Body Blog: Planking

Okay, okay. I didn’t mean this kind of planking. And no, I didn’t sit there flipping through all of the pictures and laughing. Although this one is my absolute favorite. Umm…anyway. As I’ve mentioned in my past posts, planks are great for strengthening your core. It also uses every single muscle in your body, so you can call it a full body toner!

Since I know you’re an expert at planks, I challenge you to bring it to the next level with this move.

Single leg plank with leg pulses

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Do It Yourself Tuesdays: The Six Pack Caddy

sixpack_caddyCollege just isn’t college without those ubiquitous signs around campus: Party this Friday! Clothes optional. B.Y.O.B!

Now, while we at CollegeCandy don’t condone walking to a campus party in the buff, we do fully support B.Y.O.B-ing. And we can help you do it in style. Now you can bring your own beer in our cute Six Pack Caddy! Sure, you could just lug it over in the Natty Light box it came in, but that’s not cute. Or classy. And we’re all about the classy.

Not a drinker? No prob. This little guy does double duty. You can use it as a pencil holder, condiment pack, or even store all those hair clips and bands in it. Then you can use that money you saved for something you can’t make, like those cute wedges you’ve been eyeing all summer.

Materials:

- Empty cardboard six-pack box
- Decorative paper (wallpaper or gift wrapping paper)
- Glitter, feathers, sequins, pipe cleaners, colored pom-pom balls
- Glue or tape
- Scissors Read More »


Fit Finds: Core Over Crunch

crunches

So you’re determined to get those rock-hard, washboard, Jessica Alba abs. And you even stepped up the intensity of your workout by increasing those crunches and sit-ups to ensure that your stomach is flat in no time.

Well, its time to stop that.
Right now.

Turns out, crunches are not good for you.

I know you’ve spent your whole life thinking those painful and annoying little exercises were getting you one step closer to a Britney body (circa 2001), but, sadly, the main thing that crunches do is crunch your spine. And yes that really is as bad as it sounds. According to and article in the New York Times, the way to visualize this concept is to “think of the spine as a fishing rod supported by muscular guy wires. If all of the wires are tensed equally, the rod stays straight.” However, focusing only on the deep abdominal muscles can cause the spine to buckle. To avoid this, it is important to strengthen the entire core. Read More »


Body Blog: 1-Minute Abs and More Quick Workouts

absWith finals right around the corner, you may be feeling pressed for time. Instead of skipping that workout, here are a few ideas on how to get the most from the time you have when it comes to exercise.

1 Minute Abs
The one minute abs workout can be done anywhere – from the gym to your dorm. It’s a routine that works every ab muscle and will get results if done properly without rest in between moves. It’s a combination of 3 moves, each for 20 seconds.

*Leg Lifts – To get started, lie on your back with legs straight, lifted about 6 inches above the ground. Feel free to put your hands underneath your butt so your low back doesn’t arch. Lift legs to 90 degrees so they are right above your hips and lower them. Repeat for a total of 20 seconds. This move is commonly referred to as leg lifts.
*Toe Taps – Immediately go into the next move called toe taps. Bring legs above hips, out straight or with a slight bend and reach your hands towards your toes. When you come back down, stay about 3 inches above the ground and reach right back up. You don’t have to actually touch your toes but reach as far as you can without putting too much strain on your neck. Complete toe taps for 20 seconds. Read More »


Spring Break To-Do List

20061222_sunburn.jpgIt seems like just yesterday I was packing my gloves, hats, and facemask to come back to school and start 2nd semester. And now, all of a sudden, it’s spring break. Time is of the essence and even though most people only have a few days or a week to pull themselves together, here are my last-minute spring break tips.

Invest in Sunscreen- I know. I sound like your mom. That’s because I’m quoting my own mom. But seriously its been months since your skin has been exposed to the sun. The only thing more tragic than coming back with cornrows from the Caribbean is returning to school with a 3rd degree burn and 4 inch blister on your face (true story).

Begin Drinking Dangerous Amounts- (And this is part of the blog where I veer away from anything my mom has ever said.) In just a few days you will be drinking more alcohol than your liver could ever imagine and unless you want to die, it’s essential you start building up your tolerance ASAP. I know that a lot of people have midterms this week but that’s no excuse to be letting your guard down. There should be beers at every breakfast and shots with every snack. If there is any point during the day where you could legally drive, you are not preparing yourself responsibly for whats going to happen during break.

Start Sleeping- When you’re not drinking, you should be sleeping. Sleep so much that you will never want to sleep again. Because you won’t be sleeping. Not for an entire week. Chances are that if you’re not in the mood to get some, your roommate will be. There’s no hope for any 8-hour nights in any spring break destination. Read More »


Happenin’ Holiday Gift Ideas To Get You Started This Season

holidaypresents.gif

It may only be early November, but the holidays are approaching fast.  Just like your major term paper due this semester, holiday shopping is something best approached far in advance. And though I can’t help you research West African history, I can give you a few suggestions on what to get your loved ones this December.

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Who Is Joe Six Pack, Anyway?

joe-6-pack.jpg

If you watched the VP debate last night you heard a lot about Sarah Palin’s BFF, Joe Six Pack. But who is he? What does he like? What does he do?

We don’t know Joe Six Pack personally (though we have hooked up with his cousin, Mark Quarter Barrel…who could not keep it up), but we imagine he’d be something like this:

Description:

5’11, brown hair, brown eyes, some sort of facial hair, big hands and a tattoo of some sort (possibly his kids’ initials) on his upper arm. No actual six pack to be seen behind the slight beer belly hanging over the top of his ill-fitting denim. Read More »


I Hate Six Packs (and other musings of an outcast)

Six Pack - Yechhh!

Writing for CollegeCandy has reinforced what I’ve always suspected: I don’t get society’s idea of male attractiveness.

This isn’t me “taking a stand” or “trying to be different” – I literally don’t get it. Never have, never will.

Why are so many women hot for men with six-packs? Seriously – what is it with this ab muscle obsession? It’s not like abs can do anything… I mean, an actually sturdy abdomen is imperative for breath support in operatic singing, but I don’t see ladies get their panties all twisted over the titular character in Don Giovanni.

I am also thoroughly vexed by the concept of male waxing. It seems like such a dichotomy, like, “Oooh, I want a manly-man with big manly-man muscles! Extra manly, please, woo!” …but then they want ‘em as Western-standard feminine as possible with waxed chests? Yeah. Um, hot…?

See, I’m down with chest hair because it actually is a male genetic trait. Same with facial hair. An unrelenting five o’clock shadow is a gorgeous, sexy thing. Y’know, kinda reinforces the idea that I’m dating a dude.

But whatevs, I’m cool with being outside the status quo. Keep your skeevy Ken-doll-mens. Just means all the more Mark Ruffalos for me.

Oh, and P.S.: Hair gel = creepy. I CAN SEE YOUR SCALP, DUDE!

What is your take on guys with six packs?