Sharing some of my favorite TMI wellness essentials. Affiliate links are included below. Thank you so so much for shopping through my links!

Ok friends, we’re getting a little TMI today.

These are some of the slightly weird, decidedly unglamorous things I regularly do in the name of feeling good, looking a little more alive (I hope??), and taking care of myself. Some are wellness staples I’ve used for years, some are beauty things that make me look absolutely ridiculous while I’m doing them, and all are staples that I’ve use regularly and love.

As always, this is just what I personally use and love, not medical advice. You definitely don’t need to do all of these things. Pick what makes sense for you and your life and leave the rest.

My TMI wellness essentials

1. Castor oil packs

Yes, I regularly strap this oil-soaked situation to my stomach while I watch TV. I usually reach for my castor oil pack when my digestion feels sluggish, I’m feeling puffy, or I just want a cozy little self-care moment. It’s one of those rituals that sounds extremely weird until it becomes part of your routine.

My favorite castor oil pack

2. HigherDOSE Body Sculptor

This combines microcurrent, red light, and a vigorous little massage, and I use it on my stomach, thighs, and booty. It feels amazing and I love using it when I’m feeling puffy or want a little extra body-care moment. Gravity is persistent, but so am I

HigherDOSE Body Sculptor (use FITNESSISTA15)

3. Forehead tape

I use two things on my forehead at night and it’s made a HUGE difference. I alternate between Frownies and this forehead patch that has a tiiiny but of Ghk-Cu. I tend to aggressively furrow my brow while I sleep and this helps remind those muscles to CHILL. It looks ridiculous and it works.

4. Facial suction cups + stainless steel gua sha

When my face is looking extra puffy, these are two of my favorite tools. I gently use the tiny facial cups and follow with my stainless steel gua sha.

Facial suction cups
Stainless steel gua sha

5. Nontoxic self-tanner

I love the Arizona sunshine more than my dermatologist would probably appreciate, so self-tanner lets me have some color without turning every pool day into a full-body rotisserie situation. I love that

Sharing a roundup of my top finds from this year’s Prime Day!

Hiii friends! How are you? I hope that your week is going well! We celebrated Father’s Day, the Pilot and I had a much-needed date night, and P had a soccer friends swim party.

Today, I wanted to share a roundup of the best finds from Prime Day sales.

TBH, this sale can be overwhelming and so many creatorsare sharing their favorite finds. I wanted to make my list a bit smaller, majorly focusing on quality over quantity. Everything on this list is something that we use and love, or that I’m planning on buying. It’s a great time to stock up on some things you need, new products you’ve had your eye on, or maybe order a couple of holiday gifts in advance.

Here are my top picks for this year!

My Amazon storefront has the full roundup for easy browsing, too.

*a little note: this post contains affiliate links which allow me to earn a small commission. Every click and purchase make a huge difference, and I’m so grateful for your support.

The best deals from Prime Day (things you’ll actually use)

House and cooking finds:

This electric kettle. I have a similar one and use it to make tea every single night.

A KitchenAid mixer. We got one for our wedding, alomst 20 years ago, and it still looks and works extremely well.

Little Green Machine. With kids and pets…this is essential.

Great deal on a Dyson cordless vaccuum. Ours died, but I’m thinking of replacing it.

A healthier air fryer. We have a very similar one and I’m so glad that it’s not leeching plastics and chemicals into the food.

An Instant Pot! I use this every.single.day. It’s great for busy school nights and also makes the most perfect rice.

Plastic BPA free wine glasses for poolside wine.

Owala water bottles! We love ours. When I went to create the link, it told me I’ve bought 6 of them!

Kindle. I love having one because it keeps me from scrolling on my phone.

A Ring camera.

The only blender you ever need.

I use these glass meal prep containers every day.

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Join me for a free workshop this Thursday! Details here. 

Hi friends!

So you’re doing everything “right.”

You eat well. You take your supplements. You’ve probably overhauled your routine more than once. And yet  you still don’t feel like your best self. You’re tired, off, or just not quite you, and you can’t figure out why.

I know that feeling intimately, because I’ve lived it.

My own healing journey was full of moments where I thought I had finally figured it out – only to still feel like something was missing. I was doing all the things I was supposed to do, following all the right advice, and still struggling. It wasn’t until I started digging deeper – past the surface-level wellness advice and into the root causes that don’t always show up on a standard lab panel – that things finally started to shift for me. Gut health, parasites, the connection between what’s happening in your body and how you feel day to day – these were the pieces that changed everything.

And once I found my way through it, I couldn’t stop talking about it.

Since then, I’ve worked with clients who came to me exhausted, frustrated, and convinced they were just going to feel this way forever. What I’ve seen over and over again is that when we stop chasing symptoms and start asking the right questions, the body has an incredible capacity to heal. Sometimes it’s gut-related. Sometimes it’s something that’s been quietly lurking for years. Almost always, it’s something that never got addressed because nobody thought to look there.

That’s exactly why I’m hosting a free live workshop called Why You’re Healthy But Still Sick.

This isn’t going to be a list of more things to add to your plate or more rabbit holes to fall down. I’m going to walk you through some of the real, often-overlooked reasons why people who are doing all the things still aren’t feeling well and give you tangible next steps you can actually take. We’ll also have time for Q&A at the end, because I want this to feel like a real conversation.

Workshop details:

Thursday, May 21

10am PST / 1pm EST

Free to attend – grab your spot below

Click the link here to sign up.

If you’ve ever felt like your body is speaking a language you can’t quite translate please join us. I’d love to see you there!

xo, Gina

The post Why You’re Healthy But Still Sick (+ Join Me for a Free Workshop) appeared first on The Fitnessista.

Sharing some thoughts on why you might still be inflamted, even if you’re doing all the things.

Hi friends! How are you? I hope that your morning is going well. I have a podcast interview, a dentist appointment, and a discovery call this afternoon for a potential new client.

Today, I wanted to talk about a hot topic. This has been coming up a lot in DMs, with clients, even in conversations with friends:

“I feel like I’m doing everything right… why do I still feel inflamed?”

And I get it, because I’ve been there too. And honestly have been there very recently myself, and it’s annoying lol.

You’re eating clean, working out, taking your supplements, trying to stay on top of everything… and your body still feels off. Maybe it’s bloating, low energy, stubborn weight, or just that overall “blah” feeling you can’t quite explain.

It’s frustrating, especially when you’re putting in so much effort.

Here are some of the things that could be going on: (of course, if you ever feel off, talk with your doctor)

Why You’re Still Inflamed Even Though You’re “Doing Everything Right”

1. You’re Under-Fueling (Even If You’re Eating “Healthy”)

This one is so common, especially for women who are motivated and disciplined.

You’re eating clean, whole foods, but not enough of them.

When your body doesn’t get enough fuel, it perceives that as stress. And what happens under stress?

– Cortisol goes up

– Blood sugar becomes unstable

– Inflammation increases

Your body shifts into survival mode, not healing mode.

Signs this might be you:

You feel wired and tired

You’re hungry at night

Your workouts feel harder than they should

You’re not seeing results despite consistency

Sometimes the most healing thing you can do is to eat more food.

2. You’re Over-Training (and Under-Recovering)

More is not always better.

If you’re stacking intense workouts (HIIT, long cardio, bootcamps) on top of an already full, stressful life, your body may not be able to keep up.

Exercise is a stressor. A good one; but still a stressor.

Without proper recovery, it can lead to:

Chronic inflammation

Hormone imbalances

Fatigue and burnout

Increased cravings

This doesn’t mean you need to stop working out.

It just means your body might be asking for:

More strength training

More rest days

More low-impact movement (walking, yoga, barre)

Sometimes dialing it back actually gets you better results.

Sharing a list of those “live and learn” kinda moments.

Hi friends! I hope you’re having a wonderful morning. I have a couple of appointments today and then it’s the mom uber shuffle later this afternoon.

Today, I wanted to chat about something that comes up all the time with clients and in DMs, especially from women who are just getting started with strength training:

“I’m working hard at the gym, but I’m not seeing results.”

I feel this in my soul, because I’ve definitely been there.

When I first started my fitness journey, I was super motivated, consistent… and also making quite a few mistakes that were slowing my progress way down. The tricky part is that a lot of these mistakes are things we’ve been taught to do (especially as women in the early 2000s fitness era… anyone else remember hours on the elliptical? I used to prop my textbook on the elliptical and *study* as a I pedaled my little heart out)

Today I wanted to chat about some of the biggest beginner strength training mistakes I personally made, so you can skip the frustration and start seeing results faster. (lil note: even though I’m a certified personal trainer, Women’s Fitness Specialist and Corrective Exercise Specialist, this is not personalized fitness advice. Check with your doctor before making any changes to your routine.)

Beginner strength training mistakes I made

1. Doing way too much cardio

This was probably my #1 mistake.

I thought the formula was:

Sweat as much as possible = better results

So I’d stack:

Long cardio sessions

Group fitness classes

Maybe a little bit of strength training… as an afterthought.. and I’d use teeny tiny lil weights.

The problem? Too much cardio can actually work against your goals, especially if you’re trying to build muscle, boost metabolism, and change your body composition.

When you’re constantly in a calorie-burning, high-stress state:

– Your body doesn’t prioritize muscle building

– Cortisol can stay elevated

– You can feel constantly depleted (and CRASH in the afternoon)

What I wish I had done instead:

Focus on strength training as the foundation, with cardio as support.

Now, I usually recommend:

3 – 4 days of strength training

1 – 2 days of cardio (or just daily walks + lifestyle movement)

2. Not eating enough (especially protein)

This one is huge and I see it all the time.

Back then, I was:

Under-eating overall

Skipping meals or eating super “light”

Not prioritizing protein at all (I thought one egg was protein and that peanut butter was also protein)

Behold, a 2014 lunch:

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