Taylor // Elizabeth

realfoodology:

the movie FRESH is an eye opening documentary that asks the viewer to consider everything that goes into the foods we consume- from farm to table.

and it’s streaming FOR FREE until this Wed Feb 1st. Click on the photo for the link!

(Source: eatforhealth, via courtneytothemax)

meganshealthy:

Yoga For Your Abs

Boat

1. Sit with your knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Grasp your legs under your thighs, slightly above your knees.

2. Lean back slightly. Lift your feet off the floor so that your shins are parallel to the floor. Press the sides of your feet together.

3. Extend your arms straight out in front of your at shoulder height, with palms facing up.

4. Straighten and raise your legs toward the ceiling until your body forms a V shape.

Rock roll push-up

1. Begin in plank.

2. Draw your right knee up, bringing your kneecap toward your nose.

3. Draw your right thigh up toward the midline of your body.

4. Point the toes of your right foot, and squeeze your raised right leg into your body.

5. Repeat on the opposite side.

Reverse Plank

1. Begin in seated staff.

2. Press down into your hands. Lift your legs and hips off the floor.

3. Bring the soles of your feet toward the floor so your ankles, hips, and shoulders make a straight, diagonal line.

4. Allow your head to drop back slightly so your chin points toward the ceiling.

Low Lunge 

1. From downward-facing dog, step your right foot forward between your hands, aligning your knee over your heel.

2. Lower your left knee towards, but not touching, the floor.

3. Raise your torso and lift your arms overhead, drawing your shoulder blades down your back.

4. Repeat on opposite side.

Cobra

1. Lie belly down, toes and forehead pressing gently into the floor.

2. Place your palms next to your body along the sides of your chest, with your elbows bent and your fingers pointing straight ahead.

3. Press down into your palms, curling your shoulders and chest off the floor.

(via health-heaven)

Want to know how to lose your extra weight?
I have a few healthy secrets I learned this summer!!
Disclaimer: I’m not pro-anorexia, so don’t even take it that way. I’m perfectly content with NOT being a size 00, and my boobs not being A’s. I just want to point that out. There’s nothing wrong with your body; so if you want to change your image for someone else - don’t read this because that’s stupid. If YOU aren’t happy, it’s in YOUR hands.

First, let me tell you a little story! I entered my freshman year at SCAD and was welcomed by the Scad Cafe, needless to say it wasn’t hard to give into all the those horribly greasy foods. I also got super sick due to the harmful toxins in all those foods. I learned that the college didn’t really care about the students well-beings and just cared about producing as much food at as little cost as possible. Although it didn’t inconvenience the school that I was sick, it did inconvenience my body. I stopped eating meat, and I was sick for four months. I was extremely malnourished since there wasn’t enough nutrients in the foods I was eating, and honestly… most of it was junk! All my clothes stopped fitting me; I felt horrible about my body and I would complain but in the back of my mind - it was my fault and the “freshman 15” caught me.
Once I returned home for summer I was told I had to start physical therapy due to a pretty bad case of Scoliosis. I was starting to feel a little better, and I was working out muscles that literally had not been worked out in years. So I decided to start a path; I wanted to become who I used to be, and fit into all the clothes I fit into before I went to college. I was determined to not buy clothes that weren’t the size I used to be! Now, you may say that I was already pretty small, and while I’m not saying I was at all over-weight… I wasn’t happy with the weight I was (make sense? good!) So here are some of the things I did this summer/some really healthy ways to burn that excess weight off (and I’ll continue my story after)!

• Juice Detox - If you guys haven’t seen the movie “Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead” I HIGHLY recommend it. It was one of the most eye opening documentaries that lead me down the healthy path I’m on now! From the movie, I began a juice detox. A juice detox consists of just fruits and vegetables. (You need a juicer for this!) You basically don’t eat for a week (you can also extend the week to two weeks, one month, two months… I don’t recommend more than two months…) and you juice tons of fruits and vegetables. It’s COMPLETELY safe, and healthy. Basically, instead of getting maybe half a serving or one whole serving like the average American you can get 5-8 servings in ONE glass, now times that by three-four glasses a day. It helps you shed the weight, and rejuvenates your body.
• Planks - Planks were something my PT (physical therapist) taught me. Tighten your core (stomach muscles…..) and hold them for 5 seconds, eventually work your way up to 30. I would recommend doing one or two sets of those (10 each set). But you can go easy to start!
• Lunges - Lunges are one of the best ways to lose weight. Make sure your front leg is always straight as if it were a 90 degree angle. If at first you can’t straighten your leg you can place your toes against a wall and lunge against the wall! But don’t relay on the wall forever. Also, make sure your back remains straight and in good posture.
• buy an exercise ball!- I would have never thought I’d actually use one of these, but it’s amazing. You can do these things called “bird dogs” which where you have both hands and feet on the ground, with the ball under your stomach and you lift one hand and one foot up off the ground and hold it for 5-10 seconds. For example, if you lift your LEFT hand up, lift your RIGHT leg up at the same time and then switch - RIGHT hand, LEFT leg! It REALLY tests your balance and strength.
• Get rid of fast food - I know how tempting that food is, but if you were to look at all the chemicals and everything that goes into fast food - you would freak out. It was one of the hardest things to do, but it’s worth it! The only fast food I give into is Chipotle (they buy most all their produce from local farmers so it’s actually pretty healthy..)
• Eat organic when it’s possible - I know it’s pricey, and I never really gave a shit about organic, but it’s honestly so much better and tastier. There are no pesticides on the products so you aren’t hurting your body!
• I gave up milk…- This is something I’m not sure I totally recommend, but it’s probably a good choice. In order to make as much milk as possible from the cow the farmers have to pump the cow with tons of hormones and chemicals to make them run long and produce a lot. It’s super unhealthy, so I switch to almond milk. Soy milk isn’t even that great for you. But almond milk is super good for you! Not to mention all those vegetarians out there, here’s a source of protein!
• Chicken-fish-a-tarian- Due to the fact that I gave up meat while in school, I was SUPER malnourished. I don’t really like beef, pork, turkey, but I love chicken and fish. I try to eat grilled chicken as often as possible, and when I eat sushi I either use a low-sodium soy sauce, or none at all. I know it’s super hard to basically skimp or get rid of all the sauces in the world, but it makes a difference!
• Eat half, save more-  College kids are broke as shit, I don’t know who would ever tell your differently. I was spending so much money at places like Subway and Panera and stupid places like that getting whole sandwiches or soup and salad. Stop doing that, get half! It’s not about how many meals a day you eat, or how frequently, so eat half a sandwich now and maybe a fruit later!
• fruits and veggies are friends and food- Fruits and vegetables literally became my life. There was a point this summer when that was all I was eating. I mean, I’m probably not alone on this but … it’s a good snack!
• Steam veggies- Raw vegetables are the BEST way to get the full nutrients. When you cook them and other processes, you release a lot of the nutrients. So if you must, steam your vegetables!
• Calories- I’m not one of those nazi calorie counter people, but I do watch the calories when I go to the grocery store. I don’t really worry about calories when I go out to eat, I just watch what I get. (For example, if I get Chipotle, I’ll skimp a little on the guac and sour cream…)
• Don’t give up- I spent three LONG months trying to lose weight, and I did everything I just listed and I saw no results (or so I thought.) As soon as I moved back to school, I actually instantly saw I was different! It takes time, but don’t give up.
• The sweets gotta go!- My $200 grocery bill (thank you SO very much, mom!) consisted of only ONE sweet item - “Funfetti” cake mix for my roommate and I (for a special occasion that I’ve yet to decide on…). I bought things that would last me, and would help me stay where I was. Fruits, veggies, herbal teas, vitamins, supplements and other things that wouldn’t destroy all the work I just put into my body!
• Vitamin B12, Cinnamon-  Both of these are supplements you can buy at your local grocery store. DON’T just eat a spoonful of cinnamon, you will regret it (and your friends will laugh at you!). These both are supplements that help boost your metabolic system.
• Relax- Something I constantly have to remind myself to do is relax, but you eat more when you’re stressed, so calm yourself!
• Lemons- Lemons have literally become my best friend. I put one lemon slice in every cup of water I drink. It really helps kick up your metabolic system!
• Lemon and honey in the morning- Instead of that huge breakfast, try something smaller and eat a granola bar or some Kashi cereal with a nice tall cup of some warm (heat up a cup of water in the microwave… or boil it) water with some lemon and honey. It might not be the best tasting drink, but it definitely makes me feel amazing.
• Give up the sodas and the teas- I know caffeine is amazing, but it’s not the best for you every day. Not to mention, Coke-A-Cola is about the number one WORST soda to drink, and is SUPER harmful for your body. You might want to do some reading on the sodas you’re drinking. Water is the best way to go. Sodas also dehydrate you.
• Water, water, water- I drink about 2-4 bottles of water a day, and 2 glasses of water if I can. Since I stopped drinking soda, I feel so much better and I crave only water. I may spoil myself and have iced tea every now and then, but it’s probably once a month at most. Water is seriously the only way to go to know that your body is running at it’s top potential. Without enough water, your body won’t be at it’s best.
• Sugar- I was that girl that used to put 3 equal into everything I drank, and yeah… it’s super bad for you. So cut your sugar intake down, a lot. And just to give you a heads up, I haven’t had a cookie in about three months (it’s shocking to even myself…)
• Peppers/spicy foods- I naturally love spicy foods, and can’t get enough of them! But hot peppers are a SUPER good way to boost your metabolism and get your stomach rolling!
• Chew everything!- The problem with society is that we want to get our food down as QUICKLY as possible, so we don’t always chew our foods. But in doing so, our body can’t break down all the food particles. Completely chewing your food (they say chew it 32-45 times…) completely insures your body will break it down A LOT better!

So all of this leads me to where I am now. The ultimate way I figured out all of this was working was when my pants that stopped fitting me back in February started to fit me again, and lastly… the romper I bought in September of 2010 fit me perfectly again when it wouldn’t even go above my hips in February.  So hard work does pay off! I’m happy, and healthy.I also figured, if I’m not happy with my weight now, at least I know it’s not because of the food I was eating!
Oh, and just so everyone knows… I’m now a sophomore without the extra 15lbs from freshman year. ;)

Stay healthy!!!
XOXO