Summer Health and Fitness

One of my favorite things when reading blog posts is when the blogger portrays themselves as a human rather than someone who is flawless. Living in an era where everyone shares the best version of who they are while hiding there flaws can put a ton of pressure on people. Today I'm here to give you a post filled with real talk that I think many of you can probably relate to. When it comes to health and fitness, we all have a different relationship and varying philosophies. It is a subject that I think can be sensitive for some if it is not approached in the right manner. 

I'd be lying if I said I went to the gym or for a run every single day and that I eat clean all of the time. However, what I can tell you is that I listen to my body and what it needs.  This summer I have taken the time and energy to focus on my overall health. Concentrating on my physical health has in turn helped my mental health too. I take each day as it comes, and depending how I feel I may deviate from the weekly plan I had established. 

What I have learned is the importance of balance. Some weeks are filled with workouts and healthy eating while others contain more fun and less healthy choices. Sometimes our lifestyles simply do not allow time for every meal to be homemade and filled with veggies. It is important to be able to forgive yourself and not obsess over the days where your choices are less than healthy. 

I think one of the biggest things about staying healthy in the summer is all about the choices you make. Being mindful of what you are putting in your body and how you treat your body is so important. I try to incorporate seasonal fruits and veggies into my snacks/meals. I find it much easier to do in the summer for some reason.. maybe because I have more time to go to the market or because I like the season's produce better. I also try to limit my alcohol intake. This is so helpful with not feeling bloated, keeping my skin healthy, and not consuming empty calories.  When given the choice, I try to walk rather than drive or take the stairs rather than the elevator. This is simple, but it keeps me from being lazy. Another great thing about summer is that the weather is nice and there are more options for outdoor entertainment.  I like to take advantage of these opportunities and meet friends to do things (go for a walk, hike, etc.) rather than meeting to eat a meal. My last little trick is to stay hydrated by drinking tons of water.  These are just a few small things that help build a healthier lifestyle.

 

So what does my summer workout schedule look like?

It depends on the week, the weather, and what my calendar looks like. On a given week you can find me doing some combination of running, waking, playing field hockey, or taking a few classes at the gym. My goal is to get four workouts in a week, but it usually ends up being more like three each week.  Most summer weeks I play field hockey games in a women's league two times. These games are about an hour long and involve lots of cardio.

Weeks where I play two games, I usually try to stretch more and go to a cycle class at the gym. When I don't have any games, my week usually consists of two runs (2-4 miles long), a les mills class (bodypump), and a cycle class. I like to mix things up because it prevents me from getting bored and it works different muscle groups. 

Favorite Workouts:

Full body: Les Mills Body Pump (at the gym) & Kayla Itsines

Cardio: Cycle or interval runs

Arms: 10 Minute Tone

Core: Flat Belly Workout

How do you stay healthy during the summer?
XOXO

Road Trip Essentials, Tips, & Tricks

If you read Monday's post, then you know that Todd and I took a mini road trip earlier this month. We drove from Pennsylvania to North Carolina for a long weekend. It was our first road trip together, and overall it was a success. I thought it would be fun to share some of our tips, tricks, and essentials to road tripping. If you're anything like us, then you are living with champagne tastes on a post grad budget.  The two of these don't always align, but we are finding ways to make it work while still living life to the fullest.  We love traveling and exploring, but it can be costly. One of the ways we manage to travel while sticking to our budget is by driving places rather than flying. Yes, it takes more time but it is actually fun! Plus, it gives us time to chat about our wedding planning, life plans, and everything else you could possibly imagine. 

Once you decide where you are going and where you are staying there are a few more things to do before you are actually read to jump in the car and hit the road. The more planning and preparation you do the smoother your trip will be. 

Get the car ready

I'm not talking about loading it up, but actually prepping the car. It's important to make sure your oil and other fluid levels are filled. If you're going further it also might be a good idea to take your car to the mechanic for an oil change, tire rotation, and overall check in. Your future self will thank you for spending a few extra dollars on this if it means you get to and from your destination without any car issues. It's also more comfortable to travel in a clean car. Confession- I'm the worst at keeping the car clean and will avoid cleaning it at all costs.  However, recently I realized that it only takes thirty minutes to vacuum it out, clean out the trash and extra stuff you've accumulated, wipe down the interior, and wash the windows.  Traveling in a clean car just makes you feel so much better during the trip. The final preparations is to make sure that the car is stocked with chargers, and AUX card, hand wipes, and tissues. 

Map Out Your Route

Before heading out for your trip, be sure to map out to see what the best way to go is, where to stop, and the best place to leave from.  This was definitely one of the mistakes that we made. We didn't realize until we got on the road that the plans we had before leaving for our trip actually took us out of the way and added almost an hour to our trip. While mapping out your route, it is also important to note about when/where you will need to stop for gas and where the gas stations are along your route. Gas stops should be quick, so it's best if you can stop along your route rather than taking a detour because of your lack of planning. 

Combine Your Stops

If you're anything like us, then you like to just get to your destination as quick as possible. One way to do this is to combine your stops. Try to plan stops that allow you to grab food, let the dog out if he/she is traveling with you, use the restroom, and fill up your gas tank all at once. This will check three things off the list all at once and allow you to get back on the road again. 

Pack a Cooler

Pack a cooler or lunch box with water, sodas, and snacks. This will allow you to keep driving when you get hungry or thirsty. Plus, when you do stop you will be able to save any leftovers you may have for later on in your trip. 

Use Cruise Control

As you are driving it is helpful to use cruise control.  This keeps you from traveling too fast and getting a ticket.  It also makes it easier on you and it will save you on gas too.

Create a Playlist

Good music is definitely key to a successful road trip. I highly recommend creating a playlist filled with a variety of music. Variety is key because it keeps things exciting. We listened to my summer playlist for a lot of the trip. We also used to the time to begin searching for the first dance song for our wedding. We are still searching, so if you have any favorites we'd love to hear your recommendations!
Check out our playlist here! 

Caffeine Stop

What's a road trip without a caffeine stop? We definitely were in need of one during both ways of the trip.  Back to spending minimal time on stops and optimal time on the road.. I highly recommend downloading the Starbucks App or app for your favorite chain to get caffeine from. On the way home, we used the Starbucks app to find a store along our route and order our coffee ahead of time. When we got there, our coffee was waiting for us. We took a total of seven minutes for the stop to use the restroom and pick up our order.  Fun fact- water is free at most places. We got our water bottles filled with ice and water while we were there too. 

Eat Before You Go + Pack Snacks

It is helpful to not start the trip out on an empty stomach. This was a mistake we made on our way down to North Carolina. Starting on an empty stomach means that you will have to stop for a meal, which is a longer stop and you probably won't need gas yet which goes against the optimize your stops rule. Packing snacks allows you to satisfy your hunger without driving. Here are some of our favorite road trip snacks/drinks.

What are your road trip essentials?

XOXO