A Girl Who Lifts - The Element of Strength

Prepare for one of my longest and hopefully most inspiring posts to this day:
If there's one saying I've learned to live by, it's "do what makes you happy". If you're not happy, then why are you doing it? We all have a passion for something - whether it be surfing, video gaming, or basket weaving - we all have something that makes us happy. So what makes me happy?

Lifting.

When I first started on my fitness track 2 years ago, my routines consisted mainly of hours on the elliptical and lots of HIIT training...until I realized I was not happy. Who could possibly ENJOY running or biking or walking or ellipticalling for endless amounts of time? No body. It is so boring, and as much as it may work for certain people, I am sure there is not a single person on Earth who would admit to enjoying the same cardio work everyday for months.

my mentality before lifting

That's how I discovered training - weight training. As scared as I was to step into the free weights section of my gym, I knew I couldn't stand another minute of the same movement on the elliptical. I was so tired, worn out, and sick of feeling weak. I got into the "big man" section and immediately felt like an amateur, in which case I was, but hey: everyone starts somewhere. Shortly after that, I discovered a sensation known as sore-muscle-syndrome and became addicted to the progress I was seeing in my body. Not only did I realize I had some biceps or some quads, but I also realized the excitement of being able to lift a heavier weight every couple of weeks.    
Previously, I, like many other girls, thought muscles were only for men, and that women are meant to be more lean and small. This is where I was wrong. Who SAYS women can't have muscles? Is there a rule that women can't lift weights and feel strong? No - there surely is not. Because of society's stereotypical standards, girls are afraid to step out of the "norm". Yet, who defines this norm?
I began to research different exercises and proper form (WICKED IMPORTANT), as I picked up some tips from others in the gym, like my friend Rachel who is a personal trainer, and different fitness coaches on social media.

*Quick note about Rachel Rubin, aka my biggest inspiration. This girl is one of the kindest, most humble and genuine human beings that I have come across during my 16 years of life. She's the main reason I ever became comfortable lifting in the gym, as I know she has helped both me and so many others in our community build better lives for themselves. She is honestly the most selfless person I know, with an incredible story, and she is appreciated by multitudes of people I've talked to and worked with. Thanks Rach, for always being so helpful and empowering to everyone, especially myself along my fitness journey. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be writing this right now.

Back to the story - my point here is that I was tired of feeling weak; yeah, the scale was dropping, and my clothes were starting to fit. But I was not happy. My body wasn't thanking me after an hour and a half of cardio; instead, it was failing me. Picking up those weights was one of the most life-changing decisions I have made thus far, as I know strength training is something I plan to continue to do in my future (hence, I am in the midst of studying for my personal training certification).
DO NOT GET ME WRONG - cardio is definitely important in everybody's routines. After all, our hearts are a muscle that need to be worked. It's just that hours of cardio can be not only boring, but also harmful to our bodies. It pains me to see girls who think that surviving off of 1,000 calories a day and burning off every last one on the treadmill is good for them, just because that's what the media (celebrities/models) tells them they should be doing. That's my main motivation for this topic.

Lifting weights as a girl will not make you bulky, manly, or unattractive. I have received criticism, even from some who are close to me, and as hard as it is to take, we must realize that these are OUR bodies and OUR minds - don't let someone else degrade you. As women, we deserve the right to be strong and empowered. I'm sorry if you don't agree with this, as we are all entitled to our own opinions. But muscles are not only for men, ladies. Pick up some dumbbells.

girl power

I changed my life around because I didn't like where I was headed. It hasn't been easy, but I know I have discovered my passion and found my happiness. I am stronger and happier than I have ever felt in my past, and every time I step into the gym my mood is immediately lifted (like my pun?). The gym is my safe place.
In my future, I want to inspire young girls, much like myself, to own their femininity and do what they WANT to do, not what seems right to do by society's standards.

So are you doing what makes you happy? Think about it.
-Lyndsey

For one of my favorite articles ever made on girls who lift, click here.
If you're stuck & unsure of what to add into your fitness routines, or you have any questions or comments about this topic, PLEASE feel free to get in touch with me via one of the social media links to the right. I check my email daily (lyndseycclos@gmail.com) and I absolutely love talking to people about these things!
Stay tuned for a future post on strength-training routines!

Wisdom Teeth Extraction: Story Time & Food Ideas

Hello again, my friends, and welcome (back?) to my blog! I thought that at this point, June 14th, I would have had a few more posts out than I do, but, hey, such is life.

So let's just get right into it. This topic really has nothing to do with health, so I will do my best to turn it into a somewhat relatable post. It will mostly be for anyone who is as scared as I was to get my wisdom teeth out, or anyone who is interested (which, is probably no one, lol). 

On Friday (June 10, 4 days ago), I had my wisdom teeth extracted. All 4. Now, before I begin, let me start out by rejoicing that I am still alive, because I truly thought that I was going to absolutely die by having this procedure done. When I got the x-rays taken last summer, I thought "LOL @ this doctor 'cuz there's no way I'm getting them out." I hate going to the dentist and I hate anything that has to do with needles or blood, so honestly, I refused. Within the weeks leading up to the "big day" marked in red on my calendar, I told my mom many, many times that I would have to be dragged to the office. And I really was not kidding. As the weeks started narrowing down, I was literally not sleeping at night because I was so anxious at times. I was going around asking everyone I knew if they had had them out, and if so, how they were still alive. I'm not kidding - I was actually terrified. The day before, I started researching wisdom teeth extractions (AWFUL IDEA) and things that could go wrong with anesthesia, since there was no way I was going to be awake for it. 

No matter how many wisdom teeth videos I watched or how many people I asked, the fact that I had to get them out didn't change...sadly. Friday morning rolled around and when my alarm went off, I had hoped that when I went to the office they would say "HAHA JK you're all good". But nah. Not how things went down. 

My lovely mother and boyfriend came along with me and the entire time we were in the waiting room (which felt like hours but was probably just a few minutes) I was fuming. When the nurse called my name, I was like nope, not me. But then I realized that I had to actually get up, which was depressing. As I sludged into the bright room with a table full of tools that were oh-so-nicely covered up, I had really hoped I was dreaming. My stomach started growling (because you can't eat OR drink the morning of the procedure), and the nurses in the room took no time to get me ready to go. This one lady, with piercing eyes, started touching my arm to find a vein for the IV. After a solid 10 minutes of me staring angrily at my mother and boyfriend, and still no vein found, I started to cry because I thought "oh my God, there's already complications". They had to call in the actual surgeon, and after another dandy 15 minutes, I finally had an IV in my arm. After that, things are pretty blurry. I kept asking questions and being sassy, per usual, and shortly after, my mom and boyfriend were gone. Now it was just me, my besties, and very fashionable nose breathing tubes. 

Next thing I know, I'm being told "you need to breathe....you need to stop laughing". As I opened my eyes, I had tears streaming out, but I was cracking up. Literally - laughing so hard that I was hiccuping and not breathing properly, so the nurse was yelling at me. This went on for awhile, until my mom and boyfriend came back and I got very confused. I started spewing slightly inappropriate phrases (oops), saying things like "what the ...", with tears still coming out of my left eye, and still laughing. What a weird time. I realized I had gauze in my mouth, and unlike most people, I knew that they had taken my teeth out already (some people wake up and ask when they will start). I felt nothing, though. Literally nothing. My entire face was numb, which I guess is nice when you have 4 teeth ripped out. 

As I was ushered out to the car, I was completely aware of everything happening, I just felt very high on drugs - which, I was. I knew who I was and what just happened, I just didn't feel the way I thought I was going to. I expected to wake up sobbing, in lots of pain, with blood everywhere. Not at all the case... 

Here's a lovely video from my mom that is a snippet of my attitude at the time.  

So, I mean, yeah, it was kinda fun in a way. All of my fears that I had, such as waking up during the surgery, had not come true. I literally just fell asleep, woke up, and felt like someone had pumped me full of drugs so that I couldn't feel anything (which is essentially what happened). I honestly said "haha that was fun, let's do that again". It really was not bad. All 4 of my teeth were impacted, so they weren't even easy to take out, and I still had no pain. 

Once I got home, the drugs started wearing off, but I still felt fine. Obviously, it was a bit hard to talk, and I didn't enjoy having to change out the gauze, but that only lasted about half an hour. It looked worse than it actually was. I still was not crying, or in any type of excruciating pain (except for my extreme hunger). I had a milkshake, some water, and just watched some TV, still without taking any medicine (besides ibuprofen). 

I went through the rest of the day expecting some type of awful pain or nausea, but none ever came. I ate some pasta, watched some more Office, and just lounged. When it was time for bed, I took 1 hydrocodone pill, and passed out for the next 10 hours. 

Saturday morning, I got up and did it all again - still with very minimal pain. I don't like to take medicine, so I only took a hydrocodone at night for 3 nights, and just took ibuprofen during the day. I continued to watch TV, drink Gatorade and smoothies, and lounge. I wish I had some awesome story or something that lived up to what I thought life would be like after that surgery, but I honestly have nothing. My face puffed up a little bit on day 3, but nothing extreme (like some that I have seen!). I just kept icing, drinking fluids, and trying to convince my mom to let me blend pizza. I could still talk, walk, laugh, etc. I wasn't dead. Really huge win, in my mind. 

So, now it's Tuesday, just 4 days later. I am in my usual spot at Starbucks. My face is a little puffy, but nothing makeup couldn't help. I am sipping my typical venti iced passion tea and getting ready to go to work. I AM ALIVE! And I honestly feel fine. My mouth is still a little sore, and I am afraid to go back to eating completely normally, but overall, I'm good. 

If you're scared, losing sleep, or thinking that you are going to die - you won't. I now see why everyone made fun of me so much for the weeks leading up to it. Obviously, everyone has different stories. But, if you are a little scaredy cat like me, then I hope this eases you just a bit. Do not research wisdom teeth horror stories the day before like I did. Just take my word on this one -- it's not that bad! 

And, since this is on my health blog, I figured I would include some of the things I enjoyed eating over the past few days, if you were curious about some good things...

Milkshakes are great and all, but they get old real fast. 

Try making a nutritious "milkshakey" drink instead! 

Blend together (not going to put measurements because it's whatever you want): 

almond milk

1 protein scoop (or try a breakfast carnation packet!) - whatever flavor

1 tablespoon of peanut butter 

ice

look at that: a whole nutritious drink that will fill you up & be healthy! 

I am not a huge applesauce fan, but it did taste pretty good with some cinnamon. 

I also enjoyed "pastina", which is an adorable tiny form of pasta that is very easy to eat

Sugar-free jello pudding 

Greek/normal yogurt 

Slow-churned ice cream (healthier than normal) 

Gatorade for electrolytes

Ginger ale 

The list goes on and on, but those are just a few healthier ideas that filled me up! 

Obviously, it sucks to not be able to eat "normally", but that will only last a few days. 

Hope this helps you if you are scared or have no idea what to expect!!

And a few photos for enjoyment: 

right after the surgery; not happy, but alive!

how I truly thought I would look

still not happy, but not that swollen, so that's good! 

Until next time, 

Lyndsey

Grocery Shopping: Broke College Girl

If I was able to swim in a pool of Benjamin's like this lovely lady, then I would, of course, savor every little moment of it. Makeup? All of it. Food? Everything. But nope. Not today. At least for me...

So, if you're in the same boat (whether you are a college student or just have no money to spend on $10 quinoa at Whole Foods), then this is for you: 

HOW TO ESCAPE THE JUNK FOOD TRAP & NOT SPEND ALL YOUR $

If you've been to any grocery store in the past, uh, I dunno, decade, then I'm sure you're no stranger to the extraneous pricing of healthy food vs. junk food. I know, it's absolutely absurd. It doesn't make sense, and it is extremely detrimental to countries all over the world, including ours. 

Quick (educational) side note: My senior year of high school I did an independent study with an economics teacher. Economics is totally not my forte, but I found some of the topics so interesting. For example, I crafted a paper that included research about the relationship between poor communities and access to healthy food choices. Here is a snippet from the paper:

"Lack of access to affordable, healthy foods along with limited resources contributes to the poor’s vulnerability and susceptibility to obesity...many low-income neighborhoods do not have full-service farmers’ markets or grocery stores where customers can purchase a variety of goods, such as fruits, vegetables, or whole grains; or, when these products are available, they tend to be of poorer quality, diminishing the appeal of these items to buyers. Instead, the residents of these neighborhoods, especially those without transportation, must shop at corner stores, where the fresh produce/low-fat items are limited, if available at all. In the study of neighborhood disparities in food access, it was found that people with better access to supermarkets and limited access to corner stores have a reduced risk for obesity". 

I could go on and on for hours about the unfairness of this dynamic and how it's contributing to rise of obesity in many countries, but perhaps that's a topic for a different day. Anyways...
My point is: healthier options are extremely outrageously priced, while junk food is not. And that is a major issue. As someone who cannot afford all the organic products I want, I also do not want to ruin my health by surviving off of Pop Tarts and Oreos every day. 

So? What's the resolution? 


1) Plan what you are going to eat for one week. Yep, just one. Any more than that and you will go berzerk trying to plan food that far ahead. I usually plan out a rough draft of what I will eat for breakfast and lunch during the week, with dinner being whatever it happens to be depending on my plans (work, gym, etc). I tend to plan this out and get my shopping done on Sunday's so that I can have a fresh start on Monday morning. Besides, who is able to properly start a new week off on a Sunday? 


2) Here's where you choose how to go about actually getting the food. If you are in high school or college and live with your parents (as I do), maybe make a list of suggestions for food that you may like to have in the house when they go grocery shopping. In my situation, with 3 younger siblings, I learned to just start buying my own foods a couple years ago because it can be stressful for my parents who have to buy the food that they will actually eat (luckily, as they get older, they have started eating better, more healthful foods). Because I would like to get my own food on my own time, I plan an hour during the weekend to make it to a store to get the food. My favorite place is Trader Joe's, but we also have places like Hannaford and Shaw's, or places like Food Lion and Kroger . Whatever it is, I guarantee you they will have plenty of options. 


3) Ahhh, the shopping part. Here's where the good stuff comes in. As I have said before, I am not a certified nutritionist nor am I an expert on food, but I have some experience with what works and what doesn't. Whether I am at Trader Joe's or just a good 'ole grocery, "off-brand" products are not always as bad as you may think. They are often a lot cheaper but have the same ingredients as something that is more well-known. Now, I agree, this is not the case with all foods; for example, "creme-filled sandwich cookies" do not taste the same as Oreos. But, when trying to decide whether to grab that cup of Oikos vs. Trader Joe's nonfat cup of yogurt, I am 90% sure that they taste the same (to me, at least). Don't get me wrong - I can, as most people, be a "brand-name snob" when it comes to certain things. But, now that I am a broke college girl, I ain't got money for that. So, Trader Joe's brand it is.

4) Try to make the most of your time at the grocery store while you're there. OK, that sounds weird, but I mean don't spend hours debating whether or not you need those chocolate-covered espresso beans (struggles). Make a list ahead of time that has what you NEED, not want. Don't just grab the first bag of spinach on the shelf. Don't look at the first jug of almond milk and automatically assume it's the best for the price. When I wasn't taking the time to think about my choices, I would leave the store with $200 worth of food that was going to expire within a few days because I was too apathetic to check things through. Always go for the produce and dairy products that are towards the back because they won't expire as soon as you buy them! Just a fun little tip.

I know it sounds stupid to have an elaborate way of grocery shopping, but seriously, it helps. The junk food trap is real. Avoid just going in and grabbing whatever looks "healthy", because I guarantee that at the register, a look of horror will crawl across your face when you see the final total. There are so many ways to make healthy choices while also keeping the price affordable. 


Here are some examples from my recent grocery trip/meals: 

Told you I like Trader Joe's 

Almond butter on multigrain bread 

Broccoli slaw is life

Until next time, cherubs

Lynds

Let's Give This Another Try | Summer 2016

Where do I begin?

Two years ago, I created this blog for three reasons: 1) I was a huge fitness and health junkie, 2) I loved to write, and 3) I wanted to be able to look back at my previous ideas while also sharing them with others. And, as of right now, I am happy to say that these three reasons worked perfectly. Now, I use past tense to describe my reasons because my life has changed tremendously over the past two years. Don't get me wrong -- I am still a fitness/health FREAK and I do still love to write, but my life (unfortunately) no longer revolves around these two things. As I have gotten older, I have realized the need to focus on what is important for my future, while keeping my passions on the side as I go. I am not a professional in the fields of health or fitness, nor do I plan to pursue education or further training in either of these areas.

So I guess a little life update is overdue...

I am now a sophomore at High Point University. Holy sh**. My heart just stopped while I typed that. But yes, a sophomore (I KNOW, RIGHT - WHAAAAT?). In my last post (below), I was anxiously awaiting responses from college. That period of time was by far the best and worst of my entire life. I was wrapping up my senior year and preparing to move on to college. And as cliche as it is, I never would have imagined that I would be where I am today (well, technically I am sitting at my local Starbucks sipping a venti passion iced tea, so, I guess I am exactly where I always am). But seriously. It's insane. For those who may not know, my career interests fall into the area of law. I have wanted to be an attorney since I was in 8th grade when I went to Washington, D.C. for the first time. With this in mind, I wanted to be in a big city at a giant school that would provide me with the opportunity to engage in internships and pursue law. I completely avoided small schools, including all Vermont universities, and set my heart on places like Northeastern and American.

News flash kids: have a backup plan. Do not allow yourself to live the hell that I did, because it was not a good time. *low key self promotion: click here to view my other blog that has a post about my experience.

So where do I end up? A small, private university in North Carolina. Yup, totally not what I expected, but hey: everything happens for a reason. If you're wondering why, it all came down to money and scholarships. That's another story for a different day, though. Let's just say that I am 100% satisfied with my decision.

Sorry for that mini-rant. I get very worked up when it comes to this topic. Anyways...

Yes. I am a sophomore in college now. I am majoring in political science with a double minor in criminal justice and English (told ya I like to write). I could go on and on about what I have been doing for the past year while in college, but this is a fitness blog so I won't bore anyone here (bet I already have).

So, I guess I'm back. I am finally calm and relaxed back in my cozy state of Vermont for the summer. I am still working at my beloved gym, but I am trying to branch out, so I have applied to other places for a summer job, including Under Armour...which brings me back to my continuing love for all things and fitness and health...

No, I am not currently following 300+ fitness models on Instagram. And no, I haven't meal prepped in 8 months. But that does not mean that I no longer focus on myself.

I have been to the gym (almost) every day, just like I used to. And I still eat my usual salads and drink my typical smoothies, I just don't post about it anymore. I still have the same passions for a healthy lifestyle, and I think I always will at this point, since fitness has been such a huge part of bettering my life.

My point of all of this is that I want to get back into the blogging aspect of my health. Not only do I enjoy it, but I have had the occasional "hey, what ever happened to your health blog?" question come up, and ultimately, that pushes me to get back into things knowing that at least someone out there is benefiting from my random everyday thoughts. I would like to focus on the same things I always have, like food and fitness, while relating it to the average high schooler/college student.

If you're interested, then stay tuned. I promise I will try harder this time...at least for the summer months.

Ta ta for now!

Lyndsey

Lifestyle Changes

Hellooo blog world! Let me start off by apologizing for my lack of presence on my fitness social media lately. Between the stress of college applications and the holidays, this girl has been chuggin' away. For example, as of right now at 9:42 PM on Sunday night, I sound like a 70 year old smoker due to a lovely sinus infection, as I am setting my alarm for 5:00 AM to start off my lovely day filled with school, internship, work, and a workout. On top of that, I am anxiously awaiting the dozen of college decisions that are to come in the next few weeks *insert panic attack here*.

current obsession to keep me sane

Sigh...

Besides my insanely busy life, I have (for the most part) kept up with my fitness goals. However, I am human, and I did unfortunately take a week off of cardio due to busyness, which then led to treachery when I forced myself to get back at it a week later. And, 2 weeks after that, I injured my right IT band, which prevented me from partaking in some of my favorite leg day exercises. Because why? Sh** happens. Now it is March, and I am pushing myself to jump-start my summer body (more lean) after my hibernation/food-coma months of winter. I have set huge goals for my graduation date and beginning of college, and no body is going to get in my way.

Now...why are we here today?

Grace Miller, one of my childhood best friends, recently reminded me of why I do what I do. This young lady has made what I love to call the all-famous "lifestyle change", and I couldn't be more proud. In the past few weeks, I've been asked a lot about what diet I am on or why I lift 6 days a week. Many people think this is just a phase in my life, and that once I am in college, this will all just fly out the window. Let me just warn you right now that this is NOT the case, nor will it ever be the case. I am not working my butt off, spending hundreds on food and supplements for it to all go down the drain in college. Even my parents call me crazy for the things I do, but I know that fitness and health has become such an integrated part of my life; so much so, that I plan to minor in exercise science or health along with my pre-law major so that I can be a personal trainer someday in the near future. Okay, angry rant over. Continuing...

Back to the point: many of my days come down to me being surrounded with all of these men and women that have the whole "New Years Resolutions" mentality, or the whole "I'll workout until I'm skinny" crap. No. You don't stop working out when you're "skinny". The fact that SO many people actually believe this is depressing. In the past few months, even though I'm only 17, I have talked to numerous adults and teens that have asked me about my journey (mainly since I work at the gym) and they all seem very inspired by what I have to say. & this is exactly what I want to do with my life - inspire people. So if I can start now as a high schooler, why not continue?

Lifestyle changes. Make them happen. Super antioxidant teas and "30 days to abs" will not get you the results you want. Yeah, it requires a whole lot of work, time, and dedication. But I can promise you that you will have zero regrets. Do I miss those fudge rounds and Lucky Charms? Of course. But do I miss the feeling that they gave me as I shoved 4 serving sizes down my throat? Absolutely not. Which is exactly why I could not be any happier with how I have turned my life around. The more people I can convince to do this, the better. And yes -- I know that healthy food and a gym are deterred by money; trust me, I know because I am responsible for buying all of my own food and gym stuff. But then I remind myself of how much money would be wasted on the junk and health problems in the future, along with the major lack of self confidence, which is where the justification for a healthy lifestyle kicks in.

latest meal prep includes chicken, rice, greek yogurt, soymilk, veggies, and a hint of dark choco

So next time you are listening to one of your friends rave about this new slim pill or TV diet, stop and think twice about trying it. Instead, consider revamping your entire way of living. Trust me, you will be more successful in the end.

*I am in no way shaming the fad-diets or diet programs; I do truly believe that a select few work and contribute to a healthy lifestyle; however, I much too often see many that promote a "21 day diet" which brings people down the wrong path. I know, because I've tried for myself.

That's all for now.

current goal swimsuit for the summer 

what would a blog post be without a current selfie? courtesy of a friend's house of course ;)

Ta ta. 

Lyndsey