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  1. Drinking Responsibly

    04/18/2013 by Chelsea Haurin

    In college you will almost always find underage drinkers. There are people who know their limits and people who go way over, sometimes resulting in hospitalizations, injuries, and sometimes even death. We had an incident here at Penn State this year involving a cheerleader. Paige Raque is a Varsity cheerleader here at PSU. In October she fell from a 5th story window resulting in fatal injuries. Luckily Paige has recovered from what could have been the fall to her death (Robinson). Just this week an incident similar to Paige’s happened at Temple University, however the result was much much worse. Ali Fausnaught, a 19 year old student from West Chester University was visiting friends at Temple for their “Spring-Fling.” Around 5pm, at a rooftop booze party, she fell over a 10-inch ledge to her death. Beer cans and bottles were found in the house that the party was being held. They are unsure if alcohol was involved but signs point towards yes (Zalot).

    Stories like these really hit close to home. I know that many of us drink here at Penn State, like any other college. It is just important to drink responsibly and know your limits! Always use the buddy system, walking to and from parties and even when you are at parties. Also, never lose sight of your drink because you never know if someone may slip something in it. It also helps, while drinking, to drink water or Gatorade in between drinks so that you stay hydrated. If we all keep in mind these tips while out at parties, stories like Paige’s and Ali’s can be prevented!

    keep-calm-and-drink-responsibly-11

     

    *image taken from Google

    Works Cited

    Robinson, Alex. “Injured Cheerleader Paige Raque Making Progress.” N.p., 22 Oct. 2012. Web. 18 Apr. 2013. <http://onwardstate.com/2012/10/31/paige-raque-update/>.

    Zalot, Morgan. “Woman, 19, Plunges to Death from Rooftop near Temple University.”Philadelphia Daily News. N.p., 18 Apr. 2013. Web. 18 Apr. 2013. <http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20130418_Woman__19__plunges_to_death_from_rooftop_near_Temple_University.html?c=r>.


  2. Beat the heat!

    04/18/2013 by Chelsea Haurin

    Summer is quickly approaching! We all know what that means…days with unbearable heat, aka days that going on a run outside is just impossible without getting physically dehydrated. Days like these are a pain sometimes. I recently have stumbled upon a workout that you can do in a pool, whether it be in the comfort of your own pool, the pool at a gym, or grab a friend and go to your community pool! This workout burns a lot of calories but feels more like play than an actual workout. Just treading water can burn up to 11 calories per minute! (McGlashan) To get the most out of this workout, do as many reps you can for about 30 seconds each, rest, then repeat until you get tired.

    1. K-tread: Start by treading water. Make small circles with cupped hands. While doing this. lift one foot (straight-legged) to hip level. Hold for 5 seconds.

     

    k tread

    2. Otter roll: Float on your back while hugging an inflated beach ball. Roll towards your right, engaging all of your muscles to roll on top of the ball. Complete one revolution and repeat going in the opposite direction.

    otter-roll

     

    3. Ball Lever: Hold the beach ball directly below you, arms stretched out, feet touching together. While keeping your arms outstretched, pull the ball to your stomach. The water resisting against the ball makes this a very tricky exercise but keeping your arms straight is key!

    ball-lever

     

    4. Wave Maker: For this exercise you’ll have to hold onto the edge of the pool. Your left hand will be out of the water holding onto the side while your right hand should be placed palm facing down against the wall right under the water line (purely for extra stability). Keep your legs extended backwards at water level then just kick! Kick as hard and fast as you can for as long as you can!

    wave-maker

     

    *all images taken from Google

     

    This workout, taken from FitnessMagazine.com, is fun but, if done a few times a week, has proven to be successful! No need to back down from a good workout on the hot days this summer, just take it to the pool!

    Works Cited

    McGlashan, Lara. “Slim Down in a Splash: Pool Workout.” Fitness Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2013. <http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/lose-weight/total-body/pool-workout/?page=6>.


  3. Country Craze

    04/10/2013 by Chelsea Haurin

    Lately country music has become very popular. Whether it be the fun beats or the great lyrics, everyone seems to be converting to country lovers. Summertime has become a season associated with country music, so with this beautiful weather we’ve been having it’s hard to turn the country playlist off. Also, many country artists are going on tour this summer. Landing in Philadelphia this summer will be a number of my favorite artists. Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert and Tim McGraw will all be making appearances this summer. The typical country concert scene is extremely fun. It starts with an all day tailgate outside of the venue, including great food and drinks. Everyone who goes to these events gets decked out in their most country outfits. This year a friend and I went to Zac Brown Band, another country band, here at the BJC. It was my first country concert and I fell in love with the scene. Country artists really know how to put on a great show. There is so much energy on stage and many have very relatable lyrics. They are easy to learn and very fun to sing along to. With the summer coming up I highly recommend going to a country concert, even if it is not your favorite genre of music I can almost guarantee you will have fun!

    This a picture of when my friend and I went to Zac Brown Band this year:

    zbbbbb (Red, white and blue is a common theme for country artists)


  4. Metabolism Myths: Fact v. Fiction

    04/10/2013 by Chelsea Haurin

    There are many myths that I’m sure many of you have heard regarding metabolism. I recently came across an article that distinguished the difference between which myths are fact and which are fiction. We are always looking for ways to speed up our metabolism but are the ways we attempt to do this actually working? Here are some of the most commons myths:

    1. Drinking ice water can help speed up your metabolism. This myth is actually true. The effect is small but drinking about 5 glasses a day could potentially help you burn about 10 extra calories per day! (Global)

    2. Celery and some other vegetables are “negative calorie” foods. This myth is false. You may have heard of the term “negative calorie” meaning the food you are eating takes more calories to burn off then are actually in the food. Celery has about 6 calories but takes about  a half of a calorie to burn off. So according to the article on Global Health and Fitness, negative calorie foods are more wishful thinking than anything.

    3. Protein helps to ignite your metabolism. This myth is true. Interestingly enough, your body burns up to twice as many calories while digesting the protein. Eating about 10 to 20 g of protein per meal will greatly boost your metabolism.

    In perspective, there are more myths about metabolism that are true rather than false. It is important to be able to distinguish between the two!

    negative-calorie-food-329x390*image taken from Google

    Works Cited

    “Metabolism Myths..GLOBAL HEALTH AND FITNESS.” Metabolism Myths..GLOBAL HEALTH AND FITNESS. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. <http://www.globalhealthandfitness.com/metabolism myths.htm>.


  5. Hilton Head Island

    04/03/2013 by Chelsea Haurin

    With summer being only a month away, I can’t help but think about this years family vacation. Almost every year since I was born my family and I have traveled to Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. Hilton Head is on the southern tip of South Carolina, only about a half hour drive from Georgia. Hilton Head has something to do for everyone. There are family-based resorts, spa resorts, normal hotels condominiums, and you can even rent houses that are tucked away in residential, quiet neighborhoods right on the beach. There is plenty to do in Hilton Head. You can either relax on the quiet beaches or by the nice pools that the hotels and condos have. If you like to shop, there are outlets. There is also Coligny Plaza which has a ton of cool little shops and restaurants if you want to make a day out of it. There are plenty of mini golf courses too, which are always fun. You could also check out the infamous Hilton Head Diner. You can’t visit this island and not go get breakfast or brunch here. My personal favorite is the chocolate chip pancakes. Another fun thing to do is rent bikes and bike around the plantations in search of alligators. I can promise you that you will always see at least one in the water! My family always stays on the same plantation. Each plantation has at least one hotel and condominium resort. I prefer this because the beaches are more quiet and peaceful. If you are looking for a fun, reasonably priced, beautiful vacation, Hilton Head Island is definitely the place for you!

    hilton head island*image taken from Google


  6. Dorm workouts

    04/03/2013 by Chelsea Haurin

    We all know that sometimes it’s just impossible to make time to go to the gym. Whether we be swamped with school work, sick with a cold or flu, pledging a frat or sorority, it just isn’t easy to make time to walk ten minutes to go workout for an hour or so. The good news is there are a few simple workouts you can do right in your dorm.

    drworkout_lead1 *image taken from Google

    1. The first one is recommended to do right before you get in the shower. It’s pretty quick and not too hard: 50 jumping jacks, 5 push ups, 20 crunches, 20 mountain climbers, and a 30 second plank. This workout uses a lot of important muscles like your abs, triceps, biceps and quads.

    2. Another workout that can give you a good sweat in your room is this “full body meltdown.” It is very similar to the previous workout but a little longer: 40 jumping jacks, 15 squats, 20 lunges, 40 mountain climbers, 5 burpees, 50 bicycle crunches, :20 superman, 5 push ups, 40 high knees, 20 vertical leg crunches, :30 plank, 40 mountain climbers  (Pinterest). This workout will get your heart pumping and work even more muscles.

    3. The last workout is called the 300 abs workout. This one consists of 300 reps that specifically targets the stomach area. It is: 30 crunches, 20 bicycle crunches, 30 toe touches, 20 reverse crunches, 15 side plank hip lifts (R), 30 crunches, 15 side plank hip lifts (L), 49 Russian twists, 30 bicycle crunches, 15 oblique v-ups (R), 20 reverse crunches, 15 oblique v-ups (L), 10 leg lifts (youmefit.com)

    All three of these workouts are good to do in the comfort of your own dorm and you will definitely burn some calories doing them! A good tip to keep in mind is that if you go through the entire work out and don’t feel tired, it won’t hurt to go back and do the whole thing again!

    Works Cited

    “300 Reps for Six Pack Abs.” You Me Fit. N.p., 12 July 2012. Web. 3 Apr. 2013. <http://www.youmefit.com/2012/07/12/how-to-300-reps-abs/>.

    “Full Body Meltdown.” Back on Pointe. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Apr. 2013. <http://backonpointe.tumblr.com/post/24692929171/another-quick-workout-to-get-your-heart-pumping>.

    Pinterest. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Apr. 2013. <http://pinterest.com/cmhaurin/i-be-up-in-the-gym-just-workin-on-my-fitness/>.


  7. Should you sink the ink?

    03/28/2013 by Chelsea Haurin

    I’m sure everyone has noticed that lately more and more people are getting tattoos. It seems as though tattoos are an accessory to the outfit these days. I personally would love a tattoo but after doing some research of what actually happens in the process has made me rethink the idea. Tattoos, in my opinion, are a form of art. Many people get tattoos inked on their body for some special reason. Many tattoos have a deeper meaning, if you ask about it. The only downfall is that they are completely permanent. When pondering what tattoo I would want to get, I think of two questions:

    1. What special meaning does it have to me?

    and 2. Ten years from now….will I still love the idea of this particular tattoo? Or will I think it’s dumb and go through the painful process of having it removed?

    These two questions are very important to consider. Another thought process you should have before getting a tattoo (that goes along with my second question) …what tattoo would I have gotten ten years ago when I was nine years old? Thinking back to my nine year old self, I probably would have gotten a puppy dog. Ten years from now would I be embarrassed of the tattoo I get today? Think about it.

    tatted

     

    *image taken from Google


  8. Ways to help motivate yourself to workout!

    03/27/2013 by Chelsea Haurin

    We all know that sometimes it’s very difficult to find that motivation to work out instead of take a nap or go out to lunch with friends.  Or sometimes we just plain and simple do not feel like working out.  Personally speaking, if I am really tired or have an invite to go hang out with friends I usually do that instead of working out. However now I know a few tips that will definitely make me rethink my decision next time!

    1. Tell yourself you will go to the gym just for 15 minutes. After that 15 minutes of working out, if you still really do not feel like being there then leave! At least you still got somewhat of a sweat in. However, once your body starts going, chances of you wanting to quit after only 15 minutes are very slim.

    2. Ask your friends to come work out with you! Working out with a partner or group of friends is always easier and more enjoyable. You have each other to stay motivated. This is also a good way to learn new workouts from people!

    3. Get dressed for the gym and put on some pump up music. After listening to some music that livens your mood, you will already be dressed and ready to go workout!

    4. The last tip is try to fast forward through your potential workout and think about how great you’re going to feel afterward. No regrets that you took that nap, and chances are your workout will have given you more energy for the day!

    workout

     

    *image taken from Google

    Works Cited

    Nichols, Nicole. “40 Things to Try When You Don’t Want to Work Out.” DailySpark RSS. N.p., 6 Mar. 2013. Web. 27 Mar. 2013. <http://www.dailyspark.com/blog.asp?post=40_things_to_try_when_you_dont_want_to_work_out>.


  9. Whisper at PSU

    03/20/2013 by Chelsea Haurin

    Have you ever felt like you had a secret that you wanted people to know but didn’t want anyone to know it was you? Good news! Now there is a new app for the iPhone called Whisper at PSU. This app allows any student at Penn State or anyone living in the State College area to post secrets as memes. So basically, you can choose any photo and then type your secret over it. After you post your secret, anyone who has the app or follows the Facebook page: Whisper on PSU, can comment on it. Secrets that people post can vary from literally anything. Some people post about being gay, feeling depressed, being in love with strangers, fake accents, you name it people post it. Whisper at PSU is a form of catharsis for some people in the sense that it gives students the opportunity to anonymously confess secrets they would otherwise not tell a soul.  Although I do not personally use this app, I think it is interesting and probably helpful for a lot of students mental well-being!

    Here is a post taken directly from the Facebook page:

    whisper


  10. Metabolism Boosting Foods

    03/20/2013 by Chelsea Haurin

    As we all know being healthy in college is tough. Eating the right foods proves to be difficult when everything looks so delicious at the commons. The good news is there are a few foods that will naturally boost your metabolism.

    1. The first thing that will boost metabolism by about 30% from just one glass is water. Although water is not food it is still a “natural appetite suppressant” (fitday.com). Ice water in particular will help to speed your metabolism because your body works extra to maintain your normal body temperature.

    2. Another food that will help to boost your metabolism is oatmeal. Oatmeal alone has a number of benefits for your body. It is rich in fiber and fills you up quickly. It also gives you a lot of energy.

    3.  Like oatmeal, any food that is rich in fiber will prove to be a good metabolism booster. Foods like “beans, whole grains, fruits and vegetables” (fitday.com) will provide the body with nutrients and prevent the body from storing unwanted fat that will lead to weight gain.

    In the end, it all comes down to what we put on our tray at the commons. If we can add more of these things into our diet, we will not gain as much weight!

    oatmeal

    *image taken from Google

    Works Cited

    “9 Metabolism Boosting Foods For Faster Weight Loss.” / Nutrition / Weight Loss. Fit Day, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2013. <http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/weight-loss-1/9-metabolism-boosting-foods-for-faster-weight-loss.html>.


  11. Crayon art: an easy craft!

    03/14/2013 by Chelsea Haurin

    This year seems to be the year of crayon art. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, take a look at this picture. It’s a really cool piece of art that looks like it may be complicated to do and only really talented artists can do. The good news is that’s so far from the truth! This type of art is actually really easy to do. The supplies you need include: a clean white canvas of any size, a big box of crayons (can be the cheap ones from the dollar store), a hot glue gun, and a hair dryer. The steps to do this are really easy to follow.

    1. First, this craft works best if you peel the paper off of the crayons. This part is kind of tedious but it works much better.

    2. Then you glue the crayons anywhere you want on the canvas. I usually glue them to the top so it looks like its raining color from the top! You can put the crayons in any color order you want. I have found that to get the most color out of it gluing two crayons of the same color next to each other works best (just so your colors pop more).

    3. The next step is the best part. You turn on your hair dryer and then just act like you’re drying the crayons. After a couple of seconds under the heat they begin to melt. Depending on how much you want them to drip will depend on how long you leave the dryer on them for.

    It’s as easy at that! The melted crayons will dry within a matter of minutes. I highly recommend trying this out it’s a lot of fun and you can’t go wrong with the end product!

    *image taken from google

    Melted Crayon Art

     


  12. Importance of Sleep

    03/14/2013 by Chelsea Haurin

    Sleep: the one thing college kids need most. We all know that during the week it is especially hard to get a proper night of sleep. This means, for most people our age, we need from 6-10 hours (most people need 7-8). A good indicator on whether or not we are getting enough sleep is ask yourself: do I find I sleep at least an extra two hours per night on the weekend? If you answer yes to this then you definitely need to get more sleep during the week. There are a bunch of great benefits to sleep! The first is that there is a strong correlation between sleep and weight gain. The less sleep you get the more likely it is that you will gain weight faster. Also, students who get more sleep tend to do better in school. This makes sense because if you get a good night sleep you will not have to spend half the day napping, you will have plenty of energy to get work done! In addition to this, more sleep strengthens your immune system so you will be much less likely to get colds and the flu. So, after all is said and done, sleep is much more important than we think!

    sleep-on-books-1.10.12

     

    *image taken from Google

    Works Cited

    “Sleep Rocks! …get More of It!” University Health Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2013. <http://www.uhs.uga.edu/sleep/index.html>.

    Rosen, Dennis. “11 Reasons Why a Good Night’s Sleep Is so Important.” Psychology Today. N.p., 20 May 2009. Web. 14 Mar. 2013. <http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sleeping-angels/200905/11-reasons-why-good-nights-sleep-is-so-important>.


  13. No more Pope?

    02/28/2013 by Chelsea Haurin

    In most recent news, Pope Benedict XVI has decided to resign from his reign as pope. He says it is simply because of his age. Pope Benedict was quoted saying, “I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry,” according to an article on CNN. The last time a pope resigned from his position was in 1415. Pope Benedict is 85 now. The pressures may have just been way too much for him to handle. I personally was unaware that the role of  “pope” includes the following: “bishop of Rome, head of a tiny country, and spiritual shepherd to a billion people” (CNN.com).  That is a lot of responsibility for just one person to handle! I don’t blame him for being worn out. Benedict has not had any recent illnesses or public falls but is said that he just wanted to resign now before something fatal (e.g. illness) happens while he is still in position as pope. Benedict became pope at age 78 so it has only been approximately 7 years. Cardinals who work side by side with the pope say he was getting frail but still did his job with great dignity. Although the pope shocked the Vatican with his timing, he served the Catholic church well!

    pope-benedict-photo

     

    *image taken from Google

     

    Works Cited

    Marrapodi, Eric. “Why Did the Pope Resign?” CNN Belief Blog RSS. N.p., 11 Feb. 2013. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. <http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/11/why-did-the-pope-resign/>.


  14. Vitamins you should be taking

    02/27/2013 by Chelsea Haurin

    Being in college we all know that sometimes we don’t get enough sleep, are really stressed at times, and don’t always eat as healthy as we should. Also, I know that sometimes we may forget that Vitamins are there for our benefit. Here are a few vitamins that will help us get nutrients we need.

    1. The first one is a multivitamin. It’s hard to get all the nutrients we need from the food at the commons so by taking a multivitamin we can ensure that we get the proper nutrients we may miss out on from our meals at the commons.

    2. Vitamin C is another vitamin that is very useful for college students. Vitamin C promotes a healthy immune system. In college, the common head cold is a very popular virus that a lot of us are affected by. I’m not saying that if you take Vitamin C every day you’lll never get sick, but your immune system will be stronger so therefore you will most likely get sick less often.

    3. B Vitamins are the last type of vitamin that are beneficial for the typical college student. B vitamins are known for energy production. They also aid in healthy nerve and cognitive functions. In addition to this, they help with “memory and emotional well-being” (Naturomedica.com).

    All in all, vitamins are a simple fix to ensure we get added nutrients to our college diets here at Penn State.

    vitamins*image taken from Google

    Works Cited

    Monster, Jill. “Blog.” What Vitamins and Supplements Should My Kids Be Taking While They Are Away at College? N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2013. <http://www.naturomedica.com/blog/post/what-vitamins-and-supplements-should-my-kids-be-taking-while-they-are-away-at-college>.


  15. Everyone’s new obsession: Pinterest

    02/22/2013 by Chelsea Haurin

    pinterest-13-tips-and-tricks-for-cutting-edge-users-dd27b017d9For those of you who don’t know what Pinterest is, it’s basically just a website and an app for your iPhone that allows you to bookmark links to other websites of personal interest to you. At first thought one may think this is a stupid concept but once you start “pinning,” the obsession forms itself. It is not hard to navigate and figure out how to use, which helps attract its users. How it works: say you are looking for a recipe for a fun dessert; you can just go into the “Food & Drink” section or type in the search bar for what exactly you are looking for. Once you find the recipe you want, you just hit the “repin” button and save it to a “board” (just an easy way to organize all your pins into different categories; food, fashion, health, etc). Once it’s saved you can go back and access the link at any time! Very convenient.  Pinterest not only allows you to search things you’re interested in, but it also lets you connect with Facebook and share the links you are pinning with all of your Facebook friends. Pinterest brings users together based on similar interests and visual discovery. From finding workouts to do in your dorm room to finding crafty ideas for your future wedding, Pinterest has it all.


  16. A deeper look into Pilates

    02/22/2013 by Chelsea Haurin

    pilates-back-pain

     

    *image taken from Google

    What is Pilates? According to WebMD, Pilates is  “the system of strengthening and stretching exercises designed to develop the body’s core, mobilize the spine and build flexibility.” If anyone has ever done yoga, Pilates is very similar but doesn’t just focus on breathing and the yoga pose. There are many health benefits to taking this class. The first is that it really focuses on moving with your core. In turn, if you do enough Pilates you will have a flat, toned stomach. Another benefit is that Pilates works the entire body at once. Although you really focus on your core, throughout the course of the class you will engage every muscle in some type of exercise.Another cool thing about Pilates is that it makes you more aware of how your body moves. You start to pay more attention to your posture…sitting in class slouched over all day and then going to the gym is a recipe for disaster. WebMD made a really interesting analogy: “Think of a tree, Pilates experts say. Does it have all its strength in its limbs? No. The tree is only as strong as its trunk and roots. Without a strong trunk, the tree would topple over.” When you think about it, this is very true. If we do not have a strong core then working out is harder and less effective. If you have time definitely try to work Pilates into your weekly schedule, you won’t regret it!

     

    Works Cited

    Sarnataro, Barbara Russi SarnataroWebMD Weight Loss. “Pilates Exercises and Workout Benefits.” WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2013. <http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/the-benefits-of-pilates>.

     


  17. Police and State Patty’s Day

    02/14/2013 by Chelsea Haurin

    State Patty’s day is a weekend we all look forward to. This year, however, State College police are going to be especially on the lookout. Police are taking this weekend extremely seriously. In previous years there have been many arrests for underage drinking and many have ended up in the hospital from over drinking. This year on State Patty’s day weekend police will be taking into custody those who are charged with underage drinking. Then anyone taken into custody will have to go before a judge. Here you will have to pay your fines or opt for an immediate hearing. If you can’t pay then you get sent to jail! In the words of the Onward State article, “Essentially, you can either pay up, be found guilty immediately, or be forced rub up next to serial Palmerton masturbator for the night.” So there is a lot at stake when it comes to drinking during this weekend. If anyone plans on participating in activities like this just be careful!

    Works Cited

    Horne, Kevin. “Drinking on State Patty’s Day? You’re Going to Jail.” Onward State. N.p., 11 Feb. 2013. Web. 14 Feb. 2013. <http://onwardstate.com/2013/02/11/drinking-on-state-pattys-day-youre-going-to-jail/>.


  18. Working out can be fun!

    02/14/2013 by Chelsea Haurin

    Besides eating right, working out also helps in avoiding the freshman 15. Sometimes it’s really hard to find the motivation to choose the gym over taking a nice nap. Buuuttttt did you know Penn State gyms have some really fun classes you can take for free if you have a gym membership? Every day the White Building offers a variety of different classes you can participate in. I have done quite a few myself so here’s a small review on some of them:

    Total Muscle Conditioning: This class, in my opinion, is very tiring. Basically it’s an hour of doing different exercises with weights, stability balls, etc. I didn’t really like this one because I’m not much of a weight lifter but if you’re into that then I would highly recommend this class!

    Calorie Killer: This class will literally leave you sore for a few days after. Calorie Killer is an hour of interval training. In other words, you do about 5-7 minutes of challenging cardio exercises and then 5-7 minutes of strength training (involving weights, push-ups, etc.). This one is not my favorite class but if you’re looking for a solid all-around workout you should try it out!

    Power Remix: This class is 45 minutes of dancing, basically. It’s fun and you get a little sweat in!

    Pilates: This class is a personal favorite. It’s 45 minutes of doing different Pilates exercises. If you want to have a relaxing workout but still feel sore in the morning this is the class for you.

    Washboard Abs: This one is only 20 minutes but it is pure ab exercises. I like it because it’s short but you really attack those ab muscles. It’s challenging but effective!

    As you can see there’s quite a variety of classes you can take. The best part is you can go with friends and workout together in a fun setting. Here’s the link to the class schedules, enjoy!

    http://www.athletics.psu.edu/fitness/schedule.html


  19. Super Bowl Commercials: Fashionista Dad

    02/06/2013 by Chelsea Haurin

    Out of the fifteen commercials that were displayed on The Daily Beast, “The 15 Best Super Bowl 2013 Commercials”, the one that I liked the best was the Dorito’s Fashionista Dad commercial. This website featured an array of different commercials, some were funny others were more serious. I have always been a fan of the funny commercials. The Fashionista Dad commercial made me laugh from the start. I think they did a great job of making the commercial hilarious yet you knew what the product they were trying to sell. The commercials that I am not a huge fan of are the ones when you have no idea what they are trying to sell until the very end and then you’re left thinking, “what did that commercial have to do with the product?” In the Fashionista Dad commercial, the dad is clearly trying to watch the football game with his friends but then gets distracted by the bag of Dorito’s his daughter has. His friends then find him playing dress up and join in.. All in all I really liked this commercial because it made me laugh but I still knew what product the commercial was promoting.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmIGTTy8pI0


  20. Preventing those dreaded 15 pounds

    02/06/2013 by Chelsea Haurin

    College seems to make it almost impossible to be healthy. But here are a few tips that may help the everyday struggle of being healthy:

    1. Don’t skip any meals! This may sound weird but eating 4-5 small meals per day instead of 3 big meals will keep you full for longer and keep your metabolism always working.

    2. Drink alot of water! Not only is water a healthy substitution for soda, it also helps to keep you full for longer. A quick tip to eat less at the commons…drink a full glass of water before you start eating. This will make you feel full quicker so therefore you will eat less junk food while at the commons.

    3. It’s true when they say the more color on your plate the better. When picking your food out at the commons try to go for more fruits and veggies, they really are the healthiest option!

    4. Know what correct portion sizes are. To help put it into perspective, here is an image I found on Google that demonstrates what the correct portion size is for certain foods: Serving-Size-of-Common-Foods1_001

     

    5. One last tip that may seem obvious is to exercise. It can be as simple as walking to class instead of taking the bus if you don’t really like going to the gym. Every little bit counts!

    If you stick to these 5 simple tips, avoiding the freshman 15 will be easier than you think.


  21. How does the freshman 15 happen?

    01/31/2013 by Chelsea Haurin

    In college, weight gain seems inevitable. The “freshman 15” can creep up on you without you even realizing it. There are many different, some subtle, ways for these extra to pounds to add on to your weight. As you may guess, many of the ways to gain this weight involve eating habits. Whether it be eating out of boredom instead of hunger or just completely changing your diet, food is definitely a big contributor to the freshman 15.

    junk food

    *picture taken from Google

    As I just mentioned, eating habits strongly affect weight gain. Growing up at home I can personally say that my mom usually planned my meals. I had breakfast almost every morning, ate a good lunch, and came home to cooked meals almost every night. Eating my fruits and vegetables was never an option, I always had to do it. In college, there is no one to tell you what, when, or where to eat. Options for meals are endless especially when you eat in the commons. Also, it is very easy to snack while studying or watching Netflix in your room without even realizing you’re eating. Another “crime” college students tend to make is eating emotionally. Whether it be eating because we feel sad, homesick, or stressed, emotional eating affects many.

    On top of changing eating habits, another major factor that affects weight gain in college is drinking. Many college students engage in drinking activities during the weekends. Alcoholic drinks are very high in calories. To put it into perspective:

    1 regular beer= 150 calories (1 light beer= 116 calories)

    1 glass of white wine ranges from 110-130 calories

    1 glass of red wine ranges from 114 to 120 calories

    1.5 oz shot glass filled with liquor will vary, but one shot of whiskey= 98 calories

    (livestrong.com)

    Not only is alcohol high in calories, it also affects muscle tissue. Muscle tissue will eventually start to deteriorate from binge drinking which in turn will lower metabolism. So as you can see alcohol definitely contributes to the freshman 15.

    All in all, changing eating habits and excessive alcohol consumption are the two main contributors of the freshman 15. It is not easy avoiding these extra pounds but it is do-able!

    Works Cited

    Wilkinson, Juliet. “How Many Calories Does a Standard Drink Contain?”LIVESTRONG.COM. N.p., 20 Dec. 2011. Web. 31 Jan. 2013.


  22. Risque

    01/25/2013 by Chelsea Haurin

    DKNYaddd

    *image taken from Google

    This is an advertisement for DKNY fragrance for women. This particular image caught my eye because of the scandalous way the models are posed.I think the approach that DKNY took to sell their product was very interesting. The models are standing on top of a taxi, presumably in the middle of a big city like New York. Another interesting observation is that the entire photograph is pretty much in grayscale tones besides the yellow taxis. This draws the eye away from the focus of the photo which is the two people. I think that the argument, so to speak, DKNY is trying to make is that if you wear their fragrance you will be irresistible to men, hence the risqué pose. All in all the approach that DKNY took to sell their product definitely worked. The image of the couple on the taxi is not only eye catching, but is appropriate for the advertisement because when you actually read the ad you see that DKNY is promoting women’s fragrance. Personally speaking, upon seeing this ad I would definitely stop to smell DKNY perfume next time I’m at the mall.

     


  23. Hello world!

    01/18/2013 by Chelsea Haurin

    Welcome to WordPress at TLT Labs. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!


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