Embrace the Pace

I recently read a blog post by High School Health Freak called 2.5 miles to 3.1 (Cross country course change), discussing the recent change to the women's high school cross country racing distance. The author of the post is devastated by the change, I on the other hand am excited for the new challenge.
For as long as I've known, the course distance for girls cross country has been a 4k or 2.5 miles and the boys' distance has been a 5k or 3.5 miles. I always wondered why this was the case, I always thought that the girls were just as capable of a 5k distance as the boys are. Now, Iowa officially decided to make the change, girls will now be running a 5k as well as the boys, starting in the fall of 2015. Many girls around Iowa are sad, upset and angry about the change in distance. However, I just see it as a new challenge to conquer. Not that cross country isn't already difficult, but being a senior in high school next year I am excited for a change. It means that we will all have to work a little bit harder but that also means that we will be in better shape than ever before.
I also have a strong belief that sports should let girls off the hook. I believe that we are just as capable as everything the boys are. It was almost an insult that the girls' race was shorter than the boys. We may not get times that are quite as fast as the boys, but that does not mean that we should have a shorter race. So, I am happy that this new distance allows us to measure up against the boys.
Lastly, girls in Iowa might be upset about the change but we are actually one of the last states to make the change. The only states that still have cross country girls running the 4k distance as of the 2014 season are Wisconsin, Kansas, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Oklahoma, and Iowa. There are 10 and there will soon be 9. That means that 40 other states have already made the change. We really have nothing to complain about, times change. That just means that we are being seen more as equals which is actually something to be really happy about. 
So to everyone who is only looking at the negatives of this change, look a little bit closer, because there is so much good that will come from it. It's a new experience and challenge, and it shows that girls don't need a shorter distance, we can be just as good without it. 

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Finding Your Fitness Niche

Many people avoid working out because they always associate it with running. While running is a great option for a workout, it is not the only option. You need to find your niche, something that you enjoy doing a stick with it. There is such a wide range of activities that are effective workouts and I would hate for someone to give up on working out just because they believe that running is the only way, because that is so wrong.
This is something that I have looked at before, because I used to hate running and I know a lot of people that do. I know that strength training like abs and lifting is very effective in getting fit and into good shape. However, there are so many things that I found that are great for building fitness and also sound really fun.
One thing that I found that I would like to try myself is piloxing. It is a mix between Pilates and boxing and while is sounds really tough it also sounds fun. This may be something for you to consider. Even if you aren't looking to get into shape this may be fun for you.
Another thing that I found was Pound. Pound is a sort of dance that you do while holding 2 pound weights. I love being active through dance so that sounds like something I would really like. It is much like Zumba. You may want to start with Zumba before advancing to something like pound. However, pound is currently only offered in 11 states, so you would have to do some research on whether or not it can be found where you live.
You could also do sports in place of running, get a group of people together and play a game of baseball or soccer. Go to the pool and go for a swim. All are great alternatives to running. When I am older, I may decide to try something other than running, because I know that running can be long, and often times boring.
It is hard to stay motivated to work out if you don't like what you are doing. Enrolling into a class is not only fun but is creates a support system. So, I hope you are able to find your niche and have a good time with whatever fitness route you decide to take.

2015 Track Season is on It's Way

Frankly, I'm terrified. Track season is soon approaching, beginning the second week of February. Now I'm going to be honest, I've barely done anything fitness related since the end of cross country season (I am known to be a bit of a procrastinator). My thoughts on this upcoming track season, based on previous experience, is that it's going to be tough going at first, but it won't take long for me to get back into the swing of things.
Freshman year, I didn't go out for cross country in the fall, being too scared, however I decided to go out for track that year. It was one of the hardest things I'd gone through up to that point in my life. The training I had done before the season began was close to none and let's just say that Track and Field in middle school was more of a social event than anything else. Track was my first high school sports experience, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I barely made it out of there alive. Okay, so maybe I'm over exaggerating things a little bit, but those first two weeks were rough. However, after that, it got better, and I had a blast making new friends and getting into the best shape of my life. So as I really am fearing the upcoming 2015 track season, I have to remember that it could never be worse than my freshman year, and also that if I could get into shape freshman year, I will be able to handle it this year. My goal for the 2015 track season is just beating my times from last year. Any girl in Iowa can find their high school stats from past years on the Iowa Girl's High School Athletic Union website.
So yes, I should have been running for a couple of weeks already, but it is better late than never. I will be starting this week and to all of the other procrastinators out there, know that it is not too late for you either. I have about a month until this season which is plenty of time. I've got this. If you are someone putting off their New Year's Resolution then I get you, it's okay, but start now. A week, a month, a year from now, you will have wish that you started today. So do it. I am.
Anyway, wish me luck this track season, I know I am not going to be as prepared as I should be, but I will be whipped into shape quickly, and that's for sure.

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Sticking to Your 2015 Resolution

According to Statistic Brain, the most popular New Year's Resolution this year is to lose weight. This is not a shocking statistic but it is something that needs to be discussed. Most people make their resolutions with no goal or plan in mind. How can you expect to fulfill your resolution if you don't have an idea about how you are going to achieve it? You don't need to have a 365 day plan, but you need some sort of plan. It is easiest to achieve your New Year's Resolution by setting goals in small increments, enlisting the help of a buddy and finding your motivation.
Setting multiple goals throughout the year, instead of one goal to achieve over the course of the whole year, it is much easier to maintain. I suggest setting a goal every couple of months or even every couple of the months. That way, you can tell more frequently if you are on the right track with your habits. Also, keep your goals specific. Wanting to lose weight is much too vague. So is wanting to get into shape or eating healthier or exercising more. Set a specific amount of  weight that you want to lose each month or even every 2 weeks. It keeps you in check. It is also then easier to track your progress.
However, I know how hard it is to get motivated and stay motivated through the whole year. That is why I suggest the buddy system. Having a partner that has the same goals as you can be really helpful for the both of you. You can keep each other on track with eating and exercising habits. You can also help each other with setting realistic goals every so often. The point is, it is always a good idea to have someone keeping you in check, it keeps you motivated. Also, don't feel the need to stop at one buddy. Form a group. The more the merrier when it comes to fitness. My team is one thing that I love about cross country and track, they are a great support system and keep me going throughout the season. Just make sure everyone in the group has similar goals and you are good to go.
Lastly, find your motivation. I know that I have already mentioned this in a previous blog post but I think that it is really important to stay motivated. If you have a fitness group then you are already in a good position in terms of keeping motivation through the whole year. However if you are tackling your resolution on your own this year, then here are some tips for making it last. First, find motivating music to workout to. It is always more fun to work out to jammin' hits. Another tip is to always always go back to your inspiration. What inspired you to make this New Year's Resolution? Never forget that. Lastly, patience is key. Know that results aren't going to be instantaneous. You have to put in a lot of effort for an extended period of time to see progress. You are making progress every day, but you may not see it for awhile. Be patient, it will come.
I wish everyone the best of luck on their New Year's Resolution, no matter what it was. Stick to it, stay strong and you will achieve great things.

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A Review of My New Not So Favorite Thing

Recently I tried a new Smoothie Splash V8 drink. It was strawberry/banana flavored and being smoothie related I figured that I would really like it; also, strawberry banana is my favorite flavor. However, much to my displeasure, I did not like the taste of it at all, I finished one glass and then I was done with it.

When my mom first came home with the V8 Splash Smoothies, I was really excited to try it. It looked really good and it sounded like something that I would enjoy. My first drink of it wasn't bad, I actually liked it. However, after a few more sips I decided that I didn't really like it. It was pretty bitter tasting and I could barely taste the strawberry banana flavoring. By the time I finished the glass, I had made my decision, I didn't like it.

Not only does it not taste that great, but it also isn't very good for you like it advertises. On the front of the bottle it says that it contains Vitamin A and C, which is not a lie. It does in fact contain both of those ingredients. However, when I looked to the ingredients I found that the second ingredient is high fructose corn syrup. Definitely not the type of thing that I want to be putting into my body. Not that I would never drink high fructose corn syrup, because it is in most of the things that I drink, but if I am looking for a healthy drink then this is not the type of thing I'm looking for.

Overall, I would not recommend this drink to any of my friends. I don't think that it is bad; I just don't like it personally. That's not to say that no one else could like it, or that you wouldn't like it. It is just something that I will not be buying or drinking again. Needless to say, this is my new not so favorite thing.

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Keeping Your Skin Clear This Holiday Season

Recently, I've been reading up on my friend's health and beauty blog. Because not only is health and fitness important to me but health and beauty is too, as it should be to everyone. One of Lauren's recent blog posts really spoke to me, it was about skin care. If you are a runner that is unfortunate enough to struggle with keeping your skin clear, then you are with the majority of us, and if you are not then realize how lucky you are. For keeping my skin clear has always been a struggle for me, being a runner myself. Not only do I struggle with my face staying clear, due to sweating, but my hands also become very dry during the winter months.

Skin care is an essential part of my daily routine, it has to be. I struggle with keeping my skin clear in the places that I sweat when I work out. It's really tough. Also, just like Lauren I struggle with dry skin, I have ever since I was really young. So again, just like Lauren, I use a daily moisturizer to keep my skin smooth. Now however, since I read her blog post, I may try to use the apricot scrub that she suggested to remove dead skin from the surface of my skin. I always thought that a simple moisturizer would be enough, but maybe an extra scrub is just what I need to keep my skin clean and smooth.

As it is also mentioned in Lauren's post, she likes to be photo ready when it comes to the holidays. Keeping my face clean and clear during the holidays is important to me as well for the same reason. However, my hands are something else that, especially during the cold and bitter winter weather, struggle to stay smooth and moist. This is something that bugs me when I am either giving or opening gifts. I am embarrassed by how dry my hands become. That is why I use a small dab of Neutrogena hand cream each night before I go to bed. This keeps my hands nice and smooth, so that I am ready for the season of giving, receiving and meeting.

Clear and smooth skin is something that you have to work at, most of the time it doesn't come easy. But as long as you moisturize or use skin care products, you can look great for photo taking this season. Also, reading Lauren's L.G. Health and Beauty blog will give you great tips on other beauty areas that can help you all throughout the year, not just the holiday season. 

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Avoiding the Festive 15

In my previous post, I discussed how to avoid stressing during the holidays. But stress isn't the only thing that is easy to accumulate during the holidays, for everyone knows about the festive fifteen. The fifteen pounds that people gain during holiday gatherings and parties. So how can you avoid that dreadful weight gain? I recently read an article on ways to avoid weight gain during the Christmas and New Year season. However, following those tasks aren't as easy as they may sound.

The article mentions to be picky about what you eat. Yeah it sounds easy; just don't take what you don't absolutely want. However, I know how hard that is. Every year I try to eat less, so that I don't feel sick later in the day. It's not that easy. I always end up with too much, and I can't help but to eat it and still go back for seconds and maybe a small dessert. I justify it by say that it only happens twice a year, Thanksgiving and Christmas, so I let myself over eat. But then I feel horrible later. I need to tell myself that just because it is the holiday season, doesn't mean that I can eat whatever I want. It is unhealthy and unnecessary.

My way of avoiding eating an excessive amount of food may sound cliché; however it has worked so far this year. Because I know that I eat way too much each year, I decided that this year I would try something to avoid this. I have goals and I use those to my advantage. I know that when track season rolls around I will want to be in the best shape possible and eating too many holiday goodies won't help me get there. So, I look to my inspirations. I look at famous track stars or other health and fitness blogs whenever I want to binge, or right before a holiday gathering. I realize that I don't want to throw away what I work for during the early winter for a few sweet treats. So before I grab something to eat I see those inspirations in the back of my mind and refrain.

The point is that it does take an intense amount of will power to avoid gaining during the winter season, but it's not an impossible task. Keeping your goals and inspirations in mind when you are around food can be enough, it is for me. Now that doesn't mean that you should completely refrain from everything, you are still allowed to splurge a little bit. Just be careful and know your limits. Make this holiday one to remember, and not because you gained 15 pounds, but because you had a blast not having to fear stepping on the scale the next morning.

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