🎀 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!
Material you will need:
Jar
Amethyst as much you have
Pink candle
Lighter
The Lovers Card as many as you have to make the spell stronger
How to do it:
Put the amethyst in the jar
Light the candle
Drip wax into the jar on the amethyst
Put the Lovers card inside the jar
Drip wax drops on the lid of the jar
Put the candle on the lid
Chant
Leave candle to burn down and extinguish by itself
Chant:
May [insert full name of person] find love very soon (repeat 3 times)
May [insert name] be open to receive love in their mind, heart and soul.
[insert name] will find love.
So mote it be, so mote it be.
Pictures for reference:
Blessed Be,
Lilac
how to not binge
first let’s understand why you’re binging…
you miss the food. you miss the flavor and you miss the freedom. that’s okay. restricting your diet is hard especially because you’ve had a taste for high cal foods and they taste great, i won’t lie. but i have been able to go about 2 months without binging, even though i miss the flavor.
my lw was at the beginning of the pandemic and i was eating like once every three days (because of my ocd). i got into recovery this year but i don’t think i was mentally ready for all the weight gain so i restarted my rexie journey about 2 months ago and i’ve lost a significant amount of weight (about 25 lbs)
now how to not binge!
actually enjoy your low cal meals. savor the flavor and really enjoy it. don’t eat them with the mindset of “this will make me skinny”, eat them with the mindset of “this is actually good food”. the more you start to look at these foods as delicious and tasty, the less you’ll want the high cal foods. look forward to the meals you cook. experiment with flavor and different textures. and remember it’s okay to miss that burger and that pizza, but there’s a whole world of different flavors you have yet to explore in low cal foods!
as i’m writing this, i’m having my breakfast: black coffee, a can of tuna with salt and pepper and some unsweetened applesauce. it might seem like bland food but i genuinely love the bitterness of the coffee and the sweetness from my saliva that follows after i’ve drank it, the savory and slightly spicy flavor of the tuna (i’ve always loved tuna since childhood so this one was pretty easy to like) and the applesauce, it’s like a treat and a fun little snack. i even consider it akin to candy, so i don’t feel the need to eat actually candy.
it’s a mindset to get into. just remember that you don’t have to suffer to be skinny, you can enjoy food while losing weight.
(Please don’t reboot with tags)
GLOW UP GUIDE FOR 2025⠀
READ: On average, it takes more than 2 months before a new behavior becomes automatic — 66 days to be exact. And considering that 2025 is precisely these many days away, why not start with our glow up plan already?
Physical Glow Up-
BODY
— 5-10K steps a day.
— 7-8 hours of sleep.
— workout everyday for 1 hr atleast- yoga/stretching/pilates/cardio. a workout may take one hour, but your mood will be boosted for the next 12 hours.
— posture training.
— sunlight exposure after waking up for at least 10 minutes.
NUTRITION
— 2-3 liters of water every day.
— limit your caffeine intake.
— avoid sugars as much as you can.
— high protein diet, pre and probiotics.
— more fruits and veggies (+ green smoothies if you like).
— no junk/processed food/trans fat.
— no eating after 8 pm.
SKINCARE
— be clear on your skin type (oily, dry, combination, sensitive).
— once you're clear, use these accordingly- cleanser, toner, targeted serum, eye cream, moisturizer, sunscreen (≥50 spf).
— keep your bedding clean as well.
— no picking of skin on your lips, cuticle etc.
— gua sha to help improve blood circulation and lessen toxins.
— cold therapy may take three to five minutes of being uncomfortable, but your energy levels will be boosted for the rest of the day.
— remove makeup before you go to bed.
BODY CARE
— shower every day.
— exfoliate 2x a week.
— use body lotion (shea butter/aloe vera gel/coconut oil).
HAIR CARE
— wash hair 2-3x a week
— oil your scalp 2x a week, at least 3 hours before shampoo.
— hair mask 1x per week.
— never brush wet hair.
— use silk pillow case.
HYGIENE
— brush your teeth 2x a day, clean tongue and the roof of the mouth daily.
— floss daily.
— cut your nails 1x a week, never remove the cuticles.
— glycolic acid under arm for odor and discoloration.
— never use soap on your coochie.
Mental Glow Up-
MINDSET
— set clear goals- define and breakdown your aspirations.
— start your mornings with positive affirmations.
— surround yourself with uplifting content and people.
— be shamelessly selfish to your career and mental health, remove anyone or anything that doesn't align with your priorities and wellbeing.
— boost your brain health by these 4 neuroscience tools:
difficult first: start your day with the most difficult task (cortisol and dopamine are high in the body meaning that your body/mind is primed to work).
rest your eyes: introduce a micro-pause after learning by resting/closing your eyes - will help retain information better.
tomorrow's worries: write tomorrow's to-do list before bed as it is proven to be effective in helping you fall asleep.
find time to play: engage in low-stake play. can be anything you find fun but where the outcome doesn't matter (induces neuroplasticity + reduces stress).
MIND
— meditation might take as low as ten minutes, but your focus will be improved for the rest of the day.
— no social media after waking up and at least an hour before bed.
— keep aside 1 hr of time to read daily! reading a new book may take five hours, but you will keep the knowledge forever.
— journaling, gratitude.
— digital detox once a week or for 12 hours.
— limit unnecessary screentime, unfollow or cut off people you don't want to see.
JOURNALING
— choose a regular time each day to journal, making it a part of your routine.
— find a quiet, comfortable place free from distractions. light a candle if you want.
— allow your thoughts to flow without censoring or editing.
— write about your feelings and emotions to understand them better. write about things you are thankful for to boost your mood. write about your short-term and long-term goals. identify what triggers certain emotions or reactions
— set a timer for 5-10 minutes and write continuously during that time.
— reflect on both positive experiences and challenges.
— make lists, journal your thoughts on these questions.
— journal at night to clear your mind before bedtime, because emotions and thoughts lose their power once we acknowledge them.
— a gratitude practice may take five minutes, but your mindset will be shifted for the rest of the day.
AFFIRMATIONS
— customise affirmations to your needs.
Personal Life-
WEEKLY TASKS
— initiate small changes: begin with small, manageable tasks such as making your bed or cleaning your room every sunday.
— celebrate your success: reward yourself when you achieve your goals or have a consistently productive week. consider treats like buying flowers for yourself or watching your favorite show.
DAILY WORK
— set achievable goals: establish realistic goals for the day, week, or month ahead.
— track your progress.
— organise your work space, declutter your shelves etc.
— embrace the power of lists: keep a list of tasks to be done and their deadlines. this way, you start each day with a clear plan. to make it visually appealing and motivating, consider using productivity apps like evernote, habit tracker, or notion.
PRODUCTIVITY TIPS
— wake up early.
— plan ahead everything, do scheduling. you can use:
google calendar / notion / tasks .
— if the task takes less than 2 minutes to finish, do it immediately.
— countdown rule, if you are procrastinating, count 1-2-3-4-5 and jump.
— start slow, don't rush and try to do everything at one time.
— follow a proper routine, use app locks based on screentime.
— pomodoro technique, 25 min work, and 5 min break.
— schedule longer break times as well e.g 30 min nap.
Andrea Gibson