Go Buy Now: Zella Live In Leggings

Photos: Nordstrom

My friend Ange has been preaching the Zella’s gospel for awhile now. Last week, I thought I’d check it out and see if its worth the hype. You guys, it is.

Zella is Nordstrom’s activewear brand, and the Creative Director is the former Product Manager at lululemon. I do really love lulu gear, but my wallet doesn't always agree... and the Zella prices during the Anniversay Sale are unbeatable: leggings start at $28. Twenty eight dollars, ya'll. I'll just let that sink in for a moment.

I bought the live in legging in both black & grey, and a cute sports bra for good measure. My review: the fabric on the legging is a little different than the lululemon wunder under, but just as good quality. They’re thick, so they won’t be see-through when you’re in down dog, and they make your posterior look just as fantastic. Two added bonuses - 1) you can throw these guys in the dryer and it won’t destroy them; and 2) you can’t tell they are workout gear, so you can transition them from morning runs to layering with boots and a sweater at night. Maybe just wash them first.

Just to clarify: Ange and I don’t get commission (although we wouldn’t hate it) and this post is not sponsored by Nordstrom’s. I just can’t resist sharing a great deal.

Just get there by August 3rd.

My Favorite Cleanse

Strawberry Mango Smoothie // Blueberry Detox Smoothie // Green Smoothie

I love a good cleanse. It is incredibly challenging, but oh so worth it. I’m about to start one this week, so I thought - let’s talk about cleanses, shall we?

Just a little disclaimer - I’m not an expert. This is what I’ve gathered from going through it several times, and lots of reading and researching. But I definitely encourage you to do your homework as well to make sure you are detoxing safely.

Why I Love It

A lot of people are scared to do a cleanse, and I get it. Even though I do one every year, its still daunting every time. I have to mentally gear up before hand, because I know I’ll be tempted to give up more than once, especially in the first few days. In case you need motivation, here are the biggest benefits that I’ve experienced:

1. Reset Good Habits: Or kick bad ones. I’ve been traveling a ton recently, and all that indulging really takes a toll. Plus, I’m a recovering cheese + sugar addict, and sometimes the only way for me to reset habits is to do something a little extreme. The amazing thing is that when you get sugar, dairy, wheat, and processed foods out of your system, you stop craving them. I believe positive motivation is the strongest motivation, and once you’ve finished the cleanse, you’ll feel great and not want to add all those things back in.
2. More Energy: Over the last few years, I’ve often wondered why I have so little energy. It just didn’t seem right to be tired all the time in my 20s. Being fed up with it was actually my primary motivator for my first ever cleanse, which promised more energy and better sleep. I’ve found it to be really true. Without all the processed food and caffeine, I was waking up before my alarm (honestly, that's miraculous) and felt more energized than I had in years - like the energy I thought I left behind when I graduated high school.
3. Improved Health: A good cleanse supports your digestive system, boosts your immune system and gets rid of toxins stored in your body. Our bodies work really hard for us every day, and we put them through a lot - sitting all day at a desk, drinking too much caffeine, taking full advantage of the craft beer scene in San Diego (just me?). Giving it a break from all that allows it to go to work repairing damaged cells, breaking down fat cells, and resting from its usual hyperactivity.
4. Mind-Body Awareness: Food is psychological - we eat when we’re bored, tired, emotional, anxious, lonely - so naturally a cleanse is also an opportunity for personal reflection and self awareness. I love that detoxing forces me to observe what habits I’ve built up unknowingly and confront why. There is also something refreshing about removing the negative associations of guilt, shame and insecurity we sometimes feel, and reconnecting with food positively as a source of nourishment.
5. Discipline & Confidence: The fact that this is really hard makes it so rewarding. I love accomplishing something that initially seems impossible. Our minds are stronger than we think they are, and it’s liberating to observe our cravings, watch them pass, and feel like a badass for not giving in. 
6. Lose a few lbs: I try not to let this be my primary motivation, because I believe in sustained habits over quick fixes for losing or maintaining weight. But I don’t hate it as a side effect. Hello, beach season.

My Go-To Cleanse

The cleanse I love doing is this one by Swanson Health Center.  I’m a big fan, because its developed by nutritionists and you actually get to eat on it. A girl’s gotta work and still be able to function, right? 

When I get sick of the smoothies, I change up the recipe or go for a fruit salad or veggie salad. I add in green tea and kombucha. If I'm really hungry, I double the smoothie recipe or snack on fruits, veggies and nuts. We aren’t here to starve ourselves, and it should be hard but not horrible. As long as you stay with whole, unprocessed foods, you should be okay.

I’ll sometimes add in a 1 to 3 day juice cleanse in the middle (like Blueprint or Pressed Juicery). At that point, I’ve adjusted and built up some serious discipline, so it is surprisingly doable.

On this cleanse, you are giving up:

• Processed foods
• Wheat
• Dairy
• Soy
• Grains
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Refined Sugar

Tips for Detoxing

Preparation is key to sticking with a cleanse. In addition to gearing up mentally, here are some tips:

• Do your homework if you are doing a different cleanse, especially a juice only cleanse. These can release toxins too quickly from your fat cells, and your liver needs adequate nutrients to do its job.
• Think about starting it on a Monday, and cutting out caffeine on the Saturday or Sunday before. Caffeine withdrawals are real, y’all, and they aren’t fun. Staggering the coffee headaches with the start of the detox makes it a little easier.
• Try to eat as clean as possible a few days before and after to ease in and out of the cleanse slowly. If you are feeling really run down, having digestive problems, or think you may have food allergies, consider keeping a food journal and adding foods back in one at a time to see how it affects you. Like week 1, add back in gluten, week 2, add back dairy, week 3, add sugar… Or don’t add them back in at all. 
• Find friends to do it with you. Its easier and adds much needed accountability when you are surrounding by others experiencing the same thing. 
• Write down your intentions for doing the cleanse somewhere, so you can revisit them when it gets hard. Focus on the positive to stay motivated. 
• Be strategic about timing. I didn’t realize once when I started the cleanse that it would be during the Superbowl. Its not fun to be that person, especially during the Superbowl.
• Hang in there. Don’t sell yourself short. Finish it out so you can see all that hard work pay off.

That was a long one. I’d love for you to join in the dialogue, friends! What cleanses do you like? What were the biggest benefits? What are your tips and tricks for getting through it?

Guest Post: For the Love of Yoga

Friends, meet Krista, my guest blogger for today. Krista has worked with me at Invisible Children for the past year and a half, and we quickly adopted each other as sisters. She is one of the wittiest people I know, and shares a love for reading, cooking, writing, and yoga. Plus, she's a mom and an all-around badass. Enjoy & check out her blog at kristameetsworld.tumblr.com.

This isn't me. But it could be in 2 years time. Gotta have goals, people.

Namaste. Savasana. Pranayama. 

Gibberish, right? Yes. Unless you're a Yogi. Which I think I have become.

First things first, it's (apparently) a known fact that exercise positively contributes to your overall health and wellness. Well, I don't like to exercise. There was a time where I took up running, and there was also a time where I purchased a Jazzercise DVD and did it twice. I'll be honest and say I tend to not stick with things, and I would prefer the fat to just fall off my body while sitting on the couch. A bonus would be if I could just sweat out all my impurities while sitting in a lounge chair next to the pool instead of a hot yoga studio. 

Well dear reader, I am a changed woman. Because I now practice yoga. I bought a mat and everything.

Recommended by a friend (who has been at it for four months and has effectively transformed her body), I decided to try it. First class? I hated it. It was too hard, too hot, I thought I was dying, and I'm pretty sure I saw Jesus. Pick yourself up and try again, as my mother always says before I punch her in the face. So two days later I went back. Easier class (intro beginner amateur hour), little less hot, little more stamina. I started slow, and began trying all the different classes, sweating my way through my lovehandle reserve of beer, and carbs, and artificial sweetener. 

A co-worker of mine goes to Yoga for the purpose of centering herself, relaxing, and getting in touch with her heart & brain & feelings. While all of those are certainly valid reasons, that is not why I go to Yoga. I attend for the sole vain purpose of getting so in shape that people stop me on the street to ask me what the heck I've been doing to look so fantastic. That hasn't happened yet, but I really feel like it could happen soon (sidenote: I can usually be found walking near my work in Barrio Logan around noon M-F.)

Case in point: you should try Yoga. You never knew your legs could bend that way, or that you could sweat so much without passing out. You'll feel stronger, and more flexible, and you'll reduce your jiggles (you know the ones.) And just in case I haven't successfully swayed you to sign up for a free week, here is a shortened list of the benefits of Yoga:

Decreases: blood pressure, respiratory rate, and hostility.

Increases: energy levels, joint range of motion, and the chances your thin jeans will fit.

Improves: posture, concentration, and the chances your thin jeans will fit. 

   

My final push for you to do everything I do - Yoga is actually fun. After you leave the class and go outside and breath air that doesn't feel like it's coming out of a humidifier, you feel awesome. And thin. And liberated. 

Join me, won't you? I'll be the one grunting in the corner. 

Namaste,
Krista

Get Moving

We’ve all been there: the rut. The point when you’ve gotten out of the exercise routine and starting back up seems impossible. I mean, its Newton’s law. It takes more energy to put something in motion than to keep it in motion. We’re going heads up with physics, people.

But its possible to get out of it and actually enjoy working out. I promise, because I’ve been there. Here’s how to get to that place:

1. Start somewhere.

It doesn’t matter where. Just do something. Put Beyonce on youtube and dance around your house. Jog one block around your neighborhood. Okay, maybe two. Let your dog pull you along on a hike (pictured, above). Your body will complain at first, but the biggest hurdle is just getting going.

2. Next time, do a little more.

One Beyonce song and then one RiRi. Four blocks around the neighborhood. Hike a decent hill. Push yourself past the point where it starts to hurt, and you’ll be amazed at how fast you progress.

3. Find something you enjoy.

This was game changing for me. I can’t deal with the gym. I just can’t. I spent years trying to guilt myself into going. When the self-guilt-trip worked, I’d just cruise on the elliptical and do a couple sit ups and hate it the entire time. It wasn’t until I discovered yoga and pilates that I actually looked forward to working out.

4. Find deals & try new things.

I’ll admit – I got a little addicted for a while. I bought pilates groupons, yoga groupons, boot camp groupons, dance class groupons… You name it. Most studios also have an introductory deal, so you can keep things cheap for a while if you studio hop. I've learned the hard way, though, that the key is making it sustainable is choosing studios / gyms that are close by and that have convenient class times.

5. Go with friends.

For built-in accountability & to make it something you look forward to. There have been many mornings when I’ve wanted to bail on a workout, but I know I’d be letting my friend down if I did. So I wake up instead of throwing my alarm out the window. 

6. Focus on the positive.

I truly believe that viewing exercise as a punishment or a chore does not work. Reframe how you think about it. Change "I have to work out because I ate so much pizza last night" into "I have the opportunity to work out today." Its amazing that you get to invest in your fitness and your health. Focus on your new confidence, your improvements, your new guns, or how great you feel after working out. It’s much more effective.

7. Set a goal.

I find that I sometimes need something to look forward to for motivation when #1-6 aren’t enough. Maybe it’s an upcoming vacation or friend’s wedding, signing up for a 5K, or a numerical goal like an 8 minute mile. Honestly, is that fast? I don’t run, but it seems fast to me.

I tend to be an all-or-nothing person.  So when I stop working out, whether it’s from getting sick or traveling or a brutal month at work, it’s really hard to get back in and these tricks always help me jump start the routine again. If you find something sustainable, set challenging but realistic goals, and start to feel the positive benefits, I know you can do it too.

Work It

There's nothing worse than being out of the exercise cycle and trying to start back up. Last week I attempted one workout, and it was literally the longest hour of my life. Never have I spent so much time cursing at the clock and praying time would move faster. So clearly, I'm in big need of some workout motivation right now. Enter Pinterest. I found these & am thinking of printing both out and putting them up in my house. I hope they inspire you to get moving this week too.

For more workout inspiration, my friend Holly posts some sweet workout mixes on her blog, San Delicious. Holly is a kick-a Bar Method instructor, so you know she knows her stuff.

Have a healthy & fit week, friends! xo.