Cassey Ho's Blog, page 75

4 Ways to Feel Less Stressed During Quarantine

Wow you guys.

Change is hard, especially when it’s unsettling and unexpected. Then throw the unknown of when life will return to “normal” into the mix and wow…it’s more than hard. It’s scary. Right now, the entire world is being forced to change and deal with a new normal, with no real end in sight. Some lives have been uprooted more than others, but I think it’s safe to say everyone is experiencing some level of discomfort.

But what if we looked at the discomfort as opportunity instead? Like, instead of settling in and waiting for “normal” to return, maybe we need to try to lean into the change and make the most of it.

1. If being stuck at home is making you feel trapped or anxious, think about all the things you previously wished you had more time to do. Things like organizing or updating your home, exercising, getting better sleep, getting back to a hobby you love, eating more meals with your family, or even just spending more time with your family – NOW is the time! Purge that closet. Move your body every day. Go to sleep earlier (or sleep in). Pick up that book you want to read. Try a new recipe. Play board games.

It’s crazy that all of these things feel GOOD. But they are always the things that get thrown to the wayside when life is normal and busy.

2. If you have a service job that isn’t functioning, use this time to freshen up those skills. Or learn a new one! You’ll go back to work feeling refreshed and more confident than ever. Or you know that side hustle you’ve always wanted to start? Get the ball rolling. It can be as small as starting a vision board! Once you start that momentum and that brainstorming process, who knows what you might accomplish.

On the other hand, maybe you desperately needed this break and you need to just breathe. DO IT. Don’t feel pressured to be productive or busy. Relax and recharge.

3. If you’re stressed about your kids being out of school, think about soaking up your time with them. When life is normal, schedules are busy and the days fly by. Now’s your chance to actually see what they’re learning in school, to have more meals together, and to make memories. I know, I know. Helping kids with e-learning sounds like it’s a bit of a nightmare and too much time cooped up with your little ones is probably tough. But you know what I’m saying. Go on walks! Laugh when neither of you can figure out their homework. Make the most of it.

4. If simple errands like grocery shopping feel difficult and stressful, maybe now’s the time to finally try grocery delivery! Treat yourself and eliminate some stress. Or, open that Pinterest board with hundreds of freezer meals you saved and ACTUALLY MAKE SOME. Yeah, it probably require one big trip to the store, but you’ll save yourself from shopping (and cooking) for at least a couple of weeks after.

I love the idea of supporting local restaurants in your community too. Let them do the cooking if you’re comfortable with takeout and your budget allows. Or, buy some gift cards to use later. Local businesses are dealing with a lot of scary change too, but watching the community come together to support is a really good feeling!

We’re all dealing with change together, and I seriously think there’s some good buried down under all the scary, uncertain stuff. If you’re struggling, try leaning into the change. I believe in you!

The post 4 Ways to Feel Less Stressed During Quarantine appeared first on Blogilates.

Dear Cassey: No matter what I do, I’m not losing weight.

Dear Cassey, 

I’m 5’4”, age 39, Asian and 164lbs. I have one child and I never step on the scale because it stresses me out. I work out hard, even on days I don’t want to. I still find a way to push myself. I meal prep and I try to watch what I eat, but no matter what I’m not losing weight or inches. I’m thinking of all the things I have cut out and it makes me wonder why I’m still not losing weight? I would like to get back to my weight before I got pregnant which was 125 – 130. I try to tell myself I’m gaining muscle but I still haven’t convinced myself to believe it. I want to love my body but I can’t. The number on the scale literally stresses me out. When I do lose weight, I gain it all back. What am I doing wrong?? Why can’t I love myself?

Thanks!

Discouraged with Dieting

Dear Discouraged with Dieting,

I wish I could just give you a big hug! If there’s one thing I want you to know it’s this: we have ALL been there and you are NOT alone.

Unfortunately, I’ve learned that self-love doesn’t always come naturally. It takes time, TONS of self-care and a serious change of mindset to get there. It’s definitely not easy! But hopefully I can help.

First, your body created and birthed a child! THAT is seriously something amazing and something that we as women don’t always give ourselves enough credit for. Yeah, a lot of changes come with pregnancy and having a baby, but they are all signs that you created life! So if you think of pregnancy as the point you started to lose confidence in your body, I want you to work on your mindset. That was your body’s greatest achievement! It’s totally okay for our bodies to change, and yours did some amazing things in the process!

Second, it’s natural for our bodies to change the way we burn calories and hold onto weight as we get older. I’ve even noticed changes in my own body lately! Embrace it, and be easy on yourself. You can’t control changes in your metabolism or other things that come with getting older, but you CAN spend time figuring out what your body needs.

As far as losing weight, I’ve got some thoughts that might help. First, kinda like I said before, all bodies are different. Sometimes it just takes trial and error to figure out how our bodies need to be fueled. Second, think about what you fuel your body with instead of what you restrict. Are you consistent with your diet? Are you mindful when you eat? Are you choosing mostly whole foods? Lastly, it doesn’t always come down to diet and exercise. SO MANY THINGS go into weight loss/weight gain, like stress, sleep and hormones. So here are some things you can ask yourself:

Am I getting enough quality sleep?
Am I stressed out? If I am, what can I do to manage my stress (better sleep, meditation, taking more time for myself, etc.)
Should I talk to my Dr. about any hormonal changes I might be experiencing?

I’m so PROUD of you for staying active and for working hard to eat healthy. Make sure you’re enjoying your workouts, and if you’re obsessing over calories, I’d recommend you stop tracking them. Focus on eating whole, nutritious foods and don’t fall into the temptation to crash diet or obsess over calories. Oh, and let’s forget the scale for awhile! That number doesn’t tell the whole truth about our bodies, plain and simple. If you’re exercising and eating healthy, you ARE getting healthier.

I hope this helps and gives you some things to think about! Remember that it’s all about lifestyle, and being kind to yourself is SO important!

PS – If you have a burning question you want to ask me, I’m taking questions via text at 510-692-4556. Currently this only works for US and Canada. If you’re outside of those countries, you can leave a question below.

The post Dear Cassey: No matter what I do, I’m not losing weight. appeared first on Blogilates.

4 Easy, Healthy Recipes for People Who Don’t Cook

Hey guys!

Like everyone else, I’ve been eating most of my meals at home lately. I like to cook, but I have to admit that cooking ALL of our meals has been kind of exhausting. And allllll the dishes? UGH. I just can’t. To make my life easier, I’ve been making a few of my favorite, super simple and super healthy recipes pretty much every day. I’m talking recipes that take like 5-10 minutes, use very few ingredients, and dirty only one or two dishes.

And you know what? I might even like these better than most more complicated recipes! Seriously.

I know a ton of people are struggling to stick to their healthy eating while they’re at home, because they just don’t love to cook! If that’s you, guess what? You don’t have to love to cook (or even be remotely good at it) to eat healthy! Don’t believe me? WELL here are 4 recipes to prove it

The Blogilates April 2020 Workout Calendar!

Hey guys!!

I am soooo ready for a fresh, new month! Even if we’re still kinda stuck in these uncertain times, a new month means that we’re moving forward. I hope you’re adjusting to the temporary new normal we’re all living, and I really hope you’re making the most of spending time at home!

To keep a good mindset going into a new month, I decided to set an intention for April (so helpful btw!).

Here it is:

No matter what is going on in the world, I’m going to be mindful about what I can actually control. For example… I miss my gym, but feeling frustrated about it won’t change what’s going on. Instead, I’m focusing my energy on finding fun, new ways to workout at home.

Here’s another one I’ve struggled with. I realllly miss my friends, my family and my coworkers! UGH. Instead of being sad though,  I’m going to focus on ways I can help and stay home, so everyone can get healthy and we can get back to normal life as soon as possible. It seems like a simple concept, but mindset is everything.

Thinking through this intention and how I can use it made me feel soo good! If you want to set an intention for this month, tell me what it is in the comments!

On another positive note, how FUN was the 14-Day Quarantine Workout Plan?! I loved working out right along with you for two weeks! If you didn’t have a chance to start it, it’s not too late!

And now to the best part! The April Workout Calendar is here!!! AHHH!! I’m so excited for you to see what I’ve got for you this month.

Download PDF | Download JPEG

When you download the PDF, you’ll find that each video is linked! Just click and it will take you to the YouTube video listed!

Here’s an overview of each week of the April Workout Calendar. We’re targeting a different area each day! We’re gonna get that whooooole body nice and strong. Yesssss.

SUNDAY: Obliques & Abs

MONDAY: Total Body

TUESDAY: Butt

WEDNESDAY: Cardio

THURSDAY: Arms

FRIDAY: Recovery

SATURDAY: Legs

Do each video once (unless otherwise stated) and check off as you go! Each day will be around 45 min of exercise! GUESS WHAT?! There will be a new video every Monday! Get excited, because you’re gonna loooove Mondays!

You can follow along on Coda if you prefer too! Here’s the link!

If you’re just getting started or want to ease into working out, my Beginner’s Calendar is a great place to start! It’s a free 4 week program to get you stronger, so that you can join in on the monthlies when you are ready.

I am so proud of how hard you’ve worked this year. Think about how far you’ve come! Have you surprised yourself? Most importantly, are you PROUD of yourself?! You better be. These workouts are no walk in the park, and you’ve been crushing them for 3 months. That’s huge!

I hope this month’s workouts continue to challenge you and remind you that you can take on anything life throws at you.

Don’t forget to tell me about your intention for April in the comments!

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Having a hard time working out at home? This might help…

So. The gyms are closed and soo many of us have been thrown off of our fitness routines. That change has been hard to swallow for a lot of people – including me! I love going to the gym. It’s my escape and it’s where I feel strong. However, I’m choosing to keep my workout routine up at home. Yeah, it takes some planning and it’s harder to find motivation. But you know what? Staying active is seriously keeping me sane and positive. And that is really important for all of us right now. 

If you’ve been struggling to find the motivation to workout without escaping to the gym, here are some tips to help GREAT about working out at home. Before you get started, here’s a thought to help change your attitude: this small change in programming is just that – small. We’ll be back in our gyms before we know it and I’m thinking our bodies will actually benefit from this change of pace! So let’s get to it!

1. Schedule your home workout!

Pencil. It. In! I really like to physically write everything down, from to-do lists to workout schedules. But you can totally use your phone calendar or whatever schedule you want. No matter what you pick, include your workout on your schedule. MAKE it part of your day. And don’t skip it.

2. Follow a workout calendar

Planning your own workout is hard! And if you’ve ever worked out kind of aimlessly, you know it isn’t the best way to exercise. I struggle with this sometimes, which is why I loooove workout calendars. It’s just nice to have a plan, right?! A workout calendar takes the planning out of the equation so all you have to do is grab your weights and follow along.

3. Get sweaty with your friends

You probably know about virtual happy hours…what about virtual fit dates? I’d TOTALLY get on board with that! Just Facetime your friends and workout together! You’ll stick to your workout schedule and motivate your friends to stick to theirs too. Plus, you’re more likely to push a little harder when you have some company for your workout – even if they aren’t physically with you!

4. Make a Youtube playlist of your faves

Indecisiveness is the ultimate motivation killer. Trust me. I KNOW. Don’t sit there scrolling through Youtube looking for a good workout for 30 minutes. Chances are, you’re gonna decide to just forget it. Instead, make a playlist (or a set of playlists) of your favorite workouts. Then they’re ready to go and you can jump right in.

5. Lay out your workout clothes the night before

Get your pretty workout clothes and lay it out before you go to bed. When you wake up, you’ll instantly remind yourself about your workout. Maybe you can even go a step further and actually put your workout outfit on as soon as you wake up. Once you’re dressed, you’re committed, right?! Plus – that cute outfit is gonna make you feel strong and ready to crush it. 

6. Refresh your music

Music is an AMAZING motivator. Make a playlist of the songs that always make you feel good and energized! Then, listen to them before and during your workout.

7. Make it part of your routine

First, figure out what time of day you feel BEST working out. I’m totally a morning person and I need to start my day with some movement. If I workout too late in the day, I just feel sluggish the whole time. Make your workout part of your routine, when you know you’ll be the most up for it. 

8. Leave yourself reminders

Hold yourself accountable! Leave yourself notes of encouragement on your bathroom mirror, on your phone wallpaper, on the kitchen counter – anywhere! It will be harder to skip your workout when it’s in the front of your mind. Little encouraging notes to myself always put me in a good mood too. 

9. Commit to at least starting

Motivation is like a mind game sometimes. Most of the time if I don’t feel like working out, I know that I’ll feel better if I just start. I think getting started is the hardest part for a lot of us, right?! So commit to doing the warm up, or commit to doing 10 minutes. Once you start moving, you’ll feel energized and ready to crush the rest of your workout.

10. Create a dedicated space to workout at home

Do you have to have a fancy home gym? Nope. But you can dedicate a small area as your workout space. Having your yoga mat and light weights in sight will make it easier to feel motivated.

Hopefully this helps if you’ve been struggling to find your groove at home! Remember this is temporary and you need to keep moving to take care of yourself! Staying home may be stressful, but exercise will help. What are some other ways you stay motivated to workout at home? Let me know in the comments! 

The post Having a hard time working out at home? This might help… appeared first on Blogilates.

Dear Cassey: It’s so hard to eat healthy with my family…

Dear Cassey,

After seeing your food haul, I wanted to ask if you and Sam eat differently and how you guys do that? I live in a home that is not willing to change up their diet, which is making it hard on me, because I’m near foods I want to avoid and because it’s harder to eat together.

Sincerely, 

Frustrated by Family

Dear Frustrated by Family,

Yep, Sam and I do eat a little differently! And that’s okay, but I totally understand your frustration. It’s not always easy for me to be around some of the foods I buy for Sam, because there’s no denying that they’re delicious! Also, I think this is a super common thing for families. Everyone has different taste, different goals and different values when it comes to food. For me, I feel better when I keep that in mind. Sam and I aren’t the same person, and that’s ok! We’re all in different places – even the ones we’re closest with.

That being said, it sounds like you want your family to eat healthier and I know how difficult that is too! When you’re passionate about eating healthy and doing the best for your body, it’s frustrating when you can’t convince your loved ones to look at it the same way. But I will say this – the more you do your thing and continue eating healthy without pressuring your family to eat everything you eat, the more likely they are to follow in your footsteps with time. They’re probably just not ready to change their diet.

This has been true for Sam too! Even though he still likes HIS foods, there are a TON of things he’s willing to eat now that there’s no way he would have eaten a few years ago. Just be a good role model, show them that healthy food is DELICIOUS too, and who knows, maybe your good habits will rub off on them – when they’re ready.

Here are some ways that I do it –

I compromise – I try to plan meals that we’ll be eating together with an entreé that we both like (chicken, salmon, turkey burger, etc.) and then a couple side options that might include something healthy that I want, but maybe he isn’t so crazy about. That way he has the option to try it, but there’s no stress for us.
I ask him to help me prep/cook. There’s just something about seeing how recipes come together that make them more appetizing! I’ve seen this as a picky eater tip for kids…but it works for adults too

How to Glow Up During Self-Isolation

Hey guys!

I’ll be the first to admit – this self-isolation/social distancing thing is HARD. But you know what def doesn’t help? Sitting around watching the news or scrolling through social media all day long. There’s just so much uncertainty and negativity right now. Honestly, seeing too much of it can really get me down.  

SO, let’s use all this new free time we have to do alllll the things we’ve been putting off because we “don’t have time” for like…our entire adult lives. Self-isolation doesn’t have to be sad and lonely. It’s our chance to focus on self-care and rejuvenation! We’re all stressed out and burnt out to some degree, so let’s reset and get that glow up. Here’s how! 

1.  Get moving! 

“I don’t have time” is THE most common excuse I hear for not working out, hands down. For all you busy bees…NOW IS THE TIME! Start your day with a workout – it doesn’t have to be long – just enough to get your blood flowing and to feel good. By the time this is all over, you’ll have a solid routine in place. Trust me – starting your day with some movement will help you feel less stressed while you self-isolate. I go craaaazy on the days I don’t workout! 

2. HYDRATE while you self-isolate

Soooo many people struggle to drink enough water! It might be worse when you’re stuck at home. Wanna help your skin, digestion and your mood? WATER is the answer! Get yourself a big ol’ water bottle and set goals for how much you want to drink each day. Don’t be surprised when you feel amazingggg.

3. Self-isolate in the kitchen…and learn some cooking skills!

Learning to cook takes time, and now you have a little to work with! You’ll never regret perfecting some skills in the kitchen. And no, you don’t have to go all Top Chef. Work on simple things like roasting veggies and using those small appliances that have been sitting on the top shelf of your pantry for months and months (heyyyy Instant Pot and Air Fryer). Even simple stuff can help you get out of an eating rut and discover new, delicious recipes! Maybe you’ll even get into the habit of cooking more and eating out less! WIN!

4. Social distancing? Treat yo’self with a face mask! 

Who has time to do face masks on a regular basis when life is “normal” and go go go?! Normally, using 20 minutes to relax with a mask is just not happening for me. Especially multiple times a week! There’s always something else that feels more important. And then when I’m done working, I’m just ready to crash. Now that our plates are a little less full, let’s sit back, close our eyes and breathe while we do our skin some good. Ahhhh.

5. Get your beauty sleep

Living that WFH life? Well, good news – no commute means you can sleep in! Turn off that alarm and snag all the quality beauty sleep you can. Catching up on sleep will help your stress level, your mood and is even good for your immune system – so important right now!

6. Start a self-isolation skincare routine

I mentioned the face masks…but don’t stop there! Get a good routine going for washing your face in the morning and at night, and actually start using all those creams and serums sitting on your counter. You’ll thank yourself later for taking care of your skin now, and you’ll feel super confident and refreshed when you go back to work with glowy, gorgeous skin.

7. Give your hair some love too! 

Ahh this one is totally on my list! Normally, I struggle to spend more than a few minutes on my hair. Since I’m not going anywhere anyways, I’ll have plenty of time to do a hair mask! You should try one too! Who wouldn’t feel better with soft, shiny hair?! 

8. Self-isolation gives us more time for spring cleaning!

I’m REALLY excited for this. Do clutter and unfinished “projects” around the house just stress you out? They totally stress me out. Now is the best time to do some purging, organizing and all the deep cleaning we constantly put off (well, I do at least). Nothing feels more satisfying than a fresh, clean house, am I right?! 

9. Deal with things you’ve been avoiding because you had “no time”

That new hobby you’ve been saying for YEARS you want to try, but “never have time”? Or that old friend you’ve been meaning to reach out to but you’re “just so busy?” ORR that book you’ve had on your nightstand for 6 months but “never have a chance to read?” You get my point. We all have things we want to do, but they fall to the wayside because we’re stuck in our usual routine.

Hey…you have time now. Your routine was forced to change. Do one of the things you’ve been saying you want to do! Trust me, you will feel SO GOOD when you do!  

10. Use self-isolation to feel your BEST.

Your stuck at home, staying distant from most of your friends, family and coworkers. This is your chance to take care of yourself! 

This quarantine, self-isolation, social distancing, or whatever you call it is kind of a blessing in disguise – if you choose to look at it that way. And you should! We could all use some time to slow down and for most of us it HAS to be forced to actually happen. So instead of fighting against it and looking at these upcoming weeks as inconvenient or negative, USE THEM.

Be productive. Pamper yourself. Get some of that weight off of your shoulders that has been there for years. I’m talking all of the extra stuff that you normally just can’t get to. Even if you just commit to one small thing, you’ll feel accomplished and less stressed. You’ll come out of this self-isolation feeling more beautiful, more confident, and in a better relationship with yourself! 

As always, hang in there and stay healthy!

The post How to Glow Up During Self-Isolation appeared first on Blogilates.

Your Healthy Quarantine Grocery List

Hey guys! 

I hope you’re all doing well and staying healthy! 

COVID-19 has us all hunkering down at home, and the whole situation is changing by the hour. If you haven’t already, you probably want to head to the grocery store to stock up on some things to eat at home while we ride out this quarantine.

To make sure you’re only buying what you need (no hoarding please!) and getting the most out of the food you buy, you need to plan ahead and make a grocery list! Not sure where to start? Let me start with this – NO you don’t have to survive off of nonperishable, processed food during the quarantine. You can totally keep eating healthy…and you should! Let’s keep our bodies as healthy as possible!

Here’s what the Internet says about emergency quarantine essentials

There are PLENTY of articles online about what to stock up on for emergency situations like this. Most of them suggest canned goods like beans, veggies, fish, pasta sauce and soup. They also recommend pantry staples like pasta, rice, cereal, oats, dried fruit, popcorn and chocolate.

For the freezer, they briefly suggest freezing fresh meat, but mostly focus on freezing bread and lunch meat, while buying frozen fruits, veggies and things like frozen pizza. For vegetarians…they really only mention frozen bean burritos and veggie burgers. Hmm…

Here are my healthy grocery list suggestions

Articles like that one have some great grocery list suggestions, but it kind of makes it seem like people are limited if they’re avoiding grains, gluten, dairy and sugar. And no, vegetarians and vegans don’t have to live off of frozen foods for this whole thing! Here’s some things that I grabbed to get me through the quarantine that might help you too: 

Protein: first of all, meat! You can freeze pretty much any meat like chicken breast, turkey and fish. If you’ve never frozen meat, don’t be intimidated! Just read up on how to thaw it safely. Eggs will stay fresh for a couple of weeks too.

Grab some beans (canned or dried), nuts and seeds for some shelf-stable, plant-based protein options. Meat alternatives like tofu and tempeh stay fresh in the fridge for awhile too if they’re unopened.

Fruits and Veggies: Our immune systems need all the support they can get right now, so PLEASE don’t skip the produce! I’d suggest getting some fresh that you can use in the next week or so, and also some frozen fruits and veggies for later. Fresh produce like sweet potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, oranges and apples tend to last a little longer than things like berries and lettuce.  

Frozen veggies and cauliflower rice are big ones for me. BTW – frozen fruits and veggies are just as nutritious as fresh! Did you know you can even buy frozen avocado?! 

Staples: Here’s where you can make your food go a long way while you’re stuck at home. Make sure you have plenty of staples like almond milk (or whatever you like), quinoa, broth, soups, condiments (don’t forget the sriracha!), oils, baking essentials, spices, etc etc. Don’t go overboard here – just do a quick inventory of your pantry and grab whatever you’re low on.

Snacks: OBVIOUSLY we can’t forget the snacks if we’re gonna be stuck in our houses. I know the sweets and chips are tempting, but they’re not necessary. Of course you can go for a treat if you want, but make sure you’re grabbing healthy snacks like nuts, plantain chips and salsa, coconut chips and dairy-free ice cream (What? It’s healthy-ish!). I totally plan on baking some yummy, healthy snacks like these Apple Cinnamon Muffins during the quarantine too.

Here’s your grocery list!



Download PDFDownload Image

FRESH PRODUCE:

Sweet potatoes
Baby carrots
Celery
Tomatoes
Bell peppers
Cabbage
Kale
Spaghetti squash
Onions
Apples
Oranges
Lemons/Limes
Garlic

PROTEIN:

Chicken breast
Ground turkey
Salmon
Shrimp 
Tofu
Tempeh

DAIRY/EGGS:

almond milk or oat milk
eggs
egg whites
coconut yogurt

CANNED/DRIED:

Black beans
Garbanzo beans
Tomato sauce
Almond butter
Cashew butter
Vegetable broth
Plantain chips
Coconut chips
Dried seaweed
Quinoa
Lentils
Almonds
Cashews
Pistachios
Almond flour

FROZEN: 

Cauliflower rice
Strawberries
Blueberries
Mango
Broccoli
Green beans
Butternut squash
Corn
Edamame
Dairy free ice cream

EXTRA:

Extra virgin olive oil
Coconut aminos
Salsa
Sriracha
Tabasco sauce
Salt
Pepper
Cinnamon (spice)
Cumin (spice)
Cayenne (spice)
Rosemary (spice)
Monkfruit sweetener
Baking powder







Let’s make our health a priority NOW!

If you’re constantly wishing for more time to change your lifestyle, now you’ve got it! If you’re stressing because your gym is closed and the grocery store is insane, you can adapt and come out stronger in the end.

We’re figuring out how to keep moving our bodies at home, and we can totally keep eating healthy when we’re stuck at home too. Remember this isn’t forever! It’s just a temporary new normal. Making our health a priority will help us keep those immune systems in tip top shape! Eating healthy will help your mental health too, which is SO important right now. So take a deep breath, grab the things you need (don’t go crazy and overdo it) and let’s make the best we can of this situation! 

Oh and if you wanna see my latest 2 week quarantine grocery haul form Trader Joes, watch this! 

The post Your Healthy Quarantine Grocery List appeared first on Blogilates.

14-Day Quarantine Workout Plan

Umm, wow. The last few days have been pandemonium here in the US.

I went to Costco on Thursday and 3 huge lines wrapped all the way to the back of the store where the dairy was. People had to get in a separate line for toilet paper and water, and that line wrapped around the outside of the store. Oh, and I could NOT even get a single disinfectant wipe. Anything hygiene related was OUT. The worst part was, people were being super rude, pushy, and just plain nasty to me and one other. In a time like this, I feel like we should all be trying to help each other more…

So then I went to 99 Ranch (an Asian supermarket) hoping things would be better there. Lines were long, but they weren’t as bad as Costco…however…ALL THE RICE WAS GONE.

THAT’S WHEN YOU KNOW IT’S SERIOUS.

My sister told me that when she went to Trader Joes, the frozen food aisle was empty. Like, apocalypse empty! So eerie to see images like this…

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And then just tonight, the Mayor of Los Angeles declared that all gyms and fitness centers be closed until March 31st!!!!

Well you guys, as sad as I am about not being able to go to the gym, at least we can still work out at home! The crazy thing is – just about 3 hours before I got the alert from The LA Times about the whole gym shutdown order in our city, I had already prepared a 14-day Quarantine Workout Plan – as suggested by YOU GUYS!

Here's what your 14-Day Anti-Coronavirus Workout Plan looks like:

DAY 1: Quarantine Cardio

DAY 2: Anti-Covid Abs

DAY 3: Sleek & Sanitized Arms

DAY 4: Plump Pandemic Booty

DAY 5: Long, Lean, & Clean Legs

DAY 6: Empty Shelves Sculpt

DAY 7: Social Distance Stretches in Bed

DAY 8: Quiet Cardio

DAY 9: No More Corona Core

DAY 10: Couch Potato Upper Body

DAY 11: Never Bored Booty

DAY 12: Not Out of Stock Thighs

DAY 13: Toned Unlike Toilet Paper Total Body

Day 14: Stop Hoarding Start Stretching

 

To get a 25-30 min workout in each day, do each circuit 4 times through! Give yourself a 1 minute rest between rounds to catch your breath and drink water. And make sure to check off each workout as you finish the day’s circuit!

I designed each workout to be apartment friendly so that you’re not driving your neighbors insane! So, no jumping! But I promise that you will still sweat and be sore the next day. That’s how we do.

Also, I will be posting the demos every day on my Instagram @Blogilates. So make sure you follow me there so you can see how to do the moves properly.

Please stay safe everyone!!! I’m wishing you and your family health and strength to get through this hard (and very weird) time.

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Why Do We Gain Weight In Different Places?

Hey guys! 

I talk a lot about body types, and how we’re all different and unique and beautiful. BUT sometimes it’s hard to accept and love our body’s shape. It’s even harder not to compare our bodies to others.

Have you ever wondered why we gain weight in different places? Like, why does it seem like my thighs grow the second I bite into a donut?! Or maybe, you see weight gain in your face or belly first. Why is it different for different people?!

I thought that maybe if we could understand how this works, it would be easier to avoid comparison. Are you ready to get a little sciency? Let’s go!

This is going straight to my thighs

You know how it is – you eat a cookie (or bread, or pizza) and you almost immediately can’t get your jeans on. THE WORST.

Sound familiar? Well, a lot of this just comes down to being a woman. Most women actually have more adipocytes (fat cells) in their hips/butt/thighs. Women just need more fat for bearing children, and this is where our bodies prefer to store it! Kinda cool if you think about it that way!

Hormones have a hand in this too. BTW, doesn’t it seem like women blame everything on hormones?! 

Well, it turns out you can blame them for where you gain weight too. An estrogen imbalance can actually cause weight gain, many times in the hips and thighs. Women naturally have more estrogen than men, which is why we’re more likely to gain weight in our hips! Men have more testosterone, so their extra weight tends to go to their belly.

Finally, genetics play a role. Your genes might give you a higher chance of having that pear-shape, which means more weight is stored in your lower body. 

Why do I always gain weight in my belly?!

Some of us are super frustrated with our mid-section. It feels like extra weight shows up there instantly, hiding those abs we work so hard for! 

Genetics might come into play here too, if you’re just predisposed to that apple shape. But don’t worry! It doesn’t mean you’re stuck. Things like stress, hormones, sleep and diet all play into gaining weight in your belly too.

When you’re stressed or low on sleep, your body releases more cortisol – another hormone. When there’s too much cortisol hanging around in your body, you’re more likely to gain weight in your belly area.

Remember when I said a lot of estrogen causes weight gain in the hips and thighs? Well, if your estrogen drops and testosterone is higher, you might gain more weight in your stomach. This usually happens during menopause. So basically, where you store fat can change! 

Finally, if you gain weight in your belly area, take a look at your diet. Inflammation is HUGE with belly fat. If you’re eating tons of processed foods (looking at you, sugar) or drinking too much alcohol, you might have more inflammation in your body. That can cause more fat storage in your midsection.

Gaining weight in your face… and other areas

I know some people who swear they notice their cheeks are puffy before they even realize they’ve gained weight. This is probably just because it’s more noticeable there! Your jaws and cheekbones usually have very little fat on them, so if you gain weight you might notice it there first. 

Some women notice weight gain in their boobs first! I know what you’re thinking – not the worst place to gain weight! But why does this happen? It comes back to estrogen – if this hormone isn’t taking fat straight to your hips, it’s probably storing it in another “womanly” area – your boobs.

We were born this way…so let’s OWN IT!

Genetics do play a role in our shape, body type and where we tend to hold onto weight. They affect your metabolism and where your fat is stored. 

BUT – don’t look at genetics as a negative thing, like “UGH I’ll never have a flat tummy because I have an apple shape. Guess I’ll give up!” NOPE. Stop right there. Instead, look at it this way:

Genetics are fascinating and they make us who we are.
Yeah, you don’t have a ton of control over your genes. But that means you should STOP being so hard on yourself when you don’t see a body type in the mirror that just isn’t going to happen. 

Here’s how I deal – I know I will never have a body like Kendall Jenner’s. No matter what I do or what I eat. Those long legs just aren’t in my DNA. And that’s ok! 

I don’t waste my energy wishing I could have that body. Instead, I focus on the parts of my body I’m really proud of. The super strong core I’ve worked so hard for. The arms I can feel getting stronger as time goes on. Our bodies change constantly and I think that is seriously SO AMAZING.

Finally, genetics might make you more likely to gain weight in certain areas, but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck. You might have to work harder to keep your “trouble” areas in check, but it’s never impossible. There are plenty of factors that are totally in your control like diet, exercise, sleep and stress level. Focus your energy on improving those areas, and transform your body from the inside out! 

What about your body are you most proud of? Tell me in the comments!

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