Happy 2020! WE MADE IT! I don't know about you, but 2019 can kick rocks. I'm usually not a "new year, new me" type gal, but I am welcoming 2020 with open arms along with working out with one of our awesome new partners, SPENGA!
Maybe you've decided that this is the year you're going to start being a little healthier? I'll tell you right now, don't put a ton of pressure on yourself. Take baby steps, and once you get into your routine, you're going to be successful! It's all about finding what works for you, and these are a few tips that keep me on track.
- Ok, obviously I'm a radio person, so music is huge for me. If I go for a workout and I don't have my headphones, it's basically a wrap for me. I know that's terrible, but I can't be inside my own head when I work out. That's probably why I have a set in every bag I usually use (purse, laptop bag, workout bag, etc) and in my car .... you can never be too prepared! I also love making playlists on our free iHeartRadio app (there's some great workout ones already made for you, including a country one!) or listening to Podcasts on the app (I'm loving "Office Ladies" with Pam and Angela from "The Office" and "Armchair Expert" with Dax Shepard).
- Meal prepping will be your best friend. Sundays are usually my day to get everything together. For breakfast, I usually bake sweet potatoes with garlic and onions to add scrambled eggs to. I know that sounds really weird, but it's one of my all time favorite breakfasts, and I've turned other people at work on to it. For lunches, I usually rely on my Crockpot. One of my favorite recipes of all time is this Salsa Verde Chicken I found on Pinterest. It's basically chicken breasts, a jar of salsa verde, cumin, chili powder, half of a yellow onion, and chopped up tomatoes. I don't do the onion as a garnish, I just put it in all together and I don't buy canned tomatoes (a lot of canned vegetables have a ton of sugar in them - so I prefer to cut up actual tomatoes). Put them all in the Crockpot for 6 hours on low (shredding the chicken about 3-4 hours in), and boom! You're good for the week! I make brown rice as well to go with it, and I will sometimes mix a baby avocado (they have bunches of them at Trader Joe's) into it.
- Drink. Lots. Of. Water. I know, everyone tells you that. But really, you will feel SO much better and you'll look better. You'll see a huge difference in your skin too. I've also really gotten into this Collagen Powder which has helped with my knee pain (I've sprained ligaments in the past) while working out AND I've noticed my nails have gotten stronger (I've always been a picker when it comes to my nails, so this is a huge accomplishment for me). You can mix it in with your water, or really mix it in with any drink you're having since it's flavorless (I usually mix it in with my pre-workout powder or my protein drinks).
- Last but not least, you have to find a workout you actually like to do. I'm so excited that SPENGA is here in Brookfield, and the GM Kristen and owner Tracy are wonderful humans. I'm so happy we have this partnership going now with their gym and our station, and I can't wait to really get started working out with them this year! SPENGA is 20 minutes of spin, 20 minutes of strength, and then finished off with 20 minutes of yoga. They mix up the workouts pretty frequently too which I love because who wants to have a stale workout? Check out our workout with them below!
Bonus 5th tip: Please take time for yourself and don't put too much pressure on what you're doing. When you need to take a break from life, I highly recommend the Headspace app. Meditation is a life saver - literally. You will learn what's really going on in your head, and you'll be able to handle it a little better by taking these breaks daily.