Quarantine Body Challenge
It’s totally normal to have a dicey relationship with working out. Personally, I’m the girl who absolutely dreads any sort of strenuous physical activity and then, when it’s over, I’m thinking of becoming a Bandier ambassador and drinking a green juice. God, I love green juice. Back to the point: I am very proud to say that I’ve worked out consistently for 34 days since being self-quarantined. This is huge for me. Yes, if you know me, you probably know that I prioritize my health and take good care of my body, but let’s not get it twisted—I used to work out 3 to 4 times per week, maximum.
When my quarantine journey began, I pushed myself to take control of something, anything. Why not capitalize on this time at home and move my body a little more than usual? What the hell else am I really doing in my spare time? (Watching The Bold Type, that’s what I’m doing.) Not only have my daily workouts become an empowering routine, but they have also improved my mental health immensely. Take it from a moody queen—I feel so great after moving my body and getting a good sweat in. Even when the workout lasts for only 30 minutes, which they usually do, the moodlift (like a facelift for your mental state) will keep you energized for hours. The New York Times agrees.
Below, I have guided you through my weekly workout regimen. I find most of my workouts on Instagram and Youtube, which is an art in itself, because there are so many mediocre fitness videos out there. For most of the routines, all you need are your cute lil’ bods! No equipment is necessary other than a yoga mat (and you can always use a towel instead). I challenge you all to take part in this QUARANTINE BODY CHALLENGE with me. These workouts are tried and true by me and my sister and I promise you will leave them feeling fantastic—fewer moody days guaranteed. ;)
MONDAY - Leg Day
I’ve always been intimidated by Instagram models and fitness influencer-types. Probably because they are insanely beautiful, have perfect bodies, and whenever I catch a glimpse of myself in my black mirror when watching their videos, all I see are my own chins. But honestly, now that I’ve combed through their pages looking for content, these chicks Put. In. Work. And I respect the hell out of them. Our first day of the challenge, Leg Day, will be hosted by @GainsbyBrains. She put together a sequence of leg exercises, aka squats and lunges for days. Both are rough, of course, but they’re effective and every fitness trainer swears by them. I have no doubts that after a few weeks, you will feel and see a difference in dem thighs.
While that is an excellent workout on its own, I think it’s an added bonus that we owe to ourselves to end most workouts with an abdominal burnout. You’re already sweaty, so you might as well push yourself a little more. A strong core leads to so many health benefits, not to mention beach szn hasn’t been cancelled yet!
@CurvesbyTina_ is another awesome fitness influencer account. JUST SUCCUMB TO THEM! I like this ab workout because it burrrns while simultaneously lengthening and opening up your body thanks to the pilates-esque movements.
TUESDAY - Full Body HIIT
Today is all about increasing your heart rate and getting a liiit sweat in. You will be so happy when it’s over.
Tina and her curves are coming in clutch for the second day in a row with her “Home HIIT Workout.” Tina created two back-to-back bodyweight cardio circuits for us. Bodyweight exercises are great for burning fat and toning pretty much every muscle. In this workout, you will perform each exercise for 30 seconds, then break for 10 seconds and move onto the next exercise for 30 seconds. Once Circuit A has been completed 3 times, you will move onto Circuit B for another 3 rounds.
Oh—you thought you were done with your workout after that? Hey gang! Welcome to your 8 minute abs finisher!
This is the most nostalgic, cringey (yet hilarious) ab video of all time. It’s clearly from the nineties (eighties?), but I don’t even care, because it still slaps. It’s only 8 minutes long, but you feel it in your tummy and the exercises target every abdominal area. Cringe time! I mean crunch! Crunch time.
WEDNESDAY - Booty Day
I never realized you could actually change the shape and size of your booty. Maybe that’s only me, because I was so wrong!? Doing glute exercises, like these in @DanniBelle’s “No Equipment Booty Workout,” have actually lifted and strengthened my bum. I struggle with these exercises because they really engage your core as well your entire lower body, but they are so worth it. They sculpt and tone in all the right places, making that booty POP.
Booty Day brought to you by Nicki Minaj’s “Dit It On ‘Em.”
BONUS (I’M SORRY): Combine this booty challenge with 100 reps of Flutter Kicks for a lower ab burnout, another area that will provide spinal support when strengthened.
THURSDAY - Full Body Cardio
On Day 4, I like to focus on plank-based workouts like mountain climbers, plank jacks, and burpees. These exercises tone just about every muscle in your body, plus you don’t really realize it but you’re also strengthening your abs. Alll about tricking my body into getting a better workout. Our main chick @DanniBelle coming in hot again with her “Fat Burner” workout, which takes just about 30 minutes and is the only workout for the day.
This is a challenging one and you’re definitely going to sweat, so do it on hair washing day. If you don’t feel ready to do the first exercise with a pushup, just rotating your body from right side-plank to left side-plank is an awesome workout. You guys know your bods better than I do. That said: no pain, no gain.
FRIDAY - Recovery Day
WE MADE IT, FAM! Working out four days in a row is not easy. A new episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race is your reward.
On Day 5 of our new normal workout plan (@Kanye), it’s time to get some recovery in. Your muscles are probably screaming, so stretching is key. I personally enjoy an active stretch: a 30 minute yoga or mat pilates routine.
I am probably not the first person who has told you about the Youtube channel, Yoga With Adriene, and I will probably not be the last. Adriene’s routines are relaxing and enjoyable. She always features her adorable pup in them, and they are a great way to take a brain break, listen to your body, and give it a good stretch. Full disclosure, I normally don’t love yoga—I wish I did, but I find it difficult to focus fully on the workout. They kind of bore me. That’s why I like to find routines that really engage my muscles because I believe it makes the time go quicker. If yoga does it for you, I would give this routine a try. More power to ya!
Everyone has that one area on their body that they’re like, “yeah, okay, we’re cool I guess, sometimes.” For me, that’s my core. And by core in no way do I mean my abs. Underneath my tummy, I have a pretty strong core. I got it from my mama. That’s why I love pilates. Pilates constantly engages your core. It strengthens, without bulking, and (if you do it frequently enough) you should find that your body feels more lean (aka the dream).
I enjoy taking reformer classes in the city (miss you New York Pilates, but don’t miss dat price tag), and since nobody got tiiime to have a pilates reformer in their house, I’ve been searching the interweb for a mat pilates class that doesn’t put me to sleep. What I found was interesting. I stumbled across (on Instagram, of course) a Los Angeles-based mat-pilates-meets-booty-bootcamp studio named Get Hot. While this studio sounds like it was named by early 2000s Paris Hilton, the name actually comes from the 95°F temperature of their signature class.
If you’re new or old to pilates, I would give this classical mat routine a try. It’s led by the Get Hot founder and it really gave my abs a good burn and my bod a good stretch. I hope ya like it!
SATURDAY - IG Live Stream | Cardio
SLAY SLAY! You made it to the weekend! Bye work! Hello (again) wine!
On Saturdays my sister, my mom and I have been loving taking Instagram livestream classes together. Our favorite, and really the only class we have taken so far, has been led by Box + Flow. Box + Flow is a relatively new concept with two small studios in Lower Manhattan. My sis and I randomly stumbled upon them on ClassPass and we kind of fell in love. A Box + Flow workout includes about 30 minutes of guided boxing (normally on a heavy bag) coupled with 15 minutes of yoga and abs. On their website, they beam, “Box + Flow is for those who aren’t afraid to get messy.” And I think they hit the nail on the head. In a city that cares far too much about status (belonging to the right gym, taking the cool class), Box + Flow is a breath of fresh air. There are no mirrors in the studio; the lights are low, but everyone’s heart rate is way up. There is no right or wrong way to fight in Box + Flow—you are just encouraged to free your mind and sweat your dang booty off. As someone who has tried all the trendy NYC shit, trust me, this class is actually fun.
We love the weekly Saturday livestream at 11am hosted by Box + Flow founder Olivia Young, who is motivating but doesn’t take herself too seriously. While 2 pound weights are ideal for the shadowbox portion, White Claws work just as well. This workout will leave you feeling great for a day of laying on the couch and binging Tiger King.
SUNDAY - Tabata
I used to love to veg all day on Sundays, eatin’ Halo Top at 11am, and not getting a whiff of fresh air. I still do exactly that, but now I get a cute 20 minute workout in before it. Not sure if you guys are familiar with the concept of Tabata. My sister used to bring it up casually in conversation with me and I always thought it was a weird form of hot yoga. Well, it’s not. It’s actually kind of cool!
Tabata is a high intensity interval training method where each circuit contains two exercises. The circuit is completed by doing 20 seconds of exercise 1 followed by 10 seconds of rest, then doing 20 seconds of exercise 2 followed by 10 seconds of rest. You repeat this process 4 times and then move on to the next circuit.
PRO-TIP: Spotify put together a bunch of Tabata remix playlists, so you don’t even have to time yourselves. The songs cue every change of movement—this was a game changer, ladies.
I made this Tabata routine myself and I use it every Sunday. It killls (especially Tabata 3), but it’s over before you know it. :)
Tabata 1:
Jumping jacks
Alternating lunges
Tabata 2:
Flutter kicks (with hands interlaced on your chest)
Tabata 3:
Tabata 4:
High knees
Now go enjoy your Sunday because we’re right back to the grind on Monday!
