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 :]

 

Inspirational Person of the Month

Get ready for Keeping off the Freshman Fifteen, and the Pounds that Follow’s first ever Inspirational Person of the Month!!! This lucky person will be honored with a blog post dedicated to their success in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.  With this, I hope to show my readers how easy it is to be healthy and offer them tips from people who I deem to be “experts.”

Without further adieu, let me introduce to you one of my many role models…

Jillian Michaels!

Jillian Michaels is a fitness guru, who many may know from her time as a tough personal trainer on the TV series, The Biggest Loser.  Known for her pushy and persistent encouragement, Jillian Michaels has transformed people from couch potatoes to physically fit gods and goddesses.  Not only is she a famous personal trainer, Jillian strives to maintain overall health, not just physical.  She has multiple fitness plans, along with diet plans, but Jillian Michaels has a podcast that is FREE on iTunes that I recommend to everyone.

When I was first introduced to Jillian Michaels, I won’t lie she scared the hell out of me.  Her 30 Day Shred is intense and demanding.  It leaves you sore the next day and almost tentative to continue after day one, especially if you are new to exercise.  

BUT don’t let that scare you away! If you’re willing to try out Jillian’s routine I suggest looking at it like a challenge.  I know for myself, if I don’t fulfill a goal or finish a “challenge” I set for the week I feel disappointed in myself, and no one likes that right?  Plus, making a point to follow through and finish her hard workout routine will be a reward with in itself. YOU were able to complete something that most people chicken out of after day one.

I know for myself I was one of those chicken’s the first time I encountered Jillian Michaels, but now I’m giving it a go again to face the dragon-lady.  And if you’re not scared, I ask you to join me in the fight of physical fitness. Think you can handle it?

Fat Burning Foods

Happy Monday night everyone! Today we had unusually high weather in the 80s and I made sure to take advantage by spending the majority of the day outside! It was HOT(!) but gorgeous all the same.  But this isn't a blog about the weather, it's about trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle, so any who.....I saw this pin on Pinterest:

I don't know why I'm always very sketchy with the supposed "fat burning" foods, but I eat over 75% of these foods on a daily basis so it caught my eye.  If it's true, it definitely makes my day now that I know when I order a grapefruit margarita I'll be burning fat as I drink ;]

What do you think?

College Dining 101

Last night I was talking to a first year student at my university and we got onto the topic of the food at our dining hall. Now the dining hall doesn’t have the worst food in the world, but it is definitely sub-par compared to a home-cooked meal.  With the buffet eating style, it also makes it hard not to have one of everything.  At home, I hardly have dessert after dinner, but when I ate at the dining hall, the multiple ice cream flavors and cake varieties called my name.  Here is some advice I tried to keep in my head while finding the perfect healthy meal:

Don’t forget vegetables! When you’re at school you don’t have your mom reminding you to eat your veggies and could end up loading on the carbs. If your school has a salad bar, start there! This way you know you will be getting some sort of greens.

Look at the nutrition facts! I know this may be time consuming, especially if your stomach feels like it’s eating itself, but if your school has a paper with the dietary facts it’s important to look.  You never know if the meal is prepared on the premises, and in my opinion, this gives you a good idea of how it’s prepared and what goes in it.

Go to a vender that prepares the meal right in front of you! This lets you choose what food items you want in your meal.  For example, we have a station that is dedicated to “healthy” eating and offers numerous vegan and vegetarian options.  This meal allowed me to pick the ingredients and the chef prepped and cooked it while I waited.

Try to avoid the desserts! Having ice cream or cake once or twice a week is okay, but when you end your meal with ice cream, cake, and cookies every night you have an issue.  If dessert is an important part of your meal, try getting fruit and yogurt one night and cake the next.

No matter how good this looks...

...This will taste and look just as good

The Big Push

Easter/Passover, which ever you celebrate, has come and gone signaling the last big push for some to get in shape before summer!  I myself am one of those people.  During holidays, my family has a smorgasbord of food all throughout the day that leaves me with a food baby at the completion.  But with a month to go before Memorial Day, where there is a chance I will be donning a swimsuit, I am now renewing my relationship with the gym.

The only problem is, I don’t like my gym (it’s tiny, gloomy and crowded, not to mention people stare and wait for you to be done with the equipment) which interferes with my wanting to go exercise.    

However! I have come up with ways to make it more enjoyable:

• NOT going at its rush hour (afternoon/before dinner) and either waking up or going before bed

• Dragging my roommates with me to have someone to talk with (having a friend that is willing to go is also motivation if you’re not independent like me)

• Making a great playlist

      **I know these all seem generic but they really do work!

Not a gym fan either? The other alternative is to exercise elsewhere.  With the possibility of nice weather increasing, I will be running outside more, doing more athletic activities (most campuses are loaded with various sporting courts/fields), and walking more in general.  I noticed I always decide to drive to my friends’ houses that are only a 10-minute walk or to the Wawa that is only a block away.  If you are not a cardio-junkie, then walking can be the simplest way to lose weight and become healthy.

A routine I also do if the gym is busy or I don’t feel like going is to make a playlist filled with music you love.  During each verse I do an exercise, for example mountain climbers, and when the refrain starts, I rest and begin mountain climbers again during the next verse.  Do this for the entire song.  With the next song pick a different exercise and repeat.  If you’re having difficulty doing the exercise you can sing along with the song to get through.  It is a simple way to be active that’s enjoyable.  

Don’t forget, being healthy isn’t only about exercise it’s about eating right too.  Skipping meals, such as breakfast, to lose weight isn’t going to work.  That meal starts your day and fuels your body with energy.  Try eating oatmeal instead of pop tarts, or if you are off campus make an egg.   Side note, it’s a myth that eggs are bad for you because they are high in cholesterol.  Eggs provide the body with protein, which helps you feel fuller and energized.  There is a higher chance of raising your cholesterol by snacking on chips every day, which only leaves you with greasy fingers and a gut.  Have a salad for lunch, or try a GreenMonster Smoothie, and if you’re trying to cut carbs swap them with quinoa for dinner.  It’s also okay to snack throughout the day, just don’t eat the whole box of Goldfish. 

It's OK Thursday

Hello all! Today I am linking up with two great blogs, Brunch With Amber and A Complete Waste of Makeup (make sure to check them out!), for their It's OK Thursday linkup! I found that it's a pretty good venting system, so here goes!

It's OK

...to like eating the brownie batter more than the brownies

...to put off doing assignments until two days or the day before they're due

...to have 4 cups of coffee in one day

...to want the semester to be over

...to sometimes miss drinking cheap beer

...to be sad that you ran out of wine

...to have sounded like an alcoholic just then

...to envy your college friends because you have to go home to work every weekend

...to enjoy Friday night wine night with your mom

...to be "on a break" with the gym

...to have a mini panic attack when Pinterest wasn't working for 2 minutes yesterday

...to have little to no cooking experience

...to go to class in your pajamas

What's OK with you?

Eat, Eat, Eat!

For college students everywhere, April marks the time of year when all of the essays, projects, etc., that were assigned in the beginning of the semester, and you should have been working on, are due.  I know for myself that my new home will become the library because of pending research projects all due the week before final exams.  With the amount of time I spend in the library I always have an issue…forgetting to eat.  I’ll begin my work in early afternoon and end my night around 11PM completely skipping dinner.  Or, and since moving off campus this happens more regularly, I’ll be too settled at the library and decide the 10 minute walk to my house for sustenance and losing my prime table isn’t worth it.

 

BUT now I’m learning that you cannot forget to eat when overloaded with coursework because your brain needs food to function.  Blaming your paper for giving you a headache? Stop and grab a snack, then when you sit back down your ideas may start flowing and your paper will be done in no time.

One thing I always forget is that when doing something mentally active, it takes energy just like a physical workout.  When I was little and playing soccer, the team moms would bring the players oranges, or some type of snack, to have during our 10-minute halftime break to refuel our energy to go back out to the field and play our best.  

Here are essential things to do so you don’t look like this:

• bring multiple snacks if planning to be there for hours on end

• complex carbohydrates help supply your brain with energy so think fruits
• your brain needs protein to conserve the energy, for an easy snack put some high protein cereal in a baggie, nuts are a good choice as well

• bring a bottled drink with you

• it’s hydration people! Food may give you energy but the body needs to stay hydrated to function and no one likes to constantly get up to go to the water fountain

• water is your best option, but green tea is known to be linked to increasing mental alertness

• coffee, coffee, coffee

• some people are against caffeine, I however am not.  Pulling an all-nighter? Most libraries have a coffee shop on the first floor so shoot for a venti (large), it should last you all night

 
** do make sure to keep hydrated with water

• take breaks! 
• your brain gets tired of staring at a paper or screen for hours, so it’s okay to get up and walk outside, or go on Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Youtube – just don’t let it distract you for too long! ;]

Happy Studying!