment below if you’re in!!!! And don’t forget to post your IG handle so POPsters from all over the world can follow you!

8 TIPS FOR CURING PMS CRAVINGS!

One of the most commonly asked questions in our PIIT28 message boards is, “What do I do about PMS cravings when I’m trying so hard to eat clean?” We figured if our PIIT crew wants to know, chances are you guys do too.

Up to 85% of women experience at least one PMS symptom per month! These symptoms range from mood swings and fatigue to bloating and food cravings. So no, you’re not alone! These symptoms are very real, and they’re related to hormonal shifts that occur any time in the last two weeks of your cycle. So if you have intense chocolate and pizza cravings, and a moodiness that seems to zap your otherwise healthy willpower, it’s not your fault; hormones are driving the ship. Fortunately, there are several ways to captain that ship if you’re feeling fed up and want control once and for all. If you eat well most weeks, except for when you’re on your period, those out of control days might be the reason you’re not reaching your goals. It’s simple math, really. Consuming an extra 850 calories over four days equals roughly 1 pound of fat gain. If you’re in a calorie deficit most other days, you might be staying the same. If not, you might slowly be gaining. Either way, it’s extremely frustrating given how hard I know you exercise and care about your body.

Before diving into the solutions, do you want to know WHY your body cries out for sweet, salty or extra carby foods that time of the month? Estrogen is a key player in our bodies, and as its levels go up and down, so does cortisol (our stress hormone). When cortisol levels are high, the body turns on its fight-or-flight response. This stimulates appetite, and causes cravings for carbs and fat, the two things that support and fuel that response (yep, the caveman days still affect us even now!).

The types of cravings we experience come from cortisol and serotonin ratios. Isn’t it crazy how one day you’re diving into doughnuts, and another you’re eating a box of macaroni and cheese?! You’re actually not crazy at all! It’s physiological. According to Web MD, “If cortisol is high and serotonin is low, you’ll seek carbs and fats, but really heavy duty on the simple carbs— sugar-based sweets like chocolate bars.” Simple sugars are metabolized quickly, so they offer a quick serotonin fix. “If cortisol is way up but serotonin is relatively normal, a woman is more likely to crave a fat-carb combo without a huge sweet component,” like pizza.

As if that weren’t bad enough, we are often bloated, tired and grouchy, which makes us throw in the towel and say, “oh well, I might as well eat whatever I want because I’m fat and uncomfortable already.” We’ve all done this, right? But that attitude is a lot like jumping on your cell phone just because you dropped it. You don’t need to break it just because it cracked. The same goes for your body. Sure, the scale might be up five pounds and you have a little Buddha belly for a couple days, but those things will go away once your hormones even out. So instead of diving into the Ben & Jerry’s, be proactive to ensure you don’t put on real weight during your period. And who knows, you might even prevent your cravings all together!

8 TIPS TO PREVENT PMS CRAVINGS

1. STABILIZE YOUR BLOOD SUGAR.

Research has linked PMS to low blood sugar/hypoglycemia. Drops in blood sugar lead to irritability, shakiness and further hunger, generally for simple carbs, which deliver a quick rush of sugar to the system. To avoid cravings that stem from low blood sugar, eat five balanced meals each day. This might mean Greek yogurt, fruit and nuts for breakfast, a protein shake for a snack, a quinoa salad for lunch, bananas and peanut butter for a snack and chicken tortilla soup for dinner. The meals are smaller than “3-square meals” because you’re eating five times per day. They include balanced ratios of protein, fat and carbs which eliminate the blood sugar spikes and plummets that come with a day comprised of pancakes, a sub sandwich and Chinese takeout for dinner. Blood sugar stabilization is the premise of The 28 Day Reset – the official meal plan of PIIT28.

2. EAT A PROTEIN-RICH BREAKFAST.

A breakfast of scrambled eggs with veggies and avocado starts your day off much better than waffles or cereal. Having protein and fat in the morning leaves you satiated and energized, and a lot less likely to crave chocolate by noon.

3. INCREASE FIBER.

#1 New York Times Bestselling author, Dr. Hyman, suggests increasing vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, beans, and whole grains in order to ease PMS constipation, which affects your gut, which affects your cravings. “Two tablespoons of ground flax seeds a day are especially helpful in correcting constipation and balancing hormones. Put them in a shake or sprinkle them on salads or food.”

4. CARB UP.

Well, not really loading up, but a few moderate complex carbs can help raise your serotonin levels to stave off the, “I could kill for a Snickers bar right now,” moments. They key is having just enough to raise your serotonin without sending your blood sugar skyrocketing. So the next time you’re feeling crabby or a bit blue, and your period is near, go ahead and have two ounces of whole wheat pasta with marinara, a small baked potato or a slice of toast. The amount you have won’t ruin your diet, and might spare you from raiding the pantry tomorrow. It’s best not to eat these carbs with lots of fat, as fat will slow the absorption of the carbs, thus, postponing your serotonin surge.

5. DRINK UP.

As much as you might feel like a beached whale, the best remedy for beating bloat is 8-10 glasses of water. The sooner the bloat is gone, the happier you’ll be, which mean you won’t be eating raw cookie dough to temporarily lift your spirits. The bottle above helps me stay hydrated throughout the day. You can get the Timer Bottle here.

6. SWEAT.

Whatever gets the blood pumping will raise serotonin and lower cortisol levels. Cortisol is your stress hormone, and nothing relieves stress like exercise! This can have a huge impact on your cravings too! The happier I am, the more I want healthy and clean foods. I know it’s hard, but get a short workout in, even when you want to crawl under the covers in your pj’s. You’ll never regret that workout!

7. GIVE IT A MAKEOVER.

When all else fails and you just can’t force yourself to eat a salad because only a huge quesadilla will do, don’t fight it, make it healthier. There’s always a healthier option for the bad stuff. Craving a burger? Go turkey burger with avocado and half the bun. Need chocolate? Make an avocado chocolate mousse, or grab some chocolate covered edamame. French fries? Make your own baked sweet potato fries. You’ll have a lot less regret this way, and you’ll still satisfy your craving.

8. REDUCE CAFFEINE.

Caffeine spikes cortisol, so reducing it helps, once again, with your cravings. Chances are, though, if you cut it out completely, you’ll experience moodiness and fatigue, which won’t help your cause. So just try reducing it by half, or try a nice soothing tea.

That’s it guys! Can you do it? Can you cut your coffee by half, increase your fiber and eat balanced meals before and during your period? Let me know if you choose some, or all, of these PMS craving-cures and let me know how you feel!

Resources:

http://www.m.webmd.com/diet/features/is-pms-sabotaging-your-diet

http://drhyman.com/blog/2010/09/17/how-to-eliminate-pms-in-5-simple-steps/

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/food/pms-cravings

Free POP Pilates Classes all over the US!

Hey guys!

We just wrapped up 3 full days at the IDEA World Fitness Convention, complete with a POPFLEX Pop Up Shop, a POP Pilates showcase party, and lots of POPsters! It was fun seeing you guys at the POP wings – I hope you had a chance to take a photo with them! We made them special just for you!

Racking the clothes was SUCH A PROCESS! But so fun to see everything on hangers and mannequins like a real shop, for the very first time! We even bought a price gun – you know those things they use to put prices on bread at the supermarket – yeah – one of those! It felt so legit!

The POP Pilates Showcase Party was so nerve-wrecking for me because it was the first time that I was going to present POP Pilates alongside my Master Trainers. But it wasn’t stage fright or anything…it was the fact that I needed to SUPER MEMORIZE POP 6! You see, every quarter we release a brand new set of choreography with 13 new tracks for a whole 55 min class. We do this to keep classes fresh and to keep muscles constantly surprised with new exercises. So I spent the entire day before studying like it was finals week!!! I went to sleep listening to the music and I woke up doing the moves as I brushed my teeth. Brain farts happen and yeah I forget choreo sometimes, but I DID NOT want to mess this up! Funny to think the creator of the format has to practice so hard, but you gotta do what you gotta do!

I am so happy to report that it went sooooooo smooth!!!! AHH!!! I was dying at how beautiful the choreography looked. I uploaded some footage on my IG @Blogilates – so you can take a look there! And big thanks to MT’s Hue and Aimee for being amazing trainers and “back up dancers”! :P Thanks to my Program Director Jules for helping me come up with the best POP Pilates choreo to date!

If you guys did not get a chance to take the class, NO WORRIES! I have a surprise for you!

This Saturday the 23rd, 24 Hour Fitness will be hosting POP Parties all over the US! These are full length 55 min classes taught by our amazing, certified POP Pilates instructors! All POP classes on that day will be free, so even if you don’t have a membership, it’s all good. Just come in and tell the front desk that you’re there for the POP Party! You can even show them the ad above as your ticket.

To see if there is a POP Pilates class near you, just click on the image below, check “view by class” and type in your zip code! Then scroll down the list until it says “POP Pilates” and check for the times! Make sure the date is on Sat the 23rd!

It’s still crazy to me to think that this format that I started on YouTube is an ACTUAL class at 24 Hour Fitness. I mean, what!! I still remember my very first audition at 24 Hour Fitness in Puente Hills, CA. I was so nervous. I had only taught to classes of 3-5 people max at a tiny gym in Whittier…so for me, this was like going to the big leagues! When I got hired, I was scheduled to team teach a Pilates class with a very seasoned instructor to a class of over 50 students. I remember just TREMBLING. I WAS SO NERVOUS THAT I WAS GOING TO DIE.

She put the headset on me and said “You do abs and I’ll do the other muscle groups.” I remember showing the class the Hundred, the Single Straight Leg Stretch, Double Leg Lifts…all the classics! When I finished I ran to my car and basically started crying and shaking. Because I was so happy that I had survived.

(Yes, there was a time when Cassey could not handle teaching a live class.)

The adrenaline and the love from the students kept me coming back for more. After many months of subbing and working hard to show my GX Director that I deserved my own class on the schedule, I finally got one! It was far too – the drive was at least 30-40 min away from my dorm – but it was so worth it. I felt like I had won life!!

And now…9 years later…POP Pilates is a class that is a real format on the 24 Hour Fitness schedule! It still amazes me how magical life can be sometimes. How is it that it’s come full circle? I think it has a lot to do with working hard, sharing your passion genuinely, and creating things or services that bring value and happiness to people’s lives. Sometimes you don’t know your path, but you know what feels right. So keep going towards what feels right and then the right things will happen.

Also, I want you to know that I don’t have all the answers. Things are not perfect. I fail a lot. I cry a lot. I get upset and write journal entries about how I’ve been mistreated and misjudged. But you know what? Failing is learning and you cannot give up. Challenges are there to make you stronger. They are there to make you appreciate what you EARNED when the good finally happens. So embrace it all. As humans, we are soooo lucky to be able to feel all these emotions. It makes us dynamic. It makes us real.

Anyway…

I am super thankful for my 24 Hour Fitness family and their trust in the POP Pilates program. I really encourage you guys to head out of your comfort zones this Saturday and join a free POP Pilates class! Being in a group exercise studios alongside other people is not scary or intimidating at all. It is MOTIVATING. You cannot replicate that energy in your living room. Plus, you will be in very good hands with my POP Pilates Instructors. If you have ever thought about getting certified, I encourage you to do it. Being a fitness instructor is the BEST DECISION I have ever made in my life. Click here to learn more about getting certified.

Until then, I’ll leave you with a silly pic from the POP booth!

Comment below where you are from and we can help you find a class near you!

Instagram Worthy Rainbow Pancakes

Hey guys!

Have you ever whipped something up in your kitchen that was just for Instagram? (C’mon, let’s be honest here!!) I like making my recipes pretty (even if eating them becomes challenging) but I’d never prepare something I didn’t plan on devouring.

Can I get a “heck-yeah” to leftovers PLEASE?? I’m a firm believer in taking home or saving what I don’t eat. It’s less wasteful, and I never feel the need to stuff myself since there’s always a tomorrow! So if you don’t eat up this entire stack of eye-candy in one sitting with a couple friends, save some for later! Enjoy every bit of the soft cakey pancakes, slightly tangy yogurt and naturally sweet fruit, because this recipe is AH-MAZING. Just cut it carefully because you don’t want your masterpiece to topple over!

Watch me make it below in the latest Cheap Clean Eats episode!

RAINBOW PANCAKES

Yield: 3 servings

Serving Size: 1/3rd pancake stack

Prep Time: 15 min

Cook Time: 12 min

Ingredients:

2 large very ripe bananas
4 eggs
2 tablespoons coconut flour
1 tablespoon oat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup blueberries
2 kiwi, sliced
1/2 cup chopped nectarines or peaches
1/2 banana, sliced
1/2 cup raspberries
1/4 cup pomegranate seeds
5.3 ounce container vanilla Greek yogurt

Method :

In a small blender, add the bananas, eggs, coconut and oat flours and vanilla extract; process until smooth. Let sit for at least 5 minutes to allow coconut flour to thicken a bit.
Heat a large, nonstick skillet, with cooking spray, over low-medium heat. Pour batter into a measuring cup to help you make 6 even pancakes. Pour 1/6th of the batter into the skillet and cook on low-medium until bubbly (about 2 minutes), then carefully flip and cook for about 1 minute.  Repeat with remaining batter.
Spread 1 tablespoon of yogurt on the bottom pancake and cover with blueberries. Layer another pancake on top, spread with 1 tablespoon of yogurt, and cover with kiwis. Repeat this layering process with the remaining fruit. Cover the last pancake with remaining yogurt and sprinkle with pomegranate seeds.
Feel free to decorate the top with extra fruit in any colors you like!

Nutrition Info:

Calories: 330 | Protein: 15g | Fat: 8g | Net Carbs: 46g | Fiber: 8g

Comment below if you make these and if you changed up any of the fruit!

PS – I am TOTALLY aware that I switched the orange and the yellow in the rainbow order! OOPS!!!