Motivation from Mom

There are some days where everything just seems to fall out of place. No matter how hard you try, your shoelaces come undone while you run, that cramp won’t go away, and you still haven’t found that $20 bill you misplaced.

For me, that kind of day has repeated itself for the last two weeks. After a while it gets harder and harder to keep myself motivated. Luckily for me I have a wonderful mom who is my support system no matter what. Even when she doesn’t know what to say, just hearing her talk about what she might do makes me feel better.

So as finals approach and the stress kicks in, I’m here to give you some of the greatest lessons my mom has taught me over the years.

Sometimes, it’s okay to cheat. Sure you shouldn’t look over at the person next to you while taking an exam. But, if all you want is that Panera Blueberry muffin, then get it! Eat half, refresh your inner self with this little treat, and then move on. Don’t dwell on the small stuff because it’s just that: small and insignificant. Plus you deserve to treat yourself on occasion.

Never let someone else change how you see yourself. There is always going to be someone—whether it’s at work or at school—with whom you just cannot get along. And that’s okay. It might not even be someone in your everyday life, but there is always someone. The sooner you realize that you are the only one who can determine your own self worth, the easier it becomes to disregard the hate others put out.

When you feel like giving up, try harder. I’ve always had a tough time getting out of slumps. After a while it’s hard to keep believing that things will get better and disregarding the negative opinions of others. It’s these exact moments when you feel like giving up most, that you must try your best. It is one of the hardest things to do: push yourself when you’re not even sure you believe you can. But it’s after this struggle that you realize how strong you truly are. 

Positivity in the Wake of Tragedy

As a human it is heartbreaking to hear of the bombings at this year’s Boston Marathon.

As an American it is frightening to be so tragically reminded that we must value our safety, for it is not always ensured.

As a Boston University student is shocking to realize that these moments of terror could happen in our very own backyard, injuring those in our community. 

As a runner it is appalling to see those who set out with such effort and positive determination devastated by loss and injury.

However, out of this heartbreak, fright, shock, and appall, also comes a sense community.

It is unfortunate that this unity was not sparked by better circumstances, perhaps the spirit of Patriot’s Day that awakens the Boston community and its visitors annually. Still, we must be thankful for the kind and selfless acts we have seen and continue to see.

With this thought, I want to encourage readers, family, and friends to resolve to commit to an act of kindness and generosity for just this one week.  Go big by volunteering or donating blood. Or decide to make a change in your own micro community by resolving to hold the door more. Either way your effort is what counts.

My resolution: At least once a week I pass a homeless man on the corner at the end of my block. I’ve always been told to be wary of giving beggars money, especially in a big city. So I’ve resolved that every time I pass this spot I will take 10 minutes to stop inside the convenience store where the man rests and buy him a bagel, or a muffin, or juice—something that will keep him going without worrying about giving him money. I may not be able to take him off the streets, but at least I can give him a part of what he isn’t able to buy himself.  

Comment, tweet, or Facebook your acts of kindness throughout the week. Get your friends and family involved too. Let’s keep spreading the message to get the most positive impact possible!

Apps for a Healthy Lifestyle Anywhere

There is no denying that whether we’re walking down the street, avoiding elevator small talk, or just plain bored, the first thing we do is use our phones. They don’t call them smart without reason. They can do seemingly everything and we’re taking advantage of it, as we should be.

However, I say it’s time we bring that utility to the next level. Instead of our most used apps being Facebook, Instagram, and Tetris, let’s start utilizing the multitude of health inspired apps out there.

Here are my favorites:

If you’re looking to be conscious of what you eat…

My Fitness Pal Calorie Counter & Diet Tracker: This determines what your caloric intake for the day should be based on questions you answer. It measures in net calories, so if you log a cardio workout you get calories added to your daily plan. Plus they have a ton of popular branded foods and make it easy to add a new entry.

If you’re getting into running…

Nike Running App: it seems like Nike does everything well including this app. It is easy to use and tracks your progress. When you reach a new goal or are almost at your goal for your run, a celebrity athlete notifies you. Personally I am not a music-listening runner. But if you are, this app allows you to control your beats from inside the app. This way there is no fussing around with your phone/iPod while you’re trying to run.

If you’re looking for positive goal reinforcement…

Bloom: This app allows you to choose from predetermined reminders or to set your own. You can choose to be reminded once a day, once a week, or once a month. Plus, reminders come with a song that you can play and a little picture slideshow. If you’re not into all of that, the app can still alert you of your reminder without fully expanding into the song and photo and better yet, without leaving you an unaddressed notification.

So next time you’re avoiding awkward eye contact in the dining hall, check out these, or one of the other awesome app available for staying healthy.

Liebster Blog Award!

College Miss Fit has been nominated for a Liebster Blog Award! 

Now what exactly does that mean?

The Liebster Award is a way for fellow bloggers to recognize each other and to spread the word about great blogs. Recently fellow blogger Allie G, of AllDressed Up, Everywhere to Go, was nominated and has passed the nomination along to me!

It’s a great honor to be recognized for College Miss Fit within the blogging community and it is equally great to be able to be able to continue passing on the word about my fellow bloggers.

First I’ll answer a few questions about myself. Then I’ll throw my own questions back out to a few of the bloggers I love!

Are you ready?

What is your favorite guilty pleasure? (Ex. favorite trashy TV show, food, activity that helps you get through the week)

Whenever I’m having a busy week—okay, every week—I take a break from the stress by doing two things:

• RUNNING! I love having an excuse to put down all of the other obligations and just have “me time”. Plus the endorphins make it easier to have a positive attitude towards work. 
• Painting my nails. I’m someone who needs a physical reason to stop what I’m doing and relax. When I’ve already run or running isn’t an option I paint my nails. Then I can’t use my hands to do anything but kick back and catch up on Mad Men. (Currently rocking “Eternal Optimist” by Essie)

 

Who is your style icon?

I could never pick just one! I like to pull ideas and styles from all different places depending on how I feel at the moment. However, I usually try and shoot for Kate Middleton class with Kourtney Kardashian sass. It’s a weird mix I know, but I love it.

Who is your favorite Twitter and/or Instagram follower and why?

I’m always someone who is positive but honest, so Bethenny Frankel is one of my favorites to follow on Twitter. As far as Instagram, I love how easy it’s become to snap moments throughout the day. It makes keeping up with friends from home easier, which makes it too hard to pick a favorite!

What do you miss most about being a kid?

Every Sunday, my dad, my mom, and my brother and I would drive out east on the North Fork of Long Island to our favorite Greek restaurant The Hellenic Snack Bar.  The food was delicious, the atmosphere was relaxed, and best of all we could relax together. THOSE were the days.

If you were a nail polish color, what would you be called?

I would have to be called Maroon Fine. Firstly, because I love burgundy and maroon nail polishes. Secondly because who doesn't love Maroon 5?

If you could only eat one meal forever, what would it be?

It would have to be Farfalle Bolognese. I have always been a carb girl; I could never give it up!

If you could only keep one book/magazine forever, which one would it be?

If I had to choose one it would probably be La Muerte Anunciada by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I’m studying Hispanic Language and Literature at BU and this was the first book that I really connected with. You never get everything out of a book the first time, and that’s especially true when it’s in a foreign, so La Muerte Anunciada would be worth endless reads.

If you could go out for coffee or a lunch date with anyone in the whole world, who would it be and what would you ask him or her?

If I could lunch with anyone it would be Ryan Gosling and I would ask him to marry me. Just kidding… Sort of.

In all seriousness, if I could lunch with anyone it would be John Krasinski. Not because he’s adorable—although that helps—but because he is so passionate about each of his pursuits. Did you know he took time off of college to teach children in Costa Rica? I want that courage and determination, or a least a peak at where it comes from.

Why did you start blogging?

For me blogging began with a class assignment. I always thought blogging was a really great idea, but I was never brave enough to try it myself until it was assigned to me. The night I handed in the project I sat down to begin posting online and now I can’t stop!

Who/what inspires you to blog?

I get a lot of my inspiration from Pinterest. Sure it seems silly but there really are a lot of inspirational people who share their tips on being healthy via Pinterest. I also get a lot of inspiration from my friends. Recently I had a friend from home tell me she’s been running and training and truly living a healthier lifestyle. It’s just hearing that the people around me want to be healthy that inspires me to be too!

What is the greatest piece of advice you've ever received and who told you?

You know, I have never had one moment where I was given some profound words of wisdom. To me it always seems like good advice is a discussion. My parents are the people I go to for those discussions, but let me tell you they are very different people. If they can agree on what I should do, then I know it’s good advice.

Now that you’ve gotten to know more about me, it’s time to pass it along!

Anna, of Five Six Seven Eight, it’s your turn to answer the following questions:

1. What’s the best part about having grown up in your hometown?
2. If you had to completely change tracks (go to a different college, move to another state, have a whole new set of goals) where would you go and why?
3. What is your favorite workout gear and why?
4. What’s currently blasting from your headphones?
5. What is your favorite feature? (ex: hair, legs, etc.)
6. Name one moment is your life that you felt most proud.
7. If money and time were not obstacles where would you travel?
8. What are the three qualifiers for a man? (ex: long hair, sense of humor, etc.)
9. What is one piece of advice you would give to young girls today?
10. What does passion mean to you?
11. What makes your blog unique/interesting/fun?