Blog

May 16, 2017 | Posted in: Uncategorized

Food Is Your Friend

Here’s the thing, y’all. I’m tired of hearing all of these ads for quick fixes, magic pills, diet trends, and juice cleanses. I’m tired of social media glorifying the idea that the less you eat, the skinner you’ll be. I’m saddened by the fact that so many girls are starving themselves in order to get that ideal “model” body that only those with the genetics, trainers, and nutritionists can barely reach. I’m tired of girls and women being afraid of carbs, afraid of fats, and thinking that 1,000 calories is enough. I’m tired of food being viewed as the enemy.

Food is fuel. Food is energy. Food is vital to anyone’s health. FOOD IS NOT THE ENEMY. The other night when as I was in the shower being hit with inspiration for this post, I kept thinking of Bruce from Finding Nemo and how he says “fish are friends not food.” Anyways, it’s taken me a long while to develop a healthy relationship with food, and all I want is for you to do the same. Being flooded by the media about how food is the enemy doesn’t help, but I swear, once you start viewing food in a positive light, it’ll change your life.

[Read more…] about Food Is Your Friend

May 9, 2017 | Posted in: Blogging

How to Start a Blog

** This post contains affiliate links! This means if you click on a link in this post, I may receive a small commission. I only promote products, brands, and companies I love! Thank you for supporting Living the Gray Life **

Blogging has truly changed my life, and it’s become my entire life. I have no idea where I’d be without this here blog. I’ve “met” so many amazing people through blogging, I’m able to look back and watch myself develop into the person I am today, and the blogging community is probably the most supportive and encouraging group of people on the Internet.

For me, blogging encapsulates everything I love to do – web design, web development, graphic design, writing, networking, photography, etc. I love to share my story and hopefully inspire other bloggers, college students, and young women to go out and achieve everything they want to do.

If you’re looking to start a blog, yay for you! You’re about to embark on a journey that quite possibly could change your life.

[Read more…] about How to Start a Blog

April 19, 2017 | Posted in: Beginner's Guide to Fitness, Fitness, Workouts

Beginner’s Guide to Fitness: Staying Motivated

The first step of integrating fitness into your life is getting started. And honestly, that’s the easy part. When it comes to staying motivated, that’s where 95% percent of people fall off the wagon. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is far from easy. I mean if it was easy, wouldn’t everyone be doing it? If it was easy, would there be all those quick-fix, fad diets? If it was easy, would we be seeing the rates of obesity drastically increasing?

Coincidentally, my best blogging friend and fellow workout junkie Caitlyn posted about workout motivation this week as well. Even though she and I talk all day every day, we did not plan this at all, so I’m calling this an unofficial official collaboration because her post is awesome, and I feel like it really adds to some of the points that I’m mentioning in this article.

P.S. If you don’t know who Caitlyn is or haven’t checked out her amazing blog College with Caitlyn, you need to do so right now.

April 11, 2017 | Posted in: Fitness, Workouts

The Do’s and Don’ts of Gym Etiquette

A few weeks ago I had a reader ask me if I could do a post about gym etiquette, and I thought that was a brilliant idea! Everyone is afraid of looking like a newbie in the gym. I’ve been there, pro competitors have been there, and you’ve probably been there as well. The mistakes, mishaps, and misfortunes I’m covering in this post are made by everyone – from the newbies to the pros – so don’t feel like the world will come crashing down if you make one of these mistakes. Nobody’s perfect, but you can strive to be the best version of yourself.

I remember the first time I ever walked in to the weights section of my campus gym. I was terrified. Yeah I’d trained all summer, but that was with a trainer. That was in a private training studio. This, this was the big leagues. Muscular guys everywhere, so many people knowing what they were doing, and I felt like all eyes were on me. You know those scenes in movies where a character walks in and everyone stops what they’re doing and stares? That’s exactly how I felt. The last thing I wanted was to look like a fool in front of all those people, let alone all the hot guys.

April 7, 2017 | Posted in: Beginner's Guide to Fitness, Fitness, Workouts

Beginner’s Guide to Fitness: Where to Start

Whenever I talk about fitness with friends, one comment I always hear is “I have no idea where to even start. I want to change but it all just seems so overwhelming.” Those words have been said to me in so many different ways, but it all boils down to finding a starting point. Trust me, I’ve been there. That weight section is scary as hell (excuse my language), transforming your entire diet overnight seems impossible (probably because it is), and sticking to a routine seems virtually impossible.

I’ve been there, every fitness person ever has been there, and what you’re feeling is perfectly normal. Incorporating fitness into your life is just like adding anything new to your life — it just takes trial and error. Okay so maybe 6 AM gym sessions aren’t your thing because it leaves you exhausted by the end of the day. You might not be able to prepare your meals every single day.

And guess what? It’s all okay. What matters is that you stick with it and figure out what works for you. That’s the only way you will succeed.

April 4, 2017 | Posted in: Fitness

Freshen Up after the Gym in 10 Minutes or Less

Let’s be honest here, one of the main reasons students don’t make it to the gym during their regular weekday is the fear of being sweaty and smelly for their next class. I mean I personally don’t care whether or not I show up to class sweaty because A. it’s usually 32847 degrees and everyone’s sweaty anyways and B. I earned that sweat with a killer workout. With that said, I still try to show up to class looking somewhat presentable even if I just did my oh-so-wonderful leg workout.

This post-gym routine takes about 10 minutes at most and allows me to stay in the gym for as long as possible, which we all know is a plus. Ain’t nobody got time for a 30 minute post gym routine because we all have lives and places to be.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. Read my disclosure here.