Cassey Ho's Blog, page 19

“A workout dress won’t work on my body.”

Hey guys!

If you think a workout dress isn’t for you or “wouldn’t work” for your body type, this post is for you.

First of all, I get it! If I can’t envision something on my body, I’m not buying it.  That’s one reason why I try to show you a product on as many different bodies as possible! But that’s not all – I test every new design on lots of bodies so when you DO buy it, the fit is perfect.

From start to finish in the design process, we’re checking fit across all sizes, taking notes, making improvements, and repeat. Once the design is complete, we have one more try-on sesh with our Try On Crew to help you envision the product on your body.

Let’s try on the Matchpoint Zipper Dress

This is the third active dress to join the POPFLEX fam. Every new dress design has its own unique flair, but also improvements in fit!

How “twirlable” is the skirt on different body types?
Is there enough boob coverage across sizes?
Is there any weird bunching? Is it comfy to wear?

Those are just a few examples of what we’re looking for, to ensure perfect fit for sizes XXS-3X.

Anyway, here’s a little try-on vid so you can see the Zipper Dress on different bodies.

 

 

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SHOP MATCHPOINT ZIPPER DRESS

The reviews are in

Your feedback is so important for future designs! Plus I know reviews are a major part of the research process when I have my eye on something!

Here are a few reviews for the Matchpoint Zipper Dress.

Sharon, Try-On Crew

Measurements:

Height: 4′ 9″
Bust: 31.5″
Waist: 25.4″
Hips: 32.25″
Size: XS

Sharon says, “Love the fit of this dress! The length is just right even for someone like me who has a short stature.

I definitely feel like I can move more freely and fluidly in this dress without worrying that the straps might fall. The zipper is super smooth and easy to use and I like that it doesn’t get caught on anything on the way up.

The shorts underneath feel a little more structured than previous inner shorts, so it does feel like they stay in place a little better without moving around too much.” 

This is so stunning on you! And I AGREE it’s the worst when you’re trying to workout but falling straps or flimsy shorts constantly need adjusting. So happy this works for you!

Allison, Try-On Crew

Measurements: 

Height: 5′ 10″
Bust: 37″
Waist: 31″
Hips: 41″
Size: M

From Allison! “A sexy little black workout dress!! I was wary of having a zipper on a workout dress but felt very secure! The latch in the inside makes sure the gals stay in! The skirt is incredibly twirl-able and the built-in shorts are perfect! They have two pockets! It’s great for on-the-go or medium-intensity workouts (Pilates approved!).”

Omg YES feeling secure is a must! Happy twirling!

Brandy, Try-On Crew

Measurements: 

Height: 5′ 4″
Bust: 37″
Waist: 33″
Hips: 41.5″
Size: L

Brandy says, “Love the color and softness of the fabric, the dress is very comfy and stylish!”

I can literally feel the confidence through this pic! Love that color on you!

Hopefully this helps!

Now do you feel confident that you could totally rock a workout dress? Do these try-ons help with figuring out which size to get?!

Here’s How My Body Changed After 30 Days of Stretching

A few weeks ago, I attended my usual yoga class (after a brief hiatus) and had the weirdest feeling. When I moved into downward dog, my back was extremely tight. Something that had been so easy in the past was suddenly a huge challenge. I realized that when focusing on strength training, I had completely and totally neglected stretching… and now my body was feeling it. 

Inspired by Cassey’s decision to enter her slow fitness era, I switched up my workout routine too.

I stretched every single day for a month.

My goal was to find relief from stiffness and pain, but became so much more than that. Committing to gentle movements and stretches seriously changed my body and my relationship with fitness. 

Stretching has so many benefits

Most people stretch to become more flexible. As an ex-dancer, I already have some flexibility so that wasn’t necessarily my goal. Stretching also provides benefits like:

Improving performance Decreasing risk of injury Improving your ability to do daily activities

 

I started my 30-day journey with the intention of adding small moments of movement into my life. During times when I’d find myself stationary for long periods of time, I stopped and gave my body relief through stretching. 

Over the course of the month, I started to see stretching not as a part of my workout, but as its own separate form of movement. I tried all sorts of new moves that I hadn’t done before and became more in tune with what type of movement my body needed on a particular day. 

No two days were the same

Some days, my stretching took the form of a 60-minute yoga session. On other days, it was a quick three-minute forward fold before bed. I listened to what my body needed (and what I had time for) and tried to tailor my movement to find balance between these two factors. 

Time can be a huge barrier to working out. However, it’s pretty easy to incorporate daily stretches into your routine. I found myself doing standing quad stretches while waiting for my morning coffee to brew. Family movie night? I did some arm stretches while watching the show! I even sat in a straddle stretch while doing my nightly social media scroll. (I know I’m not the only one who falls into that TikTok vortex  ). 

@blogilates Been a while since I’ve stretched and it feels good to be back at it. If you’re looking to get into your splits, here are some things I do in my personal routine that you can try: 1/ I turn on the heater to warm up my muscles. Cold muscles don’t like to stretch. 2/ I wear socks on top of my @popflexactive vegan suede mat for easy sliding. The less friction, the easier it is to make tiny sliding movements. 3/ I start out with a very short, very light cardio routine like 10 squats and 10 lunges ea side to warm up my muscles. 4/ Then I do a very short, light Pilates routine targeting my legs to make sure blood flow is happening in those areas. Also stretching is as much about flexible muscles as it is about strong muscle (to hold the pose), so you NEED to do this! Single legged hamstring extensions x 10 ea Butt pulses x 20 ea Booty band bridge press outs x 15 5/ Massage your legs. I specially use my @therabody Theragun mini to massage my hamstrings and hips, which are my tightest areas. This bring more blood flow into the area and also helps loosen up my muscles. 6/ Now my splits stretching routine Pike x 1 min Butterfly x 1 min Hamstring stretch x 1 min ea leg Deep lunge x 1 min ea leg Half splits with booty shake x 1 min ea leg Now you can get into your splits! And once you feel like you have that, do your… 7/ Oversplits! I use blocks to add height! There ya go! Remember, go slow and take your time. Depending on your flexibility, this could take weeks, months, or even years. Do not push yourself too hard! You do not want to get an injury – and that usually happens when you’re trying to rush and get results. Your body needs time. GOOD LUCK! Cassey #stretching #splits #flexibility #therabodypartner ♬ Morning with U – Tollan Kim

There are stretches for everything

Have a specific fitness goal? You can do stretches to destress after a busy work day. Or maybe you want to work towards being able to do the splits. Perhaps you were reading this article and kept thinking “I need stretches to relieve my lower back pain!” Those are easy to find too. There are so many different types of stretching, for whatever your body needs! 

Just grab a comfy mat and get started!  

I saw some serious changes

I was already pretty flexible thanks to my past as a dancer, so I didn’t have a huge transformation as far as how far I can stretch. However, I found that building a consistent stretching routine allowed me to hold slightly uncomfortable poses longer and relax into them more easily. 

I also saw a huge improvement in how my muscles felt on a daily basis. The best way I can describe it is this; after stretching every day, my muscles felt like my brain does after coffee. They were awake and ready for anything! I felt lighter, less stiff, and more energized. 

In the past month, not only did my body go through changes, but so did my mindset. I used to see fitness as “all or nothing:”

If I don’t have time to go to the gym for an hour, then it isn’t really worth it to work out at all. 

If I don’t sweat, then it isn’t really a workout. 

I have to be sore the day after a workout or I didn’t work hard enough. 

These are things I used to tell myself. Now, I see that any form of movement can have a positive effect on the body. I don’t need to push myself to the limit every single time I set out to engage in physical activity. 

Stretching is like the behind-the-scenes crew on a movie set. It doesn’t get the recognition it deserves and the show could not run without it! 

Without stretching, our bodies are getting torn down, but not built back up. Doing gentle movements helps to warm up and cool down from our busy lives and take a moment to breathe and just exist in the moment. 

Try this 30-Day Stretch Challenge!

If you need something to follow along, try the 30-day #JourneytoSplits challenge!

Get the Graphic

Live in your moment.

Feel like you can relate? How can you find balance by slowing down? 

 

The 2.5-Year Superbra Journey

Girls, get ready.

It’s everything you wished for. 2.5 years in the making and I’m finally ready to share with you what will be the best sports bra in the world.

Were you one of the 22,000 women who filled out the survey back in 2021? If so, you helped create this:

The POPFLEX Superbra.

 

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The Superbra Journey

Why did it take 2.5 years? Because we had to get creative and go back to the drawing board so many times. Here’s a lil peek at the BTS.

 

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SHOP SUPERBRA

Can you believe how many times the design changed!? As you can see, the product development process is truly A PROCESS. Good, reliable products take time, but with the speed of social media and fast fashion setting the pace, I feel like it’s warped people’s sense of time. (Copying other people’s designs and getting them out in a matter of weeks is UNNATURAL!)

9-12 months is the average time I can sketch something from your requests, develop, and produce, but the harder ones like Superbra need even more attention.

Anyway, thank you for giving me grace and patience. I’m currently editing my Superbra video and I cannot wait to show you all the cool features!

The pleated skort young me wishes she had

Hey guys!

I wish I had this skort growing up! As an ex-captain of the tennis team 00’s player, we did NOT have cute uniforms. Our team wore men’s soccer shorts rolled down 3 times to make them look somewhat cute.

I’m happy that women’s activewear has evolved sooooo much and I’m so grateful to be a part of this industry. But really, I am. I was just telling Sam over dinner tonight how lucky I feel to be doing what we’re doing. As unpredictably crazy as it gets sometimes, I am doing exactly what I want. Like literally exactly. Thank you for watching these videos, wearing the clothes, and letting me be a fashion designer. You don’t know how many tears I cried, how much screaming I endured, and how many nights I spent wondering if my life was still worth living…all for a dream I knew one day, some way, somehow, was going to be my reality. So thank you. Thank you for letting me do this.

Oh wow, hold. I went real deep before even telling you about this skort!

 

 

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My new Ace ‘Em Pleated Skort

It’s got all the features you love about POPFLEX skort…

Anti-
Deep pockets
Twirlable
XXS-3X

But this time! It’s also got:

Crisp pleats that won’t wash out
Water repellent fabric
Longer back skirt
Beautiful elastic jacquard waistband

 

GET THE ACE 'EM SKORT

 

I am 5’5 wearing S, and this runs TTS!

Which color do you like best!? Desert rose , Sugar , Black , or Rustic olive ?

 

2000s Low Rise Shorts Are Back 👀

Hey guys!

Calling all millennials who were traumatized by the low rise trend of the 2000s!

I honestly have never been able to go low-low as I have a very soft lower belly and hips, so my body type isn’t highlighted in a way I like with traditional low rise bottoms.

Low rise shorts are back

20 years later (omg whattttt), low rise is back, but this time around, I get to control how it looks. Don’t be scared guys. I found a way for us to do this (if you want to of course) and do it better than in the 2000s!

 

 

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Shop Low Rise Supershort

I am very pleased with how my Low Rise Supershort turned out and it’s my shorts of choice at the moment! Love how it fits right over my hips, it doesn’t pinch, and it lightly shows off my belly button. Very flattering. On short torso’d girls, this will probably be like a mid rise on you!

An honest note on sizing

Initially I had planned to make low rise shorts in our full size range xxs-3x but all of the plus size fit models we worked with kept it real and said they’d never wear this. In order to not create extra waste by making something no one wants, we opted not to produce plus sizes, however, if you feel like you actually would wear this – comment and tell me and I can make it for next time.

Im 5’5” wearing the small! The waist is very generous in its construction (which is what makes it anti-pinch). If you have a softer lower belly like me, stick with your normal size chart size. If you have more muscle in your hips and abs, I would say size down!

Hope you like the new options! Oh and for those wondering about thigh chafing – I’m working on something for you. Thank you for being patient as we develop!

Are You Team Low Rise or Team High Rise?!

Hey guys!

I’m doing a giveaway!! Tell me which Supershort you like better and I’ll send you AND your friend the outfits you guys pick if you win!

 

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Enter the Giveaway

To enter:

Follow the link above and

1. Tell me if you like A. Low Rise Supershort or B. High Rise Supershort better!
2. Tag a friend and ask if they like A or B better.
3. Share my post to your IG stories.
4. Follow POPFLEX and Blogilates on IG!

You can be any age and from anywhere in the . Enter as many times as you would like! Winners will win a Tone Bra and a Supershort set each!

Giveaway closes Thursday August 17, 2023 at 11:59PM PST and winners will be randomly selected and announced on Friday August 18, 2023 via IG stories. You guys will also be reached out to directly by POPFLEX (@popflex_active) via DM.

The new Low Rise Supershort comes in 5 colors and I’m wearing bubblegum in size small! If you have soft hips like me, go with your normal size. I made the waistband anti-pinch by making sure it’s generous in its construction. If you’re muscly in your hips or prefer a snug fit, it’s totally ok to size down in the Low Rise Supershort ! For High Rise, go with your normal size.

Shop Shorts

Adding a new active dress to the fam

Hey guys!

Please welcome to the fam, a third active dress! This time, she’s less princessy and more sporty, but still romantic and 100% twirlable! She’s the Matchpoint Zipper Dress and she comes in XXS-3X in 4 colors on POPFLEX. I’m wearing XS and I am 5’5”. It’s totally TTS.

 

 

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Shop Matchpoint Zipper Dress

The zip adds a nice contrast to the dress while making it a bit easier to take this off to go to the restroom! I love the simplicity of a romper (aka an all-in-one outfit) so to me it’s worth the nakey in the bathroom situation. Personally, it doesn’t bother me, but if it bothers you, well – I think skorts and tops are your best bet for now until I figure out hygienic pee-thru fabric.

If you already own the Twirl Dress, you’ll notice that this design has less of a circle skirt and more of a A-ish flared skirt. I love how the fabric just skims over my hips along with the contoured seams which really hip bring out my hourglass silhouette.

You can wear this for anything honestly because it’s just so easy and comfy. To me, it’s a perfect dress for theme parks, workouts, errand-running, and lots of eating bc the fabric snatches and stretches in the best way

Any fit questions? Ask me in the comments!

 

How to Help Maui 💔

Maui .

Lahaina is gone. Thousands of buildings…gone. Hundreds of families left with nothing and no place to go, and many still searching for loved ones. My heart is broken.

 

@dailytelegraph Hawaii residents have told how they were forced to flee into the ocean as flames “began to burn their skin” with the death toll from wildfires set to rise. Read the full story and see more photos by clicking the link in our bio. #Maui #Hawaii #fire #devestation #global #worldnews #news #emergency #evacuation #wildfire ♬ Beethoven Moonlight Sonata-High Sound Quality – Amemiya

 

Sam and I have been to Maui a few times, with the most recent being December 2022. We’ve been to the very places that no longer exist, and have likely met some of the people who lost everything. The people of Lahaina are so proud of their town – you could literally SEE the generations of love and hard work that went into the restaurants, shops, and other businesses.

Thinking about those people, and what they’re facing…ugh I just cannot imagine.

How can we help Maui?

So, how can we help?! I gathered some info in case you’re wondering the same thing!

First, I asked for links and recommendations for where to donate because I keep seeing disturbing videos about how locals are not able to get access to food, supplies, or even to one another due to governmental red tape.

I came across this spreadsheet with names and info for over 500 families in Lahaina who were displaced by the fire. There is a link to GoFundMe, cash app, or Venmo for each family to help them directly.

**Disclaimer: Donating to GoFundMe may not be “legitimate” but it’s an option if you’re looking for a way to donate directly to those affected. It’s not like we know who exactly our money goes to when we donate to bigger organizations.

 

 

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Local businesses in Lahaina

Here are donation links for a few families on the spreadsheet with local businesses looking for help to get back on their feet and help their employees.

Doan’s Family (Lahaina Jewelry) – “If you ever shopped around Front St. and walked into Lahaina Jewelry, you would’ve seen my mom’s radiant smile. Mom had her business for over 30 years and her favorite part of the job was meeting all the wonderful customers. My family are currently safe but they lost everything.”

Lahaina Grill Employees – “So many of you have reached out in search of the best way to help. Our staff is our first priority therefore, all donations made will be distributed DIRECTLY to our staff who are houseless and need basic life necessities and relocation. 40+ employees at Lahaina Grill have lost everything.”

Gazebo Family – “At least four Gazebo employees and their families have had their homes destroyed and were displaced by the Maui fires, specifically The Lahaina fire. The Gazebo is a special place to many people. A magical place. As new details emerge it is becoming clearer that several employees and families have lost homes and belongings. This fund is for anyone who works at The Gazebo and was displaced.”

Joey’s Kitchen & Macadangdang Restaurants Ohanas – “Funds from this GoFundMe campaign will go directly to our Joey’s Kitchen Whalers, Joey’s Kitchen Napili, and Macadangdang staff and their families – who have been impacted by the wildfires Lahaina, Maui.” Also accepting Venmo.

Sunriders Bike Shop – “We have 16 employees that we would like to take care of and keep as many on payroll as possible merging them into 2 stores. We will also use donations to help cover employees’ personal items, cars, bikes and other belongings lost in the fire. As well as relocation assistance. Financially with all the refunds and struggles ahead, we could end upside down, but our passion and drive will remain strong and we will push forward.”

Haleakava Employee ‘OHana – “While we are crushed at the loss of the place we worked so hard to build, we are even more devastated for the members of our teams who lost EVERYTHING. To be able to provide a bit of comfort through donations would be tremendous.”

'Help Maui Rise' Spreadsheet

808 Grindz Cafe

Finally, a special request to donate to the cutest cafe that Sam and I eat at every time we’re in Maui. We were just there in December, and I enjoyed these amazing ube pancakes. The employees are always so friendly and full of aloha and now… they’re gone.

 

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Please consider donating if you’re able! This is a great way to directly help a small business affected by this disaster. Give what you can, even if it’s just the $5 you would have spent at Starbucks this week.

Help 808 Grindz Cafe

Our last visit to Maui in December

Larger organizations

If you’d rather avoid Venmo or GoFundMe, here are a few larger organizations providing relief directly to Maui.

Maui Strong Fund

The Hawaii Community Foundation is using donations to award grants to nonprofit organizations seeking funding to serve on the frontlines of the wildfire. So far, grantees include Aloha Diaper Bank, Maui Humane Society, Blue Water Rafting (to deliver supplies), and Regenerative Education Centers (serving as a relief site alongside FEMA).

Maui Food Bank

Make a monetary donation or hold a virtual food drive.

American Red Cross

According to the Hawaii Community Foundation, the Red Cross’ primary focus is providing shelter to those displaced by the fire. To donate, click here and select “Hawaii Wildfires” in the “I want to support” drop-down.

Or, you can text the word HAWAII to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Travel to Maui

The best way to help Maui is to give the island space while they process and rebuild. At the time of writing this, Hawaii strongly discourages any non-essential travel for the time being, especially to West Maui.

Thank you to everyone who sent me links and information! If you’re someone affected by the wildfire, I’m thinking of you and sending love! And if you know of any other opportunities to donate, please share in the comments!

 

7 Ways to Honor and Appreciate Your Body as a Mom

*This piece contains information about my personal experience with a negative body image and can be triggering. No advice in this piece should replace recommendations from a medical professional.

My distorted body image began at a young age. I’ll never forget whipping out a workout DVD in 5th grade, thinking to myself this is my golden ticket to being beautiful: losing weight. When I see photos of myself at that age, I’m shocked by how thin I was compared to what I remember seeing in the mirror. I wasn’t skin and bones by any means, but certainly a healthy 10-year-old with slowly widening hips, growing shoulders, and full cheeks. Nothing to be concerned about, much less to focus on “losing.” The next year I began a pre-professional ballet track at a local Russian academy. Needless to say, this didn’t exactly improve how I viewed my developing curves and the strong legs I was born with.  

Fast forward to middle school, high school, college, and early 20’s where my barometer for weighing my self-worth was heavily influenced by my weight…until I became pregnant with our son.

For the first time in my life I was at peace with my body, no matter what it looked like. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t still have days during those 9 months where I didn’t feel my sexiest, but my gratitude for being able to carry life outweighed any negative thoughts that popped up. I was growing our first child and let go of restricting my intake, overexercising, and trying to squeeze into pants that I’d outgrown years prior. 

Between pregnancy and the raw, sleep-deprived postpartum months, I relied on a handful of strategies to keep my mind right when it wandered toward harmful (and all too familiar) dialogue about my body.

How I honor and appreciate my body as a mom

These 7 tips helped me through my first pregnancy and journey as a new mom, and continue to carry me through as I prepare for my second baby.

Fact check: your body is incredible

You’re looking in the mirror after a shower. Slipping into a swimsuit for a beach day. Or shimmying into pants that you swear fit last week!. Whether you’re expecting, are a new mom, or have little ones a few years old, remembering the work your body does on a daily basis is powerful. When unwanted thoughts creep up, flip through the Rolodex of reasons your body is amazing.

You grew and carried a baby, often for close to 9 whole months. Or maybe you adopted the missing piece to your family’s puzzle and still spend endless hours carrying, hugging, and wrestling your child. You fed your baby for hours on end, at all times of day and night. Or maybe you spend endless hours on your feet preparing mac and cheese, pancakes, and their favorite tasty snacks.

 

Every journey looks different, but there’s one constant amongst moms and that’s this: you and your body are a force to be reckoned with. When you feel like you can’t physically give anymore, remember you’re stronger than you think. That strength is invaluable, and no number on a scale or sewn into a piece of clothing dictates your worth.  

Don’t try taking control in the chaos

A crying baby, major changes to your body — or maybe changes aren’t happening “quickly enough” after delivery — a messy house, a sink filled with dishes at all times. It’s easy to feel like things are out of control when you’re a mother of little ones. I rode my fair share of postpartum emotional rollercoasters, and some days I still find myself desperately searching for the EXIT sign so I can get off the ride. In these moments, it’s easy to grasp for control over just about anything. 

When life feels overwhelming, avoid turning to your body for a form of control. Instead of limiting your input or overdoing your exercise output to control the size and shape of your body, how about pausing? Yes, just stopping. 

Give yourself a moment to think. What is it that has you on edge? Write it down. If it’s the dust bunnies constantly rolling by your feet or managing your kids’ busy drop-offs, pickups, and everything attached to their jam-packed schedules, identify the stressors.

Is there a way you can outsource getting the house cleaned once a month?

Can you and Jake’s mom alternate taking the kids to practice so you each get a few hours back once a week?

Would your mom or friend come over to watch your newborn so you can shower, turn on good tunes, and light your favorite candle?

Even if there aren’t any immediate supports that come to mind, take the much-deserved break. Acknowledging what’s causing your head to spin can be the first step to finding relief, even if it’s temporary. It’s a good gut check that your body is not the enemy and instead might be screaming at you to take a momentary time out. Remember: you deserve the pause no matter what.   

Go shopping!

Clothes are made to fit you…not the other way around. Treat yourself to new pieces that make you feel (and look) good. There’s nothing wrong with keeping an old fave top in your closet because you know your body is still changing and it may fit in a few months. But, if it’s multiple sizes too small and is a “goal” piece – aka something you want to *transform* your body to fit into – now’s a good time to invest in clothes that highlight your body’s beauty as opposed to hanging onto pieces that require changing your body to wear.

Months after my first son was born, I went through clothes I’d held onto for way too long. Finally parting ways with old denim that surely wouldn’t fit my now wider hips felt liberating, and exciting, and gave me peace of mind.

Don’t get me wrong. I would’ve loved to wear my favorite distressed jeans just a few more times, but accepting that my body’s shape had changed actually made me feel more confident. I no longer opened my pant drawer and saw a cute style I longed to wear but couldn’t because “I was too big.” My body had delivered our greatest miracle, and I was genuinely happy with my new figure. Yes, it was broader from my ribs to my hips. It was also stronger than ever before and absolutely amazing. Now my dresser is filled with clothes that fit me and make me feel cute, not cute clothes that make me feel bad about myself. 

Pro tip: Old Navy has killer denim at the right price. One of my girlfriends recommended their jeans to me postpartum, and I loved the fit variety. It made it incredibly easy to find flattering (and chic) styles.  

 

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“I love you because…”

When your little ones are old enough, share what you love about one another. There’s nothing better than feeling adored by someone you love, and I can only imagine what my son’s words will do to me when he’s able to express them. Until then, I rely heavily on hugs, snuggles, and loads of kisses when I’m having a rough day…and when I’m not. 

If your child is a newborn, infant, or toddler, telling them what you love about them out loud can still be a wonderful exercise. Looking at them and expressing your love is a reminder not only of the miracle that they are, but it takes the focus away from far-fetched physical standards that impact moms. Talk about your little one’s sweet smile. Their contagious laugh. The way they wrap their fingers around yours. Focus on the good. There’s a lot of it.   

If your child is older, you can create a fun “Self-Love Jar” where the whole family writes what they love about themselves and one another each week. Read them aloud at the dinner table to share your gushy feelings about how awesome each of you is! This idea can also manifest in a cheer that you and your little ones recite, emphasizing support, love, and encouragement Take Lindsay Gurk’s viral chant lead if you need inspiration.

Strength in numbers

Finding your mom community is key when navigating life as a parent. Call, FaceTime, or text a girlfriend if you’re struggling in any capacity. Lean on them for advice, a pick me up, or a good laugh. Chances are whatever you’re up against, they are in some capacity, too. Connecting with a loved one or group that makes you feel understood can alleviate feeling isolated, and in turn shift the focus from feeling down on yourself and your body toward feeling supported and empowered.   

I’ve found solace in listening to podcasts, Audible books, and even Instagram stories of moms navigating their body’s changes. Everything from listening to women openly talk about the discomfort of growing larger to postpartum exercises that pique my interest is a near-constant reminder that I’m never on this journey alone. Resources abound, and you just have to find what ways of connecting or consuming content work best for you.

Pro tip: Two of my fave mom community IG accounts are Karrie Locher and Big Little Feelings. Their content is incredibly helpful, makes me laugh, and definitely drives home the universality of the motherhood grind.

…And strength training

If you’re a product of the early 2000’s crash diet and cardio culture like myself, strength training programs for women is a fairly new concept that’s only been adopted widely in the last few years. And I have to say, I’ve never felt sexier than when I feel strong (not *skinny*).

No, I haven’t taken to heavy-hitting gym machines or racking up major squat bar reps, yet. But, I have increased the weight I use when I work out, and I tote around my 30-pound toddler all day which has done two major things for my body and my mind.

First, it’s given my body a beautiful shape and tone, one I’ve never had since I used to actively avoid weights for fear that they would make me “bulky.” Excessive cardio never did what I thought it would do, which is exactly what strength training has given me quickly: definition.

Second, it strengthened my mind. Every time I’ve felt like I couldn’t lift my son one more time, take him on one more walk in the carrier, or lift the unpacked junk box that has been sitting in my bedroom for months, I could…and I did. Overcoming each step quite literally strengthened my body and made it easier to keep going when I thought I had reached my limit. 

This isn’t to promote overdoing or consistently pushing yourself. Remember taking that pause we talked about? But, as all moms know, this job certainly isn’t a 9-5. So, knowing in your heart that you can push through when needed is a reason to celebrate your strength, inside and out.

 

 

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Did someone say self-care?

It sounds simple, but here’s your reminder that when your inner dialogue about your body is going in the wrong direction, take time to give yourself extra TLC. 

Book a massage where the only thing you can hear for 60 minutes is the soothing sound of spa music. Pro tip: If you’re on a budget, look for deals in your area at massage schools where graduating students’ rates are deeply discounted!

Schedule a mani-pedi with your bestie and catch up on the latest episode of The Kardashians, what it was like trying to serve your little one food on the blue plate (not the green one!?!?!), or go solo and listen to your fave podcast. Or, buy that new nail polish you’ve been eyeing and do a DIY mani-pedi at home.

Whether you opt for a facial or face mask, carve out time for self-care. Your body and mind deserve it!

We’re human, and not every day is the same. I hope even one of these strategies helps you along your journey in motherhood, even if simply reading this piece serves as a reminder that you’re worthy, strong, and beautiful exactly as you are!

In honor of 1989 (Taylor’s Version)

Hey guys!

In honor of 1989 (Taylor’s Version) please swipe to the end for that one time I was invited to a random place where I wasn’t allowed to take my phone and ended up at Taylor’s house for the 1989 Secret Sessions .

 

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A post shared by Cassey Ho (@blogilates)

A reminder to all that if we don’t take care of the people who lift us up, we cannot continue to thrive. And also…being intimate and vulnerable may be scary, but it fosters the deepest relationships when done with the people who genuinely care about you, and respect and accept you for who you truly are.