Healthy Living Archives - Page 2 of 3

Slow Down Everyone, You’re Moving Too Fast

Last Updated: December 19, 2015 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 53 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

About four years ago I would be what you would consider Jack Johnson’s biggest fan. lol! No seriously.

I’ve seen him…oh about ten times live (both paid and free shows), and used to be on his old website’s forum daily. I even made a few “real life” friends through the forum.

My obsession has since decreased (although I still really like him), but all of his CD’s still sit in my car, which I pop in whenever I need a little anti-road rage music.

And whenever I feel myself running around like a chicken with my head cut off, I always sing this line from Brushfire Fairytales…“slow down everyone, you’re moving too fast…”

There are so many reasons to “slow down,” because one way “moving too fast” really affects me are financially.

In just this last week, there are three different times that moving too fast has cost me money.

1. Parking fees. I was going to a yoga class last Wednesday and was trying to squeeze a million things in before I had to leave. If I would have left earlier, I could have driven around an extra five minutes or so to find free parking. Instead I parked at a meter.

2. Gas. Being in a rush once again and not planning ahead of time, I wasn’t able to make it to the cheaper gas station, so I had to go to the more expensive one near my house, just in case I ran out of gas. And if you’ve been to California in the last month or so, you know how expensive things got around here.

3. Convenience food. On several different occasions I was too busy and distracted to take the time to know what I already had in my kitchen and pantry, so I made stops for more food that I didn’t need that was quick and easy when I got home. If I would take a little extra time, I would know what was in my kitchen and come up with a meal from there.

There are millions of other ways that being in a rush can affect your finances negatively.

1. Being late for something, so you drive too fast and get a speeding ticket.

2. Having to pay late fees because you got distracted and didn’t pay some bills on time.

3. And as odd as this may sound, being in frenzied mode means you’re more at risk for injuring yourself. I’m notorious for bumping into walls when I’m in a rush, and knocking over and breaking dishes.

4. Not taking the time to comparison shop, so you might be buying a more expensive version of an item.

5. Not making your lunch or coffee because you’re too rushed in the morning, so you end up buying them instead.

I know life is hectic, believe me, but I think there are things we can do in those moments of frenzy to re-center ourselves and not just rush, rush, rush.

1. Can it wait? I often find myself squeezing one last thing/email/phone call in before I need to leave to go somewhere. But more often than not, I can do it when I get back. Resisting that urge in the moment can save me a lot of time and money in the long run.

2. Breathe. So simple and obvious, yet how often do you just take a few moments to take a few breaths to gather yourself?

3. Stay organized. I could save myself a lot of time if I took a few moments the night before to put my keys where I know I can find them, or my bills that need to be mailed by the door. Or if you work in an office to pack your lunch the night before.

4. Staying present with where you are at in the moment. Have you ever read blogs (it might be this one) where you start to pass over whole paragraphs and maybe just get to the end part? (Guilty!) I think that’s just become a norm in our society because we are so busy all the time. Make a habit of trying to slow down and absorb what you are trying to read. If not you might miss some important details.

5. Alleviate distractions, especially while driving. Raise your hand if you’ve ever checked your email at a stoplight, or even sent a text? You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to know how potentially dangerous this could be. It’s not worth even a minor repercussion like hitting the back of someone’s car to do this. Or getting a ticket.

6. Find a mantra that works for you to slow yourself down when you need it. You can even borrow mine! 🙂

This is a post from the lovely Tonya. T.L. is a freelance video editor and blogger living in Los Angeles. She enjoys movies, running and playing beach volleyball. You can follow her personal finance journey on her blog at Budget & the Beach, and follow her on twitter at @beachbudget.

Do you ever find yourself in a rush each day?

How do you slow down and center yourself?

Working Out and Being Healthy

Last Updated: January 3, 2014 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - Leave a Comment

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

I really need to start working out. I’m still doing really bad with this. I can honestly count the number of times I have worked out on one hand (since last year). What a waste of money that I’m spending at the gym!

As I said the other day, my friends have been doing great. I’m extremely jealous. However, being jealous and thinking about working out burns ZERO calories of course, so I just need to get off my butt and do something about it.

They’ve been doing numerous things which make me jealous:

Swimming laps at the gym. They went the other day after we all got a big dinner and drinks during Happy Hour. They went so that they could get in their swimsuits and feel more determined after they ate. I thought this was a great idea. I need motivation.
Working out numerous times a week
Zumba. They go every week and they say it’s fun. I’ve never done zumba so I’m afraid I might faint, have to sit on the ground, fall asleep, etc haha
Yoga. I have never done yoga either. I lead a sad life.
Running on the best treadmills at the gym. I run with my dog every now and then, but not a whole ton.

What I’ve been doing to get in shape? Hmm NOTHING. That’s where I’m going wrong. My other friends and I keep telling them to stop working out (we’re joking, kind of), but in actuality, we just need to stop being lazy of course.

I’m definitely going to start working out once classes are over. I plan on going after work. I can’t right now because I feel like I have no time since I go to class for 4 hours right after I’m done at the office.

But, I am tired of saying “Oh I’ll start tomorrow.” I want to make a promise to myself to work out the day after my last final in May. I have one month until classes start back up (and I’m going 4 days a week) so that will again greatly limit my being able to work out since I have a full-time job as well. So that one month will have to be a major butt-kick.

I also want to start eating healthy. I honestly never eat healthy. I eat A LOT. I have a super fast metabolism and eat junk food pretty much all day long so that I don’t get a migraine. No I am not lucky so no one say that. Having hunger migraines pretty much ruin my day.

I want to avoid snack and junk foods as much as I can. I most likely will not entirely cut it out, but I know of places where I can start.

I’ve stopped buying gushers (these are honestly my weakness). Also, no more ice cream for me at the house. Currently we have two boxes and I’ll eat ice cream everyday, however, I will not eat ice cream without a cone (I am weird like that). I don’t want the boyfriend to have to partake in my diet, so all I have to do is not buy ice cream cones. VOILA that problem is solved.

Cutting meat out of some of our meals is also another goal. This will save money and will force me to be more creative with our food choices. Do any of you have any awesome vegetarian meals that you’d like to share with me?

What have you been doing to get in shape? Going to the gym, working out at home, going for a run? How’s your diet going? Let me know!

I’m a Workout Failure

Last Updated: May 24, 2013 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 31 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

I’ve been failing with my workout goal. I think I’ve only worked out once this whole new year. BAD! I keep telling myself that I’ll go, but just sitting on my couch and in my pajamas sounds so much better. Anything sounds better actually.

My goal is to get more toned. I want nice legs, abs, and just to be tone all over. I’m going to do this by eating healthy (like the picture above) and working out more (or just working out at least once). I at least want to go running with my dog at least every other day.

I need to start working out now! We’re leaving for our vacation in exactly 2 weeks.

I pinned a bunch of these recently. I want to erase any arm flab, get nice legs, eat healthy, found a cheat sheet, and the main thing I’m working on:

ABS!

My goal for everyday or at least every other day is to work on my abs and legs. Wow am I going to be sore. I’m most likely just going to do as many of these until I pass out. Good plan huh?

Crunches
Leg lifts
Squats
Push ups
Planks
Anything P90X…

Have you been working out? How’s it going? What are your goals?

Health Motivation and the BF bought a car

Last Updated: December 7, 2014 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 12 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

I hope everyone had a good Friday night.

I need to work out so bad! I keep telling the BF that I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to go on an all day hike, snorkel, kayak trip when we are on vacation, but he keeps telling me that I’m too week to kayak for a couple of hours at a time. I definitely don’t want him to prove me wrong, I want to prove him wrong. I need to get more toned.

Also, the BF bought a car last night. It’s a white Jeep Wrangler. He bought it from a friend and we paid for it with cash. It’s pretty nice, but older. Hopefully I’ll post a picture soon.

Have a good Saturday night!

I need to work out and be healthy…

Last Updated: December 8, 2014 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 30 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Ah it was around 70 degrees yesterday! What kind of winter weather is this? Of course I don’t really see the daylight anymore since I work 8-5, but hopefully on Saturday it will be nice still. This is going to be a long post about how I need to be healthy, in order to accomplish one of my goals.

Tonight I’m working out with the BF, some of his friends and some of my friends. I like working out by myself better, just because I can do what I want, when I want, but it’s also nice being able to talk as I work out. Don’t worry, I’m not annoying the hell out of anyone around me, I always go pretty late, and usually no one is around us.

When I don’t work out, I usually weigh between 115-118, but when I start working out, I weigh around 125 because of strength training. I don’t want scary big arms though (or big legs) because I would look super awkward. I try to do all of the different leg lifts, arm stuff, and ab stuff. Don’t you love how professional I sound? I want to have a goal of doing at least 50 crunches a day and maybe some leg stuff at home. Wish me luck!

Also, I’ve talked about this before, but the BF is trying to build up muscle and I’m trying to tone up. So this makes it difficult when we do anything. I eat a lot, but he eats A TON. He’ll have 3 or 4 Lion’s Choice sandwiches for breakfast, a big lunch, a huge dinner and then snacks all the time. And this is everyday, this is his routine. He hardly goes a day without a ton of sandwiches.

I on the other hand, am trying to eat healthy. I’m trying to cut more meat out of my diet because I feel horrible for the poor animals. Someone the other day came up to me when I was eating (I can’t remember where this was), and they told me to imagine myself killing the animal that I was eating and then they went on and on and on and on about how eating meat is horrible. I felt sick. I know what they do to chickens, cows, etc are bad, but when a stranger comes up to me and gives me details as I’m eating it, it makes me sick to think about.

I would like to be vegetarian but I’m not sure how to start. I’ve talked about in the past about how I need to eat A LOT. I have to eat a lot or I feel really dizzy and light headed and feel like I’m going to pass out. I also get really bad migraines when I don’t snack enough. I feel like I would need a lot of vegetarian food in order to make me feel full.

So my question is, is there some sort of vegetarian recipe website or anything that any of you would recommend? Or any tips or anything?

So, back to the topic of working out. I don’t think I’ve worked out since before Halloween. So many things wrong with that! I’m going on so many vacations so I need to work out (and buy cute swimsuits). I don’t really run too much when I go to the gym. I’m only wanting to tone, so I mainly do strength training. I always feel so awkward trying to do this around guys though.

I don’t want to spend money, but I also need workout clothes and shoes. My shoes are blah and they kind of hurt now when I work out in them (ok so last time I worked out was 3 months ago, but I vividly remember them hurting). I feel more comfortable and happier when I look decent. Yes I know this is probably not what a personal finance blogger should say, but I want to be happy and look good with nice clothes! What shoes do you recommend? I’m super picky and have a hard time finding a pair that I absolutely love.

I also want to run with my dog more (my smaller dog cannot go outside much). I feel like I’ve been neglecting my bigger dog. I haven’t really gone running with her too much, mainly because I feel like she will run way faster than me and everything will just be awkward. Since the weather has been nice though, I plan on running with her tomorrow.

Are one of your goals to be healthier? What are you doing to change?

It’s hard to get fit, especially on a budget, but you can always try cheap protein powder recipes to help get into shape.

Working Out

Last Updated: December 19, 2015 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 10 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

As most of you know, I’m trying to work out more. This goal isn’t going the greatest since I’m super lazy. I DID workout 2 times last week though! Better than nothing right?

I am trying to do crunches and other ab stuff every night though since I can do that at home, and this morning, finally my stomach started to hurt. I obviously was not pushing myself hard enough before. I don’t really know what I should do in order to push myself harder. I just hate driving to the gym. I could just run around my neighborhood, but then of course I feel like I wasted my money at the gym so then I just do nothing instead (that seems logical right? NO!)

Here is the list that I made around 2 weeks ago:

50 situps a day – Kind of a success.
50 pushups a day – FAIL
Run 3 miles at least twice a week – Success!
Take my big dog for a loooonnnngg run at least once a week – FAIL (I feel horrible about this also. I take her for walks, but I don’t take her on enough runs)
Do all sorts of lifting, lunges and the like – FAIL

Does anyone else have a fitness goal? How’s it going?

My Working Out Goal

Last Updated: December 19, 2015 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 7 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

I have a gym membership (read my past blog post about how I’m wasting my money on this here) which cost only $10 a month, but I never go. I bought it so that I can get more toned. I don’t really need to lose weight, I need actual muscle. The BF always makes fun of me because I’m so weak looking.

My friend is also on a diet, which is insane because she’s skinny and beautiful, but she thinks she’s gained weight. We both eat a TON though, so her goal is to start tracking her calories. She’s started tracking mine also (against my will because I’d rather not know). We each eat about 4,500 to 5,500 calories a day. WOWZA. I promise I am not huge. I weigh 118 (that’s what it said last time I worked out) and I’m about 5’5″, and she’s about 130 pounds and 5’6″.

Anyways, I thought I’d make a list of workout goals for myself. These might seem hilarious to you, but I’m extremely lazy so this would be a lot for me. Then my goal would be to update you all every so often on this, so that I can track myself. Here’s what I’m going to start with:

50 situps a day
50 pushups a day
Run 3 miles at least twice a week
Take my big dog for a loooonnnngg run at least once a week
Do all sorts of lifting, lunges and the like

Do you have any fitness goals?

And I’ve been going blog giveaway crazy (I’m guessing this is part of my frugal craziness), but check out Places to Go, Things to See’s giveaway! Also check out Emily’s giveaway!