Pastel Hearts

Since I remember, I have always been intrigued by women. My mother was the first woman I thought was the most beautiful, smartest and carried with her the strongest character I had ever seen (I still do!). A woman plays an important role in the upbringing of children and managing their home efficiently. It is hard being a woman.

I feel that women should be respected not just because they are women, but also because they are individuals with their own identity. They contribute equally to the betterment of the society. Every woman is special whether she is working at home or office or doing both.

If you are a woman reading this, be proud of who you are. If you are a man reading this, cherish the women in your life. I know at times in life we feel that we are only ones who have to make sacrifices or who have to let go their feelings and dreams for others linked to us. This is your power. Be empowered by this gift. You are amazing, strong, loving and you are here with a purpose. 

The Time in Between, is a series on Netflix that my mom, sisters and I have been watching. The story begins in 1934 and it reminded me of how us women can be so naive. We decide to go through so much in silence. Definitely reminded me of how much I have gone through in silence. We choose love over anything anytime. There is nothing wrong with that but you have to be aware of who you are giving your hand and your heart to. 

XX

Claudia

Turmeric Milk Elixir

Today I'm sharing with you how to make turmeric milk. This is my favorite beverage to have during the winter. I drink this once and sometimes twice a day. It tastes delicious and it's extremely nourishing. I have a special love and appreciation for turmeric. It has helped me heal my body in many ways and I notice a such a difference when I use it. It took many years for me to understand the relationship our digestive system has with the rest of our body. Your gut is your second brain. It is the second largest part of your neurological system! Crazy right? Turmeric contains a compound called cur-cumin. Curcumin is an amazing anti-inflammatory, it's pretty much nature's ibuprofen. This is great if you have any pain or inflammation in the body. Curcumin is also very beautifying. I use turmeric both, internally and externally in the form of a mask (it helps with acne). Your liver will also love turmeric, it is very beneficial for healing the liver. Drinking this will improve digestion and therefore reduce bloating. What better thing to do than to put this in and on (literally)your body? NOTHING. Now please. 

ELIXIR

The ingredient list is minimal and is as follows:

• 1 cup of almond or coconut milk
• 1 teaspoon of turmeric 
• 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
• A dash of pepper

I prefer almond milk but if my fridge is empty of it I will use coconut milk. I pour 1/4 cup of water in a heated deep pan and add the teaspoon of turmeric and the 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and stir until everything is mixed well (3-4 minutes) I let it sit for another minute and turn the stove top off. Last but not least, I pour the mixture on a mug  and add the almond milk to fill the mug and finally I top it with the dash of pepper and... voila! Enjoy! 

XX  

Claudia

Back to Basics

Hi guys,

It's been so crazy settling into a routine. Although I'm in a complete different mode right now, I am super excited to get back to a routine. It is difficult establishing a routine due to my busy schedule. With that, most days I get to improvise! I have been working on a LISS (low intensity steady state) cardio routine for the past few months. Most of you have been reaching out to ask what my day at the gym looks like now. There are 3 components to my workout. A warm up followed by my exercises and finally a cool down, so for those of you wanting to know, here is a breakdown 

WARM UP

When I step into my gym the first thing I do every single time is warm up. Warm up warm up warm up! Doing this gently prepares the body by gradually increasing the body's heart rate and circulation. This will loosen your joints and increase blood flow to the muscle you're working on that day preventing an injury. Use your warm up to get in the zone so you can concentrate on the workout to follow. Keep in mind, your warm up should take 10-15 minutes. 

EXERCISE

After warming up I like to keep my workout simple but effective. I focus on achieving 4-6 exercises and keep sets at a medium level 3-4 that is and my repetitions are 8-10. I follow this mostly for bigger muscle groups (eg. leg day). So for smaller muscle groups I up the repetitions to 12-14.

COOL DOWN

Lastly, I move on to a 5 minute cool down. The worst thing you can do is complete a high intensity workout and then just stop. Cooling down will slowly bring your pulse down as well as reduce the chance of feeling light headed. 

For best results, change up your workouts often. Play around with your body (not like that) keep it guessing so you don't hit a plateau and stop seeing results. Ah! and before I forget, DOCUMENT. If you want to take your goals to the next level, start documenting your diet, routine, and take weekly photos. You will learn more about your body and how to get results quicker and more effectively if you do so.

xx

Claudia