The Beauty of the Ritual

 

Think You Know Fitness? These 10 Myths Might Be Holding You Back

 

Squats vs. Deadlifts: Why You Need Both in Your Routine

 

The Hydration Hack That Could Be Holding Back Your Fitness Goals

 

Morning Routines That Stick

 

Arrae Supplements for Gut, Metabolism & Body Composition

 

Sunscreen: The Beauty Secret You’re Probably Skipping

 

If I had to reveal just one beauty secret, the kind that’s made the biggest difference in my skin’s texture, clarity, and glow, it would be this: wearing sunscreen daily! And yes, I mean every. single. day. Rain or shine, indoors or outside, sunscreen is the real MVP in my skincare routine. Also let´s let go of the old timey thinking that because you’re a person of color, you don’t need sunscreen, that myth has been debunked!

Why You Should Add Collagen Peptides to Your Daily Routine & How to Make It Effortless

 

Why Women Should Implement Creatine Monohydrate into Their Fitness

 

Working out after using my new favorite creatine supplement!

For years, creatine has been widely associated with bodybuilders and male athletes, often overlooked by women due to misconceptions about its effects. However, research continues to highlight the incredible benefits of creatine monohydrate for women, especially those looking to improve strength, endurance, recovery, and even cognitive function. Whether you’re an avid gym-goer like me, a runner, or someone simply looking to enhance overall well-being, adding creatine to your fitness routine could be a game-changer. I've been training women and men for years, and the supplement that I recommend the most aside from protein, is creatine. Let's take a look at the reasons why!

Biohacking for Health

 

Ever wish you had a way to make your body work smarter, not harder, for better health and wellness? That’s where biohacking comes in! Biohacking combines science-backed strategies and a little experimentation to help you optimize your body and mind. Think of it as a way to tap into your biology and elevate your wellness! Biohacking to better health is something that I’ve been working towards this past year and I’ll let you know how it’s been working out for me.

My Body Contouring Experience

 

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Working in the fitness industry, there's a lot of pride and also timidness that goes with it. On one hand, you're prideful for the knowledge and experience you have a trainer/ instructor to teach your clients how to achieve their "dream" bodies. Then on the other hand, you start to criticize yourself for not having achieved the body that you're "dream" body. As someone who's been in the fitness industry since 2015, one fitness figure competition and teaching various group fitness classes, I still pick myself a part. I know I suffer from body dysmorphia, I work on it every single day by how I train myself, how I eat and how I speak and think of myself and I speak that into existence with my clients. When I learned about body contouring, I was intrigued and yet very skeptical. I thought, "there's no way that you can get the results of liposuction without going under the knife?!" Or is there?

Sleep Or Bust

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Lately I feel like i've been hearing a lot of talk about "circadian rhythms." Probably because half of America barely get's the adequate amount of sleep, including myself. At best, I usually bank on 6 steady hours of sleep before my body decides to wake me up before the alarm goes off. Sleep experts say that we need no more and no less than 8 consecutive hours of sleep to feel energized, accomplish our goals, go for gold, etcetera. But sleeping is much harder than that! With the LED screens that we're constantly staring at, all the work to be done, who actually sleeps?! There are essentially 5 stages of sleep, but what happens to our bodies and minds when we go to sleep? The most important stage being REM.

New Year, New Motivation

Photos by Derrick Hogue 

With the new year ahead of us, and the holidays behind, it's time to focus on yourself. Let 2019 be the year of a healthier lifestyle. Winter can be brutal, but playing catch up on your fitness routine is even worse come spring time! If we're anything like our furry friends, we tend to eat a little extra and pack on the pounds a bit, to stay warm until the warmer seasons. It's understandably scientifically  natural, but it's also imperative that we don't burrow into a cave, aka the couch, and get our bodies moving! Believe me, I understand the logic of not wanting to "suffer" in the cold or feel the least bit of the wintery air upon our skin, thankfully there are options to keep yourself warm and stylish throughout winter!

Keeping Up With Health Through Winter

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Despite the coming joys of the Holiday season, there is still plenty to be weary of this winter.
Cold weather provides a whole new set of obstacles for our health and can wreak havoc on our
bodies. However, with the right preparation, you can show winter who’s boss! Below are some
of my favorite tips to ensure your mind and body are in their best possible
state to combat the harsh elements.

A Menu For Your Skin

Illustrated By Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Most of us know, to have a flawless complexion we need to have a skincare regimen for day and night. For me, it's essential to have a regimented routine especially because many of my family members suffer from adult acne. Sometimes we get lazy and use a makeup wipe or a facial wash without correctly removing the makeup from our skin, been there- done that! Sorry ladies and gents, but in order to have firm and glowing skin we need a little more than a wipe. Here is a menu of skincare needs to incorporate into our day and night skincare routine especially now that that the weather is getting significantly cooler!

Health Check

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Imagine this, your phone buzzes. It’s an email from your boss, in less than a minute, you’ve read and started to write a draft answer on the go and of course you're checking the time as you type. Indeed, I’ve got a busy schedule to keep up with, between work, the gym and your friends/ family. It’s fair to say that I don’t take the time to think twice before making a decision: time is a luxury after all! Here are a few tips on how I make the most of my time to enjoy more of "me" time!

Living In The Present

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

We live in a world where a heck of a lot of people are trying to find out how to be more happy. Whether it's looking for an inspirational book, tackling the quarterly life crisis, or just desperately trying to get out of a funk, it's something that many of us have experienced. Unfortunately, it's just not something that we always like to talk about, especially myself. But, here's the truth, life isn't always rainbows and butterflies. Something that i've come to grips with recently. And that's totally okay, we just have to figure out how to go with the flow, ones path goes on a different pace than someone else. One of my absolute favorite ways to do so is with yoga. Sure, there are tons of other ways to cope and manage your stress but theres something about vinyasa that magically eases you. I'm going to let you in on my little secret, the four ways that yoga has helped me improve my mood and I'm certain it will for you too!

Beauty Bit, Daytime Skincare

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Routines are ever changing, especially when it comes to skincare. Young women and men are always seeking to find that holy grail product that they can't live without, I myself am always on the look out. While I may have a few haircare and makeup products that I absolutely can't live without, my skincare regime changes as often as the season does. Skin is finicky and subject to change without a days notice which is why I'm always having to adjust. My skin, especially during the summer months tends to be on the oilier side which means I have to work on controlling that before anything else. You can't have "poppin" makeup with bad skin so check out what I do to keep the skin at bay.

Personal Essay #12

C/O Hello Healthy

It has been about five solid years since I embarked on a journey to take care of my body. Unfortunately, the learning process, as it is with many things, was quite a love- hate relationship. It is a shame that even though I’ve been in this journey for a long time it was only recently that I actually considered myself to be on track. I was, finally, looking for results not just an easy way into what I wanted. I set out the goals I wanted to achieve; results that would not only help me reach these goals but maintain me in a healthy mindset and would stick with me as a lifestyle.

Self Check

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Let's be frank, it should be one of everyone’s top responsibilities to look after their own health. As well as doing all the obvious things like eating right, cutting down on harmful substances and exercising on a regular basis, there are also plenty of do- it- yourself health checks which can help you with preventative measures. I tend to keep my physician on speed dial if any questions should arise, but out of those conversations I learned a lot of tips! Here are just a few things that you can do for yourself that can help you to spot issues in the first place. Remember to consult your physician as well! Make 2018 the year that you make major strides on your health and preventative measures.