It’s just about summer time, which means bikini season is upon us. We’re all going to be half naked in front of strangers any day now. That’s why it’s so important to keep your body image fabulous. Your Tango is celebrating body image with a 7-day Love Your Body event. They’ve got 35 amazing tips to help you improve your health and feel great. Now you don’t have to buy every health magazine off the shelf. From easy ways to improve your eating habits to simple ways to relax, check out all 35 tips here!
And so it is, just like we knew it would be. The end of the road for this 30 day exploration and experiment to accomplish a great feat of discipline for one as undisciplined as myself: 100 push ups per day. Did I make it? You damn skippy I did!
Week 4 presented all new challenges in the form of temptation. My schedule’s actually beginning to have slower moments in it, and that’s provided some flexibility in terms of when I’ve been choosing to do my reps of 35-40. I’d have thought more time would provide more opportunity, but the real opportunity was the opportunity to procrastinate.
When my schedule was more rigid, I knew I had a set window of time to do this in, so I didn’t f*ck around. However, with the wiggle room to negotiate with myself, “I’ll do it after re-watching the season finale of ‘Justified’” or whatever other awesome (or not so interesting) things I occupy my time with, I found myself getting down to the wire a couple of nights this week.
But I persevered. I kept up the clapping and the 3-point stances. I continued to vary the wideness of my arms positioning. I’m doing an average now of 105 push ups per day. More than the goal I’d set for myself! That’s a pretty fantastic feeling. Now the real question, do I look and feel any different? Well, you can check out my “After” pic and video below to judge for yourself.
The pecks are coming back! There’s more definition as well as tone as well. I’ve been pleasantly surprised to notice a stronger core and even the lightest of outlines of a budding 4-pack (if I keep this up and add some crunches, a 6-pack might just be in the cards!).
All in all, this challenge was incredibly inspiring for me. I didn’t know how much could be gotten out of 1 simple exercise. It goes to show that the only thing that stands in our path of finding ways to maintain and improve our health, is our own mindset. Once you know it’s possible and see the benefits, the motivation becomes stronger. You see the rewards of the work and the motivation becomes stronger. And you know what? I don’t care if my 30 days are up. I’m going to keep doing this, every day, because I know that I can, and I know I feel better for doing it.
Week 3. Week. F*cking. 3!! Life’s been throwing my schedule curve balls left and right. I can’t even keep track of what day it is right now I’m juggling so much. And that’s really the challenge isn’t it? It’s not about how many push ups I can do, but that I can find a way to maintain the discipline to continue doing them at all.
Life is rarely constant. Especially in an economy where you may be forced to work odd and inconsistent schedules to make ends meat. For some of us that involves working multiple jobs, and for others it’s just a matter of working a job where the hours vary from week to week. Consistency and routine are two of the rarest commodities we’re afforded anymore. That’s one reason it can be tougher than a vibranium shield to stick to the plan to stay healthy.
So, pondering aside, let’s get to the review of how things have been going: Pretty damn good!
I’m now actually doing MORE than 100 push ups per day. Not a lot more but in the neighborhood of 110 to 120. Because…I can do more at a time!!!
When I started, I was barely able to get 30 out of my body before meeting the floor face first. Now, I’m in the 35-40 range, and last night I made it to 42 for my final set.
I’ve started the clapping push ups. OUCH! Holy f*ck balls, ouch. It’s that kind of divine pain. I can get somewhere from 12-15 per set of them. I’ve also been doing 3-point push ups, which is where you put one leg over the other, thus you only have 1 toe supporting you. It’s kind of like upping the incline on the treadmill.
Despite experimenting and integrating the new kinds of push ups into my routine, I’ve also been making sure I have one set that’s still the good ol’ fashioned, as much to keep up my morale as anything else. Staying motivated by feeling like progress is being made, that’s as important as any other aspect.
Still breaking them up into 3 sessions throughout the day. However, due to exhaustion, my first set is usually around noon in my office and my boss gets some entertainment out of it. Because he’s a cool boss that is amused by randomness.
1 more week and the challenge ends. Can I keep up the momentum? Can I add more claps? Will I be brave enough to attempt a 1 arm? Tune in to find out!
Well, another week has come and gone – I can honestly say that I have done my best to stay away from fried foods, microwaveable meals, simple carbs and all of those things that critics claim are causing America to be fat.
…And what have I discovered?
1. Most of the stuff that I do like is in fact healthy! Salmon and Avocado are a girl’s best friends – especially when combined in a yummy sushi roll (brown rice of course!).
2. I feel more in control! Being forced to think about what I am putting in my mouth hasn’t stopped me from eating but it has made me more conscious of what I am choosing to put into my body.
3. Eating out can be scary! Especially if you start to pay attention not only to portion sizes but also the sheer fat and grease that makes its way onto your plate – even if you think that it’s the healthier option. Ordering can be a minefield!
4. Sometimes all you really want is a cheesy slice of pizza! And that is no reason to be ashamed – or deny yourself a treat once in awhile.
5. Not everyone is going to be as excited about your health-kick as you are. Now more than ever, it is clear to me how complicated one’s relationship with food can really be. Some people engage with food as though each meal is passionate encounter with a love and for some it is merely the fuel that gets you from point A to point B. Some people are afraid of food and events that revolve around eating. I think for the majority of us, myself included, it is a combination of all of these things.
So what have I been eating? Well, here is a list of my trusty favorites:
Avocadoes (I cannot stress this enough – yay Omega 3s!)
Eggs
Olive Oil
Fish
Whole-wheat pasta
Apples
Kefir – a Greek yogurt/drink that is proven to help with digestion among other things
Small baked potatoes (Russett & sweet potatoes)
Sushi
These foods have definitely been keeping my energy up and my eating clean! Know of any other great foods that would be in keeping with this challenge?
One of the biggest misconceptions about getting fab abs is that you need to do 100,000 crunches a day. Although that is definitely a mid section burner, it’s not the most effective way to go. There are several muscles in our core, including the rectus abdominus (hello, 6-pack), transverse abdominus (deepest side muscle), as well as the internal and external obliques (love handle central). That’s why planks are known to be one of the best core stabilizing moves because it incorporates all of these muscles. If you ever get sick of staring at the carpet, then try some of these new moves!
1. Corkscrew
Level 1: Keep your legs at a table top.
Level 2: Extend your legs straight into the air.
Keep your back straight, chest up and extend your legs into the desired level position. Bring your elbows behind you so that they are aligned under your shoulders. Take your knees or feet and draw a big circle in the air. Imagine that you are bringing your toes to the big numbers on a clock. In the first position, your feet will be pointing at 3 o’clock, then 6 o’clock, then 9 o’clock and it ends back up at 12 o’clock. Squeeze your core tight!Read More »
Hot Pockets. Tiny capsules of molten hot cheese and questionable meat products and even more questionable vegetables. For a quick lunch, they aren’t terribly satisfying. They’re also packed with fat… even the low calorie varieties are packed with salt and MSG flavorings that aren’t too good for you.
You know what’s an easy, healthy solution? Making your own at home. Don’t panic. It’s easier than it sounds. Plus, these guys are delicious.
The main vegetables I use are broccoli, carrots, tomatoes and spinach. Broccoli is a great source of vitamin E, protein, and calcium. Carrots are great sources of vitamin C and iron. Tomatoes are known for being excellent sources of lycopene, which is believed to prevent certain types of cancer. Spinach is one of the most nutrient rich foods out there – it’s a great source of fiber, iron, protein and a slew of vitamins Read More »
By now, January 1st, 2011 seems like a century ago. I mean, just think about how much has happened – good and bad – in the last five months. Do you remember those little resolutions you made way back when? You know, when you were feeling optimistic and empowered and you were ready to change your life in 2011? Yeah, you probably gave up on them a long time ago.
And I’m here to get you back on track.
Now, I’m not talking about the resolutions like, “I promise to never drunk text my ex ever again.” Ladies, I’m not some magician here! (And really, who thought that was going to happen? Come on – get realistic!) I’m talking about the first month when you were able to get yourself out of bed at 7 AM, head to spin class and arrive in your Political Science class feeling like a super star. Remember all of that excitement and motivation you had? Where did that go?
If you stopped working out or leading a healthier lifestyle, ask yourself why. Did you get too busy? Did the routine bore you? Pinpoint the exact moment when you stopped sticking to your resolutions and then make a change for the better. Read More »
Finals are done, break is here, and Christmas songs are a playin’. Life is as sweet as mom’s home-made apple pie. As we enjoy this holiday season, with the glistening, bright lights, beautifully decorated Christmas trees, and much needed home-cooked food, it is also time to start planning those annual New Year’s resolutions. As a senior in college, I can report from experience that there is a prevailing rationalization among my peers that, given its deleterious consequences on one’s health, clearly needs to stop. Hence, a perfect New Year’s resolution. The rationalization spoken among my peers goes very much like this:
“Because I am young and in college, I can now treat my body like crap and get away with it. After all, college really is only about three things: studying, relationships and overindulgence. Heck everyone else is drinking to what would technically be considered alcoholism in the real world, indulging in all-you-can-eat dining halls, pulling all-nighters and living off of coffee and candy in between. What is socially acceptable must be okay! I’m still healthy because [insert a plethora of excuses here].”
If this sounds a bit like you, I’m going to bring you back to reality. Even if you feel reasonably fine now, this lifestyle will surely lead to ill health in the long run and will just perpetuate bad health habits post graduation. There is a reason why over two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese and cancer and heart disease rates are skyrocketing. Our bodies cannot handle the stresses we are placing on them over time and the long-term effects are sure to appear if we do not take action NOW to protect ourselves.
After all, there is nothing more empowering than taking care of oneself and feeling great. Why not make this year’s New Year’s resolution about just that? Here’s a list of suggestions, along with motivating facts, to make a healthy New Year’s resolution become a reality: Read More »
With our favorite Black Friday Thanksgiving holiday gone, we are officially entering the holiday season. For some, this means testing your strength when it comes to pushing away another cup of peppermint hot chocolate mocha frap latte machiatto with extra whipped cream. For others, it’s another opportunity to cuddle up in front of a fire (or an MTV reality show marathon) with a special somebody.
And it turns out, that whole “cuddling” thing might be better for all of us than a trip to the gym or a daily vitamin.
I’ve recently come across tons of articles telling us how important love is. MSN even cites a University of Pittsburgh study that showed women who were in a healthy marriage had lower risks for cardiovascular disease. Another study states that in a good relationship, participants were shown to have less anxiety, lower blood pressure and even a longer life. One of my favorite facts found on U.S. News says that when you’re in a happy relationship, you produce less of the stress hormone known as cortisol. Having less cortisol is better because this hormone works against the immune system, making you more prone to sickness and colds!
Yes, being in love prevents sickness.
But for all of us single ladies who may not have a love prospect to smooch under the mistletoe, don’t think we’re at any disadvantage. Although these studies focus on married couples, I think the overall message is this: as long as you are happy, you can be healthy. Read More »
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 »
Finals are done, break is here, and Christmas songs are a playin’. Life is as sweet as mom’s home-made apple pie. As we enjoy this holiday season, with the glistening, bright lights, beautifully decorated Christmas trees, and much needed home-cooked food, it is also time to start planning those annual New Year’s resolutions. As a senior in college, I can report from experience that there is a prevailing rationalization among my peers that, given its deleterious consequences on one’s health, clearly needs to stop. Hence, a perfect New Year’s resolution. The rationalization spoken among my peers goes very much like this:
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