Welcome Back Questions - THANK YOU!

Hello all and happy Monday!

If you're like me, there's a chance you look just as frazzled as Bugs Bunny because of finals week. Throughout the week I have been majorly stressing over the amounts of work I have for my classes along with working my part-time job. So THANK YOU for the response to my post last week about trying to manage stress because your ideas severely helped me with relaxing throughout the ending of the semester. The general consensus is that going to the gym is the best form of de-stressing and I completely agree. I tried Bill's suggestion of treadmill sprints and, even though I wanted to die, I had the best runners high after completing them! I also made sure to just take time to myself last week, even if it was for five minutes, to just sit in solitude and reflect over the semester and imagine my plans for our six week break.

Thank you again for all of your suggestions, I cannot wait until this week comes to a close and I can relax with a good book that I do not have to analyze.

Good luck with finals everyone!
-Colleen

Welcome Back Questions!

Hello All!

For those of you who are new to my blog WELCOME! I created this last year as a way to help my fellow students, along with myself, try and stay healthy (physically and mentally) while being away at college--which we all know is ridiculously hard. With that being said, finals week is coming up and end of the semester projects are looming, and if you're like me you convinced yourself at the grocery store today that getting a tub of chocolate ice cream was a good thing because you deserve happiness in a bowl as a way to de-stress.  I know chocolate doesn't solve all your problems (yes it does), so I am searching for a different way to relax while frantically studying and finishing my 10 page papers.

Therefore, I am turning to you, my fantastic followers, to provide me with insight: What you do when you're stressed? Do you work it out at the gym? If so, what's your ultimate stress-relief fitness routine?

I love the feeling after a great run at the gym, it makes me feel so refreshed. I also rely on drinking tea. For some reason it seems to calm me and focus me back on my homework. I found this picture on Pinterest and thought it was interesting and worked pretty well with the topic of my thread; I think I'm gonna find myself some chamomile this week.

Good luck everyone! I look forward to reading your tips :]

-Colleen

21 Is the Deadliest Number…

This year I turned the age that I had been waiting to be for ages now; lucky 21. I was excited for the new atmosphere the bars would bring to my nightlife, and let me tell you they are AWESOME!  But, being 21 comes with some consequences: we are consuming empty, yet delicious, calories that are causing us to gain weight! What the hell! However, fear no more; here are a few tips that I have been trying to follow to avoid the weight gain that comes with being a 21 year old.

DON’T DRINK. I know, I know this probably isn’t going to be the favorite tip but it’s true.  As I previously stated, alcohol is full of empty calories that go straight to our gut.  I’m not saying to give up drinking, but simply volunteer to be the designated driver to cut back on the calories.  You can still have fun going out with friends without drinking (remember that thing called childhood?).

EXERCISE! The day after a rough night out is usually one spent in bed nursing a hangover.  Well soldier tough it up and go do some type of cardio!  Even if you can only manage walking, put that treadmill to hills and it will be like running a mile.  Or, try working out before you go out.  You’re still getting in some form of exercise before you drink it all away.

DANCE. This may appeal to more of the ladies, but I know a decent amount of guys that like to dance when they go out (yes, they’re straight).  Think about it, you’re burning calories as you drink and you have a great time.

DRINK WATER. I know it’s no fun to order a water at the bar, but ordering that water in between drinks will not only make you drink less while still getting drunk, it will help prevent a hangover the next morning.  Also drink multiple glasses before you go out and some when you get home, trust me, it helps cleanse your system of alcohol.

SKIP THE BEER. I love beer.  I will take it over vodka and other hard liquors any day but let’s face it, beer has a higher calorie content.  Recently, thanks to one of my girlfriends who have gotten me hooked, I have been ordering vodka tonics.  Not as good as say a pint of Guinness, but still delicious and healthier.  Also, keep in mind that fruity drinks have tons of sugar in them, which cancels out ordering something with less carbs.

NO DRUNK FOOD. Yes, many of the excess calories will come from the amount of alcohol you’ve consumed, but how many times have you returned home only to order a pizza, make chef Boyardee and a whole bag of chips? Yeah, too many to count.  Skip it.

Bueno suerte amigos!

-Colleen

Check out my other blog!

One of the many reasons I have not been posting as much this summer is because of an internship I have  with an AWESOME company called StoreYourBoard.com that has asked me to be one of their official bloggers!

It diverges from the health genre of this blog, but it does incorporate staying active by doing board sports such as skateboarding, wakeboarding, skiing, surfing, etc. So today instead of posting I'm sending you over there to check out my latest titled "Bike Riding | Why You Should Get Out There and Try It".

Hope you all enjoy!

-Colleen

Back to Business - Hiking is Fun?

Hola friends! I’m sorry to have fallen off the face of blogging Earth but this summer has gotten the best of me and I’m finding I don’t have any time to blog :[  Worry no more! I am going to make a promise to myself to get back in the saddle again and begin post more often.  I have fantastic future posts mentally planned in my head and can’t wait to share them with all of you!

Now, for those of you have also had a falling out with your fitness routine because of the tempting, relaxing ways this wonderful season provides (I know I’m slacking) here’s your chance to start anew!  It’s sunny and warm outside so unless you’re allergic to air there’s no reason to not be out there!

Tired of the same old running/walking routine? Here’s an idea that gets you outside, with friends, and is super active: HIKING!

If you’re like me when you see that word you’re instantly against the idea.  But if my clumsy self could handle it this weekend so can you.  And you know what is great about this activity? You don’t have to do it alone.  Currently I’m residing in Virginia with my sister and brother-in-law, let's call them the hiking gurus.  Whenever they aren’t working or go on a vacation, they scope out the area to find local hiking trails.  I used to think they were crazy—for me a vacation is sitting by the pool enjoying a book.  However, there is a mountain two minutes away from their house called Carter Mountain and at the top is a wonderful store/orchard where you can pick your own fruit! So we decided to hike up the mountain as our means of transportation. 

I won’t lie, at a few points going up some steep slopes I questioned what I was doing there and who thought walking up a mountain trail was fun.  But it all makes a difference once you reach the top.  I had an overwhelming sense of accomplishment, especially because I managed not to fall!  

Obviously with the mental benefit, there are physical ones as well.  It’s a slow pace so you can manage, even when you think you can’t.  It’s an excellent workout that combines cardio and toning.  The incline from the mountain is an awesome leg and butt workout, so if you want your butt to look good in that bikini try hiking.

-Colleen

The Stress Eating Disease

Hey all!
So I don't know about you, but I have this habit of needing to eat whenever I am stressed, upset, or bored and simply because I like eating.  I crave things, chocolate especially, and I won't stop until I'm satisfied, ignoring the fact that my stomach is already full.  Then, though happy with the taste of lets say a whole pan of gooey brownies, it usually ends with feeling sorry for myself and staring at the mirror to know if it's possible that the 2 pounds of brownies I just ate are visible in my stomach.  Times like now, during the last two weeks of the semester, are when I am especially "hungry." 

Well, I decided I'm not being bullied by the voice in my head that says one more brownie wouldn't hurt! To do this I am going to take the advice of the one, and only, Jillian Michaels. Recently in a video podcast on her Daily Dose With Jillian Michaels, she tackled this very issue I have presented before you. And here's her advice: "Look for cues about whether or not your body is hungry." I heard this and wanted to smack myself in the forehead. DUH! It's that easy, just look for:

• physical signs of hunger
• if you feel dizzy
• if you feel lightheaded
• and think of when's the last time you ate

She then recommends to do something that is distracting. Don't just go park yourself back on the couch, go for a walk, the park, running, start a craft, etc. Something that you find enjoyable that steals your focus away from the food.  I'm gonna add my own advice that I have recently found to work, if you think that you may be hungry, have a glass of water before you grab any food.  That way, if you're still hungry after you drink the whole glass, you know it's real hunger.

Happy studying!

I just had to ;]

It's OK Thursday!

Today I am linking up yet again with two fabulous blogs A Complete Waste of Makeup and Brunch with Amber for their very own It's OK Thursday!!

Go check them out they are entertaining and addicting!

 

But before I get into what is okay with me today, I want to share something with you that I took part in yesterday. One of the girls in my roommate's sorority had a recent tragedy in her life with the sudden passing of her father.  He died of prostate cancer and one way she honored him was having yoga at a park near campus.  You gave a $5 donation that went to the Gary Poppa Run for prostate cancer and her team for her dad.  It was moving and a great way to raise money while being active.  Similarly many organizations on campus are trying to go this route for their fundraisers as well or just as a way to get students to be physically active.  This was the first time I had done yoga in a long time, and it was the most relaxing thing to have during a stressful project filled week. So if your feeling stressed, try YouTubing a video so you can become an expert yogi (which gives me the giggles that a person that does yoga is called a yogi haha I also always think of Yoda).

But without further adieu.....IT'S OK THURSDAY!

It's ok...

...to be putting off a 10 page draft of a paper that is due today

...to have had a glass or two of wine almost every night because of stress

...to may have become obsessed with yoga yesterday

...to be excited to go to the BIG SEAN and THE CATARACS concert at school tonight

...to be concerned that the concert is in a gym...which was overly crowded and hot during freshman orientation many moons ago

...to talk to my pet fish like he's a person
...to just love pinterest

...to put hot chocolate in your coffee to make your own mocha version

...to be all about free samples lately

...to be ECSTATIC(!) that I only have TWO WEEKS(!) until SUMMER(!)
...and finally for this to being my mantra lately....next week I promise :]