🎀 what is pilates?
pilates is a form of strength training exercise that focuses on low to medium impact movements to improve muscle tone, stability, endurance, and mobility. pilates also focuses more on the smaller muscles of the body compared to traditional strength or weight training.
🎀 benefits of pilates
including the benefits that exercise generally brings, pilates:
improves mind-body connection and body control
improves active flexibility and mobility
works the core, improving stability
improves coordination and balance
reduces mental and physical stress
works muscles that can be neglected in our daily lives
treats and prevents body pain, including menstrual pain
teaches you how to pair your breath with your body
keeps the joints healthy without putting pressure on them
🎀 where to start
while you can absolutely start with studio or reformer classes, you can also do pilates routines on youtube! i recommend move with nicole and dansique fitness. if you want to get your cardio in as well, i absolutely recommend eleni fit. her workouts are some of the best i’ve ever tried!
🎀 personal tips
keep your core in mind. core strength is a major benefit of pilates because each movement requires at least a mild amount of core work to keep your body stable, so do your best to keep the engagement throughout.
start slow. pilates movements can take a while to fully understand and it can take a while to build the mind-body connection, so don’t push yourself too far in the beginning. your coordination will improve over time!
don’t underestimate it! while the movements are generally slower than other types of exercise, you will work your muscles just as much and in a way they may not have been worked before. sometimes i even find pilates more difficult than hiit or weights!
hiii! these are all the best hygiene tips that i've gathered from different sources over the years, not everything is 100% necessary to be consistent with, but its certainly good to apply them once in a while. lets begin! 🎀
LIPS:
taking care of your lips is exceptionally important, especially cus no one wants crusty dusty lips. ♡ use a lipscrub/ exfoliator maybe 1-3 times a week, as many times you need tbh.- diy recipe: sugar, coconut/oil, oil/vaseline, and honey. theres tons more recipes online in case you don't have all the ingredients ♡ apply! a! lip mask! before! bed! this ALWAYS helps me so much! especially since when i wake up i usually get crusty lips! ♡ apply vaseline through out the day so your lips always stay hydrated and soft. ♡ always carry a hydrating lip balm with you. this isnt a huge necessity, but its good to have one on hand in case your lips get dry <3 ♡ DO NOT LICK YOUR LIPS! you may think that it hydrates your lips and makes them less crack-y but licking your lips can actually make them a lot more dryer because your saliva contains enzymes that break down the skin on your lips which can lead to irritation and chapped lips ♡ drink water!! girl i'm not just saying that. go take a sip right now. drinking water is one of THE best things you can do for your lips as it hydrates them!
MOUTH/ TEETH:
ALWAYS brush your teeth, AT LEAST twice a day, obviously. ♡ did you know that most of the smelly bad breath is usually from your tongue? you can get rid of the bacteria that collects while you sleep by using a tongue scraper to get it off OR you can also simply use your toothbrush as an alternative and just brush down on your tongue. ♡ flossing! ♡ also, remember to change your toothbrush every couple months or whenever you start to notice fraying of the bristles.
NAILS:
take care of your nails girlie! they don't always have to be painted and expertly shaped, but its good to keep them clean. ♡ for a good clean/ washing, use warm water and mild soap to wash ur nails and scrub your nails gently with a soft brush (kinda like a toothbrush but don't use urs bc that would be nastyy lol) ♡ and remember to also take care of your cuticles- (its at the very bottom of your nail). push back your cuticles with either a cuticle pusher, or you could just do it with your nails, but NEVER cut them as that could cause an infection. pushing back your cuticles helps to create a cleaner nail plate, prevents hangnails, keeps the skin around your nail smoother, makes your nails appear longer and neater by removing dead skin cells, and more! also, apply cuticle oil/ lotion to keep it hydrated.
painting your nails: i LOVE painting my nails, who doesn't? here are some tips to get the best result when doing it. 1) clean your nails 2) shape your nails (using a nail filer) to the desired shape- almond, round, square, oval, silleto, etc. 3) apply base coat - (protects nails from staining + helps polish stay) 4) apply the nail polish! the best part right? you may want to do 1-3 coats of this to make sure the color is really there and not translucent. 5) apply top coat - makes it look glossy + lasts longer tada! we're done ! <3 i recomend listening to music/ subliminals or watching a movie or talking to a friend during this if u get bored. but honestly, sitting alone, painting your nails, soft music in the background and just getting lost in your thoughts and imagination is such a VIBE.
LASHES
♡ use castor oil or vitamin E on ur eyelashes before bed to make them grow thicker and longer! ♡ avoid pulling or tugging your eyelashes or rubbing to hardly ♡ you can apply vaseline to your lashes, but make sure that its only on the tips and not the roots of it as that can make ur lashes fall out
EARS:
when you're cleaning the inside, do NOT use a q-tip, you may think you're doing something, but it just pushes the wax more in. ♡ instead, in the shower/ after the shower, with your towel and GENTLY wipe the inside- don't apply too much pressure tho! ♡ also it's important to wipe around the ear as well- where the creases meet ur hair. there can be lots of dirt/ dust that collects so once in a while in the shower or with water, just wipe around that ear a bit- again, be careful!! ♡ lastly, also clean the outer bit of your ear, the earlobe- above & around the inside hole. again be gentle, your ear is a sensitive organ, and just use water to wipe around it carefully.
BMAC - if you'd like to support me!
If only I had the balls to actually end it all
are u a “dont fucking touch me or ill rip ur spine out thru ur throat” traumatized or a “please please touch me i need physical validation to live” traumatized
THIS WILL *ACTUALLY* CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
do you know how many people are waiting until next year to glow up and actually start to become their dream self? now just think, if you started now, before 2025, how far you would be. how much more skills and knowledge you would have. you're literally getting a head start. so what are you doing dilly-dallying until 2025? heres your guide to ending this year accomplishing everything you need to and starting 2025 with everything you need.
in this post i will include mindset shifts, how to become a better person, actionable advice, actually becoming a new person <3
who do you want to become at the end of this year? what does your dream girl look like? what kind of body does she have? her clothes? who are the people she hangs out with on a daily basis- friends?
create a very clear version in your head and use pinterest to show photos of what your goals are- for ex: girls at the gym, journalling, writing, studying, reading, learning, walking, with friends, spending time outside, going swimming, playing sports, doing a skill/ hobby.
you can also find an idol/ an inspiration- a youtuber, influencer, parent, anyone who you look up to and want to somewhat have a similar life like them. (for ex: thewizardliz, tam kaur) whatever is important to you this goes hand in hand with the next point:
any unfinished projects, any goals you said you'd do in the beginning of the year, get them all down on paper. if you've finished any of them, great!- tick them off. but if you haven't then its time to lock in. pick the ones that are most important to you. that you know that achieving these will 100% get you closer to your goal. doing this makes sure you get rid of the ones that you think are "productive" when in reality they just help you procrastinate.
finish any unfinished projects or books you have before the new year begins because 2025 is about bringing in new, fresh opportunities and things. for me personally, i have a few crochet projects that i want to finish before the end of this year so i can start the new year with nothing old from the year before!
you are going to be becoming a new person- new mindset, new values, new perception on life, etc. the people in your life currently probably won't align with this new version of you. because if the people around you still only know the old you, your growth won't happen because it will feel extremely unnatural without the right people around you. this means you're going to have to decide whether you are letting any of your friends go. if they don't serve you or make you feel happier or bring in any value to your life, im sorry but its time to cut them off.
but of course if you actually have good, kind, loving friends who grow with you and support you all the way, keep them. the goal is to remove the people who don't serve your highest self. not remove the people who you know will be there for you.
but along with this, if you notice that those people are acting a bit more weirdly/ strangely now that you're improving- giving you backhanded compliments, talking about you behind your back, or just giving you a weird vibe in general, trust your gut. those people don't want to see you going to a higher place where you're thriving- keeping them in your life can be terrible for your highest good.
remember that doing this doesn't mean that you're not going to get better because BETTER ALWAYS COMES. god will give you more people who you couldn't have ever dreamed could be so amazing. so never keep toxic people in your life out of fear that you'll be alone forever. (remember: 8 billion people in the world.)
dont wait to change your mindset only once you achieve the dream body or the best grade- start now. people can take away everything from you but they can't take away your mindset, skills, and knowledge. here are some mindset shifts to develop:
the abundance mindset. know that everything happens for your highest and greatest good only! everything will work out in the end for you because God hasn't put you on this earth to suffer. if you are religeous (God) or spiritual (the universe) or even believe theres a higher faith, why on earth would you willingly believe that your purpose here is to have a bad time? obstacles will come your way and you will make bad decisions and mistakes. but all these jsut contribute to the person you are today and the person who you'll be in the future!
i will make it. believe in your vision and yourself so fiercely that you know in your bones that you will achieve your goals. you will travel the world and discover new places, you will get to retire your parents, you will get to buy expensive bags for your mom, you will be that rich sister/daughter/ wife, you will help people around the whole world, you will have people around you who love and care for you, you will achieve whatever dream you had since you were a kid and whatever dream you have right now. you will you will you will! know this so strongly but also know that i will achieve there one day, but i also am so blessed and grateful for the life i have right now! i have so many privileges and such an amazing life that i would never trade away for anything.
growth mindset if you fail, IT IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD. please stop being afraid of failing, be afraid of never trying!! you have no idea how freeing failing is because once you do, then you'll never have that "what if" in the back of your mind, never have that small voice asking what could have happened if you had done that thing. so if you do fail, perfect! that means that you won't waste any more time wondering what would have happened. having a growth mindset means that you know you're human and you'll make mistakes, but that doesnt make you a bad person and it doesn't take away your capability to still accomplish your goals. if you fail be able to brush it off, and keep trying again and again. Thomas Edison had 1000 failed attempts to make the light bulb. yet he learnt from what didn't work, took that into consideration, then tried again. and again. and again. and now? your probably sitting in a room with light that you have because he persisted in his goal!
stay positive always have a positive outlook and perspective of life. look at the beauty and what you have instead of what you lack. feel happy joyful energy vibrate through you everyday. do things that just make you a more positive person in general! feeling happier makes you look 100x more attractive and will change the way you interact with the world!!
new year new you right? so its time you up level the way you talk and treat others. because the goal isn't to be A b*tch, the goal is to be THAT b*tch! so going around being rude isn't going to do anything for you. being kind however- having manners, checking up on people, asking how their day was, being charismatic, etc- thats what can get you so much more opportunities! you're going to be kind, but not a people pleaser- ofc prioritise yourself always but also at the same time- if you have made a commitment to be somewhere for someone at a certain time, honor that commitment. be the friend you wish you had.
being mean to everyone just because you were hurt by someone else is not it. yes, so you were hurt. grow, evolve, heal. you're stronger than this. you're stronger than you think. you can overcome anything and you can become an even better person, capable of loving fully and wholly!
change what you consume. start watching thewizardliz, tam kaur on youtube. have an inspiration/ idol to look up to in life.
workout. i dont care if its not one of your goals to have a fit body, but don't workout for that. workout because you love yourself. because its actually proven to make you happier, because you deserve a healthy, fully functioning body.
DRINK WATER. do you know how many benefits something as simple as that has? clear skin, unchapped lips, better digestive health, weight management, better health, feel more alert and energized, better for immune system, increases brain power, eliminate toxins, ETC ETC!
have a morning routine that literally sets yourself up for success. stimulate your mind with reading self help, learn something, study, focus on a skill, do something that makes your mind active.
journal & check in with yourself.- document your progress! write about how you felt after everyday. did you feel esp happy during anything? do you feel satisfied at the end of the day? or do you find that your day made you feel tired and drained? do you feel regret and wished you did more at the end of the day?
diary- links with the earlier point. document the day. you can write about it, or what i also like to do is video myself yapping to the camera. talk about whatever you want and let your mind wander free!
you are that it girl! dress the part, smell good, make yourself feel so good that you just can't help but feel like you can conqure anything!!
make sure you're consistently reminded of your goals. what do you want? why do you want to achieve it? reminding yourself of your goals will actually motivate you and make you stop procrastinating. for me its that i don't want any old projects or books having to continue into the new year so i've made a plan that will definitely get it done before the next year!
Recipies by Ana•••••••
Chocolate Tiramisu🍫🍰
Ingredients
1/2 cup strong brewed coffee, cooled (0 calories)
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, unsweetened (12 calories)
- 1/2 teaspoon Stevita Stevia Sweetener (0 calories)
- 4 ladyfinger cookies (60 calories)
- 1/2 cup fat-free ricotta cheese (80 calories)
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract (3 calories)
- 1 tablespoon mini chocolate chips (70 calories)
Instructions
1. Mix the brewed coffee with 1 tablespoon cocoa powder and Stevita sweetener.
2. Dip the ladyfinger cookies in the coffee mixture and layer them in a serving dish.
3. Mix the ricotta cheese with vanilla extract until smooth.
4. Spread half of the ricotta mixture over the ladyfingers.
5. Sprinkle half of the mini chocolate chips over the ricotta layer.
6. Repeat the layers with the remaining ingredients.
7. Dust the top with unsweetened cocoa powder.
8. Chill for at least 1 hour before serving.
Total Calories: 231
Calories per Serving (2 servings):116
What recipies would you guys like next, comment them<3
coffee and zero cal iced tea with probably very radioactive artificial sweeteners >>
saturday, february 1: 15 minute cardio + 30 minute yoga flow
sunday, february 2: 30 minute yoga hiit fusion
monday, february 3: 25 minute lower body pilates + 15 minute slim leg stretch
tuesday, february 4: 35 minute upper body pilates + 15 minute stretch
wednesday, february 5: 25 minute yoga
thursday, february 6: 30 minute full body hiit + 15 minute stretch
friday, february 7: 30 minute full body pilates-style + 15 minute stretch
saturday, february 8: 25 minute slow yoga & savasana
sunday, february 9: rest or 25 minute yoga reset
monday, february 10: 10 minute walking cardio + 30 minute legs
tuesday, february 11: 30 minute slim upper body + (optional) 14 minute stretch
wednesday, february 12: 35 minute abs & booty pilates
thursday, february 13: 30 minute walking cardio + 15 minute stretch
friday, february 14: 30 minute heart opening yoga
saturday, february 15: 30 minute full body strength + (optional) 15 minute stretch
sunday, february 16: rest or 30 minute yoga for hips & legs
monday, february 17: 20 minute legs & hips + 5 minute booty lift + 15 minute leg stretch
tuesday, february 18: 20 minute step cardio + 20 minute pilates arms + 8 minute cool down
wednesday, february 19: 8 minute mobility + 20 minute abs & booty + 15 minute stretch
thursday, february 20: 30 minute cardio hiit + (optional) 14 minute stretch
friday, february 21: 30 minute mobility & core + 15 minute stretch
saturday, february 22: 1 hour yoga
sunday, february 23: rest or 25 minute vinyasa flow
monday, february 24: 25 minute lower body pilates + 20 minute lower body stretch
tuesday, february 25: 30 minute step cardio + 15 minute stretch
wednesday, february 26: 25 minute abs & booty pilates + 15 minute stretch
thursday, february 27: 30 minute walking cardio + 10 minute stretch
friday, february 28: 30 minute full body strength + 14 minute stretch
SELF CARE
。 ୨୧ 。・ 。୨୧ 。・。୨୧。・。୨୧。・。୨୧。
make time for yourself: get enough sleep, do some yoga, meditate, eat nourishing foods, stay hydrated, take a nice shower, go on a walk, write down your thoughts, listen to your favorite songs/podcasts
self care also means: forgiving yourself, putting yourself first, setting boundaries, showing up for yourself, practicing positive self-talk, asking for help and for what you need
don’t forget: learning to say no can help you manage your to-do list and your stress, healthy boundaries are important in your wellbeing