First and foremost, happy freaking Friday! I'm not sure about you, but this has felt like the longest week ever. Not only that, but the weirdest. We're living in unprecedented times, and each day I feel like we're all just flying by the seat of our pants. It's tough to feel such uncertainty around what the future holds, but the best thing we can do is take a deep breath, accept the circumstances that we are unable to change, and have faith that we will get through this. Take a few minutes to appreciate the blessings that you have in your life, rather than focusing on the negative. Meditate, sweat it out (this is my favorite way to meditate), take an online yoga class, take a long bubble bath, go on a long walk outside, or write your feelings out in a journal. It's normal to feel fear or stress right now, but there are many healthy ways to release some of that energy and get back to feeling a sense of calm. Find the things that work best for you and practice them often.
It's been a hot minute since we've done one of these, so let's jump back in. Since most of us are stuck at home, we'll make this one quarantine themed. Please enjoy my list of things I have been using to distract myself from the current world crisis.
1. Home workouts. I was honestly really stressed about not being able to go to the gym for a while. I am a very routine-oriented person, and I LOVE my time in the gym every afternoon. Working out at home has been an adjustment, to say the least. I am currently living in a 1 bedroom apartment with my husband and massive black lab. We're working with very limited space and not a ton of equipment. I've made it part of the fun and almost like a challenge to program workouts with tons of variety each day to keep myself engaged. I look forward to getting up each day, doing a short activity in the morning, and something a bit longer in the afternoons. I try to incorporate getting outside whenever the weather is nice, and I mix it up with the equipment that I have available to me. Here is a fun workout I did yesterday:
I subbed 100 step ups instead of the double unders in this particular workout. I don't have a box or a bench, but I do have a large cooler that I used as my step. Do what you can, with what you have!
2. 1917: This movie got a ton of recognition during award season, so it piqued my interest. We never got the chance to see it in theaters, so we've been waiting for it to become available to rent. It finally happened this week, and Shawn and I watched it before bed the other night. It did not disappoint.
3. The Fittest Documentary: The new CrossFit Documentary by the same guys that did The Fittest on Earth and The Redeemed and the Dominant was released this week. Naturally, I downloaded it immediately. If you haven't seen their earlier films, go watch them now. I believe they're available on Netflix or Prime for free. All the films show a behind the scenes look at the CrossFit Games and include lots of candid interviews from some of the biggest names in the sport. Not a bad way to spend a couple hours if you ask me, and if you're looking for some motivation to get back to working out, here it is.
4. Masks. We can't go to the salon or spa right now, so we have to find ways to treat ourselves at home. Personally, I like to light candles, take long bubble baths, and put on face and under eye masks. It makes me feel like a damn queen. Plus, it's super relaxing and helps ease your mind when you're feeling stressed.
5. Zucchini chips. If you missed it, see my last post for recipe! These are great as a snack in between meals or as a side to lunch or dinner.
6. Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy Drinks. My friend, Jess, got me hooked on these when I went back to Georgia a couple of weeks ago. I couldn't find them here, so I ordered a bunch from Vitamin Shoppe and had them delivered to my apartment. I'm looking forward to having all the energy during my afternoon workouts now.
7. Date night in. Shawn and I LOVE to go to the movies. Unfortunately, the theaters were one of the first things to close down at the start of the outbreak, so we've been missing that. Some of the movies that were supposed to be showing in theaters have been released On-Demand through several streaming platforms for around $20 apiece. The other night, we rented The Hunt, popped some popcorn, set up our living room area to be our theater, and had a little date night in. Getting dressed in real clothes and recreating things you would regularly do helps things feel a little more normal in this crazy world we're currently living in.
8. My over-the-door pull-up bar. I couldn't risk losing my gains, y'all. This was one of my must-haves in my first big Walmart trip when things were starting to close down. I got it for literally $18 at my Walmart. They are currently sold out online, but here is a similar one on Amazon.
9. Chocolate collagen. I get a sweet tooth when I am cooped up for long periods of time, so this has been a lifesaver for me. I've been making a chocolate, peanut butter, banana shake at night using my collagen for a little treat. I blend a scoop of my chocolate collagen, a tablespoon of PB2, a tablespoon of dark chocolate cocoa powder, half a banana, ice, and cashew milk to make the most delicious milkshake that kicks my sugar cravings to the curb. Highly recommend.
10. My workout partner, snuggle buddy, shoulder to lean on, always willing to go for a coffee run, guy who keeps me sane in the craziest of times:
TUCKER. Y'all thought I was gonna say Shawn, huh? Shawn's cool too, but Tucker is truly the goodest boy of them all. We have full on conversations during the day. He always agrees with me and thinks my ideas are great. If you've been thinking about it and feel prepared and capable of taking care of one, get you a dog. When will you have more time or freedom to train and take care of a pet than right now? They're the freaking best. Also, I have heard that shelters are operating at capacity in a lot of areas right now, because people are surrendering their pets that they can no longer afford to take care of. It breaks my heart! Love your pets, friends, and help one if you can!
That rounds out my top 10 for the week. Let me know some of the things that have been keeping you busy this week. What are you doing to help yourself feel normal when the world feels like it's turned upside down? Who or what has been your rock during these challenging times? What is your biggest struggle while staying at home? Shoot me a message or comment below. Stay safe, stay fit, and stay healthy! Have a great weekend!
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