Best At-Home Fitness Apps, Exercise Equipment, & Tools

Now that we are spending most of our time at home, we have hit the pause button on many of our daily habits, especially fitness habits like going to the gym or a workout class. Between Netflix binging and trips to the refrigerator, it’s easy to get out of our routines and feel less disciplined. But, during this challenging time, it’s more important than ever to become resourceful as we adapt to this new normal, especially when it comes to exercise.

We all know that staying active has major benefits, not only for our bodies but also for our mental wellbeing. Below is a list of my favorite at-home fitness apps and streaming workouts. Whether you are looking for a 20-minute yoga class or an intense dance cardio class, I have your stay-at-home fitness needs covered. So grab your yoga mat now and let’s go!

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Apps

Asana Rebel 

With access to hundreds of workouts, from yoga to HIIT, the Asana app is like having your own home fitness studio! And, if anxiety has a hold of you or you’re having trouble falling asleep, this app also has meditations that will help you let go of the day’s news and calm your mind. It’s easy to get started with these workouts and they offer amazing shorter classes starting at just 20 minutes! My go-to for busier days for sure!

My Fitness Pal

We may have little control over what’s going on in the world, but this app makes it easy to get a grip on your health and wellness goals. As trips to the fridge begin to blur together, My Fitness Pal gives you a reality check, helping to track what you eat. It also monitors your daily movements and exercise, making it easy to lose weight, tone up and change your habits.  

Couch to 5K 

Instead of using quarantine as an excuse to become a couch potato, use this time to become a runner! Couch to 5k promises to get you running 5 kilometers, or 30 minutes non-stop, within 8 weeks. The secret is that it’s a gentle introduction to getting the body moving, starting off alternating between walking and running small distances, and slowly building up.

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Streaming and Online Classes

ClassPass 

I like this monthly fitness membership app because it makes it easy to schedule different boutique studio classes around the city to vary my workouts. But now that we are all home-bound, I’m loving it for their selection of streaming classes that I can do right in my living room! Through the app, they’ve set up a system allowing them to share a link to their studio partners streaming classes on various studio selected platforms (like Instagram Live, Facebook Live, YouTube). And best of all, from now through June, ClassPass is giving 100% of their proceeds directly to their studio partners to support their temporarily shuttered businesses.

The Class by Taryn Toomey

With a cult following (myself included), The Class by Taryn Toomey is a cardio meets Pilates workout blending yoga, boot-camp cardio, Pilates, and freestyle dance into a game-changing fitness routine. This unique class will challenge and enlighten you at the same time through music, understanding of the brain, body movement and spirituality. With fantastic guided instruction and powerful music, get ready to push your body to the limit!

Tracy Anderson Method

One of the most well-known celebrity trainers, exercising with the Tracy Anderson Method on the regular can truly transform your body. Her workouts are often dance-cardio focused, designed to work out and tone your entire body. Whether you have a beginner, intermediate or advanced fitness level, her online studio offers you classes anytime, anywhere…which is pretty much your living room these days…

Lauren Roxburgh ImmUNITY Boosting Movement Medicine 

Known by GOOP as the “body whisperer,” Lauren is the creator of the Aligned Life Studio and Aligned healing tools. She just launched an amazing free program as a valuable resource to help others get through this challenging time. ImmUNITY Boosting Movement Medicine is a package of all of her workouts and movement medicine sequences plus visualizations, recipes and other tools to help keep our immune system healthy and resilient. Her regular online studio also offers paid programs arranged by type (sweat, calm or heal) using those tools she’s famous for such as her foam roller, rebounder, and mat to help you align and tone your body. You can access any of her classes online or through her Aligned Life app. You can also check out and shop her books here!

Melissa Wood Health (MWH Method)

A meditator and certified yoga and Pilates instructor, Melissa created her MWH method out of a need to find a workout that was gentler on her body. Through personal challenges with body image and anxiety, Melissa found her way to a career in health coaching and fitness. Her method is holistic, gentle and effective, designed to give you the body you desire while building a stronger relationship with yourself. You will end each workout feeling mentally calmer and on your way to a leaner physique.

Forward Space on Instagram Live 

A workout for those who used to dance, love to dance or want to dance, Forward Space is high-vibe, energetic and fun! A full-body blast, dance-infused, non-stop sweat class. Known as a hybrid between a sanctuary and a club, they are currently holding classes you can join on Instagram Live. A digital dance party is exactly what we need right now! 

Brooke Burke Body

A selection of targeted or full-body workouts, Brooke loves to incorporate cardio into her leaning and toning workouts to keep them fun. Her class is my favorite for when I want to focus on a specific target area, and the stunning Malibu views in her videos are a nice change of pace from a typical in-studio workout! Her program is available online or through an app on your phone.

Physique 57

An upbeat, cardio-barre hybrid workout, Physique 57 classes are unbelievable for toning, shedding inches, and gaining lean muscle. This online streaming option can turn any space into a Barre class and help channel your inner ballerina. And, don’t forget to fill your water bottle…you will end this workout sweating and invigorated! 

Alo Moves by Alo Yoga 

Did someone say unlimited yoga, fitness, and meditation for only $20 a month? You may associate the Alo brand with fashion-forward athleisure and workout wear, but their online yoga classes are also fantastic for mind, body, and soul.  For restorative, power, Vinyasa flow, or meditation, Alo Moves has it all. Definitely a favorite go-to for any type of Yoga!

Carbon38

Switching up the meaning of the WFH acronym to stand for Workout From Home,  Carbon38, another favorite shop for athleisure wear, is streaming workout and wellness sessions with their top C38 ambassadors daily on Instagram Live! You can check their feed for the daily fitness schedule. 

PurposefulPixie

Offering movement and connection, legendary Soul-Cycle master instructor and yoga guru, Pixie Acia, is using her time at home to share her yoga and fitness practice with followers. Click the link above to request free access to join her classes as she builds a new, budding community. She invites you to come as you are, no experience necessary, and in return, she only asks that if you loved a class feel free to donate $5-10 in appreciation. Check her Instagram feed for class days and times. All you need is Zoom on your computer or phone! 

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Equipment

Peloton  

An in-home, high-tech spin bike or treadmill workout with some of the best trainers guiding you through your sessions step by step. Pick a class based on your mood, music preference, workout goals, and experience level. At the time of this writing they are still offering live instruction online, but please check their website frequently for the latest updates. Don’t have a Peloton? You can still use the app even if your treadmill or bike is a different brand. 

The Mirror

A high-tech, futuristic, reflective, mirror-like screen mounted on your wall is unlike anything heard of before. You see both yourself and your trainer in the mirror and have an unlimited amount of personal training classes to choose from including yoga, barre, stretching, Tracy Anderson classes, kickboxing, boxing, cardio, strength training and more. Definitely a splurge but so worth it!

Soul-Cycle Bike - 

I’ve always enjoyed the great workout from a Soul-Cycle class; sweating powered to the beat. Now, they are introducing their new, ready to pre-order bike that brings the energy directly into your home and captures everything you love about Soul. This piece of home-workout equipment not only looks good, but it is also designed to deliver everything you’d expect from their legendary classes, including the great playlists and fabulous instructors, to keep your energy and heart level up.

SHOP LoRox Foam roller

Shop accessories you may need depending on workout:

SHOP Resistance bands (typically in a pack of 5 ranging from light to heavy resistance).

SHOP Yoga mat by Manduka

SHOP Foam roller (LoRox)

SHOP Ankle or wrist strap on weights

SHOP Adjustable Yoga Strap

SHOP Exercise Ball

SHOP iPad and iPhone Stand

I hope you try some of these workouts to stay fit during this challenging time. What are some of your favorite fitness apps? Please leave in the comments below.

Stay safe and healthy! 

xx Melissa

8 Simple Ways to Boost Your Metabolism by Celeb Nutritionist Elissa Goodman

I was one of those girls who could always eat whatever I wanted, and my bodyweight basically stayed the same, give or take 5 lbs. But… I found that as I entered my 50s, my metabolism started to noticeably slow down. Even though I was regularly exercising and eating a healthy diet, a layer of “fluff” seemed to appear overnight. This change prompted me to take a closer look at and focus on my metabolism.

 In this article, guest contributor and celeb nutritionist Elissa Goodman shares her tips on how to re-boost your metabolism. Read on for some amazing tips and takeaways that have helped me and can help you achieve best results!

8 Simple Ways to Boost Your Metabolism

Elissa Goodman is a nutritionist whose mission is to educate and encourage healthy, mindful living while helping others embrace the concept that we are a product of what we eat and how we treat ourselves.

When you think of someone with a “fast metabolism,” you might immediately envision a naturally thin person. However, metabolism is actually the chemical process in which your body turns calories into energy, and everyone has the ability to implement practices that can shift your levels of metabolism. A strong metabolism has seemingly endless benefits. It is related to lower rates of disease, healthy sex drive, longevity, and more.

Those with autoimmune conditions typically suffer from a sluggish metabolism. It is almost as if their body’s energy-producing mitochondria and thyroid (AKA the “gas pedal gland”) have both gone on strike and, as a consequence, everything has slowed down. As a result of the change in metabolic function, someone with an autoimmune disease might feel tired and cold a lot. They could also have a hard time losing weight. A slow metabolism will decrease the robustness of the immune system, so it is essential to keep track of any big shifts in metabolic function. If you have been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease or just think that your metabolism needs a boost, I recommend trying some of these strategies:

Conscious Breathing

This is one of the most deceptively simple ways to raise your metabolism and relax your body and mind – at the same time. Studies have shown that practices, like yoga, that incorporate conscious breathing result in greater metabolic efficiency likely due to reduced sympathetic activity and/or stabilized nervous system function. If you are new to conscious breath work, do not be intimidated; anyone can do it! You can start by simply inhaling for eight seconds, holding your breath for eight seconds and then exhaling for eight seconds. Do three rounds of 10 breaths in the morning when you wake up and before going to sleep at night.

The Plant Based Ketogenic Diet

You have probably heard that the ketogenic diet has helped some people lose weight; but did you know that it has also been shown to improve overall metabolism in some cases? For those who are unfamiliar with keto, it is a style of eating that is high in fat, moderate in protein, and low in carbohydrates (roughly 70 percent fat, 25 percent protein and five percent carbs). The ketogenic diet can help to lower inflammation, reverse insulin resistance, improve brain function, increase energy levels, and even helps you detoxify from heavy metals. Keto doesn’t have to mean high animal protein and I wouldn’t recommend that version of it. There is a mostly plant-based keto program I would recommend. You can start by looking into Ketotarian by Dr. Will Cole.

Intermittent Fasting

Studies confirm that going without food for certain lengths of time has numerous health benefits like improving insulin sensitivity, increasing energy levels, and boosting metabolism. To ease into it, allow 15 hours between dinner and breakfast a few times per week. If you are more of a morning eater, try skipping dinner multiple times a week and only eat during the mornings and afternoons. Intermittent fasting is not intended to be calorie depriving. In fact, you should not be reducing your caloric intake at all when practicing this form of fasting. You are simply giving your body more time in between meals to reset because digestion is a lot of work on your system.

Stop Calorie Restriction

Give your body the calories it needs to function properly! If you are dieting too intensely, you can wind up entering “starvation mode.” This causes hormonal and cellular changes that drive up your hunger and thirst, while slowing down your fat-burning abilities and muscle growth. Your body slows down all of its essential processes as a means of conserving energy since it is not consuming enough fuel in the form of food.

Exercise

Various forms of exercise have been shown to have both short and long-term effects on metabolic function. I often tell my clients that mild intermittent fasting paired with moderate exercise can be a great combination for combatting poor metabolism. Moderate cardio in a fasted state first thing in the morning, for example, has been shown to offer superior metabolic effects than exercising after eating.

Cold Showers

You may be thinking that this one sounds like an old wives’ tale, but it actually works! Not only does cold water force your body to work harder to keep you warm, thereby burning more calories, it also activates healthy brown fat that helps to eliminate harmful adipose (white) fat. For optimal results, alternate 20 seconds of hot water and 20 seconds of cold water in the shower for a few minutes.

Get Plenty of Sleep

There is a proven link between a properly functioning metabolism and getting adequate sleep and rest. Therefore, a lack of sleep can literally mean a lack of weight loss. “Running on fumes” can seriously slow down your metabolism, so it is absolutely imperative for you to get around eight hours of sleep every night. Just because your brain may feel like it is able to function on limited sleep, that does not mean that your body is operating optimally on it.

Eat the Right Foods

There are various foods that can help to boost your metabolism in different ways. Some of them include healthy fats like avocados, nuts, seeds, and wild fatty fish. Foods rich in iron, zinc and selenium promote proper thyroid function, which helps to maintain a healthy metabolism. Spicy foods like chili and cayenne peppers contain a compound called capsaicin, which may help to slightly increase metabolism and fat oxidation. Similarly, garlic can have a thermogenic effect in the body, which enhances the metabolism. The caffeine found in coffee may also help to boost the number of calories and fat that your body burns. If you are not a coffee drinker, do not worry, you are still in luck. The combination of caffeine and catechins found in green tea may help your body burn slightly more calories and fat if consumed regularly.

Ginger has also been found to increase calorie burning processes. Cacao may have certain metabolism-boosting properties as well, especially for those consuming high-calorie, high-fat diets. Almonds have numerous benefits and among them is metabolism improvement and weight loss. Coconut Oil and MCT Oil have shown similar promise for their metabolism-enhancing properties. I often recommend that my clients add a spoonful of MCT oil to their morning coffee or smoothie to kickstart their metabolism for the day ahead. Finally, experts agree that eating a variety of colorful, antioxidant-rich plant foods is essential for mitochondrial health. It is important to stay away from high-glycemic and high-carb foods like sugar and white flour because they can put a lot of stress on your mitochondria, inhibiting your metabolic function.

If you are experiencing an extreme and uncharacteristic shift in metabolic rate, I recommend consulting a doctor before testing any of these strategies.

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I hope you found this article helpful and let me know what works to help you boost your metabolism in the comments below!
xxMelissa

Fancy Sweats and Sneakers

I used to only wear sweat pants to sleep—oh how things have changed since I moved to LA! Given our cold and rainy winter this year, I recently purchased some super cute sweats and sneakers that can be worn from lounging around the house to exercise and lunch. I like to pair this look with a chic and classic puffer jacket or vest and now is a good time to shop for them and take advantage of some end of season sales.

Below are some of my fave sweats, sneakers, and accessories to rock on casual days and still look stylish. I’m obsessed with how comfortable the APL sneakers feel (order half a size bigger as they run a bit small) and how soft and flattering the pieces are from MONROW!

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These new APL sneakers come so many styles and fun patterns. I am loving my new pair in this dusty rose color and they go with everything for spring.

Ready to be comfy and casual chic? All you need are a few key pieces and you’ll be good to go for the transition of seasons!

xxMelissa