The company you keep

I’ll have what she’s having.

It sounds like a common phrase, but according to a Time article, it
can be a common problem to those trying to lose weight. Their advice
is simple: “Want to lose weight? Avoid Skinny Overeaters?”

The article is based on a study that will appear in the Journal of Consumer Research, which summarized that
“both the size and the consumption habits of our eating companions can
influence our food intake.”

According to the article, “contrary to existing research that says you
should steer clear of eating with heavier people who order large
portions, it's the beanpoles with the big appetites you really need to
avoid.”

Although this study is extremely interesting, I guess it makes sense.
The last thing you need when you have your mind set on eating a salad
is for the skinny person across from you to order the bacon double
cheeseburger and fries (which is probably what I would order – add a
Coke please).

Read about it here, and if this applies to you and you’re friends with
me, stick to your goals and order your salad, I’ll give you a bite of
my burger when no one is looking.

It's that time again

...the time when college students begin staying up all day and all night in hopes of finally writing that 12 page paper thats due the next day and to cram for that exam in the morning (Note: I am taking a break from doing exactly that to write this).

In typical college fashion, I have turned to the help of energy drinks to get me through it. In the past 24 hours I have had more caffeine than I should ever have in a given week, all to make the grade. Except for a power nap here and there, I'm not sleeping until tomorrow night. So much to do, so little time.

Although, I like the extra boost of energy drinks like Amp Energy and Red Bull give me, some scientists say some of these products need warning labels. According to a WebMd article, "Energy Drinks: Hazardous to your health?" some scientist believe that energy drinks should carry warning labels about the amount of caffeine contained and that it may cause potential health problems.

You can read the article here.

Caffeine content varies by drink, but according to WebMd, here's where some of the more popular brands line up:

• Red Bull: 80 milligrams per 8.3-ounce serving
• Tab Energy: 95 mg per 10.5-oz serving
• Monster and Rockstar: 160 mg per 16-oz serving
• No Fear: 174 mg per 16-oz serving
• Fixx: 500 per 20-oz serving
• Wired X505: 505 mg per 24-oz serving

An FDA spokesperson said in the article that many energy drinks are labeled as a dietary supplement, which are regulated differently because they do not have to go through FDA approval or review before they are marketed. This made me weary of their effects because I always assumed they wouldn't be on the shelves if there was a possibility that they weren't safe.

I guess I'll try to survive off just water until tomorrow night. What do you do for energy when you need a few more hours in your day? Check out the article and let me know what you think.

Rise and Shine!

I'm a clock-watcher. I'm the girl in class checking my watch every five minutes to see if the 50 minutes of lecture are over yet. I even watch the clock in my sleep, waking up periodically to see what time it is and how much longer I have in bed. Worse, I set my alarm clock in 15-minute intervals because I'm prone to oversleeping. If I have no alarm set, I wake up frantically saying, "What time is it?"

True Story.

It's strange to me that sometimes even after 10 hours of sleep, I am still tired. I drag myself out of bed as if I could use two more hours. Coffee is a really good friend of mine.

According to WebMD, a good night's sleep is essential, but too much sleep can be linked to other health problems. The typical adult should sleep between seven and nine hours each night. Under certain circumstances oversleeping is actually a medical disorder, according to the article.

Medical Problems linked to oversleeping include: Diabetes, Obesity, Headaches, Back pain, Depression, Heart Disease and Death.

Read the article here.

Have you ever experienced anything like this?

About those 10 minutes...

Keep reading to see how a 10-minute workout can change your life -- or at least your week.

One of my favorite celebrity fashion stylists, June Ambrose, posted a video on YouTube of herself working out back in April. This author of the book, "Effortless Style," was not only accompanied by a trainer, Harold Palacios, but wearing STILETTOS. Yes, stilettos.

I love stilettos. My stiletto-filled past stems from strutting down runways in fashion shows and gracefully moving across stages in pageants, from ages 14 to 20. But, as a UF student, the opportunities to wear them are limited. So, I recently dug out a pair of black pumps from the back of my closet and pressed play.



The next day, I was soooooo sore. It was even hard to walk. It took me 10 minutes to get up one flight of stairs to my apartment.

The video is only a little over nine minutes. But, my muscles punished me for days.

What do you do for sore muscles? Needless to say, I didn't do that again.

You got 10 minutes...

This goes out to all the busy people in the world.

Contrary to your excuses, you do have time to exercise. You could start with just 10 minutes.

Let's do it together. Don't worry, I'll wait.

I found this old CNN article "Experts reveal health secrets for busy people," and discovered an expert trainer who says that a 10-minute workout won't make you fit, but it will help you change.

I don't know about the validity of that statement, but I think that if you can't commit to that very brief workout, you should reevaluate if you're really busy or just lazy and/or making excuses.

So, for those of us really busy people, let's start each day out with 10 minutes of squats, lunges, crunches, jumping jacks, or something. Anything to get the heart pumping. Let's take the stairs, instead of the elevator or walk to class, instead of taking the bus.

I'm game. Are you? Let's see if this really prompts change.

YES WE CAN!!

This or That

Have you been wondering what to eat before, during and after your workout?

Have you been debating whether or not to drink that energy drink for an extra boost?

Have you been wondering if there is anything to eat while trying to lose weight other than Subway?

If you answered yes to any of the following questions, I can't help you.

But, while browsing Women's Health, I found something that can.

Check out this Fitness Food Face-Off. It really impressed me by weighing the convenience, effectiveness, taste, calories and cost of different food options for different parts of your day.

Of course, I mainly focused on the energy boost section because I find myself even waking up tired these days. Imagine my surprise that yogurt and an apple won over a Red Bull. They are more effective because of a slow-releasing energy, according to the Web site. The cost is about the same, but the challenge comes down to the crash.

Been there. Done that. No fun.

Check it out and you decide.

Whatever Wednesday

I get by with a little help from my friends.

And this week, some of the infamous besties introduced me to fab and fly diet plans.

Jo likes to watch what she eats every day of the week except "Fat Tuesday." The day she can pig out, eat whatever she wants, but of course make up for it on Wednesday at the gym.

Jas implemented "No Bread Day." The name is self-explanatory and just totally ungodly if you ask me.

They are such good influences. Right.

So, in the spirit of all things healthy and the poll to the right (Don't forget to vote). I decided to make today WATER WEDNESDAY!!

Thanks to Crystal Light, it wasn't half bad. Until my hectic day ended at 6 p.m.

I. Could. Not. Take. It. Anymore.

It's whatever. I went out and bought me a Coke.

Go ahead and judge me...

At least I tried.