Tag: Health

How to Spruce up Your Work From Home Space

Published on by Lee3 Comments

There was a time in life that I dreamed about “working from home.” Except for the home I imagined was more so a café in Paris where I would write articles while eating multiple croissants. I did not, however, imagine sitting at the dining table unable to leave for anywhere other than the grocery store.

Working from home loses its charm very quickly. I spend all day at home only to reward myself post-work with … more home. While some don’t have a job at the moment, I am grateful that my manager still calls. Blogging and Instagram have really been my main income during this pandemic which allows me to stay home, but I still struggle with the monotony. Keep reading for the seven things I ordered online to make my daily experience more enjoyable.

High-Quality Candles

I have been thinking a lot about the bell system we had in high school recently. The beginning and end of a day signified by the alarming roar of bells. I wanted to signal the beginning and end of my workdays in a less jarring manner, so I have been lighting a candle by my laptop each morning and blowing it out when I am done. The scent helps me relax and transports me somewhere other than the suburbs. Right now, I am alternating between NEST’s Moroccan Amber and Maison Louis Marie’s No. 4. The sweet smell of luxury.

An Intricate Skincare Routine

One perk to isolation is that you can sit in a face mask while replying to emails. There is no one around to laugh at your ZitSticka pimple patches ($29). You can spend 2 hours on your morning skincare routine because you no longer have to waste time commuting. Each morning, I have been cleansing my skin with Sunday Riley’s Ceramic Slip ($35), exfoliating with Glossier Solution exfoliating skin perfector ($24) and following it up with an oil. If I am breaking out, I lean towards U.F.O. ($80) but if not I grab C.E.O. Glow ($40) and my skin instantly feels suppler. There are days I like to sit outside when working and I will put on Sunscreen to protect myself from the sun’s harsh rays. When I am not being lazy, I whip together my turmeric face mask which consists of yogurt, turmeric, lemon and honey for a nice homemade glow.

A Selection of Teas

To avoid gaining the “quarantine 15,” I have been sipping on a wide array of tea throughout the day. This prevents me from mindlessly snacking as a result of boredom. You can make a game out of it too. A sip every time someone on your Instagram feed tags 10 people in a push-up challenge. Another sip when you see someone not social distancing properly. I like switching between green, turmeric and honey chamomile tea but there are so many options out there.

Matching Loungewear Sets

Stay away from me if you are someone that dresses up to work from home. I have been following a strict elastic waistband dress code. Pajamas all day ­≠ sloppy and primitive. With so many sets out there to choose from it is easier than ever to look nice enough for the Zoom meeting screenshot that will inevitably make its way onto Instagram.

At-Home Workout Equipment

I never thought I would be able to work out from home. I miss going to the gym and working out until 9pm. But, I was lucky enough to find online classes that I enjoy and wouldn’t mind continuing it after Covid-19. Francia Raisa – have been live-streaming workouts on IG for FREE. Most of the classes do not require any equipment, which is perfect if you do not have a home gym.

Books

The silver lining in all of this is that we finally have time to do all the things we talked about wanting to do (from the safety of our own homes, of course). I used to complain that there was never enough time in a day to read. So if I do not come out of isolation a well-read genius, I want to be held accountable. If you have a library card, use OverDrive to view your local library’s e-book collection. If you do not, you can download the Libby app to get one. Audible also has a 30-day free trial that grants you access to their vast audiobook collection. Personally, nothing can replace the smell and feel of a physical book for me, and for that reason, I travel to the Dollar store or any supermarket that I know for certain sells books.

Succulents

Having something to take care of feels good when everything else seems outside of your control. You are not alone for you have your plants. They are rooting for you and your health (pun intended). Succulents like aloe vera and the “corn plant” can help purify the air, add fresh oxygen to your space and overall brighten the room. For $35 a month you can get a monthly subscription to The Sill — a modern plant destination for the modern plant lover. Their “Plants for Beginners” box sends you a different hand-potted plant in an earthenware planter each month that is easy to take care of.

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3 Moves To Get YOUR ABS Bikini-Ready

Published on by Lee1 Comment

If you’re anything like me, then you already have way too many bikinis lined up on your shopping wishlist for the new season. With swimsuit weather around the corner comes the pressure to kick your fitness plan into high gear. While a toned body doesn’t appear overnight, there are exercises you can do to quickly tighten and define your core so you can feel your best once bikini season arrives.

Here are tips for how to get your abs ready for summer + my favorite bikinis from IconSwim that compliments the curves.

Before I continue, I do want to say this post was written ahead of time and I purchased these gorgeous bikinis when it was on sale. So no I did not get the price wrong. IconSwim always have a sale going, so don’t be discouraged. Scroll down to read!

Raised-Leg Crunches

Tones: Lower and middle abs

How To: Lie flat on your back and raise your legs, bending your knees to form a 90-degree angle. Place your hands behind your head and slowly crunch straight forward, pulsing your upper body toward your knees. Remember to keep your back flat, chin up, and try to get your shoulder blades off the ground for each crunch.

Reps: 3 sets of 30

Jackknife Push-Ups

Tones: Arms, core, and legs

How To: On a BOSU ball, position your arms shoulder-width apart and do a push-up. As you power up, pop your feet open, and then bring them back together as you go back down. The ball requires you to engage your core muscles while you complete this move, making it great for strength training.

Reps: 3 sets of 30 seconds

Bicycle Crunches

Tones: Middle and upper abs

How To: Lie on the floor and place your legs at a 90-degree angle with your arms behind your head. Keep your shoulders high and your lower back squeezed against the mat. Pump your legs back and forth in a bicycle motion, with your shoulders off the ground. We suggest crunching left and right, touching your elbow to your opposite knee to engage your obliques (a.k.a. love handles).

Reps: 3 sets of 30 seconds

ICONSWIM BIKINI FAVES:

Drippin’ Bikini-Blue,$16

Blue top featuring the word, Drippin in yellow with matching bottoms

Stripe Me Down Bikini-Black,$16

Black, long sleeve, cropped top featuring a white trim design with matching vertically, striped high waist bottoms. 

You Had Me At Aloha Bikini-Blue,$16

Blue top with matching bottoms featuring a cutout design.

Stripe Where I Belong Bikini-Black,$16

Multicolor neon cropped top with a thick stripe design featuring matching bottoms with a thick waistband and color trim

You Had Me At Aloha Bikini-Floral,$16

Multicolor, floral print top with matching bottoms featuring a cutout design.

Sea Level Bikini-Orange,$16

Orange top featuring purple straps with matching high-waist bottoms

Surfin Bikini-Floral Print,$16

Floral print cropped top with matching high waist bottoms. Bottoms feature a cutout and mesh paneling. 

Running Game Monokini-Red/Orange, $16

Redish orange colormonokini featuring a front keyhole cut out with an added strap.

In A Bind Bikini-Orange,$16

Orange short sleeve, cropped top featuring a front knotted style with matching thin strap, cheeky bottoms. 

Two-Faced Monokini-Orange,$16

Multicolor one-piece featuring keyhole cutout designs in the front and back.

All In All Bikini- Neon Yellow,$16

Bright neon yellow top featuring left side gold zipper. Bottoms feature gold zipper down left hip and high waist fit.

Now You Sea Me Bikini-Print,$16

 Multicolor print top featuring matching bottoms with a criss-cross cut out design.

Living The Simple Life Set-Orange,$20

Catch A Break Hikini-Neon Yellow,$26

Yellow bikini top with matching high waisted, high cut bottoms. Paired with a yellow, half sleeve mesh top.

I will definitely be buying more swimsuits from IconSwim! The quality and prices are amazing plus the sizes range from xsmall-2x. Hopefully Rona decides to give us our Summer back so I can actually go to the beach or on a yacht somewhere that is beautiful and secluded. Unlike others, I have been staying inside making sure I don’t gain anymore weight and planning my next mini trip that no one is going to know about sssshhhhh.

HOW ARE YOU GETTING READY FOR THE SUMMERTIME? Comment Below!

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Creative Ways To Make The Most Of Staying In

Published on by Lee3 Comments

We’re clearly navigating unprecedented times. It feels like every hour there’s a new update from government officials, we’re collectively in a heightened sense of panic, and it feels impossible to tear ourselves away from our devices. While many of us are going to spend much more time at home in the foreseeable future, that doesn’t mean we have to succumb to pure chaos or neglect our mental and physical health in the process. And stepping up your self-care is a great way to stay positive, and busy.

Here’s the thing: practicing self-care isn’t selfish and it can even be quite simple. Try to reframe this newfound downtime as an opportunity to invest in yourself in ways you haven’t been able to before. It’s a chance to better yourself, to foster deep human connection around you, and honestly to just relish in some R&R. Here are a few things you can do at home to keep your spirits up.

1. Start a Virtual Book Club with Friends

Seeing as how happy hour and brunch dates are off limits for a while, why not get your crew together by way of a virtual book club? Take turns choosing the book (we suggest light choices), then set weekly reading goals followed by a virtual chat date to dish on everything. Ordering books online might get tricky, so stick to either audiobook or e-book options. Amazon has a ton of options and so does Audible. Try to make the virtual date feel special – bring a snack or a glass of wine along and dedicate a full 30 minutes to an hour!

2. Binge a New Podcast Series & Organize

It doesn’t matter how niche you go: there’s basically a podcast for every genre out there. Whether you dig true crime stories, deep dive exposes, reality TV rehashing, beauty gossip, science-y spins, or interviews with influential people, you’re covered. We recommend finding a great podcast and binging your way through the whole thing while you organize or deep clean.

3. Commit to a Daily or Weekly Physical Challenge

There’s joy in sitting around a la fat and sassy lady, but tbh, that can start to get boring after a while. It feels dang good to move your body a bit, so make it a daily/weekly goal to get physical. It can be as simple as doing jumping jacks and crunches in your living room (maybe during commercial breaks?) or some light yoga when you wake up to get the day off to a good start. If you’re feeling unmotivated, let someone else motivate you. Even though Planet Fitness is close until the time being, planet fitness app itself provides free home work-ins daily on Facebook Live and also has app workouts that can be used at home.

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4. Take up a Meditation Practice

We all need a bit more calm in our worlds rn, and meditation is a great place to start. Meditation can be as simple as mindfully breathing for a few minutes, pressing pause on everything else to listen to a song that brings you joy, or sitting outside and listening to the world around you. If you’re seeking guided meditation, try Headspace or Calm. For a free option, try this YouTube video from Calm. Yoga is another amazing way to focus your mind, so find out our guide to finally giving it a go, if you’re still not a yogi.

5. Start a Gratitude Journal

It can be hard to feel grateful for anything when the world feels like it’s collapsing around you, but writing down even the tiniest things that you’re thankful for can boost your morale. It can also make you appreciate all the good that still exists around you. If you have a physical journal that’s great – the art of putting pen to paper can be therapeutic in and of itself – but a virtual log also works! The idea is that you’re taking five minutes every day to mindfully write down your gratitudes.

6. Schedule Virtual Lunch or Dinner Dates

We’re all going to spend more time apart physically, but human connection still matters. Make the most of your lunch break or dinner time by having virtual dates with friends, partners, or family members. Check in to see how they’re doing, what they’ve got going on with work or life, and to simply connect. If you don’t feel like eating while chatting, simply set aside time to connect with the people important to you. The goal is to connect.

7. Catch Up on Your Netflix “Must Watch” List

This one is pure indulgence, and that’s 100% OK. We’re sure you’ve got a list of your own, but in case you need a few suggestions we recommend All American, Self Made new limited series (inspired by the life of the first female millionaire Madam C Walker who made her fortune by developing a beauty empire for fellow black women), A Fall From Grace, YOU, Cheer (you’ll be the one cheering for these cheerleaders at the end), Elisa & Marcela, In The Tall Grass, Rhythm + Flow, Freedom Writers, The Hunting Of Hill House, Legend Of The White Snake,The Perfection, Forensic Files, Cold Case Files and Thriller.

8. Learn a New Recipe

If there’s ever a time to get creative in the kitchen it’s now. You don’t have to go out and buy a bunch of new stuff, either. Instead, figure out what you have on hand and make something delicious from there. It also doesn’t have to be super extravagant. Maybe you’ll try your hand at making a loaf of bread, a new dessert, or a tasty sauce for your go-to protein. Documenting the process on your Instagram stories can help you feel more connected to the outside world. Get others to join in the fun!

What are some self-care activities will you be doing during this unfortunate time? COMMENT BELOW!

WHAT IS INTERMITTENT FASTING?

Published on by LeeLeave a comment

** Please consult your physician before adjusting your nutritional diet **

Before I dive into WTF IF is and why I’m such a proponent of it, let’s get something out in the open: I AM NOT A DOCTOR ( surprised? I know ). But seriously — what I’m about to share with you in regards to intermittent fasting is knowledge I’ve picked up from doctors and specialists throughout my own journey. If you have a history of eating disorders, blood sugar issues, or live a lifestyle that always keeps you hungry, IF is more than likely NOT for you. Always consult your doctor or specialist before changing your diet.

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s dive in.

INTERMITTENT FASTING | a specific eating pattern that structures the time of day you eat and the time of day you are in a fasting mode. This is not a diet.

What does it do?

♡ increases human growth hormone which aids fat loss

♡ lowers insulin levels which increases access to stored body fat

♡ cell repairs in the body due to not being preoccupied w/ digesting food

♡ increases release of the fat-burning hormone noradrenaline

♡ help with inflammation in the body

For more detailed researched, read THIS article.

PERSONAL FASTING SCHEDULE |

This was actually a question I have been asked on my stories and is something I tried last year. Fasting has made a huge difference in not only my bodies appearance but also my sleep and my mental health. This does NOT mean I don’t eat, it just means I intake my calories for the day between 2 pm and 10 pm and fast the morning and night after these times where I have water, herbal tea, and black coffee. There is a lot of science that goes behind this that I don’t completely understand but I encourage you to research it for yourself before you start.

Intermittent Fasting shortens the time frame in which you’re eating throughout a given day. For example, instead of eating between 8am—10pm, you’d choose an 8-hour timeframe to consume all your food for the day— like 12pm-8pm, 10am-6pm, etc. While practicing intermittent fasting, most people fast for 16 hours of the day, while some prefer 14 hours or 18 hours. It’s totally up to you to find a time frame that works for your body, mindset, and schedule. Some people practice IF every day, and others keep it to 3-4 days a week. That’s why it’s called a “practice.”

PRO’S |

Done for a short time it can boost your fat loss, get you concentrated on your goals, give you a schedule to abide by to diminish the chances of excess eating, speed up the fat loss, give you mental clarity, lower sugar cravings. This is why I have started it again but only for 4 weeks. Sharing about this 4 week reset below.

♡ Promotes weight loss 

♡ Increases longevity 

♡ Acts as an anti-aging catalyst 

♡ Regulates insulin levels  

♡ Enhances hormone stability 

♡ Decrease meal planning stress

♡ Clears the mind

Of course, IF isn’t a “magic pill” that will fix all your problems, but it is a very realistic and effective step that will more than likely make a positive impact on your overall health and who doesn’t want that! Might as well try it, right?

CON’S |

This way of life should not be continued long term due to the damage it can have on your metabolism, muscle maturity, and energy levels. I made the mistake of doing this rigid schedule for 5 months and started to really see the negative consequences of it. I was ALWAYS tired, my muscles were weak, and I plateaued in my workouts/fat loss.

MYTHS |

♡ Skipping breakfast makes you gain weight.

♡ Eating more frequently burns more calories (it ALL depends on the thermic effect of the specific food NOT the frequency).

♡ You need to eat often for brain function (our bodies can burn the glucose storage in our bodies for brain function w/o extra food).

♡ Fasts put your body into starvation mode, this is more or less a mindset. You can easily go from not eating to eating everything in sight if you have no self-control.

♡ You will lose too much muscle during fasting, this is ONLY true if you are not consuming the needed nutrients the rest of the day including your protein intake.

4 WEEK RESET |

♡ Intermittent Fasting 8 – 10-hour window

♡ Calorie deficit (gradually lowering not extreme)

♡ 3 days of 1 hr long cardio

♡ 3 days of lifting and 30 minutes cardio

♡ 21 Day Detox by Flattummyco

♡ 96 oz of lemon water a day

♡ 5 high-fat calorie days, 2 high carb calorie days

What other questions do you have about IF? Comment below!