Recently I’ve been getting a lot of love on my blog post about The Detox that Flattened My Quarantine Tummy and Got Me Fit Again. Quarantine’s been hard, and we all want to get back in shape after our whole routines were thrown out the window back in March! But recently a lot of people have also been asking me about how to maintain the weight loss and even lose a little more after the detox. It’s so hard, and I know after a detox it’s common to gain weight! But since my detox, I’ve actually lost a couple more pounds! So I wanted to share with you how I did it, and how I maintain a healthy lifestyle long term.
1. FINDING BALANCE
The first secret is that living healthy doesn’t begin or end with a detox, it’s a lifelong commitment. I am so passionate about health and fitness, as you know, and I’ve written a lot about it on my blog! Including 9 Things You Can Do to Stay Healthy and Fit, How to Stay Fit in Quarantine and My Secrets to Staying Healthy + Fit in 2020.
For me, a healthy lifestyle is all about balance. I usually do a detox about once a year, but other than that, balance is key. And I want to be honest–I am far from being healthy all the time! I’m not some fitness superwoman–you can find me at least once a week going crazy on Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream or white chocolate chips. I get these crazy food cravings (don’t we all?!) and sometimes I totally break my routine and eat way more than I should! But that’s just human. You can’t keep a super healthy, strict routine 100% of the time… so if you break your routine, the key is just not to give up. The day after I break my healthy eating routine, I always work to balance it out by incorporating intermittent fasting the next day.
2. INTERMITTENT FASTING
I think it’s important to always keep changing up your routine and making improvements, so I’ve been implementing some changes to be even healthier. First, I’ve started doing more intermittent fasting. What this means is I skip my breakfast, and instead I have warm water with ginger, lemon and honey. And here’s another health secret I’ve discovered: honey! I’m basically addicted to honey, it’s the only sweet thing I eat when I’m not eating sweets. Yes it’s sweet, but honey is a much more natural and healthy way to satisfy your sweet tooth. So that’s just a little extra tip for all you sweet lovers (like me!) 🙂
After I drink my morning drink, an hour or less later I drink my coffee. Then, I usually have a juice in the afternoon around 11 or 12. I also often work out midmorning, so if I feel like I need the juice right after my workout, I do that instead. It’s okay to switch up your routine a bit, just really listen to what your body needs. After that, I usually have a light salad for lunch, and finally, a heavy dinner. I generally hold out and eat more at dinner because we do dinner as a family. Although they’re usually healthy and I do use portion control, I’m not as strict at dinner because I think it’s important to share family meals. I love having this time to really focus on enjoying myself and connecting with my wonderful husband and kids, rather than thinking only about food.
3. STAYING CONSISTENT WITH WORKOUTS
Another change I’ve made recently has been inspired by my sister, (@orlyfitness on instagram) who lives in Israel. She is 3 years older than me and it’s absolutely amazing how she looks and what she has accomplished in her life!! Ever since I can remember, she’s been trying to lose weight and be fit. She never really believed in diets… she did a couple in the past, but she’s always been all about balance more than anything else. I’ve seen her grow her fitness Instagram so much during this pandemic! And I have to say, it’s been really inspiring me to double down on my workouts, and stay motivated no matter what happens.
For me, workouts are one of the most important tricks to staying fit. I work out every day, and rarely take a day off. And I know it can be hard to fit in a workout with working and raising kids and having so much to do. But even if it’s only 20 minutes a day, I make sure to get some kind of workout in! Even small consistent workouts keep me on my fitness routine, and makes a big difference in my energy.
LIFTING WEIGHTS
In terms of which workouts I do, one of my favorites is the 30 minute workouts at Lift Chicago with my trainer Chad. I cannot recommend my gym enough because it’s only 30 minutes a day, but they guide you through everything, and I’ve really seen amazing results since working with them. I work with them twice again, and I can say it’s the first time I’ve ever seen results like this. I’ve started seeing muscles and abs and stuff that I never thought I’d be able to see, and I’m sure a lot of it goes to Chad. I also really recommend the Langham Chicago gym and spa, because they have state of the art equipment and resources, and everything is so safe!! I also bought weights and started lifting at home myself.
YOGA
I also LOVE doing yoga. It’s such a good way to stay centered and get a good workout and meditation at home, and it’s an amazing way to start or re-energize yourself during the day. I’ve posted about it before on my blog like how I became an Ashtangi after having Leonix, and How to Stay Fit in Quarantine. I usually do Ashtanga but I love experimenting with other styles like Vinyasa, Flow, and Strength Yoga, just to switch it up. I’ve been doing Ashtanga once a week for many years now, and since quarantine, I have been taking virtual classes with Yoga 2.0, which I absolutely love. I am also their ambassador now, so if you want to try a free class you can use the promo code “TaliYoga”.
RUNNING
And finally, my favorite new change: I’ve started running! My sister is really big on running and my dad always had me running when I was younger, but I’ve always been very off and on with it. Because, let’s be real, running is hard! But since I broke my pinky and got back on my feet, I promised myself: now that I’m back on my feet, I’m gonna use them. I got inspired by my sister, and in July, I started running.
In the beginning, let me tell you, it was not fun. It was hard and my muscles would really hurt, but I was determined. I set my mind to it, put on my favorite music, and just went. And since July, it’s gotten SO much easier! It’s like anything in life, you practice and get better, until suddenly it’s not a torture anymore. I’ve come to truly enjoy running and it’s become like a meditation for me. Especially when I wake up early and run by the lake, it gives me so much energy, grounds me and centers me. It’s the best way to start the day, and has inspired me to make another change: waking up early!
4. WAKING UP EARLY
My sister also inspired me to make this change, along with the 5AM Club book. Yes, you heard that right, I’m starting to wake up at 5AM! The book talks about the magic of waking up early in the morning, which I think is totally right because then you can get everything done. No excuses! Especially for me, since I’m up at 6:30 with kids, the only way for me to work out in the morning is if I wake up at 5. It seriously frees up more time in my day if instead of working out midmorning, I switch to doing it first thing. There is nothing better! I always think it’s good to have new goals for yourself and keep improving, so that’s my next goal.
And that’s how I do it–the routine I’ve always had and the new changes I’m making after my detox. And I just want you all to know that it is doable. Health and fitness is not this special thing that only a few of us can do, it’s for everyone! I want you all to know that if I did it and my sister did it, you can do it too. We’re in this together.
Now give me a high five and get to making those changes you’ve always wanted to make!
