Separate Worlds

As I anxiously await the arrival of my best friend, Kenna, this evening... I have been thinking about the total separateness of my life in Ohio & my life in Florida... Kenna is the first person to come visit me, which will make this whole journey seem more realistic. A lot of the time... my life down here feels like a dream. It's hard to believe that 6 months ago, I packed up all my belongings in my car & set off for an entirely new life, totally alone, basically broke. While I know that everything I do down here is indeed real, it's crazy for me to think that no one from back home knows what the hell I'm talking about. I can call someone and tell them that I'm walking down the street, but they can't imagine it, they have no idea where I am. Maybe that's just me.. but I find comfort in being able to visualize certain things, like where my friends and family are going.

That being said, I am beyond excited to finally share the world that I've told people about down here with my soul sister! The intersection of my two worlds is going to be really cool, then I get to head back to my world in Ohio, where my life in Florida will again feel like a dream. When I went home in October, it was so hard for me to believe that all my belongings were sitting in a house in Florida.

In other news; It's my favorite time of year; I love love love Christmas. While Southern Florida really tries to encompass the joy of the season... I can't wait for my white Christmas. My family. My friends. Snow. Pine trees. Irish coffee. Egg nog. Fires. Brisk air... I miss the seasons. I need to prepare myself for the weather, my blood has thinned out down here, and the cold is gonna be frigid. In honor of my trip home a week from today, here is a song by two beautiful men... singing the tale of my life! :)

Have a great weekend all.
All my love :)

Perception

Good evening & Happy Monday all. Today I spent the day cooped up, sick... The unfortunate thing about eating out with a gluten allergy is that no matter how safe you think you're being ... you're never truly safe. I've been fighting off the post-gluten cravings... thinking about all the Krispy Kreme donuts I could be eating, but instead... eating sugar sugar sugar. We're now on to the detox aka chugging liters on liters of water... getting all the nastiness out of my system.

While in today, I sat down and watched all of White Christmas for the first time. I was really struck by this song  (not just because I couldn't sleep the whole night). It really made me think about how in our world, we often perceive things to be worse than they are. Can't sleep? Count sheep... but why would you count sheep... dwelling on the fact that you can't sleep when you could be counting the things in your life that you are blessed with and truly reflecting on how much they mean to you...

Today, I am reflecting on my blessings :)

• The fact that, despite my gluten allergy, I caught the signs & symptoms before it led to greater bodily damage.
• The team of beautiful & brilliant young adults I work with have become my best friends & my family. A day without them feels wrong & foreign.
• The fact that I can pick up the phone & call my loved ones. Whenever, for however long.
• The incredibly strong students I work with every single day... and their million different nicknames for me. 
• Every new person that has come into my life; everyone brings something different to the table, I love that.
• My health.
• My brain.
• My teeth.
• My car, despite it's smashed bumper. The ability to just jump in & go anywhere is something I take for granted.
• My incredible friends.
• Laughing. Laughing. Laughing. One of the biggest blessings.
• I'm blessed to have a positive outlook.
• My amazing sister.
• My equally as amazing brother.
• The most magnificent & hard-working parents.
• To have any money at all. I may belly-ache about how difficult it is... but I am lucky. 
• I get to pour coffee into a cup every morning, that's a blessing.
• My bunny rabbit.
• Two super amazing, intelligent & supportive roommates. 
• Plumbing, housing, warmth, water, food.

There are so many more things I could say... but I just want to leave you with this... When life presents you with a situation, you can either run from it or embrace it. You have full control on how you see the situation, good or bad, & how you handle it. I believe that every hardship is a blessing in disguise. For instance, I within the past month have: gotten in an accident & had my wallet stolen... Due to a lack of picture ID, I can't get on a plane to go home in 2 weeks for Christmas... but the silver lining is always always always present. I now get to see two of my best friends as a result of this bump in the road. 1) A friend, Kenna, is flying down for a week, then riding cross country back to Ohio with me. 2) I get to see my friend Kate in Texas because I then had to switch my flights.

So count your blessings... they're there, even when it doesn't seem like it. 

Thoughts, lots of them.

Today has been a strange, strange day for me. I have spent a lot of time thinking about my world. Where I am. Where I'm going. It's cliche to say that 1 event can change your entire mindset... but life is a beautiful collection of cliches that we laugh about when we realize we're living them.

Last night I got rear-ended... where my car took the brunt of the damage. This is the first time I've ever been in an accident, so I didn't really know the protocol... but I got  the guys phone number, name & plates... so hopefully with some help from Nationwide, my poor little Scessant will be looking beautiful again soon. I'm happy that Brandon, who was riding passenger, and I are fine. It's terrifying to see those headlights come zooming into your rear view mirror though, all you can do is brace yourself.

With that... while it was just a fender-bender..I'm happy to be alive... I never wrote about losing my dear friend Jason, but it's a constant reminder for me that every moment is so crucial, so precious. That wound is still very fresh... Putting yourself behind the wheel of a car is making yourself responsible for lives of total strangers, and people don't seem to understand that. Due to foolish actions, a beloved man was lost... and so many others have been as well.

In result of stress, I ended up sick today... staying home from work. I missed my kids and my team... I felt limp all day. I didn't do anything... except go to Denny's... and watch Scandal... and think. When you have those days where you're alone the entire day, there's not much else to do than think.

I thought a lot about heart-break today. I'm not depressed by any means, so if you're reading this, do not jump to that conclusion. I was thinking of heart-break in the sense that... once we have been hurt, we spend all sorts of time convincing ourselves that someone is going to come along and "heal our wounds" ... well, in my opinion, that's impossible. There is no one person that can come along and completely cleanse you of all the hurt something or someone may have caused you. In fact, why would we want that? When we think of the most beautiful, natural places in the world... they are not "healed", they have cracks and crevices, they have been weathered & grafffiti'd ... isn't a heart that has been etched through all the elements all the more beautiful? I posted on my facebook earlier this week, what makes you vulnerable makes you beautiful. It couldn't be more true. The second you allow your heart to open to something that may not be 100% in your comfort zone... it begins to look different. Sometimes, we are damaged by these changes, but in the end... you are left with a heart that has survived all of the whims, obstacles, lies, hurt.... and that is more than beautiful; that is extraordinary.

It seems as if I'm in a dark place tonight, I suppose I am. But to bring light to the darkness, you've got to expose it. So here is my exposure: Open your heart to everything that comes your way & have no expectations. I don't mean in the sense that "No expectations, no hurt" ... I mean No expectations, No fear that things will end up in hurt. Go into things thinking that everything will work out, that the end result... no matter how rocky the road, will be wonderful because you opened your heart to it.

With that... I will say goodnight.
Tomorrow is Friday & that is a reason to smile. :)
I will be in Ohio a month from today. I can't wait to hug my family and catch snowflakes on my tongue.
All my love.

So Many Reasons

Welcome to November everyone... it's so hard to believe that a year ago, I was interning in Clintonville, attending classes at Ohio State, working at Meijer and living at home. Now I sit here in Miami, a totally different world, same me with different opportunities.

I have grown so much in the past year, and I want to take this post to express how grateful I am that I have made it so far back to my normal demeanor. November is a month often associated with the big turkey day, or Thanksgiving... and while it's great that we are so thankful this month, it's important to remember to be thankful every single day that we have the opportunity to wake into.

It's been a long road, but I have risen back up from the rut I dug myself into. I feel light, I feel free. I have embraced spirituality again and the beauty of just being. I am choosing love instead of fear... and trying to make myself vulnerable to gain more strength. I am so thankful that I can look back and say, "I made it through that... and I'll make it through whatever else comes my way."

Working with urban middle-school-ers has been an incredible experience... We often spend so much time worrying about "me me me" that we don't even think about the battles that most of these kids have to face. There are days when I think my days are too long, the pay is too stingy... but those kids are the reason I stick it out. To see their faces light up when you give them a hug, the confidence they ooze when they understand a new math concept, or the way they laugh when they're telling you a story... means the world. It means they get to lighten their burden. I am thankful that I get to be there with them, to help them through each day & begin to aid them in furthering their education.

I am thankful that I can pick up my phone and call my family and friends. This move has been challenging, but I love knowing that I have that resource. I can't imagine what it would have been like to leave a country on a boat, or travel long distances not knowing when the next meeting would be. How incredible is it that we can instantaneously send a text message and get that affirmation.

While my blog to this point has been primarily focused on fitness, I ultimately want it to speak of WELLNESS. To be well, we must remember to be thankful. Every single day is a gift and I am beyond grateful for that.

My Romantic Day

Today, I took myself on a day-long date. A LONG OVER DUE DATE!

I woke up leisurely around 7:45 am to no alarm, with no agenda... such an amazing feeling. I rolled out of bed where I then treated myself to a breakfast that consisted of chocolate! Last night I made coconut-peanut butter-chocolate energy balls, so on my lovely day with myself, what better way to start than with energy in the form of chocolate! After a bit of eating & relaxing, I prepared myself for a morning energy walk to Greynolds Park where I was greeted by Florida's fall weather. According to the weather, it was 80, but it was breezy and not humid. I power-walked 3 miles to the Shakira Pandora station, which, in case you have never done... I highly suggest. You can't help but model walk & smile while you listen. It was great to get that exercise in and feel connected with nature. Of course me being myself, I smiled at random strangers and pet a few animals along the way.

I returned home and felt super empowered. I took a long shower, shaved my legs, put on a dress, did my hair & make-up. I felt envigorated! And it was all self-motivated! I made myself a really random, but delicious lunch of yogurt, green beans & turkey rolled with feta cheese & pimento olives (surprisingly good...)

I then set out to Pembroke Pines to pick up a new book from Barnes & Noble. Yes, I bought myself a gift today :) 'A Return to Love' by Marianne Williamson. I'll be starting it once I'm totally done with Gabrielle's 'Spirit Junkie'.  After musing through B&N I decided I wanted to further treat myself, I headed to Target to buy supplies to give myself a manicure! Smiling through Target, I got funny looks for my leather vest (thanks mom) but I was happy as a clam! I then made friends with a little old woman in the parking lot who couldn't find her car. We found her car & had a good laugh. From there, I headed back to Aventura, where I made oven-roasted chickpeas to snack on, while I sat on the front step doing my nails, listening to country music and enjoying the breezy Florida sunshine. I couldn't get over how in love with this day I was, so I sat outside for extended hours and read.

Hunger struck, so I made myself dinner! Brussel sprouted wrapped in turkey bacon, with a side of rainbow quinoa! So healthy & so fulfilling. Anything with bacon is AMAZING! After eating, I remembered I had a bunch of spare change in my purse, so I decided to drive out to Ocean Drive, put all my change in a meter & sat on the beach & read as the sun set. How beautiful. :)

As my time expired, the only thing missing from my rendezvous was ice cream. What kind of date doesn't have ice cream? So I took myself to Tutti Frutti for some froyo topped with fruit. :) Healthy & satisfying.

As my day-date with myself came to an end... I realized... I can be totally 100% happy without relying on others to feel that way. Why do we think that we need people to satisfy parts of us that feel incomplete? I am truly working on finding inner happiness and a stronger sense of independence. I am the only one that can determine how happy I am, why do so many of us feel like we are missing something when we are single? Or even when we have a significant other. If we learn to love ourselves and see the world in a way that is loving, that love will then reflect back on us. Yes, the company of others is excellent, and we all want to find our soulmate... but we are never going to be capable of that until we can feel love from ourselves....

SO, here's my advice. Take yourself on a date! I feel giddy inside from the great day I had, and it was all because I viewed my day in a positive light. I could have said.... man... this day sucks, I'm all alone. But I chose to see it as a wonderful adventure & opportunity to feel that love I have within myself.

Choosing happiness is something I have been working on... I have experienced hardships, but I will not let them keep me down.

Tomorrow, I restart Gabrielle Bernstein's 40-day Challenge 'May Cause Miracles'... I am confident in my abilities to begin to bring light to the dark places in my life, and then reflect that light to the world around me.

That's all for now loves, hope to hear about the romanticism you are able to introduce to yourselves. :)

Pumpkin Head

Alright guys, so... even though fall does NOT come to Florida, I am bringing it.... how, you might ask? PUMPKIN EVERYTHING!

Pumpkin is sooooo good for you! Pumpkin is full of vitamin A (good for your skin, hair & nails), iron, fiber AND potassium!! So it's a great alternative for all you banana haters out there (... although I'm not quite sure how it's possible to hate bananas).

Here are some recipes that I have concocted today!

This morning I had a ...
Cocoa-pumpkin-espressochino!

1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tbsp pumpkin puree
1 tbsp espresso instant coffee
1 packet stevia
1/2 tsp cinnamon (adjust to your liking)
1/4 tsp nutmeg (adjust... again)
1/2 cup almond milk
3 ice cubes

Stick all that into a blender and enjoy some pumpkin with your daily egg-fast!

Tonight I made....
Pumpkin-raisin-almond energy bars!

1 cup GF rolled oats
1/2 cup milled flaxseed
1/2 pumpkin puree
1/3 cup raisins
1/3 cup almonds (chopped in half)
1/3 cup honey
1 egg white
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg

Pre-heat over to 400 degrees. Mix it all together in a large bowl, spray an 8x8 brownie pan with cooking spray, cook for 10-15 minutes depending on your oven! Let cool, cut & wrap to keep fresh! I cut mine into 8 bars!

Fresh outta the oven! 

All wrapped up & headed to the freezer :)

SO! Both these recipes used ONLY all natural ingredients & would be considered CLEAN EATING! Hooray! So, test em out, enjoy !

Did I tell you all that I have a new life goal?
I am going to open a completely 100% gluten free cafe when City Year is over... well, maybe a few years after City Year is over!

BUT! Help me reach my goals & give me feedback!
I release my fears & I choose love. The universe will provide the means necessary if I offer my love unto it.

Goodnight beautiful people <3

I Am Willing to Witness My Fear

Happy Sunday beautiful people.

Today, I embark on a 40-day journey! I have been reading everything by Gabrielle Bernstein, but yesterday, my cousin reached out to me and said she was starting the 40-Day challenge which follows along with Gabby's book, "May Cause Miracles." Surprisingly enough, my goal for the day yesterday was to go and find that book, even before my cousin had said anything! The synchronicity of the universe was incredible yesterday...

 Friday night, I couldn't fall asleep until 5 am, slept for about two hours... woke up and realized there are some aspects of my life that need to be altered. I read a chapter from 'Spirit Junkie', did the meditation at the end.... and found myself broken down, sobbing in my room... I asked for the universe to help guide me in the right direction, ready for change and willing to work... next thing you know I am out searching Aventura for this book. Funny to find out; there isn't a single book store in this part of town... I was distressed & to top things off, my car key got stuck in the ignition. I was in a state of panic, hungry & very annoyed. I sought to stress eating, despite my epiphany from the morning... I felt like this was the world's way of telling me, "NO. You aren't allowed to make this change, you can just keep on doing what you're doing." After hitting up multiple drive-thru's & stress eating my way to sickness... I stopped at a car-shop & asked a friendly worker to potentially help me. With a little struggle, the man got my key out... I felt a lot better but my brain was buzzing from the drive-thru binge eating, so I stopped by Goodwill to walk it off & see if I could find any bargains.. To my fortune, I found a pair of beige pumps, exactly what I've been wanting; problem, they were marked for 53 dollars. 53 dollars at Goodwill... what?! So I asked a clerk about them, she said... you know, that's wrong, these are 7, go up to the counter now and I'll make sure you get them for the right price. So, I walked away with a little pep in my step... the day was getting better. Exhaustion finally hit, so I decided to head home & nap.

 Upon waking up, I had a voicemail from my beautiful cousin who said she was starting the 40-Day Challenge the following day, Sunday, and that she would love if I would do it along with her. This was my call back from the universe. I am going to get better & I am going to be happy again. I sprung out of bed, drove 15 miles to the nearest Barnes & Noble, purchased the book (and several others) & knew that my journey to recovery & unlimited happiness would begin in the morning.


If you made it through all of that, some of you are probably thinking... what is this girl even talking about? If you'd like to know more, I can definitely expand upon it... but it's been a long few years that I am looking to find solace for.

Gabby's 'May Cause Miracles' is a day-by-day guidebook that makes subtle changes in your life to open the windows to true happiness, internal happiness & love over fear.

Today, I am willing to witness my fear: my fear that I will be forever alone, my fear of steering away from the calorie counting life I once followed, my fear that my body isn't perfect, or people don't like the way I am. I see what I've been through, and I will not be afraid of what I can become.

Today I begin this journey for me.

Things Have Changed

Well, it is about time I started blogging again... a lot has changed since my last post: the biggest obviously the fact that I moved across the country. Since my last update, I was accepted into City Year Miami, an Americorps program aimed at fighting the drop-out crisis in education. I have been living here for 2 months now, and the work has been perilous, but the small victories rewarding. I have met so many amazing people from all over the country, and some even more incredible students who I look forward to growing stronger bonds with & increasing their chances of succeeding in their educational career. It is insane that so many people have come together to help complete strangers... I'm awed by it everyday... and even though some days I feel like backing out, I know that I am here for a reason, and that reason is to touch the life of someone so that they might do the same in return. The only way to help our world from spiraling down into chaos as we all face struggles and hardships is to help each other & create a cycle of service.

Today we all earned our Red Jackets, which was incredibly real. It was so refreshing after a hard month in the schools to be reminded of why we came, and who helped pave our way to get to where we are now. I dedicated mine to both of my grandma's. My Grandma Burke passed away 3 years ago to bone cancer, my Grandma O'Sullivan is currently fighting a failing liver & resides in hospice. I think of them everyday... I wish I could see both of them. I know they are rooting for me though. A few weeks ago, I was able to facetime with my Grandma O while my parents were visiting her in Massachusetts. It was amazing to hear her tell me that I was pretty & to know that she knew I was ok in Florida. She was amazed at the technology of an iPad... The past few weeks have been stressful in the sense that I know it's only a matter of time before she passes.... but I pray that the universe keeps her strong & sends my positive thoughts to her daily. I'm dedicating my year of service to her & Grandma Burke because I want to channel their strength that they have shown me in the time I was blessed to spend with them.

I know that my blog started as a "food" & "fit" blog... but I am re-routing it to a wellness blog. I really nee a positive outlet right now as the last few weeks have taken a toll on me... I am searching for a balance of wellness. I have begun reverting to my older ways of stress-eating... and it is taking a toll on me... but I won't delve into that.

I will leave this post as is for now... but close with some words from the book I'm currently reading. "Spirit Junkie", by Gabrielle Bernstein. I have found solace in her writing... her words are healing, and as a damaged soul, I have truly been taking it to heart. She reinforces that just because your life may be in a recovery phase, or a slow climb from rock bottom.... there is always a way to turn it around.

"One fearful thought takes over our minds and creates our very own illusions. We were all innocent children who once believed in love. But there comes a point at which we forget love ever existed. We choose fear instead. We fear just about everything. We fear our careers, our family, our friends--we even fear the possibility that love could be real. Most of all we fear our own greatness."

Time to choose love & forgive the past.

All for the night... I can't sleep so I'll be cleaning.

All my love,
Emily

Overdue

Hey guys,

This post is WAY overdue. I am not even going to lie, with as busy as I've been... I've totally been slacking off on working out. :/ No cause for fret though, we all go through dry-spells and such.

Just to keep you all up to date, I graduated from OSU on the 5th! So that's exciting, and am waiting to hear about some things... we'll letcha know if it works out ;)

I have a workout that I think you're gonna love because:
 1) It's free.
 2) It's fun.
 3) It does not involve running.
 4) You can do it anywhere!

Get on your laptop, open up Pandora and pick a channel with some upbeat, heart-pumping music (I chose the Country Fitness station, which I thoroughly recommend). Find a space... I was in my room, and had about 4 ft x 8 ft. You're gonna use 6 songs, that's it! The workout will last ~22 minutes, depending on song lengths.

Song 1: Break it down! Dance like the crazy person you are & get that heart revving.
Song 2: Arm strength training exercises. (I did 20 reps per exercise ie: push-ups, tricep dips, half cobra push ups, arm circles)
Song 3: Leg strength training exercises. (20 reps again; squats, lunges, leg lifts, calf raises)
Song 4: Ab strength training exercises. (20 again; V ups, crunches, twists, obliques, bicycles)
Song 5: DANCE IT OUT! (Because working out is FUN and you HAVE to end on a good note!)
Song 6: Stretch! (You can even stretch for 2 songs, I did a little extra!)

And that's it friends! You'll find yourself sweating like crazy as long as you keep the intensity up! The cool thing about Pandora too, is the ADS! Use those to take a little water break and breather! :)

Have fun with this! And eat something wholesome to follow up! I'm headed to the kitchen to make a spinach & cheese egg white omelet!

ALSO: Get outside people, its beautiful and the SUN is grrrrrreat for your skin and your mood!

All my love <3

Emily

Be fearless!

When it comes to eating healthy... Some people claim it to be a little bit bland. WRONGO. This is where you have to gain a little courage and say... "Hmm, what would it taste like if I paired this with that?" Sometimes you'll try it, and be like yup never doing that again.... But then! You make a break through and find out something so unlikely can be AMAZING.

For example, my lunch today. I wanted eggs... But I wanted to incorporate salad. NO PROBLEM! Scrambled egg whites, on a romaine salad with a slice of shredded turkey bacon, two tablespoons of salsa and sprinkled with black pepper. You might think.... Whaaaaat? And I'm thinking, why have I never done this before?! Think outside the box and have fun with it! Or you will hate healthy foods!

The same goes with working out, you might think... I can't do that... NO! You can do that! You might not look like Jillian michaels doing it at first... Hell, I look like a fish out of water half the time, but you get better!!!!! Take it slow, work on form and your muscles will start to realize you can do it!

Have fun people! That's the key!

Graduation: T-minus 28 days.

Hello lovely world,

As the earth begins to warm up again (or so we think... Ohio always likes to throw a curve ball) we are shedding our coats and layers and YIKES: What the HECK is that?! Winter weight my friends... winter weight. Now call me crazy, but EVERYONE puts on that little pudge because, get real... if it's snowing outside you are NOT gonna catch me running around the streets looking for a new PR. Chances are, I am locked up in my house baking cookies and watching movies... Yup, its okay people. I promise its ok!

BUT! Now that we have hit spring, it is soooo much easier to get your body into the shape you want. The weather allows for more activity outside and introduces a GREAT selection of FRUIT and VEGGIES (Oh. My. God. Thank god for the return of corn on the cob!!!!!!!!!) 

I'm not sure how many of you know, but I graduate from OSU on May 5th (chances are you do know, because I freak out about it every 3 seconds). This is a HUGE monumental moment in my life, so quite frankly, I want to be looking my absolute best! PLUS: I'll have job interviews coming up and I want to ooze nothing but confidence as I approach my professional life! Here is my 28 day plan rules to be looking like a sexy vixen for my graduation day.

Cardio: Minimum 3x per week

Strength Training: Minimum 2x per week.

1 sweet treat per week

NO BREAD. Or pasta. Or crackers. Or white potatoes. (or very sparingly)

Solely egg whites, no yolks.

A million leafy greens.

A million blueberries/strawberries/raspberries.

Only lean meats (turkey, fish, chicken).

No eating after 9.

No less than 6 hours of sleep.

ALWAYS wash face before bed. 

.... Now, this is gonna be a psycho challenge because I am such a crazy busy person... (32 hours of work, full-time student, 15 hours internship) ... BUT! I have full confidence that I will be attending one of the most important days of my life looking like a total fox.

Here is my calendar to keep track! :) (I like visuals)

Anyone graduating and want to take the challenge with me? Ooooorrrrr just wanna take the challenge just because?! Let me know :)

Only Got 10 Minutes to Save the World.

Happy Easter lovely people! I just got off work and am hanging out with the Snow family dogs for a little while before I head off to my family's for dinner! BUT! Do you have 10 minutes?! I do! Check out this quick and fun workout!


Victoria Secret Model Workout

Let me know if there are any topics you guys wanna hear about! I am brainstorming, I promise! I'll try to post a little more, but ... graduating in a month limits my availability! Ah, so much going on! :)

Get your sweat on!

Movin' & a'groovin' !

Since the dawn of time, we have heard from gym teachers, doctors, nurses, random strangers, commercials, etc etc etc: EXERCISE EVERYDAY! Guess what... That cliche little phrase is KEY to a healthy life. Now, I'm not suggesting that you go to the gym and get your Arnold on everyday of the week... but, get active and find something that 1) you love doing & 2) makes you feel good! It's quite simple; the more you move, the more you metabolize!

I've been asked what my personal workouts are... and well... To be honest, I don't have a consistent workout regime. I get bored REALLY easily, so I'm constantly switching it up. The essential building blocks to burning fat and building muscle tone, though, is a combination of cardio and strength training. 

Cardio! Get that heart pumping! The key to burning fat is to maintain your accelerated pulse for an extended length of time (I usually do 20-45 minutes) If you're going to a gym, the machines can be really great when you're doing the right thing! AND those silver things on the handles DO serve a purpose! Check your heart rate frequently to make sure you're maintaining that "fat burning zone".  I'm personally a big fan of the stationary bike lately. Not only does it serve as great cardio, but with increased resistance, it serves as strength training as well. Ellipticals are a favorite of mine too... although they don't do much as to muscle toning. Often times, I'll start my workout on an elliptical to get my heart rate up, then switch to the stationary. 

Strength training! This can be anything from crunches to push-ups to dumb bells to heavy weight lifting. The key is, do what you enjoy... or what you're comfortable with. Some people see more results than others for different methods. It is possible to get great body tone without lifting weights (it helps though...), BUT you can use your own body for resistance. If I don't feel like lifting, I'll do push ups, crunches, squats, lunges, sit ups, various ab exercises... But! Strength training is essential.... every pound of muscle you have takes an extra 50 calories to maintain it, so think of how many more calories your body will burn JUST by having muscle?!

So make sure you keep a stable balance of the two! The most important thing is to do things you enjoy though! I love love love biking... so when the blizzard is gone, don't be surprised when you see me cruising around! 

NOW! This is a great resource! If you don't want to pay for a gym membership, or don't want to work out outside of your house... dun dun dun. YOUTUBE WORK OUT VIDEOS. Amaaaaazing. I highly suggest Blogilates! Cassey Ho is an amazing fitness guru goddess with such high energy! You will have so much fun with all of her videos. Here is my FAVORITE workout from her! Prepare to sweat like a pig in heat. Blogilates: Food Baby HIIT

Alright, time to wrap this up! I've got cleaning & homework to do! 

Eat your vegetables kids! <3

What I Ate Wednesday

Okay guys! Here is the newest addition! What I ate Wednesday, where I will literally tell you.... what I ate on Wednesday! (Kate Huddleston coined the term, so credit to her!)

I think this'll be fun to give you guys a sample meal plan of what I eat on the daily. And... I'm human, guess what, some days I eat healither than others... but A COOKIE IS NOT GONNA KILL YOU! Maybe a whole box of cookies... every night... for 3 months... but a cookie or two once a week, you're gonna make it, I promise :)

6 am: 

-3 egg white omelet with spinach & kraft 2% reduced fat mozzarella cheese!

-half a grapefruit

-black coffee

-tazo zen green tea (for my drive to my internship)

11:20 am:

-Breakstone cottage cheese with pineapple

-Banana with 2 tablespoons of Jif Natural Peanut butter

-Fruit punch powerade zero

-water

2:45 pm:

-Vanilla organic oikos greek yogurt

-1/2 cup blueberries

-roasted almond crunch bar (nature valley - delicious)

-Water

7:30 pm:

-Pork rib (probably about 4 oz)

-1/2 cup green peas

-water

8:30 pm:

-3 cookies (Betty crocker gluten free chocolate chip)

-6 oz 2% milk

10 pm:

-WATER! 

Now, I'll have you know... I eat a lot of food that I can take on the go and STILL manage to eat healthy. I work 32 hours a week, full time student and intern at a Middle School 10-15 hours a week! That's a lot of handle, but it's possible! I try not to eat after 9 pm most nights! And always drink a glass of water before I go to sleep! :) Sometimes there are weeks when I can work out more than others.... for example, this week = MIDTERMS. So I'm sleeping every spare minute that I'm not studying. Don't sweat it though! As long as you're eating that good whole food, you're clear! :) And with that, I'm off to studying! Good night!

Let me know if there are any topics you would like to have me write about!

When Your Stomach Hates You

Well guys, not sure if you know this... But I have a gluten allergy... And when I eat it, I get symptoms relative to the flu... Ick. So this post comes straight from my bed where I'd like to share the suggested food acronym for when your body literally can't keep anything down. Medical experts swear by the acronym BRATTY.

B- bananas
R- rice (I suggest brown!)
A- applesauce (unsweetened/unflavored)
T- toast (which I obviously will avoid)
T- tea (decaf, herbal mint)
Y- yogurt (lowfat, low sugar, plain)

Maybe this post won't be too exciting for too many of you! But once I learned this acronym, my sicknesses usually went a lot easier! Hydration is crucial, ALL THE TIME, but especially when sick. So drink your 8 classes people! I'll bring more excitement to the table once the plague passes over me.

Proceed with Caution

Weightloss and the journey towards a healthier existence is a challenging one... This is something we all know. For some people, counting calories may be in your agenda for ways to succeed. While mathematically, counting calories to the exact singlet number will result in weightloss... it doesn't always mean it's the best system. There are 3500 calories in a pound, and one pound a week lost is healthy... so cut 500 calories from the 2000 calorie daily recommendation... not always what you want to be doing, and I'm speaking from experience.

For my 21st birthday, it was my goal to have my license say 130 pounds. This goal, I did accomplish! And I maintained my weight at 130 for a good solid 4 months... and then I said to myself, I wonder if I can get down to 120 pounds... This is where weightloss goes from awesome to what the hell are you thinking? I was working out 5-6 days a week (mainly on an elliptical, which frankly burns calories but builds no muscle mass) and eating a measly 1200 calories a day... I ended up sick. I let that go on for somewhere around a month, where at the ending point, I weighed 117. Which is WAY underweight for someone of my height and build. PANIC MODE! I was iron deficient, lethargic, my skin was broken out and grey looking, no enthusiasm (Yeah... can you imagine an unenthusiastic Emily? YOU DON'T WANT TO)

Since then, I have gained the weight back. It took me a REALLY long time to stop counting calories, but I have finally broken the habit. It's really difficult to get back to just eating comfortably and not worry about the number... which is why I discourage counting calories. It's important to PAY ATTENTION to what those nutrition facts say, as far as serving size and other nutrition values... but to count every single unit that goes into your body will only make you paranoid and your own worst enemy when you break it.

IF, and I mean IF, you are going to count calories... here is a great place to go to help track My Fitness Pal. MFP also has a free phone app, which is helpful for on the go. They virtually have EVERY type of food listed, and while I don't count calories, I frequent the app to check nutrition facts at restaurants and other on the go occasions.

In all seriousness, eat enough to stabilize yourself. If you're hungry, grab a snack. (Don't worry, snack suggestions are coming in a future post). If you're working out, eat more to replenish your lost calories, but eat CLEAN food, not a big mac or a pint of ice cream.

So proceed with caution stay positive, keep your eye on the prize and most importantly LEARN YOUR LIMITS AND KNOW THEM. Sometimes it takes trial and error to find them, but trust me, you'll know when you do.

Rainy Monday

Rainy, gloomy days like today often make people turn to the kitchen and grab for comfort food. Here's my advice: Don't you dare!

Rainy days are perfect for a hot cup of green tea and doing some cleaning! Something we take little notice of, is that EVERYTHING you do burns calories! Seriously, it's that easy! You might think you're just folding clothes, but did you know that you are burning off that muffin top while doing something as simple as that. I swear, there's a formula and everything : The Calories of Laundry

Livestrong.com is brilliant, anything you could EVER want to know about your health, you will find here. Nutrition, health benefits, exercise routines, apparel... I could spend HOURS browsing that website!

But, instead of the chocolate bar today, grab yourself a hot cup of green tea. Why?

THAT'S WHY. So put on some comfy sweats, turn on some feel good music (I'm listening to the 'Twenty One Pilots' Pandora channel) and sip on that tea to rid that rainy day feeling. :)

Let's Take it Back to the Start

When I look back at old pictures of myself, I sometimes have a really hard time believing that I'm even the same person. Not only have I transformed into a healthier version of myself... but a more responsible and knowledgeable adult. These pictures are from my freshman year of college ranging from November 2010 - January 2011. At my highest weight, I was 195 pounds... When I saw that number on the scale, only 5 pounds from hitting 200, I KNEW something had to change, I had to start taking care of myself. A size 18 pant wasn't going to be the size I stayed in.

As time progressed, I began to walk more, eat a little less and at the right times. I became more self aware... and as soon as I had accomplished putting mind over matter, the weight began to fall off. My original goal was to weigh 160 pounds so I could fit in juniors' clothes again. The 160 mark came so fast that then... there was nothing to get but better.

I'm now somewhere in the realm of 135 pounds. I am a gluten-free, health nut, busy body that loves to learn everything possible about how I can better keep myself healthy. It took time, patience and a SHIT LOAD of hard work, but now I can look myself in the mirror and feel happy because I have earned my body and my piece of mind. It IS possible to drop that weight, whether is 5 pounds or 500... anything is doable when you put your mind and heart in it.

 

Fresh

Over the past few months, I have received an overwhelming amount of love and support from so many people whom I both know well and hardly know at all on the topic of weight loss. As many of you know, I have lost a substantial amount of weight in the last few years through a lot of hard work, patience and will power! I decided I would create a blog to ramble about all of the knowledge I have gained over my experience to both help others and continue helping myself to lead a happy, healthy existence.

Seeing as adequate amounts of sleep is key to keeping a steady metabolism, this girl is calling it a night. An extended introduction post shall be posted tomorrow, promise.

We all have goals, and if I can share what I know to help others achieve theirs... then why wouldn't I do everything in my power to help them grow.

Signing off,
Sweet dreams and big breakfasts in the AM
EJ