1 And 2 And 3 And 4 And Get Them Sit Ups Right!

Disclaimer: I am NOT hired by the producers of 8 Minute Abs to promote the video!!

In reference to the title of this post, this is one of a VERY select few times where I will recommend listening to what Kanye West has to say.

I have been told by numerous people that the way I talk about my abdominal workout is borderline infomercial- like and annoying, but from a college student perspective, I think it's important!  I guess I can only speak for myself, but I can't hold myself back from that extra cookie or slice of pizza.  So, I take my ab exercises very seriously.

Despite the 80's vibe the video gives off (don't get me wrong- it definitely was made around the time I was born.  See below), the exercises are timeless.

At this point, I have repeated them so often that I have the sequence memorized and it is my favorite workout to do at the gym!

The story I always tell is about the Halloween costume I wore my senior year of high school.  My group of friends decided to split up and dress up as the Clovers and Toros from the movie "Bring It On."  This came along with buying actual cheerleading uniforms from an actual cheerleading website, which came along with skirts that ran VERY small.

In the weeks leading up to the exciting holiday (after I realized how small my skirt was on me), I did 8 minute abs twice a day for about two weeks, and I miraculously fit into the costume.

I walk around my house telling everyone to stop wasting their time on machines and just do 45 seconds of each of the exercises explained in this video!!  With all the various things we have going on at Lehigh, 8 minutes is really all we have to devote to our abs.  And I promise, it's 8 minutes well spent!

You Can Do It Too!

Getting motivated to get yourself down the hill and into the gym is no easy feat.  Luckily, I have an entire house of girls just as unmotivated as me to follow to the gym, and I know I am not alone.  Hearing my friends' alarms ringing at 7AM and seeing them wearing workout clothes doesn't only make me feel like I should be doing the same, but it actually gets me out of bed.

Here's what I mean.  As I've mentioned in posts before, no one is ever fully healthy on this campus.  Sniffling and coughing is an all-day, all-night job.  As a result, waking up the extra three hours before my first class is quite the struggle.  However, seeing my roommate and neighbors do it makes me hate myself a little every time I press the snooze button.

Granted, sometimes when I follow my friends to the gym my eyes are literally closed and I only run for fifteen minutes, but it gets me out of bed and it gets my day off to an active start.  I like to think of it this way- if I can get myself up and onto a treadmill before 9 AM, I can do anything.

My friend Samantha convinced me to workout with her!

Surviving Mocos Season!

Well here we are, starting the third week of first semester.  This comes along with a bunch of different things that I am unhappy about, and I know that I am not alone.  With syllabus week being far over, school is jumping into high gear.  Tests are creeping up on us, homework is getting more and more frequent, and cracking down is absolutely critical.

While the end of the second week of class means it's time to get serious, it also means that football season has started.  This includes our peers on the Lehigh football team, our favorite teams in the NFL, and our fantasy leagues!  I may only be speaking for myself, but I definitely went to my friends' house to watch the game solely for the wings.

Two friends and I finished a 50-wing order from Campus Pizza

We can't pretend that the first morning of mocos (morning cocktails, for those who don't keep up with the Lehigh jargon) isn't the happiest morning of our semester.  Dressing ridiculously and showing our school spirit in every way (besides wearing our beautiful Brown and White) is every Lehigh student's favorite time of year.  While jumping around and spending time outside in the beautiful weather seems worth it while it's happening, these actions definitely have their consequences.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but waking up on Monday after a Saturday afternoon Lehigh win (WOO!) with a head cold is almost inevitable.  Not one person in my 11:10 AM class wasn't sniffling, coughing, and consuming tea faster than my teacher could say, "stay awake!"

In my professional (ha!) opinion, there are a few easy things us college students can do to at least try and avoid the terrible case the "monday after mocos blues."  EmergenC is a great way to get many of your essential vitamins without taking pills that taste like chalk.  They come in a number of flavors, and when the powder is added to water, the drink is carbonated and it is almost delicious.  An even easier, less expensive way to make sure you don't lose your voice is the traditional tea and honey.  I know that for me, living with 63 girls is very strenuous on my voice, and the honey always gets the job done.

Getting back into the swing of things at the beginning of the year is hard, but it definitely gets easier.  Trust the Surviving College Connoisseur, my not- so- professional advice can apply to you too! I promise!

Welcome to HealthyYOUniversity!

What’s up, guys?! It’s me, the surviving college connoisseur.  Why would you trust someone teaching you how to make it through college alive who isn’t in college herself?  I’ll tell you one thing, you wouldn’t.  What I’m here to do is give you a how-to guide to surviving in this place we call “school.”

I currently live in a sorority house at Lehigh University that is

Lehigh University- classic view from a cubicle window during finals!

stocked full to the brim with 64 girls.  While I have never-ending personal anecdotes about living in an actual dollhouse, college is obviously about WAY more than just where you live.

You can depend on me for tips (based on actual experience) on studying, eating, staying safe, and pretty much everything else when it comes to college life; whether it be on or off campus. 

Check back here every week for more stories from me! The surviving college connoisseur!