Healthy Habits: Monday July 7th

I've really been getting into my health lately! I'll be posting Healthy Habits for you to hopefully glean some inspiration!

I love my Nike Training Club and Nike Run apps, so when I received an email about a three month program Nike TC had put together I knew I had to try it! Download it today and start a three month program! It comes with fitness and nutrition ideas. It's a great program, and it's free. It super easy to sign up today! We can be friends and follow each other, so let me know in the comments below if you decide to join.

It might be the perfect way to start detoxing after a fun holiday weekend!


I'm also counting on all of you to keep me accountable!
xoxo

Favorite Healthy Meals & Snacks!

Since summer started I've really been focusing on what I'm putting into my body, and have had a lot more energy! Here are some of my favorite meals and snacks so far.

Eggs, Fruit & Yogurt: Most weekday mornings I fry two eggs (sunny side up) while making myself a "second breakfast" consisting of one cup of Chobani greek yogurt, a couple of cut of strawberries and a handful of blueberries. I've cut my coffee intake down to a cup a day, and find it's easier to eat healthy through out the day when it starts with lots of protein and something a little sweet.

 Cucumbers, Carrots & Dip: In order to get my veggie fix, I cut up an entire cucumber, and two or three regular sized carrots (not the baby ones) to snack on. I also make a delcious dip out of Greek yogurt and Hidden Valley Fiesta Ranch which is low in calories and adds a little punch to my veggies!

Lettuce Tacos: I love Tex-Mex, so I've tried to find a way to make my favorite food healthier. Instead of a bread shell, I use a large lettuce leaf. I use the leanest ground beef I can find, and I also make sure to really drain the grease out of the meat after I brown it.Look for low-sodium taco packets to make them a little healthier as well. I cut up tomatoes, add low-fat cheese and some low fat sour cream. Add as many veggies as you want, and then load it into a larger lettuce leaf! It's actually really good, and healthy!

Grilled Peaches: I have a huge sweet tooth, and grilled peaches help satsify that. While there is more sugar involved, my roommate and I really enjoy a grilled peach with some brown sugar on top! We've also grilled pineapple and grapefruit!

Apples & Peanut Butter: So peanut butter isn't actually that good for you, but I love some natural peanut butter (without all the added sugar and oils) with a cut up apple! It's a perfect snack, and I tend to eat it after a run!

Baked Potato:  I put a little bit of olive oil, lemon pepper & low-fat sour cream on a baked potato. It's great dinner, and I also eat some fruit with it!


What are some of your favorite healthy snacks and meals?  Anyone of these you're looking to try?


xoxo

Loving Lately June 17th!

Here are some of my favorite things lately!

1. Nike Training Club: This is my favorite work out app! It connects with my Nike Running app and it's great! Awesome workouts, and you can pick your level!

2. Nike Running App: I'm doing the begginers 5k  coach, and it's great to remind me to get my butt outside and train! I highly recommend it. My roommate and I are trying to do 25 miles before we leave for NOLA next week!

3. Old Navy Activewear: Maybe it's because I'm folding it everytime I work, but I'm really love Old Navy's selection! You get what you pay for in quality, but since I'm a college student on a budget it's the perfect price and quality! (It's on sale through tomorrow, have at it!)

4. Bright Cami: Now that I'm 21, I'm looking forward to drinks with my girlfriends after work! This is a perfect work to drinks top. I'm also looking to wear this in NOLA when we go out.

5. Sperry's: Mine are two years old and definitely starting to look worn. I love them, so I'm looking to replace them! I want a pair to cover the top of my foot so that they are more practical to wear in the winter!

6. Strawberry & Lime Moscato Punch: I love moscato, it's the perfect amount of sweet for me and unfortunetly I tend to forget I'm drinking alcohol. This recipe seems like the perfect drink for a night in with your girlfriends!

What are some of your favorite fitness apps? Any shirts you're coveting right now? Favorite summer drink?

xoxo

Morning Smoothie

As part of my goal to take care of myself, I've been making a smoothie for breakfast every morning. This chart definitely helped me get started.

My favorite mix is spinach, apple, banana, orange juice and a scoop of whey protein. The first week I made smoothies I didn't have any protein and I found I was getting really hungry quickly. I now add about a scoop of chocolate whey protein to my smoothie and I stay full until 10:00 am (I drink my smoothie at 6:45 am most mornings)

Here are some tips I've found for my smoothies!

• Portion out your smoothies every Sunday for the entire week. Place everything that needs to be cut up or shredded into a plastic baggie and store in your fridge! Saves lots of time
• Peel your apples. Trust me. 
• Protein helps. You won't get super bulky as a female, don't worry. It's not just for body builders. 
• My stomach is sensitive to all of the acid in the fruit, so I eat two eggs or a piece of toast with peanut butter to help soak some of it up. If you have acid reflex try this!

How do you make your smoothies? Have you tried one for dinner instead?

xoxo

Healthy Lifestyle

I confess. I fell off the bandwagon when it comes to working out and eating healthy. Don't worry, I've paid for it. But now that the winter blues are going away and my schedule has calmed down I've re-committed myself to a healthy lifestyle.

This past Sunday I update my healthy lifestyle board, which was actually really fun. I printed out a compilation of motivating quotes to push me towards eating healthy and working out.

I've decided that I'm not on a diet, I'm going to be watching my calories but there will be no obsessive counting. I've made small, doable goals that I plan on crossing off as I go!

Over my spring break I went and bought weights so that I can do quick workouts at home when I don't have time to make it to the gym. Since my tennis shoes are over two years old (thanks Timehop) I also bought a new pair of tennis shoes that make me feel pretty cool.

Here are some of my favorite quotes, workouts & tips!

Great tip on how to drink more water from Carly at College Prepster!



Slowly building my activewear collection thanks to Emily from Ivory Lane!

Great moves to sculpt your arms!


I just may start making a smoothie for dinner on the go!

A great graphic of what to order when you get a drink, which normally have lots of calories!

A favorite graphic designer and blogger of mine, Breckenridge Charapich, has an amazing and inspirational Instagram, you should follow her!


I will post my mini healthy inspiration board soon, and I really hope that this has helped you change your lifestyle!

Do you have any blog posts regarding healthy lifestyles? Favorite fitness blogger? Let me know in the comments or tweet me @ash_vickneyPR!


xoxo

2015 Goals: Healthy Lifestyle

I have to admit, this has been a really difficult for me because of all of the food I missed eating last semester. My weird weakness? Cereal. So I've pretty much been on track. Here's my weekly workout schedule.

-I like to switch things up between elliptical and walking on the treadmill because I get less bored with constantly doing the same cardio. If I have a friend with me we will walk around the track with them and just talk for 45 minutes!

-While free weights are really nice, for now I am going to stick with the machines at the student fitness center on campus.

-In order not to get too bored I bring a book with me on the elliptical and treadmill. At my school we get wifi at the fitness center, so I also bring my iPad with and watch Netflix!

What do you do to work out? Where's your favorite place to work out?

xoxo

Summer Reflection

Even though yesterday was the first day of September, today is the real last day of summer because it's Labor Day! I thought I would reflect on this summer, and everything that has happened. I feel like this summer I grew, and my relationships with some high school friends also deepened. 

1// Working in an office is much different than working at school. I had to prioritize in a different way. Also, I learned that I enjoy being busy. Sitting is not one of my strong suits.

2// Even though friends are miles away, and communicating is never easy some people will always understand you and your relationships. MB and I have an abnormal relationship because we have been long distance all of our relationship. Having good friends such as KG and SB who understand that is a blessing. This summer I grew close to SB and even closer to KG. I don't think I say it enough, but these wonderful ladies are the reason that I am still confident in myself and my dreams. I can't wait to see where they end up, and I only hope I am along for the entire ride!

3// Life is short, you have to let go. I wrote a post about letting go, and I was finally able to do so. I can't wait to see who else is going to be in my life, and how they are going to influence me, motivate me, and help me. I also can't wait to see who I am going to help, motivate and influence.

4// I can do pretty much anything I want to if I set my mind to it. I have never been crafty, but I did an entire post on how to make something for your dorm. I've also never considered myself a journalist, but I will be writing for The Smart Girls Group Loop current affairs. I can do what ever I put my mind to. (Thankfully I won't be putting my mind to anything that require hand-eye coordination).

5// No matter what, family is going to be there for you. It might not be blood, though I am completely blessed with family that is "blood", I am also blessed with people who aren't "blood' that I consider my  family. I realized that the past year has been difficult, but I have added more people to my family, and I am very blessed.

 

Adios Summer. 

What have you learned this summer? How did you grow this summer? 

xoxo
aVe

PS I know this post is me just feeling blessed, but I am!
 

Letting Go

Here is a bit more personal post, I like to do these once in awhile, and I would love your feedback!

There are a million and one lessons that you learn while growing up, and there is one that I have had a really hard time learning. That lesson is letting go of people who no longer are meant to be in your life. Whether its a friend who you no longer have much in common with, or a past partner whom you were close with but realized that the relationship was no longer serving either of your best interests. 

At the end of high school I had to let go of a relationship where we had both grown, but in different directions. We were close, and had gotten each other through a lot in high school. I realized though that I especially wasn't the same person that I was sophomore year. I had grown up, but differently than my partner.

I moved on in October, fell for my best friend who is now my wonderful boyfriend MB. I however was not over the friendship from high school, and it took me six months and multiple attempts at reconnecting to realize that we weren't meant to be friends right now. We both had to figure out things on our own. 

Now while we aren't meant to be friends now, there is always later in life. Also the fact that we can't be friends now doesn't mean that our relationship wasn't important, or wasn't true. Every person you have any sort of relationship I fully believe serves a purpose. Whether it was to make you smile, or help you through a tough time people are there for a reason.

I have a hard time letting go because I want to keep that person in my life, and continue to care for them and help them. Sometimes I need to realize that it wasn't meant for me to help them or care for them still,and that other people have to do that.

I have finally let go, not of our friendship throughout high school, but the idea that we were the same people. I am sure that he is a great person and will go far.

Being positive about situations in which you need to let go of a person is easier than being bitter. Being bitter may be easier, but it could destroy your relationships with other people. Here are some tips on how to let go. 

1. Don't talk to mutual friends: One of my problems was talking with our mutual friends too much about it. In order to get over someone, you need to stop thinking about it!

2. Unfriend, Unfollow and don't search!: Get them off your Facebook, off your Twitter and DON'T SEARCH. Out of sight out of mind. 

3. Have Fun, Reminisce, Move On: Don't dwell on it. Let go a little. 

Now this may not be a person for you, it may be a dream job, or an opportunity. While that maybe gone, try looking for a similar opportunity, or use it to motivate you. 

Disclaimer: This is what worked for me, it may not always work for you!

What do you think? What do you do in this situation?

xoxo

AV

Sunday Six!

Every Sunday I have decided that I am going to highlight six things such as events, what I'm going to need or what I really want this week!

1.Otterbox Defender Case: I love my iPhone 4s, and because of my history with phones, it has rarely seen day light.  I have had two different cases, this is my second and it is the reason that my phone still looks new. If you are looking for a nice case this is definitely the one the get! I have thrown mine, dropped it off my lofted bed and on concrete. It is basically "Ashley" proof. They also make cases for Android phones!

2. Starbucks Frappuccinos: Tired? Need a little pick me up? No time to wait for actual coffee? This is your friend! All of the cafe's on my campus sell them, and I like the Mocha's personally because they are the least calories, with all of the taste. It is a perfect pick me up, especially Monday's and Wednesday's, which are my busiest days!

3. 27 days until Germany!: MB and I are going to Germany for our Spring day, and there are only 27 days left until we leave (not including today)! Seeing my good family friends and being in Europe is my motivation to do well in my classes! Also, I need to shop for my trip also. (shoes are the most important!)

4. Couch to 5k: I hate running. I mean despise it, but I am trying to be more healthy in general, and without a gym membership this summer, I am going to train to run a 5k with my mom and hopefully my best friend KG. I hope that I can learn to love running, because of how convenient it is!

5. Nivea Lip Balm: Seriously, this is my savior this winter. I bite my lip all the time, and it isn't a problem with this cold, dry weather (ick) because this stuff is great! I like the milk and honey, but haven't tried an other types of lip balm from them. 

6. Zeta Omega Tau: I don't even know why, but every week I start off looking forward to our Wednesday night meetings! Especially now that we have pledges, I want to get to know all the new girls and grow closer with all of my other sisters! Look out for a guest blog post for Your Sorority Sister about ZOT! 

There it is! My first Sunday Six! What do you think? What would you like me to highlight each week? 

Have a great week!

xoxo

AV