Breast Cancer.  It’s a word most of us don’t spend too much time pondering about.  After all, we are busy college students with plenty of other things on our minds and problems to address.  Problems that seem significant or monumental as they occur in our little bubble world of college. Problems like:

“Oh my god, I just gained five pounds.”
“Shoot, I shouldn’t have had that extra slice of pizza last night.”
“Ugh I didn’t make the lacrosse team.”
“Grad school applications need to be in by next week? I am so screwed.”

Thoughts such as these are more of the day-to-day troubles on our minds. But breast cancer? No, not breast cancer.  Unless someone in our family is diagnosed with the disease, why should we think about such an awful, somewhat unthinkable possibility, which is so far removed from our current existence?

Well, I propose we change this lack of breast cancer contemplation. And I have good reasons for it.

Given the explosion of childhood obesity seen in our generation, health experts across the board are predicting crisis proportions of heart disease, diabetes, and you guessed it, breast cancer.  And seeing that we just rounded out National Breast Cancer Awareness month, I think it’s important to point out that the breast cancer Grim Reaper is going to plague our generation unless we take a proactive approach to keeping ourselves healthy and motivating our loved ones to do the same. Read More »

With Halloween looming close, it seems that most of the costumes available to us require some (or total) revealing of the leg. To achieve that toned look, try out these killer moves for some sleek quads, hammies and glutes. And there’s no excuse not to – you don’t even need to go to the gym to get your leg toning on.

These exercises are guaranteed to cause some (hard to sit down or stand up…or drop it like it’s hot) soreness, but when that Johnny Depp look-a-alike makes a move on you during that costume party, you’ll forget all about the pain.

Read More »

[Everyone’s got a vice, a bad habit, something they know they need to change. Unfortunately, everyone also has a million excuses why they just can’t do it. Not anymore. Every month we will be following a different CollegeCandy writer as she takes on a personal challenge. This month, Emmy's going 31 days without beef. Or chicken. Or turkey. Or....you get the idea.]

I can’t believe that I have made it through two weeks as a vegetarian! Honestly, I am a little surprised – I haven’t cheated at all! Not a single piece of meat. Not even chicken broth, because I was worried that would count.

Not that’s it’s been a total breeze…

By far the most difficult vegetarian moment for me this week was when one of the clubs I’m in had a group dinner… at Chipotle. Now, I know a lot of people like Chipotle, but I love Chipotle. LOVE. Their meat is one of my FAVORITE things in the whole wide world. I don’t even need a burrito; I could be totally content just eating their meat plain… straight out of those silver serving buckets.

So to say it was a wee bit challenging to go in there and not get my favorite Steak Burrito doesn’t really do my feelings justice. I thought about getting a vegetarian burrito, but I’m not a big fan of their beans and  thought it would be too empty without meat. So I went with a veggie quesadilla instead. Not exactly the world’s healthiest option, but it kept me perfectly satisfied while everyone else chowed down on their delicious and meaty burritos.

Point: Emmy.
And things only got better from there. Read More »

Although it’s not swimsuit season anymore (moment of silence…..), you don’t have to give up on those 6-pack dreams. Sure, your thick-knit sweaters will be keeping 90% of your body covered up for the next 6 months, but by keeping up your workout routine now, you’ll eliminate that bathing-suit-shopping-dressing-room-meltdown later. Plus, bathing suit or not, 6-packs are hot. Even if you’re the only one seeing it.

And with this easy to follow guide, you can get one…from the privacy of your dorm room! Print it out, tack it to your wall and crunch away. Read More »

When every guy you know is a complete let down, your major is still undecided and you can’t find the perfect pair of boots, you feel defeated/without control/craving a brownie.

But just because some things never go right, there is one thing in your life that is 100% up to you: your health.

Oftentimes, life feels so out of your control that you may begin to give up, which usually ends with a pint of ice cream, binge eating your way through the fridge or forgoing the gym altogether in favor of trashy reality TV in bed. Well, I am here to tell you to STOP. Just because something else didn’t work out the way you wanted it to does not mean you should let your diet, body and health go out the window as well.

Easier said than done, I know, but next time you’re thinking of kicking your feet up with a large pizza instead of going for a jog, run a few of these motivating factors through that head of yours. Better yet, print this out and tape it on your mini-fridge. Bye bye, excuses! Read More »

This post provided by college nutritionist, author, and all around excellent source of healthful info, Melanie Jatsek.

Do you eat when you’re not hungry?  Sure, we all do to some degree!  Food is one of the necessities of life, but it’s also a source of comfort for those times when you are feeling sad, stressed, homesick, angry, or [insert emotion here].  This occasional indulgence usually isn’t a problem, but when you start responding to every emotion with food it becomes a problem in more than one way.  Can you say weight gain and feelings of zero willpower?  You did just eat that entire bag of Lay’s Potato Chips after all!

It’s time to stop beating yourself up.  So you slipped up and let your stress get the best of you – so what?  Forgive yourself and move on.  But what if it happens again, you ask?  What are you supposed to do the next time you are struck with a bout of good old-fashioned homesickness?

Follow the three steps below to learn how not to eat your feelings. Read More »

It’s Labor Day which means two things:

1. The perfect excuse to wash down a burger with an ice cold beer.
2. Summer is officially over.

I could use this space to share BBQ survival tips with you, but somehow that just doesn’t sit well with me. It’s a holiday; whether we’re enjoying the day with family or a bunch of frat guys with a grill, we should enjoy ourselves.

I’ve dished on all sorts of stuff this summer: my radical lifestyle change, what it’s like to be unhealthy, and even a few tips on how to stay healthy. But there’s one big topic I missed: how to stay happy. And with summer just about to fade away, I am sure us ladies can use all the happy we can get.

Let me briefly compare how I spent last summer to how I spent this summer: Read More »

Confession time: I’m a shopaholic. Bags are my weakness. So are boots. I’m obsessed with dark washed jeans and oversize sunglasses and Rachel Bilson’s entire wardrobe.

Needless, to say I take the time to make outfits out of all of these clothes that I acquire. I read magazines and blogs and spend far too much time trying to find the perfect outfit for every occasion. So yes, I am a woman who often worries about her appearance, or at least the appearance of her clothes. And I’m not afraid to admit it, much to the disapproval of the likes of Sandra Bartky.

I first encountered this feminist writer in my Philosophy and Feminism class last semester, when reading her article, Foucault, Femininity, and the Modernization of Patriarchal Power. Bartky discusses the roles men and a male dominated society (i.e.: the patriarchal power), play in the way in which women portray themselves. Women, she claims, feel as though they are constantly being watched by a male power and as a result, we feel it necessary to take part in this “beautification process” society has thrust upon us.

The process of beautification, she claims, is insignificant. It is a practice women take part in only because they feel they have to. Women, Bartky claims, feel as though they must always look perfect, as though they must always strive for the ideal. They are never good enough, but always reaching, always working in an attempt to please that nonexistent gazer. From waxing our eyebrows to straightening our hair, its all for someone else. And by conceding, Bartky explains, the patriarchy remains in control. Men continue to have the power. Read More »

The beginning of another school year sneaked up on us, along with an opportunity to meet new people, join new clubs and do better in our classes (okay well I like to tell myself this, at least).  Unfortunately, it’s also the perfect opportunity to gain weight via late night pizza runs and all you can eat dining halls.

Thankfully, for those of you reading this, I have a suggestion, a small tweak really, that might just save you from packing on the pounds.  You ready for it? Like, really, really ready?

OK, here goes: only drink water (and if you must, the occasional coffee).

No soda, no calorie-laden smoothies, fruit juices, or any liquid edible substance with calories.  You would be surprised how much those added calories from beverages add up! Read More »

This post provided by college nutritionist, author, and all around excellent source of healthful info, Melanie Jatsek.

Campus dining halls are amazing places.  Besides a Las Vegas buffet, where else can you find Chinese food, Mexican food, and a pasta, deli, salad and dessert bar all in one room?  They are amazing, but amazing doesn’t always equal good for you.  Sometimes it can be down right challenging to navigate through the lines and find something that isn’t fried or covered in some sort of sauce.  To make it easy for you, here are the top 5 dining hall food traps to watch out for. Some may surprise you!

Wraps or Burritos:

You’re probably wondering why.  Most tortillas used to make wraps and burritos contain trans fats (trans fatty acids), which are even worse for you than saturated fats!  The scary thing about them is, they make their way into your brain and disrupt communication between your brain cells.  It’s sort of like when you use your cell phone to call your friend’s cell phone and the two of you keep dropping the call – you can’t seem to make a connection!  The only way to tell for sure if a tortilla contains trans fats is by looking at the nutrition facts label on the package for the words “partially hydrogenated oils.”  Obviously you can’t do this in your dining hall, so you may want to ask the food service staff to take a peak for you. Read More »