Winter Break

The week before Christmas is always hectic. All in all, winter break is a crazy time. Balance is VITAL. Working out seems to be the biggest chore, however, it has to happen. Make sure you plan out your winter break. Yes, breaks are meant to be a time to relax, but do not let it go to waste!

 Enjoy activities that you can look back on with high school friends. Make new memories. Yes this might sound cliche, but it is time to forgive, if you haven’t already. Forgive your old friends that you had stupid drama with. Forgive your sister that you haven’t talked to in 6 months. And remember to be thankful for the time you spend with your family, and people you know and love. College campuses are filled with mystery and undependable people. At home you can’t take the people you've known for a while, and have available, for granted. 

Let loved ones know how much you care about them. I saw an Instagram post the other day that read “no one has ever become poor by giving.” Whether it is giving to other people, or even small self-indulgences, take the time to give quality gifts. I often like to buy myself a bouquet of roses to remind myself how special I am. Might sound weird, but it is the best feeling. I took the time to make my Uncle a homemade cake for his 50th birthday. Sadly, it tasted terrible, but I could tell it was the sweetest thing someone has done for him in a while. It showed him that he is loved. As soon as you know it, you will be 46 celebrating Christmas with your family- or alone. So make these holidays count. Give what you can, because you will always be granted something special in return, whether it is a warm, fuzzy feeling or a material item. 

Regarding Health:

Last thing, remember to balance your meals during the holiday season. Stay focused on your goals. Kate Moss once said “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels”. This may come across as promoting anorexia, but I am saying it in a sense that it is better off to feel full rather than stuffed. These past two days (yes, only 2), I have tried out the whole paleo thing. I noticed a big difference. I was feeling happier at the end of the day, and I was never hungry. When you eat healthy, it is far more satisfying than eating junk food. You are nourishing your body opposed to injecting fat. 

At school, I was eating late night at Jack in the Box. I ordered chili cheese fries, and I offered a teammate a bite. She said something to me that changed the way I think of a lot of food, especially fast food. She said something along the lines of “eating those is just like injecting loads of saturated fat directly into your body.” slightly, offended, I continued to eat my fat-filled-fries. However, I felt disgusting the next morning and those words stuck in my head.

For the holidays, I am trying to stick to eating simple meals. I have tried drinking a lot of kombucha in the mornings to fill me up and give me a healthy start. The probiotics in kombucha are said to help bloating, which is needed for the holiday season. Since I am trying the paleo thing, I can not have grains for breakfast, so I stick to eggs practically every day. Eggs can be made and paired with so many different things. Lately, eggs and avocados or eggs and sweet potatoes have been a favorite. Eggs, fried plantains and beans are a must if you want to get really into it. Lunch is typically boring, broccoli or carrots and chicken. Then comes time to train. 

Training for a college athlete is a 24/7 thing. Training in the kitchen, training your mind, and training your physical fitness. It takes a lot of work on and off of the track. I highly encourage everyone to get out of the gym, and to try running on a track. I find track workouts the most practical if you want to get in shape, stop feeling sluggish, and get the fastest, most efficient and rewarding workout in. If you don't have time to workout, I highly advise a day filled with shopping. However, shopping does not include eating auntie annes! Squeeze in little things, like calf raises while brushing our teeth, or yoga when you wake up. The little things make a big difference, and are better than nothing at all.

If you have any questions regarding health or workouts, let me know. I love to help people out and make people happy. :)

I hope this post was semi-worth your time. 

-Tara