A great, FREE way to track your progress towards healthy living is utilizing free apps. There are so many different apps you can use to do anything from tracking your activity to tracking every calorie you eat. Today I am going to share three of my favorite apps with you.

My Fittness Pal is one of the most popular fitness apps in the world currently and once you use it, you will see why. It's easy to use interface allows individuals set personalized goals for their activity and their calorie intake. They have a database of most popular foods, so you can scan the barcode of what your eating, or simply search for it and it adds that information to your daily "food diary" for you.

Fitnet is an app that is ideal for college students, and anyone else who finds themselves short on time but who still want to exercise and stay active. The app is loaded with quick, five minute workouts providing awesome flexibility for busy schedules. It can also convert your camera into a sensor and give you real-time feedback while you exercise and it offers a large variety of different exercises and workout styles to best suit your preferences. I love working with this app because it regularly updates with new workouts and it keep things interesting and new.

Fooducate is an app that let's you take control of what you are putting into your body. It has a scanning feature so that you can scan food in the store and it gives them a rating so you know exactly how good or bad they are for you. It even does as much as track your mood, sleeping patterns, and hunger levels. I love this app because it allows me to really take ownership of what I am putting in to my body and it allows me to make conscious decisions for the better of my health.

All of these apps are great, affordable ways to keep your health on track. They have been a huge help to me, and I hope they can help you maintain focus on your goals. You can do it!

A great way to stay up to date with new ideas is to learn from others. There are tons of blogs just like mine, and many social media platforms that house TONS of helpful information provided by experts in their fields.
Here are a few of my favorite health accounts:
@coco_lovin is an instagrammer from Germany and although some of her posts are not in English, I still enjoy recreating her recipes from her pictures. She provides  tons of fun and refreshing healthy snacks and meals.

+MeowMeix is an awesome resource if you are interested in meal prep. Meal prep on the weekends has been a huge time and money saver for me and she shares awesome ideas and tips to make the most of your time and money. 

@annietarasova features vegan food items on her instagram. She is a neuropathy student and although her posts sometimes stray from the topic of food, she posts delicious and interesting meals that are completely plant based.

@wholeheartedeats features delicious clean eating recipes and is great about including items she used, or her own tips or tricks for the recipe. Most of her food is vegan or vegetaria, but her Instagram bio includes a link to her blog that has tons of awesome info about healthy eating. 

I love these online resources because they're FREE and they really help develop your skills when it comes to knowing how to live a healthy life. 

As I mentioned in my previous post, I made Butternut Squash Tacos with salsa for my clean eating group.
For those of you interested, I have made a podcast describing the recipe and walking you through how to make your own butternut squash tacos.
Enjoy!

As I have mentioned in many posts before, living a healthy life is always better when other people are around joining you in your cause.
A few weeks ago at work, I walked into the kitchen and found a group of people setting out a lot of food. A lot of good food. I asked them what they were doing and they said that they had started a "clean eating group" and they meet every few weeks and share recipes and bring food for eachother for lunch.
I joined that day and I have learned so much from the people in that group.
If you find yourself in an environment where there could be a group like this, like work or school, check to see if one exists, and if not, make one!
There are currently about eight people in our clean eating group so every individual only has to cook about every fourth time the group meets. So while it may be a bit costly when it comes your turn to make a meal, it pays off with the food provided to you at all the other meals.

This week our group met and our theme was "clean tacos". Here is a photo of all the food that was made.

On the end in the crock pot was a very basic but delicious and flavorful lentil taco filling. Next to on the left was a dish of beer roasted cauliflower with some veggies that was topped with cole slaw and vegan sour cream and was delicious. The next in line was my own dish, butternut squash tacos, followed by its paired salsa and some homemade guacamole that I brought as well. 

Aside from some optional cheese, this meal ended up being completely vegan and 100% health and delicious. 

We all shared our recipes and now thanks to this group, I know even more about cooking healthy food and living a clean-eating lifestyle. 

I hope this inspires you to join or start your own clean-eating group because it is a great way to surround yourself with people who will push you to be better in your health journey. 

So far we have talked about a lot of different things relating to your health and wellness, but one important factor has not been mentioned yet. 

That's right, motivation is a huge issue for so many people (myself included). So I'd like to share my top three tips on motivating yourself to get out there and be active.

Tip #1: Track your progress

If you have been jogging the same route, start timing yourself and see how your doing. Use it to motivate yourself to beat your own best records. This is a great way to have a competetive edge and really push yourself to improve.

Tip #2: Use the buddy System

Chances are, you know someone who is also trying to improve their physical health as well. Pair up with them and hold each other accountable when it comes to your exercise and even your diet. My roommate and I always meet up at the gym after work and knowing that she is expecting me there each time makes me much less likely to skip out at the last second. 

Tip #3: Reward yourself

I have started a great show on Netflix and I promised myself that I could only watch it if I watched it at the gym. So each day I work out, I get to look forward to watching a new episode of a great show while I'm on the treadmill or elliptical. You can also reward yourself with a gift or dessert but the most important thing is finding what works best for you and using it to your advantage.

I hope that these tips help you on those days when you just want to stay in bed, because I know they have definitely helped me.

Welcome back!


Today we are going to talk about my favorite ways to get fit-FREE ways.

Next time you are needing to get some energy out, or you just want to say you have exercised without having to go work hard at the gym, grab a friend and go for a walk in your neighborhood. It's free, it's fun, and it's a great way to get to know you neighborhood and community better all while staying healthy and fit.

As much as I love zumba and yoga, group exercise classes can be extremely expensive and well out of my price range. A great alternative is to just exercise where I can do it for free, right outside.
Getting out into your neighborhood can be intimidating at first but after a few walks or runs, it becomes more comfortable. Going for walks and bike rides has been a huge stress reliever in my life lately.
I am lucky enough to live near a college campus so I have plenty of great places to go for walks, however, this is not the case for everyone. If you are struggling to find places to get out and exercise in your neighborhood, Google maps has a feature that shows bike-friendly trails, and those are almost always walker-friendly as well. The map below is an example of a walking path that Google picked out as "bike-friendly".

Happy Saturday!

Since this blog is not only devoted to healthy living, but also to doing so on a college budget, I wanted to include one of my personal tips that have helped me the most when it comes to money.

Rather than focusing on just "saving" money, I am also always looking for ways to MAKE money. This summer I have started dog sitting and it has been a huge help to my health, schedule, and financial well being.

Here are some dogs that I am currently dog sitting:

Dog sitting allows you to make some money on the side and stay fit. 

Making sure the dogs get enough exercise is a great way to make sure YOU get enough exercise too!

If you aren't able to dog sit, you can still look for opportunities to be a dog walker. Many dog owners do not always have time to walk their dogs and some are willing to pay to have their dogs walked. 

This is great for three reasons: 

Flexible schedule

You're getting paid to exercise

DOGS (if you are a crazy dog person like I am)

Hopefully some of you can find opportunities to help someone out with exercising and watching their pet while also helping out your own budget and fitness. I tried it, and it has been a huge success so I hope it can be for some of you too!

Welcome back!
I hope you've all been reaping the benefits of your schools' fitness centers! I know I have! *I say as I hobble along with sore legs*

Now, onto today's topic!
Don't you hate it when your forget to charge your phone and then it's dead all day?? Well your body is similar. Just like a phone, you can't just use it all day every day unless it has a good power source.
This brings us to the importance of food. Your body has to be fueled with the right stuff to work as best as it can, so it's important to pay attention to what you're putting into it.
One of the biggest struggles I've faced in college is that eating healthy seemed so difficult and overwhelming because "all healthy food is expensive". This scary myth may have kept me from eating healthy in the past, but not anymore!
After lots of browsing and research, I've found that there really is a way to eat healthy on a budget!
First, I searched for discount grocery stores and I found a couple in my neighborhood. I am now a regular shopper at Family Dollar, Aldi's, Walmart, and the Dollar Tree. While names like the Dollar Tree may not scream "healthy food options!!!", upon further inspection, many of their stores carry frozen and canned fruits and vegetables. Aldi's has very affordable EVERYTHING and has become my favorite place to shop for frozen meat and fresh produce!





These groceries were all bought at Either Aldi's or Walmart.
The whole wheat tortillas were only a few cents more than regular tortillas and make delicious wraps that are the perfect low carb substitute for sandwiches!

The rice pilaf was only 79 cents and with some of the frozen chicken, it makes a delicious meal that leaves plenty of leftovers.
In no way do I think that living a healthy lifestyle means eating less--I think it means eating more of the right stuff. Although those chips and cupcakes may seem tempting, just remember what kind of fuel your body really wants, and it will thank you later!

I hope you all challenge yourselves to make smarter affordable choices next time you're at the grocery store!

Hi Everyone!

So it's time to get down to business.
One of the biggest issues I have found as a college student, is that at the end of each day, although I am mentally exhausted my body is not tired at all. Sitting at a desk, and in a classroom studying and working all day does not give my body any chance to exert energy and that built up energy can manifest itself as stress over time.

Here is a hint:
Colleges love giving their students free services!

Well, maybe not totally free in the end, but if you are attending college, chances are, a portion of your (very large) tuition goes toward a student recreation center where students can not only use the facility for free but also receive expert advice on ways to live a healthier life. Use your resources people! If you are already paying for it, you may as well take advantage of the benefits.

I recently received a free fitness assessment at my school's fitness center and was given a personalized "fitness prescription" based on my own health needs and schedule. It allowed me to create a specific weekly plan that I can budget into my schedule. They also showed me how to use all the confusing machines-- and it turns out they aren't as scary as they seem! It has been a one my biggest steps toward living a healthier life, and although I am still new to the whole "regularly going to the gym" thing, I am already feeling better and I'm hoping you guys can use your school's fitness resources to your benefit too!

"This is it! I'm finally going to commit to a healthy lifestyle...(and I mean it this time!)"

If this is something you find yourself saying, maybe a few times a year, or even a few times a week, then this blog is for you.

Living a healthy lifestyle (and sticking to it) can be especially difficult for college students who always seem to be in a crunch for money and time. 

Armed with my free fitness assessment from my school's gym, and an huge supply of coupons for the discount grocery store, I will use this blog to share time and money saving tips and tricks to living a more nutritious and active life.