To You, From You.

 

Let’s face it – life is pretty strange right now. We’re on week 3 of quarantine and as much as we’re trying to stay strong and accept this new lifestyle, many of us are still feeling anxious and uneasy. We’ve talked about maintaining a familiar routine to create normalcy and eating healthy to feel good, but sometimes, and especially now, you just need a little extra TLC. Since we’re all social distancing, it’s really up to you to give that to yourself. To provide you with some ideas for the ultimate self-care experience, we’ve rounded up our top 10 favorite items to put in your personal “Quarantine Care Package”.

F-FACTOR 20/20 FIBER/PROTEIN POWDER

This is a no brainer because it’s the solution to a common theme we’re all experiencing right now—the struggle between wanting to stay healthy and seeking comfort foods. Well… they say to find you a girl who can do both, and we’ve delivered her in 3 different white & green bags. One of the best parts about using 20/20 is that you can create recipes for all of your cravings. From creamy mac n’ cheese to decadent chocolate chip cookies, you can enjoy any of your favorite comfort foods while still honoring your intentions to look and feel your best. Also, by including F-Factor 20/20 in your meal prep, you’ll occupy your free time and set yourself up for a successful, easy week. F-Factor RD Maria Stavropoulos, MS, RD, CDN says, “I’ve been making 20/20 recipes to store in my freezer. It saves me so much time to just pop in waffles, muffins, and cookies in the oven to warm up throughout the week, which allows me to use after-work hours to FaceTime with friends and family instead of cooking.”

AT-HOME SPA KIT

With the closing of non-essential businesses, we’ve realized just how essential our beauty regimens are to (if we’re being honest) our vanity, but more importantly, our sanity. F-Factor Director of Nutrition, Amanda Ryman, MS, RD, CDN, says she’s using her extra time at home to do all of the self-care activities she normally puts off. “I’m talking hair masks, face masks, foot peels. These moments remind me that it’s important to take care of myself so I can feel good from the inside out.” Want specifics? F-Factor Founder, Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD, shared her at-home spa kit here.

WINE

Need we say more?! It’s a good thing cocktails are approved from day 1 on F-Factor because we could all use a friend right now who isn’t required to stay 6 ft away. If having wine at dinner is part of your normal life, then like we said, maintain normalcy by all means! All jokes aside, feel free to enjoy a glass (or two) of wine to relax and unwind from your very busy day on the couch. Most liquor stores are still open (they’ve seemed to prove their necessity), and if you’re in NYC, use apps like Drizzly or Mini Bar to get Cloudy Bay delivered straight to your door.

TAKEOUT FOOD

The beauty of F-Factor is being able to d̶i̶n̶e̶ ̶o̶u̶t̶ order in any cuisine, and with limited options at the moment, it’s comforting to know that regardless of the menu, you can always find something that’s F-Factor Approved. In addition to helping you feel less restricted right now, you’re also helping local businesses. Amanda added this to her self-care list too, and told us, “While we’ve definitely been cooking more than usual, we’re still treating ourselves to date night and ordering in (safely, of course). One or two nights a week we’ve been supporting our local restaurants on the nights we’d normally be going out. It’s been giving us a small sense of normalcy, and I know I can still make good decisions about what I eat because F-Factor gives you those tools.”

ONLINE WORKOUTS

It’s very easy right now to just melt into your couch and binge watch Netflix for hours, which is definitely an acceptable form of self-care, but it’s important to also keep our bodies moving each day. Moving your body is essential for mental, physical, & emotional self-care, and of course overall health. While all of our favorite in-studio workouts are shut down, we’ve rounded up our team’s 5 favorite WFH (work from home) workouts that you can do in the comfort of your own home with limited gym equipment. Check it out here.

FRESH AIR

While this isn’t a tangible “item” and it sounds crazy just suggesting it, it’s apparently necessary to address. There is a lot of fear and confusion right now about stepping outside of your house/apartment. Yes, we should all be social distancing and staying home to stop the spread of COVID-19, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go outside. As long as you’re taking the necessary precautions, like keeping your distance from others, not touching your face, and washing your hands before & after, you can and should go for walks outside. Amanda reassures us that “Fresh air is still so important! I try to get out at least twice a day. I walk down a quiet street or through the park and just clear my head. The fresh air can help to lower our stress hormone levels, and a few minutes of sunlight makes Vitamin D within our bodies.”

PUZZLES & GAMES

If you’re shacked up with family, your S/O, or roommate, order a puzzle and interact the old-fashioned way! Not only will this take up time, which in this case is a good thing, it can create new conversation with your quarantine buddy(ies) and keep you focused on something other than ‘Rona memes (which will help get your phone screen time down). Experiencing shipping delays? There are tons of online puzzles, games, and apps like the New York Times Crossword – because who doesn’t like a one-stop-shop for essential content right now?

BOOKS

This may seem obvious, but sometimes we need a reminder that reading is truly the activity that never ages. Need an escape from someone in your (what seems to be getting smaller each day) home? Reading a book is the perfect excuse to sit alone for hours in quiet. Need an escape from reality? Grab a juicy novel – F-Factor RD Julia Tishman, MS, RD, CDN, is currently loving Little Fires Everywhere. Need an escape from feeling out of control? Focus on what you can control with our favorite read, The F-Factor Diet Book. Already finished? No surprise there – move on to The Miracle Carb Diet Book, which is a lifestyle guide to eating and living the F-Factor Way.

PODCASTS

Speaking of escapes, do you need one from all of the negativity surrounding the internet? Go for a solo walk outside, put in your headphones, and listen to an inspirational podcast. There are hundreds of options depending on what you want to hear, but if you’re looking for positive energy & professional tips for living your best life, tune in to any of the FREE podcast episodes that Tanya has been featured on. Our favorites are:

1. 1. 1. The Skinny Confidential #90: Tanya Zuckerbrot, The F-Factor Diet
      2. EMBody Radio #37: The Power Of Fiber and Why Carbs Make You Leaner with Tanya Zuckerbrot
      3. Culture: Founders & Entrepreneurs #38: Tanya Zuckerbrot CEO & Founder of F-Factor
      4. NYU Stern Chats: Tanya Zuckerbrot on The Value of Agility, Looking Past Face Value, and Embracing Failure
      5. Kickin’ Back with Kelly: F-Factor Diet Founder Tanya Zuckerbrot Helps Us Get Bikini Read

 

JOURNAL

Last but definitely not least is journaling, which might actually be the most therapeutic of them all. You may hear this recommendation often but are wondering how to start. There’s 3 different ways we suggest approaching it:

1) Journal your quarantine experience. Get out a pen & paper and start writing about your days, no matter how uneventful they are. You will look back on this and remember how you felt and dealt with this situation.

2) Start a gratitude journal. You can find these on Amazon or create your own by starting every morning with a list of what you’re grateful for, daily affirmations about yourself, and how you can make today great regardless of the limitations.

3) Use the F-Factor Journal. If you started your health/weight maintenance journey right before the quarantine, there’s no need to put it on pause. Our journal is a tool to map out your day and keep you on track with your goals. Just looking for continued motivation? This benefits you too. Even F-Factor RD Samantha Hass, MS, RD, CDN says she’s still keeping a food journal every day. “It gives me a schedule, structure, and holds me accountable. I also want to make sure I am fueling myself with all my pregnancy nutritional needs.”

So, there you have it, our 10 favorite self-care items and activities for your personal “Quarantine Care Package” – to you, from you. We hope this provides the extra TLC you’re needing if you’re not planning on joining the “Love is Blind” season 2 cast.

Xo,

The F-Factor Team