Worlds Apart

My life has done many "complete 180s" this year. Even from this past week to this (summer vacation to two classes), it's been a HUGE change. I'm taking a human sexuality course, which is meant for freshman, and I'm a senior, yet I think I'm the most conservative/easily embarassed one in the room... I digress...

There's even been some other changes in my life, and I'm ridiculously excited to get to write about that at the bottom of this post.

Read on...

Instead of waking up at 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. (I'm soaking up college life while I still can!), I wake up at 7 a.m. with the sun to jump on the treadmill.

Here I am doing incline workouts:

I slowed down the pace a couple notches so I wouldn't fall on my face, lose some teeth and bruise my entire body. In case you were wondering.

How I have at least five bruises on each of my legs is beyond me... any ideas with how I could have run into this many tables and not remembered it?

By the end of the evening, I needed a glass of wine desperately. Along with some blog reading, it was the perfect post-long day beverage.


Check out the classy way I'm holding my wine. No one needs to know I was in my pajamas at the time:)

Plus some dessert (chocolate lucky charms, I hear they're organic;) and some Fitnessista, it was a divine way to end the evening.

Here's the main event!

Tonight I went to spinning with a friend. This was a pretty big deal for me because I haven't been to spinning class since 2008, and for good reason.


There was a time in my life when I was obsessed with "health," and went WAY too far overboard. I would literally have a couple bites of Dannon Light and Fit, spin, then not eat til my dinner of Lean Cuisines. Not healthy at all, right?!

On top of that, I would take TWO spinning classes EACH day. I only could do this because I was going to a much easier school in an image-obsessed area. If you've been reading for a while, you know where this is.

Needless to say, I was a little nervous about tonight, but I approached it totally differently. I ate normally beforehand, made sure I was properly fueled with greek yogurt beforehand, and ate afterward.

The best part? I'm happy with going back when I can, and not forcing it upon myself, and properly fueling. I left feeling like this:


Except the female version, of course!

In other news, I'm loving Miley Cyrus' CD... who knew? Especially Robot and Liberty Walk... check them out!

And I'm 99% sure I'm going to the Healthy Living Summit to hang out with you guys! I can't wait:)

In other news, I may or may not blog during July 4th weekend, but I will be tweAting. Stay safe, have fun and remember what this weekend is really about- be thankful for your freedoms! What are you doing for the Fourth?

"Those who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither safety nor liberty."- Who said it?

Get Buff, Not Big: Lifting Weights

Each day on my college campus, females hit the gym to break a sweat.

However, most of these women are cardio queens, who rarely retreat towards the almost all-male weight lifting area.

You know what I’m talking about- it can be expected at co-ed gyms- that free weight area which hosts muscular men lifting twenty times the amount can only dream of.

Besides avoiding those intimidating male areas of the gym, why don’t women spend more time lifting weights with all the benefits it provides?



Instant Gratification

Andrew Carnegie once said that “anything in life worth having is worth working for.”

When it comes to lifting weights, chances are that you won’t see immediate muscle tone, even though you may feel your workout the morning after.

Results vary between individuals, but lean muscle definition unfortunately doesn’t appear overnight.

Remember that you’re sculpting your body- Rome wasn’t built in a day. Work to get the results you want!

Work Out More, Weigh More?

When your body reacts to weight lifting and begins to take shape, you may notice a shift in the scales.

This upward shift may seem counterproductive to the initial reasons behind heading to sweat in the first place.

No need to fret, you’re turning fat tissue into muscle!

You aren’t getting big or bulky. Even though muscle weighs more than fat, bodies will become tighter and will shrink as they lose fat and become more defined.



So What’s It All Worth?

I lift weights because strength is empowering to me.

Apart from strength being a major confidence boost, weight lifting has been proven to have additional benefits.

Some of the benefits weight lifting provides are:

• Metabolism Boost: while cardio burns more calories on the spot, lifting weights keeps the burn going once you’re done because of an increase in lean muscle mass. Can’t complain about that!

• Dropping Clothing Sizes: The average woman who strength trains two to three times a week for two months will gain nearly two pounds of muscle and will lose 3.5 pounds of fat, according to Wayne Westcott from the South Shore YMCA in Quincy, Massachusetts.

• Reduction of Injury and Disease: If you lift, you are less likely to be injured, have arthritis or back pain, reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes, and fight depression.

What are you weighting for? Get out there and enjoy your next (or first) iron-pumping session!

Check this out on College Lifestyles!

Summer Squash and McDonald's

Good evening, bloggies and readers- I hope you had a fantastic Monday:)


Mine started with a 7 a.m. drive to Gainesville from Tampa after a night of 4.5 hours of sleep. Believe it or not, I got four the night before (rhyme) too.




5-hour Energy to the rescue! This little guy got me on the road, through class (Human Sexuality and Culture... it's gonna be an interesting semester) and back home in time to nap.


Only joking, I went to the gym instead in order to get some more energy after those five hours passed and I began to drag.


I also relied on the help of Red Bull this weekend to give me wings. Sometimes you just need a boost!

Over the break, I found myself at Apple perusing the iPad. I may or may not have linked my blog to a couple of their home screens.



Pretty, as well as pretty expensive. My hands didn't exactly reach across the keyboard, which was a con. Made me wonder what the average size hand was and if Apple produces its new technologies for a certain size.

Apple is just like the fashion world!


I also wonder what Steve Jobs would say in regard to my hand dilemma, after he explained, aka talked down, to us about how to use the iPhone 4.


Some eats:


Random grilled summer squash and salsa snack, which I ate Indian-style on the couch watching Twilight.



This dish was much better than Kristen Stewart's acting skills. Harsh, but true.

McDonald's was consumed on the way to Gainesville. I had Chicken Selects and the Fruit and Walnut Salad.

Washed down with more caffiene in the form of a Diet Coke. Again, eating while Indian style.

The reason behind the trip to Gainesville:

I now have a 52-incher. (Does a TWSS joke apply here?) I'm so mature. Maybe it's due to the sleepiness factor, but I'll be staying awake for #fitblog and RHONJ.

In other fun news, I'm going to the Aerosmith concert in August! And I'm debating making an appearance at the Healthy Living Summit.

Do you have any fun summer plans? Are you going to the Healthy Living Summit?

What I did on my Summer Vacation

Good afternoon, readers! It's great to see ya again:)

I've been on summer break between A and B sessions, and since it lasts about 2 seconds, I've been avoiding my computer a bit. Where have I been?

Hiding out in the pages of these books: Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant, One Nation Under Therapy and The Unsavvy Traveler.


This isn't exactly Jenna's summer reading club list, but the books are pretty good. Have any of y'all ever read Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant? I'm enjoying most of it so far, even though my stomach growls unneccessarily loud whenever I read it.

Which may have scared some beach-goers yesterday on Clearwater Beach... how lucky am I to live (semi-) close to this location? I swear, if UF backed up to this it would be perfect.


I also tweeted about its perfection.

I'm not complaining about being in walking distance from The Swamp, FYI. Safety first! (You'd know what I meant if you've ever lived in Gainesville;)

On to some eats...

Snacking on broccoli, salsa and d. coke while perusing Victoria's Secret bathing suit sale. Bought a cute black bandeau for the weekend of the fourth.

Plus a large handful of nuts on the side... (I'm trying very, very hard right now to not make inappropriate TWSS jokes- just missed the mark on that one).

Rosemary-lemon chicken with tons-o-ketchup. Ketchup only accentuates a dish's flavah. In case you were wondering.

And my most recent meal, lonchi, which consisted of a Boar's Head turkey, Sabra's roasted garlic hummus, tomato and Tabasco Flat Out spinach wrap with a side of Taste.

Yum.

Are you guys on break? How do you enjoy the summer months?

Budget-Friendly Grocery Shopping Tips for Savvy Co-Eds

The current state of our economy has taken a toll on each of us, but why let it affect the state of your diet or wallet?

If you’re on a budget or are looking to be more conscientious of where your money is spent, these tips can help any college student eat healthy on the cheap!

Coupons, BOGOs and Weekly Fliers

Major grocery stores will have their weekly deals available to browse on the Web before you grocery shop.

Publix Super Markets offers coupons, buy-one-get-one free offers and meal deals so savvy shoppers will get the most bang for their buck.

Publix offers something most other supermarkets don’t – the added bonus of a second post-shopping discount.

Publix teamed up with Crispers and print coupons on the back of shoppers’ receipts, so that when they do eat out, they continue to save!



Meal-Planning and List-Making

Making a list of what you need at the grocery store is essential in order to not deviate from it and spend unnecessary money.

Sticking to your list can be hard when you pass by the bakery, whose wafting smells of freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies beckon you.

Help is out there!



This is one of many grocery lists available via Amazon that will help keep your hungry eyes and grumbling stomach from buying everything in sight!

Frozen, not Fresh

Getting in your servings of fruits and veggies is essential to your overall health. However, it can be hard as a co-ed to purchase fresh produce and make sure it’s consumed before it goes bad.

The solution: buy frozen! Since produce is frozen at the peak of freshness, you retain the nutrients but save money and eliminate the risk of spoiled food.



Frozen produce is comparable to fresh, but doesn’t work well as a substitute on a vegetable or fruit platter.

Hope you enjoy a lighter stomach and heavier wallet with the use of these tips!

Lookin' Hot While Breaking a Sweat!

Tired of wearing the same old boring t-shirts and cheerleading shorts to the gym?

So was I, til I realized dressing for the gym could be just as much fun as breaking a sweat! College co-eds should always try to look their best, and I have a budget-friendly way to do just that!

Forever 21 is a savvy, stylish clothing store that has recently expanded their activewear line. They sell knock-off Victoria’s Secret yoga pants, Champion sports bras and Goody headbands.

The best part? Everything sells at a fraction of the cost!

Here’s one of my favorite gym outfits from Forever 21:



This blue and black tank top comes with a built-in sports bra, and is lined with mesh for breathability when you’re pumping iron or throwing punches in kickboxing.

Priced at $17.80, the tank top costs about $1o to $15 less than more popular athletic brands, but retains the same style and functionality.

What’s another great summertime workout staple to have hanging in your closet? A pair of cropped yoga pants!

These black- and white-striped pants pair well with the tank top for a trip to the gym or a run, but aren’t overkill in the summer heat.



At $10.80, it’s hard not to love these yoga pants. You’ll be saving about $20 by purchasing these at Forever 21.

Are you thinking about how to keep your hair intact while sweating?

I’ve got you covered!



This headband is a play on Goody’s, and will keep you looking stylish and put-together, all for the low price of $3.80!

Enjoy your new workout clothes and your next sweat session!

Too Bored to Work Out? Think Again!

Have you been bored at the gym lately?

You aren’t alone. Thinking of running on the treadmill every day like a hamster on its wheel even sounds tedious!

I have your answers!

To get the same benefits of a sweat session without the monotony, listen up! Some of the tips from Ririan Project, a personal development blog, will have you lacing up your sneakers in no time.

Intervals and Inclines

Instead of whirring around in a circle at the same speed for a half hour, switch the speed, incline and resistance. Not only will you stave off boredom, interval workouts give you a harder workout. Celebrities like Jennifer Aniston attest to the magic of adding incline to your gym workouts to boost muscle activity.

Workout Backwards

Are you used to starting your workout with weights and later switching to cardio? Change it up!

If your gym goal is to burn calories for fat loss, it’s been said that a cardio session at the start of your workout is a better idea. If you want to increase muscle size and strength, begin your time at the gym with weights.

A Power Playlist


Killer workout music has been said to rev up energy and the drive to run faster and lift more. Listening to music works well for me!

This summer’s Top 40 lends songs great for an afternoon run. My favorites include:

■Taio Cruz – Dynamite
■Katy Perry- California Gurls (featuring Snoop Dogg)
■OMG (featuring will.i.am) – Usher
■Can’t be Tamed – Miley Cyrus
■Ridin Solo – Jason Derulo
■Physical (featuring Olivia Newton-John) – Glee Cast Version
■Airplanes (featuring Hayley Williams) – B.o.B
■Not Afraid- Eminem
■Cooler Than Me – Mike Posner
■Young Forever – Jay Z

These songs will have you up and running in no time, and are guaranteed to nix any workout-related boredom!

Explanations

Wow. It feels as if I've been gone forever... and I pretty much have. Let me explain...

If you read back a couple of posts, you'll see that I've been heading south to Tampa for the past couple of weekends. This is because my grandpa has been in Hospice (and out of it- he got kicked out once!) and I wanted to visit with him.

Luckily I made so many trips because he passed last Friday. This past weekend was filled with family and services to honor him.


I'll miss you, PopPop.

And thanks to you for support and patience while I took time off from Exercise and Eat. Twitter got left in the dust, too.

I'm back now!

When I was driving home to Gainesville, I tried to take an iPhone snapshot from my car. This field is so close to my house, and filled with over 100 cows, which you can't really see.

I miss the days of living on the beach.

Right before I left, I ate a great Italian buffet in Ybor, then headed to Gainesville for my Italian dessert fest.

We got black tie cheesecake (unpictured), white chocolate raspberry cheesecake, zeppoli and tiramisu.

I ordered the tiramisu, so I got first dibs/bites... Yum!

The zeppoli were to die for, too!

After passing out, I woke up bright and early for editing lab, with a side of venti iced coffee and biscotti.

Have you had to deal with the loss of a loved one lately? How have you dealt with it?

Bathing Suits and Body Confidence

Check out my new College Lifestyles post on bathing suits and body confidence!

I'll give you a teaser picture...

Interested? Find out more...