November 2017 Workout Calendar!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN GUYS!!!

Did you dress up today?! Blogifam sure did!

Halloween is one of my fave holidays because you get to dress like a weirdo, walk around in professional settings, and people will think it’s totally okay :) Societal norms are kinda thrown out the window today!

I did a poll on IG stories and it said that 78% of you did not dress up today! It totally surprised me! But, I guess we’re all getting older aren’t we? Well, no matter if you’re in full gear or if you’re celebrating in spirit, just don’t forget to have fun…and don’t take yourself too seriously!

Now…are you ready for the month of giving? And EATING!!??? Y’all NOVEMBER IS HERE!!!!

Ugh, time goes by so fast. Sometimes I wonder if when I’m 80, I’ll still be blogging, and I’ll still be saying “whoa I can’t believe it’s [insert month] already!” I need to figure out how to slow down mentally so that it doesn’t feel like time is flying at 1000 miles an hour everyday. I need to go back to meditating again. I only did it for 2 days and then went to Dubai. Traveling always messes up my flow!

Anyway, here is your brand new November 2017 Workout Calendar!

Download linked PDF | Download hi-res JPEG

As usual, remember to do each video listed once, and check them off as you finish your daily workouts! On Thanksgiving Day, if you’re not doing a Turkey Trot, then ask some of your family members to join you for the workout of the day! Family bonding time ya know!? Stay active, and then eat to fill your soul!!!

Then guys, BLACK FRIDAY!!!!! AHHHHHH!!!!! All I am going to say is you’ll wanna prep yourselves for the craziest POPFLEX Black Friday Sale EVERRRRR. Begins at 12am EST Friday the 24th!

Then CYBER MONDAY?? Oohhh, you just might wanna check out PIIT28.com. Just saying ;)

Ok that is all! Who’s ready for November!??

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The Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award Shortlist 2017

The PFD Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award shortlist for 2017 has been announced today. This year, the official judges have selected five books rather than four and they are: Outlandish Knight: The Byzantine Life of Steven Runciman … Continue reading →

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Halloween should be fun, not something you feel guilty about

 

Oh. Em. Gee. Halloween is almost here and I’m SOOOO excited! I’ve always loved Halloween. It’s the one day you are basically allowed to play dress up as an adult and nobody thinks it’s weird. I kind of wish every day was Halloween…Well, actually…I sorta it made this October that way with my Supehero workout series on YouTube! Did you see all my costumes yet!? If not, here’s a lil recap!

Me as Wonder Woman!

Me as Sailor Moon!

Me as Super Girl!

Me as Chun Li from Street Fighter…flighting Ken! (Sam!)

I’ve got one more Shero that I will dress up as this weekend for the release of the final workout in the Superhero series! She’s fast, nimble, dark, and…she also purrrssss. Can you guess who it is?

Anyway, let’s talk the other fun part of Halloween – the food!

Candy, cookies, chocolates galore! There’s “temptation” from every corner. So, how do you deal with controlling yourself when all your friends and co-workers are eating sweets all day long?

Listen, your progress isn’t going to be ruined just by one night. You are allowed to indulge. A healthy lifestyle isn’t meant to feel like you’re being deprived. It’s about listening to your body, nourishing it, giving it what it needs to work at its best.

But yes, there will be days like Halloween when you go to a party and someone made cookies in the shape of ghosts and serves you blood-colored strawberry margaritas. How can you resist?!?!?

It comes down to one word: moderation. I want you to have FUN on Halloween! I want you to cut yourself some slack. When we do things in moderation, we get to experience the best of both worlds.

BUT, if you’re REALLY worried about getting off track on Halloween because you’re the “once you pop, you can’t stop” type of person, here are some realistic tactics!

1. Drink a lot of water. Staying hydrated is going to make you feel better altogether, especially if you are drinking any alcoholic beverage or something sugary during festivities.
2. Schedule a workout in the morning! Work up a sweat and get your body moving. You won’t feel as “guilty” about having some fun in the evening!
3. Make healthy Halloween alternatives! So what if you’re THAT person who healthifies everything. If it makes you happy, if it keeps you from binging, and if it helps educate other people on how to cook creatively, then do it!

Check out these cute pumpkin tangerines with little green bean stalks! And half banana ghosts with choco chips! Adobrs right!?

Look, life is not meant to be so strict all the time. Being flexible is more than just if you can touch your toes! It’s a mindset. And one night isn’t going to undo all the hard work you’ve been putting in. So have fun. Be safe. And take LOTS of pictures! I want to see your costumes!

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The Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award 2017 Shadow Panel

I am very pleased to be on the official shadow panel for this year’s Young Writer of the Year Award (sponsored by the Sunday Times, Peters Fraser + Dunlop in association with Warwick University), along with four brilliant book bloggers: … Continue reading →

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The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

‘The Haunting of Hill House’ by Shirley Jackson is widely regarded as one of the best horror stories of the 20th century and makes for timely reading ahead of Halloween at the end of the month. It tells the story … Continue reading →

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Those Days When Social Media Makes You Soooo Insecure…

Hey guys!!

Okay, honesty time…

Have you ever seen someone on Instagram and thought, wow, I wish I looked like that…?

Because I sure have.

It’s sooo weird to be alive during this age of social media. Especially as a woman. I truly can’t fathom what it must be like as a kid or teenager and able to see SO much online so easily. Hey, I’m an adult and still fall into the trap of comparing myself to what I see on Instagram!! It’s so difficult not to. We’re being bombarded with so many images all the time. Beautiful people! Beautiful locations! Everything always looks perfect. And even though the rational part of us KNOWS nothing is ever perfect, that’s not what you think about when you’re browsing social media.

Instead, you do the comparison game. You know the one I’m talking about. You ask yourself a series of soul-crushing questions. Why doesn’t my body look like that? Why isn’t my relationship that perfect? Why am I not traveling the world? Why am I not living my dream life?

And then there’s the WHOLE OTHER aspect of likes and followers. Somehow, no matter how much I KNOW that these numbers don’t define me, I still get affected when I lose followers and when a picture I post doesn’t get as many likes as I think it “should” have. Oh gosh, just typing that out is so silly. But I needed to say it. Because it is RIDICULOUS! Numbers shouldn’t have so much power over us! Not on the scale and especially not online.

Remember, social media gives you a peek into one part of someone’s life. Just one teeny part. It’s like a blink. You see a glimpse. But then we become convinced this glimpse is representative of all other aspects.

I still don’t have all the answers on how to battle social media insecurity. Sometimes you need to take a break. Log off. Put the phone down. Be around people you love and write down a list of all your greatest strengths. Say a morning mantra in the mirror.

That person you wish you looked like? They have days when they are unhappy. They have days when they are sad and wish THEY could trade places with someone else. None of us are perfect. None of us have it all figured out. Instagram is often a highlight reel. It shows the best, you know? It doesn’t show the nights with puffy faces from crying. It doesn’t show the self-doubt. It doesn’t show failure.

There’s only one YOU. And I know, I know, that’s cheesy. But it’s true! And you never know, someone might be looking at you, either in real life or on social media, and wishing they could be more like you…

We all have so many gifts and talents to offer the world. Let’s try to not get caught up in the comparison game. Let’s try to remember social media is just that…social media.

You are more than an IG post. You are more than a snapshot. You are so, so much more.

I promise you.

How do you guys deal with social media insecurity? Is it something that ever bothers you or do you not pay it much attention?

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Fresh Complaint by Jeffrey Eugenides

‘Fresh Complaint’ is a collection of 10 short stories by Jeffrey Eugenides. The first and last stories in the collection, ‘Complainers’ and ‘Fresh Complaint’, are new and have never been published before while the rest have appeared in the New … Continue reading →

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Women, We Need To Support Other Women, Now

Hey guys!

Halloween is quickly approaching! I am SO excited! Do you know what you’re going to wear yet?!

Here at Blogilates HQ, we’ve been releasing superhero themed workouts this whole month of October to keep you guys interested and inspired. Just getting into the Halloween vibe early, you know?? I mean, Halloween can last a whole month…right?

Most recently, the girls from Blogifam dressed up as the Sailor Scouts and we filmed a super fun Sailor Moon themed video.

IT WAS. SUCH. A. BLAST.

It’s moments like those when I really feel grateful to be supported (and to support) so many wonderful women. We all worked together and brainstormed and laughed a ton.

And this brings me to another really important topic.

We need to support the women in our life. We need to champion their success and root for them.

And maybe most importantly, we have stop the girl-on-girl hate. Right now.

I see it all the time and it always breaks my heart. We have to STOP picking each other apart. We have to stop being so judgmental (both online and IRL). Bringing another woman down does not catapult you to the top. Criticizing another woman won’t make you love yourself more. It never makes a situation better. It just breeds hurt. And there’s no room for that in this world. 

Look at women as your sisters, not your competitors. They are your allies in this world. I am SO grateful for the women in my life and all the strength and compassion they share with me on a daily basis. Women are amazing! And the connections we create with each other are so powerful and NECESSARY! There’s a shared understanding. Women have 100% been fundamental in my growth as a person and an entrepreneur.

When another women does well, CHEER for her! Be excited! The more doors we open, the more doors are open for others to walk through as well. Don’t waste your energy on being jealous. Don’t waste time being bitter. It NEVER make things better. And it’s NEVER productive.

I love seeing a woman succeed in business, in her relationships, on YouTube, wherever! It brings me joy because we’re all a team. I know not everyone sees it that way, but I choose to. I choose to be over-the-moon-omgsh-THRILLED when a woman I know does well.

We, as women, have to lift other women up. We have to be the positive change we want to see.

THANKFUL to have all of you in this journey with me!

What’s something you did lately that made you proud? What’s a success you’ve had! Share them below so we can all celebrate each other!

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The Innocent by Ian McEwan

As part of my continuing efforts to read more books from the back catalogues of my favourite authors, I have recently read ‘The Innocent’ by Ian McEwan which tells the story of Leonard Marnham, a twenty-five-year-old British Post Office engineer … Continue reading →

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We all need to take a break. For our health.

 

Hey guys!

Quick question: Have you ever really needed a break?

And no, I’m not JUST talking about the rest day in between a week of workouts. But the kind that allows your mind to relax – a mental health break. You know, a day to fully give yourself permission to just be. 

Mental health is just as important as your physical health. Let me repeat that: Mental health is JUST AS IMPORTANT as your physical health.

We spend so much time talking about fitness, what to eat and all these ways to best take care of our bodies. And that’s all great! But if you neglect your mental health, it doesn’t matter how many vegetables you eat or how many burpees you do. Being mentally unhealthy can create a very dangerous situation.

I like to think of the body and mind as a team. They rely on each other. They support each other. If one of the team members is struggling, the other one will notice a difference too. And sometimes, one of the team members needs some help.

There’s NO SHAME in recognizing you need to take a break. Or asking for help. Or just telling someone you’re having a hard time! Did you know that 18.2 % of the total adult population in the United States suffers from some type of mental illness?

And I know, the word “illness” is a weird one that immediately puts people on guard. I even hesitated writing it because it’s a touchy subject. But the thing is, if you fall into that percentage, you’re NOT alone! And being able to talk about it and reassure others that it’s okay to recognize when things are difficult is a GOOD THING!

I’m not an expert. I’m not a psychologist or a therapist. But I know so many people, AMAZING people, who have dealt with mental health issues. These are strong people! These are brilliant people! These are creative and inspirational people! And making sure we keep communication open and flowing is one of the things we can do to fight back against the stigma.

Mental health days are nothing to be ashamed of. They aren’t something to hide or feel like you can’t talk about.  And if today is one of those days when you are hurting, I want you to know I see you. And I hear you. And I am always, always rooting for you.

So, go ahead, take a day to check in with yourself. Slow down. Step off of social media. Turn off your phone notifications. (I actually have my phone on “do not disturb” at all times.)  Listen to what your body wants. Do what feels good. Whether this means getting a massage, going shopping, hiking with your friends, indulging in a book, or literally whatever “relaxing” means to you – do it! And do it to the max!

Do you ever take mental health breaks? What do you like to do? Do you have a self-care process?

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Hate is a sickness. We need to WAKE UP

 

Hate is a SICKNESS. Waking up to the news that over 50 innocent people are dead and 400 are injured from a mass shooting in Las Vegas poisons my body with grief.  It’s terrorism in our OWN country by our OWN people. WAKE UP EVERYONE.

Stop pointing the finger at other countries, other ethnicities, and other religious groups. Our country’s internal turmoil is self-created. The amount of HATRED and IGNORANCE I see comes from a severe blindness to human compassion and a close-mindedness to education.

How can we forget the atrocities that happened less than 100 years ago? How we deny the evils that once blackened people’s hearts to the point of selective human extermination?

We CANNOT forget our history because we CANNOT repeat it. The world once came together to fight for peace. To fight for the innocent. To fight for freedom. We need to teach our friends, our family, and ESPECIALLY our children the importance of love, empathy, and overall what it means to be a good person. Just stop hurting people!!! It’s that simple.

Today I posted this picture of me dressed up as Wonder Woman because I wish she was there yesterday to shield the innocent from the gunfire. I know she’s just a fictional character, but she stands for so much honor, strength, and pure goodness. Please let’s come together to fight the bad in this world. Wonder Woman isn’t just one person…there’s a little bit of her in all of us. We must work TOGETHER to PROTECT one another. Praying for everyone affected by the massacre yesterday.

How are you doing? Were you there at the festival? Was anyone you know hurt by the violence? I hope you’re okay.

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Do Book Blog Reviews Have Real Influence?

The book blogger versus traditional literary critic debate has been rumbling on for a while now, especially as it is noticeable that endorsements from bloggers are increasingly used alongside reviews by established journalists. However, I was recently surprised to find … Continue reading →

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