Cures for a Bad Day

In the grand scheme of life, a single bad day is an infinitesimal blip. In the moment, however? The dreadful day feels like it will never end. Whether it is rain when you had outdoor plans, a parking ticket, a disagreement with a friend, or some combination of life's little frustrations, they happen to all of us.

For me, the best way to deal with bad days is to isolate the situations. Instead of thinking of it as a bad day, it's a less than ideal situation.  Making that semantic switch can also shift your attitude and let you salvage the remaining hours. Instead of making you grumpy/angry/a pain in the butt for everyone you encounter, a bad day can serve as an opportunity to indulge in life's little pleasures. Some of my favorite cures:

1. I don't know a single girl who isn't happier when she has a fresh manicure. I'm loving Essie's latest collection, especially this shade.

2. To quote Elle Woods, "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their [boyfriends, roommates, noisy neighbors...]." Go for a run, go to yoga, whatever. Taking your frustrations out in the gym will lift your spirits and be a healthy way to channel your negative energy into achieving a positive result.

3. I really love reading, especially nonfiction and classic literature. However, nothing says bliss like flipping through some glossy pages with pretty pictures and effortless reading. 

4. When all else fails? Wine. This chardonnay from Cakebread Cellars is my current favorite. 

5. Develop a plan to make tomorrow better. With every mistake or bad situation comes an opportunity for improvement. This kate spade notepad is always on my desk, and gets lots of love. 

How do you recover from a bad day?

xx,

Rachel

Loving lululemon

 Logically, I know I can throw on some shorts and a battered high school t-shirt and complete my workout just fine. There is something to be said, however, for making an effort to find high quality workout clothing that makes you feel inspired. For me, lululemon exemplifies stylish, quality fitness apparel. The brand conveys a lifestyle of health, fun, and vitality. The fact that the clothing makes you feel attractive while sweat is pouring down your face is just a plus. The Luon® fabric is incredibly soft, comfortable, and hands-down my favorite for yoga apparel. Whenever I feel the workout-wear laziness start to creep in, I throw on lululemon and am instantly reminded of why a grungy old t-shirt just won't cut it. Here are some of my favorites:

 

 

Cheers,

Rachel

Cardio Comparison

While I fully believe in the value of weightlifting to achieve your best body...I. Love. Cardio. For me, it's an opportunity to zone out and really think, listen to some music, while getting a workout in. Multitasking makes me happy. Whether you're stuck in a gym or have access to some awesome scenery, I have two favorite types of cardiovascular exercise - fasted cardio and high intensity interval training.

Fasted Cardio

Picture this: wake up, don't hit snooze, roll out of bed in your workout clothes and literally hit the ground running. Maybe drink a glass of water first if it's going to be toasty outside. It sounds mildly torturous, but I love it. Fasted cardio not only gets your workout completed early and wakes you up better than any cup of coffee, but has also been shown to burn more fat. Who doesn't want that?

HIIT

If you're looking for serious calorie burn, hanging out on the elliptical while flipping through Vogue probably isn't going to cut it. Plus, who has time for that? Studies show that you can achieve more progress with 15 minutes of interval training that you can in an hour jogging on the treadmill. In addition to being super efficient, HIIT has many other benefits. Basically any type of cardio can be converted into HIIT - even the aforementioned elliptical.

One final note: don't try to mix the two. Running fasted sprints in the morning is a recipe for disaster (and muscle loss). Keep your fasted cardio at a steady level, and fuel your HIIT.

Here is an example of my typical HIIT workout:

 

Cheers,

Rachel

My "I Have a Life" Workout

The last thing I want to do in the summer is spend hours in the gym, so I created this at-home cardio + toning workout that requires no equipment. I really love health and fitness, but being stuck indoors in beautiful weather is zero fun. It lets me get in a calorie-torching 22 minute workout anywhere, and then get on with enjoying my favorite season. Because really, summer slips away too quickly.

Too easy? Add free weights wherever you can (i.e., shoulder presses with squats, front raises with side lunges).

Too difficult? Take a 30 second breather after minute 5:00. Focus on form with each of the steps until you get it down perfectly. A quick Google search for any of the moves will provide photos/videos/instructions on how to best complete them.

 

*Disclaimer: I am not a fitness professional, and you should consult your doctor before beginning any workout program. I'm always happy to share what works for me, however!

Cheers,

Rachel