Ahh summer time. The heat is blistering, the Natty Lite is chilled and the pool beckons. For those of us not taking summer classes, these three months are a glorious break from homework, studying and fluorescent lighting. Yes, the whole summer yawns out blue skies and cut-offs until late August and it’s hard to imagine ever going back to school.

Except, I do imagine it. I catch myself worrying about non-existent assignments and responsibilities that won’t resume until September. But even more, I constantly find myself spacing out at work, reminiscing about all the good stuff that comes along with college. Mostly the whole not-bored-at-work-9-to-5 thing.

And I miss it!

Meal Plans: While I’m lucky enough not to be taking classes this summer, I do have to work — which means I’m stuck in a college town all summer long without the benefit of visiting home, and therefore the benefit of home cookin’. My freshman year, I ate dining hall food. My sophomore year, my sorority dues included a meal plan. This summer, with my sorority house closed and the dining halls freshmen-infested, I’m armed only with my apartment’s kitchen and whatever the hell I find when I Google “easy, cheap, healthy recipes” and pudding. Do I enjoy learning to cook? Absolutely. Would I prefer a cook to prepare my meals? Uh, hell yes. Plus, there’s no clean up if you’re not the one using all the dishes… Read More »

Are you a procrastinator? Did you forgo the gym all week to cram for that Chem final and now you’re freaking about putting on a bathing suit this Saturday!? Unlike academics, getting a beach body cannot be achieved by pulling an all-nighter. However, lucky for you there are a few tips and tricks that will provide you with a quick fix to looking fabulous.

Any Pilates enthusiast will agree that this practice can tighten your tummy in just one session. Ab exercises that are inspired by the Pilates roll up will give your mid section a flatter look and you will stand taller, which creates the illusion of looking slimmer.

Try lying on your back, legs out straight. Take a deep breath in through your nose and breath out as you pull your belly button towards your spine. Repeat, but this time when you breathe out peel your head off the ground and then – one vertebra at a time, keeping your tummy pulled inward – lift all the way up and over, rounding your back out as you reach the top. This is known as the Pilates Roll Up and to watch how it’s done, check out this video. Done regularly, your stomach will look like amazing every day. Do this move 20x before you hit the beach (yes the very same day) for some fABulous results. Read More »

I had a really happy moment recently: I tried on my bikini and it not only FIT, but I felt really PROUD of my body. The nagging critic in my head was speechless and all I could hear was internal praise. I mean, I better get some kudos after working my ass off, literally, for the past 2 months!

But somehow I feel like I’ve only won the battle, not the war, aka, Summer BBQs. Beer, hot dogs, potato salad… it’s all going to tempt me beyond belief, especially once I have a few cocktails. So in an effort to maintain what I’ve worked so hard for, I’ve come up with a BBQ Game Plan.

This may sound deep, but setting an intention before I begin my day has really helped me stay on track. So why not set one before I head to any summer gathering where not-so-healthy food is involved?

Promise yourself to be kind to your body. Treat it like a temple; after all, it is what allows you to function normally everyday. Doing this will keep you conscious of your noshing choices.

Be sure healthy options are available. Find out if your friends, especially guy friends, are serving anything other than artery clogging fare. If they’re not, bring a veggie platter, and maybe some chicken or shrimp. That way you won’t be forced to eat a greasy cheeseburger.

Load up on veggies. So you’re there, you’re hungry, you see all the deliciousness being grilled and passed around. Refocus on your intention and GO FOR THE VEGETABLES. Load up on these bad boys and, of course, have the healthiest protein possible. You will fill up quickly (helloooo, fiber!) and ease the temptation for the fattier options. Read More »

Now that daylight savings is behind us, we can look forward to longer, warmer days! To celebrate the wonderful season of blooming flowers, running outside, and the warm weather, get started on that bikini body with a new “Spring Into Swimsuit Season!” circuit workout.  It’s a 30 minute circuit workout you can do anywhere, even your dorm room!The best part is that this workout not only blasts calories, but it also ignites your metabolism burning fat all over your precious body!

Have an iPod or iPhone? You can now download this very workout for less than a dollar! For just $0.75 you can buy the video and save it on your iPod. Next time when you go to the gym, instead of trying to remember what you saw on YouTube, you can just watch it again on your iPod along with tons of other helpful fitness videos.

It’s like having a personal trainer at the gym for a fraction of the cost. (Take that, recession!)

You can even do these videos at home and you don’t need to buy the equipment. Here is a breakdown of alternatives: Read More »

I just froze my gym account. Why? Well, because it’s warm outside and I don’t need it. Why should I pay $70 a month to work out there when there’s so much to do outside?

I’ve got a huge array of outdoor exercise that I’ve taken on for the summer. If you don’t have a gym membership, but you want to be active — don’t sweat it (ha.ha.HA.). Try some of these outdoor activities:

1. Go for a jog. I used to think that ‘running’ was difficult. I always had to quit shortly after starting because I was so out of breath. But then I realized the trick to running…it’s to JOG. Don’t push yourself too hard. When you need a break, take it! Walk for a while and start running again when you’re ready.

2. Take a camera and walk. Walking by itself can be pretty boring if you don’t have a purpose. So why not grab a camera and go on a little photography stroll? You’ll burn calories and, if you’re anything like me, gain a new sort of appreciation for nature, as well as your neighborhood.

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Okay, you have three whole months before returning back to campus in the fall. That is a solid amount of time to get your ass in shape. During my freshman year of college, I definitely took advantage of all the wonderful food that my dining hall had to offer and partook in late night pizza binges.

And it showed…I put on at least ten pounds. But, have no fear if you are in a similar situation, that extra weight is easy to peel off and there’s no better time to do it than summer.

The satisfaction you will feel upon returning to campus and leaving that guy, who you hooked up with regularly but haven’t seen since May, totally speechless and begging to get you back because of your bangin’ body will be amazing. Trust me, it’s worth the pain and effort.

So, what better hot broad to emulate than Jessica Biel? I mean, she was named Esquire’s “Sexiest Woman Alive.” Lucky for us, personal trainers of fit celebrities such as Biel revealed their best diet and fitness advice to US magazine for getting in shape. And I must say that the list, surprisingly enough, is some of the best and sane advice I’ve read in awhile.

1. Change is good!

Jessica Biel’s trainer, Jason Walsh, likes to keep his client mentally stimulated. “I’m a big advocate of recreational sports and stuff. If someone can get out there, even if it’s a hike or something like that, just to break up the monotony of going to the gym…I really like that.” Read More »

Spring has sprung and summer is just around the corner. You know what this means girls? That’s right, its mini-skirt season. Whether it’s a skirt and flip flops for class, a bikini while laying out on your lawn, or shorts with heels for a night out, your bottom half will most likely start to make an appearance in some way after hibernating for the past couple months.

Ah! I know this may seem scary and sudden for some. I agree. After a bitter cold and snowy winter, I suddenly realized that I need to get my backside into tip top shape for this clothing season.

Well, luckily, our friends over at fitsugar.com have provided a fabulous workout just for that backside of yours. And, it’s only four minutes! No matter how stressed you are with finals and papers, you can squeeze four measly minutes into your day to do these exercises. Read More »