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5/3/2012 |
Elton John. Fascinators. Pippa’s bum. Just a few favorite memories from last year’s royal wedding between Prince William and Catherine Middleton. The world waited nearly thirty years for Diana’s first-born son to tie the knot, and now, a year later, our obsession with Will and Kate is as strong as ever.
The last 365 days have been a whirlwind of activity for the newlyweds. After their impromptu joyride outside of Buckingham Palace following their nuptials, we should have known that their first year of marriage would be anything but ordinary, from meeting President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, to Will and Kate’s much-anticipated royal tour of North America—including a star-studded night in Hollywood rubbing elbows with the likes of Tom Hanks and David Beckham.
We can’t talk about the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s first anniversary without talking about Kate’s trend-setting sense of style. Much like her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, the Duchess set a new standard for royal fashion, from her breathtaking lace wedding gown (designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen), to an endless array of fascinators.
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The new Duchess of Cambridge is much more than a fashionista. She and her hubby spent a good portion of their first year apart. Stepping into her role as the wife of the next king of England, Kate busied herself with official appearances—sometimes solo, sometimes accompanied by the Queen herself. Of course, she looked great doing it, but we can’t forget that this princess views her new duty much more seriously than just an opportunity for fashion statements. |
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9/11/2011 |
As you fall back into the painful routine of classes, meetings, homework and minimal sleep, you may be losing steam, feeling sluggish and/or having trouble concentrating on Act 2 Scene 2 of that Shakespeare play you have to have read by tomorrow. Never fear, collegiettesTM! We’re here to help you adjust to Work Forest yet again.
Breakfast
We’ve all heard the ‘breakfast is the most important meal of the day’ blah-blah-blah, but since our dorm rooms aren’t exactly fully stocked kitchens, it can be difficult to throw together a meal that actually packs a punch. Sure, if you’re a morning person, you could make a point to go to the Pit every day in the a.m. (kudos to you), but let’s be realistic--after pulling an all-nighter, the only thing we have time for at the Pit is a to-go bagel (toasted if we’re feeling really ambitious)! But don’t fret—there are other ways to make sure you have a healthy first meal without sacrificing too much morning time. Keep whole-grain, high-fiber cereal and skim milk in your dorm room for a quick and filling breakfast. Stock your micro-fridge with fresh fruit and yogurt (hey, that’s what Pit to-go is for), and have instant oatmeal on-hand. Granola bars are a good option, too, but beware of high-sugar varieties. Read the label and choose granola bars with all-natural ingredients, lots of fiber and protein and lower sugar contents. Your body (and stomach) will thank you!
Coffee
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4/3/2011 |
Dieting doesn’t work. Not Atkins, not South Beach, not Slim Fast, not Weight Watchers, not the Cabbage Soup Diet, not the Juice Fast diet, not the Zone Diet. Diet books that promise life-changing results lie. Magazines and commercials that preach the benefits of cutting out meat, carbs, and sugar are a joke. Packaged meal-replacement shakes and energy bars are processed, chemical junk. They won’t make you thin. They have no nutritional value. They will do more harm than good.
Everyone is built differently. We come from different backgrounds, and we grew up with different meal schedules. Some people like red meat, others don’t. Some people like to exercise everyday, others don’t. Are the red-meat-eating non-exercising people doomed? No. Because maybe they balance their red meat consumption with lots of vegetables and fruits. Maybe they have a job that keeps them active. Are the avid-runners and vegetarians guaranteed to live longer? Not necessarily. Because maybe they eat nothing but junk food and processed food, and their habitual exercising eliminates any social time.
You want to be thinner? You want to finally lose that freshman 15 and keep if off for good? Don’t go to the bookstore searching for the latest diet trend, because it won’t work. In fact, it could make the problem worse. Diets are restricting, uncomfortable, and harmful to your health. Your body is not built to run on 1200 daily calories worth of diet bars, shakes and frozen entrees. If you like eating sweets, trying to cut them out of your diet cold turkey is only going to make you crave them more. And who really likes eating a salad every day for lunch?
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3/27/2011 |
Just when it seems that life has settled into a steady, peaceful routine, something happens so unexpectedly that it rocks your world. It happened to me last week: I received a message from my mom telling me that one of my friends from home has passed away at the age of 23—from a heart attack.
A varsity baseball player in high school, my friend was extremely active and very healthy. Unfortunately, even he was not safe from heart complications. This tragedy has had a profound effect on my hometown, and it got me thinking: what can we do to prevent another tragedy like this?
Heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women; more than 1 in 3 Americans already have heart disease in some form (high blood pressure, for example). Everyone probably knows at least one person—and maybe even one relative—that has experienced heart disease and has undergone risky surgery or passed away. The statistics are astounding.
“Heart-healthy” diets are as trendy as “low-carb” and “fat-free” ones. We all know how beneficial cardio exercise is to our overall health and wellness. Smoking is dangerous for your heart health, as is excessive alcohol and sugar binges. And although stress is a part of everyday life, stress-management is also crucial to longevity.
We can’t all be expected to run for an hour or more every day, to eliminate all red meat from our diets, and get eight-plus hours of sleep each night. It’s ideal, but it isn’t realistic. We can, however, make several small changes to promote a heart-healthier lifestyle. Even in college, we have options.
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3/21/2011 |
“Prom queens live on average five years longer than regular people. It’s probably because they smile a lot, and smiling has been proven to ward off diseases.” On last week’s episode of Glee, Quinn’s reasons for wanting to win prom queen with Finn made us question Brittany’s status as the dumb blonde cheerleader. Smiling won’t make you live longer…or will it?
Fun fact: studies show that smiling may extend a person’s life span. What? It’s true. Optimistic people are more likely to live longer, happier lives than their pessimistic peers. According to a nine-year study in the Netherlands, pessimists will die of heart disease and other ailments before optimists. This makes sense, if you think about it. If you have a positive attitude, you are less likely to be depressed and more likely to work hard, have better jobs, make more money, and have happier marriages. |
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3/14/2011 |
According to MyPyramid.gov, the average female college student needs 7 ounces of grains, 3 cups of vegetables, 2 cups of fruit, 3 cups of milk and/or dairy, and 6 ounces of meat and beans—every day. Easier said than done.
Lucky for us, there are other ways to get your daily serving of calcium: Supplements. Nutritional supplements come in all shapes in sizes, from pills and capsules to liquids and powders. Whether you are suffering a cold or needing a little extra energy throughout the day, there is a nutritional supplement for you.
Herbal supplements have become “trendy” nowadays. There are pills that claim to promote weight loss, powders that help build muscle outside of the gym, and even liquids that take care of that daily dose of fruits and vegetables. And then there’s PartySmart.
PartySmart is an herbal supplement that claims to prevent hangovers. Yes, that’s right. A pill that prevents hangovers. The unique formula includes ingredients such as Vitis vinefera, Cichorium intybus, and Phoenixdactylifera—also known as grapes, wild chicory, and dates. According to the PartySmart Web site, the supplement is designed to protect the liver and provide a better morning after.
Here’s how it works: when you drink alcohol, the liver converts it into acetaldehyde. The build-up of this acetaldehyde is what causes hangover symptoms the next morning. PartySmart reverses this process with the help of antioxidants, liver protectives and stimulants that speed up the break down of acetaldehyde and overall liver function.
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2/13/2011 |
Protein. Like steak and eggs, right? Its one of the major food groups in the food pyramid, but are we getting enough of it?
Technically, yes, Americans get enough protein. Too much actually. But they aren’t getting the right protein. Hamburgers, fried chicken, pecan pie: they are all high in protein. They are also high in saturated fats and simple carbohydrates. |
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2/6/2011 |
Catching Z’s in college isn’t as easy as it should be. All-nighters are more frequent than naps. The library doubles as a Motel 6 for students who need a more serious environment for working on papers, reading assignments, and class projects. And caffeine-addictions are born during those crucial college years.
We all know that a good night’s sleep will help improve academic performance, but there are more side effects to sleep deprivation than forgetting the Periodic Table of Elements.
First of all, what do you do to make it through long-nights in the library or the residence halls? You probably have some high-sugar, high-calorie snacks around to keep yourself energized. Instead of snacking on high-protein almonds or crunching on an apple, chocolate, high-sugar cereal, and other processed snacks are your go-to energy. |
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1/29/2011 |
Movie stars do it. Grammy winners do it. Professional athletes do it. Socialites do it. You can do it, too collegiettes™.
Pilates.
Unlike your regular workout routine—30 minutes on the elliptical, 30 minutes of weight-lifting, some crunches, and stretching—Pilates combines all aspects of fitness into one workout. Cardio, resistance training, stretching, and toning all in a one-hour workout. And all you need is a mat or towel.
Joseph H. Pilates developed the technique that now bears his name during World War I. Working as an orderly in a hospital in England, he created exercises for patients that focused on core stability and flexibility. Today, Pilates has become an international fitness fad.
The central principle of Pilates is core stability. Every movement begins from the center of the body and strengthens core muscles: abs, obliques, lower back. From there, exercises help increase hip flexibility, muscle tone and posture.
I began practicing Pilates in high school as a way to gain strength and stability for dance. But I noticed other changes: I sat up straighter, I had more confidence, I had more energy, and I fit in my skinny jeans. Pilates transformed me.
One thing I love about Pilates is that you barely break a sweat and yet you feel your muscles really working. Similar to yoga, you use your own body weight as resistance and gradually become more aware of your own body. However, Pilates is more intense than yoga: there are push-ups, a full abdominal series, and specialized leg exercises. You will feel it the next day.
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1/23/2011 |
As toddlers, we outran our parents and splashed around in the backyard pool with friends. During recess and gym class, our elementary school selves played with giant rainbow-bright parachutes and climbed on jungle gyms. In high school, school sports and after-school activities made fitness a part of our everyday life. Now we’re in college, and unless we play on a varsity team or participate in club sports, fitness isn’t necessarily built in to our schedules. |
