Lose weight and never step foot inside the gym…

by sparkleandshinesami

So like every college kid this summer, I came home and realized that all those nights of drunk eating, sugar-filled drinks, and easy-to-grab chicken finger meals from the cafe really added to my waistline. And like every other college kid, I decided I wanted to make a change.

Except, I wanted to do more than just lose the weight I gained, then fall back into the old habits. I was now a college graduate and had my whole life staring back at me (which is like, really freakin scary). I ultimately won’t be going back to two AM diner trips after all night studying, tour de Franzias, or living life without a full kitchen. So much was going to change about my lifestyle, why not make fitness more of a priority?

At school, I would go to the gym a few times a week (well, I’d try to), but was always guaranteed one day a week because of a set Tuesday spin class with my GG-little, Taylor (who is now teaching! Go Tay!). I was never a fan of the gym because whether it was true or not, I feel like everyone always stared at you, peek over at how fast you were going on your machine, or judged you. In spin class, I liked how everyone seemed to be so focused on getting the most out of their own 45 minutes and listening to the instructor, that everyone was pretty much in their own little world with the instructor.

But now that I graduated, spin classes aren’t free….. unless you have a gym membership. I was always self-conscious at the gym, so why waste money on a gym membership? Or even worse, drop ten dollars per spin class? No, thank you! There had to be free, fun ways to work towards being healthier and avoid the gym.

So, I spent my summer rounding up great ways to get fit, lose weight, and avoid a gym! And after months, and weight loss and muscle gained, I’m sharing with you my fun ways to workout and never step foot inside a gym…

loose weight

Get off the couch and go for a run! // Trust me, I know it’s easier said then done. But I’m not talking easy, I’m talking free and easy right now.

The fall season is quickly approaching (buh-bye humidity, my hair can’t wait to see you leave), so the weather will be perfect for a morning run or after dinner to relieve stress from work. Put your earbuds in, relieve some stress, and get some fresh air!

If you aren’t currently a runner, there are tons of different apps to help you change your ways. If this past sentence described you more than you would like to admit, then the C25K app is definitely for you! All it takes is 3 days a week, 30 minutes each day, and in 8 weeks, the app will have you ready to run in your first 5k.

But if you are going to start running, you will need to download the free Nike+ Running app. It will monitor the distance you ran, how far you ran, and your average pace rate. Plus, another great feature is that the app will let you sync up your Spotify playlist! You can’t workout with a good playlist, am I right?

Count your steps // This one goes hand-in-hand with the last tip, but you don’t need to run to count your steps. Even better, you don’t need any fancy technology to do so, either. Before I bought my FitBit, I had the Pacer app (free, of course- can you tell I don’t get an app unless it’s free?). My entire family had it and we were able to add each other as friends and make a group, where we could all see who had the most steps per day. It created a competition between us- who had the most, who could reach their goal the fastest, etc. It added fuel to my fire to help me find ways to get extra steps – taking the stairs instead of the elevator at the mall, parking my car farther away when doing errands, and even marching in place when I would brush my teeth. I never realized I was supposed to be aiming for 10,000 steps a day. Before I started counting my steps, I wasn’t even close to getting this number. Now, I make sure I hit 10,000 steps every night before I go to bed. It was such a great step in kicking off my fitness journey.

Free fitness videos on YouTube // In high school, once I quit swimming, I would do Zumba Fitness on the Wii to stay in shape (despite my lack of rhythm..thanks mom and dad). However, as four years has now gone by, I knew most of the songs and dances already. I figured to take to YouTube one day to try to find routines. There were tons of videos and playlists put together for different levels of workout, different time lengths, and more. There were so many options!

After a few days of this, I got to thinking that there had to be some dances out there to some of the Billboard Top 100 songs. I searched “Cardio Fitness” and came across two fitness vloggers that I now do everyday…

The Fitness Marshall

As soon as I found Caleb on YouTube, I was obsessed with his channel. His personality comes through in each video, leaving me laughing as I work up a sweat. Caleb has dances to not only current hits, but as well as some of Britney Spears’ greatest hits – which can always get anyone dancing!

Dance Fitness with Jessica

One day in the car, an Ariana Grande song came on and I found myself moving along to The Fitness Marshall’s moves. I decided I wanted to switch it up and found Jessica, by going through my recommended stations. Jessica always kicks my butt, whether it’s a workout at home with her kids, a class routine, or a cell-phone recorded video (like my personal fave down below!)

Lastly // To kick off my fitness journey, after hearing a ton of positive reviews from many of my sorority sisters and vloggers, I decided to take the 28-day Advocare challenge. Though this wasn’t free, it definitely helped put me in a better mindset to start this journey. It helped rid my body of the different toxins that would weigh me down, help me feel more energized, and helped me learn more about what I should and should not be eating. For an extra jumpstart, I highly recommend Advocare!

I’d love to hear how you workout without the gym! Comment below and let me know. PLUS, if you decide to try any of these methods, I want to hear! I promise to respond back to all comments on this post and Instagram!

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23Jun2014

My Monday Musts: The Secrets to Style Summer Pack from Seventeen Magazine!

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy Monday, readers!

This week’s Monday Musts are going to be all about one of my awesome perks from Seventeen Magazine, as a contractual member of the Seventeen Social Club!

As always, it is important to look and feel your best. Thanks to Seventeen Magazine’s Secrets to Style Summer Pack, I absolutely will!

Thanks to Milani Cosmetics, I recieved a bunch of cosmetics to help look my best! These cosmetics included a Brow & Eye Highlighter in vanilla/natural taupe, a Clear Gel Brow Shaping wand, Runaway Lashes instant volume mascara in black, Lip Intense Liquid Color in Fiery Coral, Eye Tech Extreme liquid eyeliner in blackest black, Liquid Eye eyeliner in black, Anti-feathering Lip Liner in transparent, Power Up lasting and moisturizing gloss stain in mango, Baked Blush in Delizioso Pink, Runaway Eyes eye shadow in beach sand, lipstick in best red, Brilliant Shine lip gloss in red my lips, and Color Statement Lip Liner in true red.

With all of these fabulous new makeup pieces, I decided to scour Pinterest for some looks I just can’t wait to try out with all of my new cosmetics!

Here’s some of the looks I can’t wait to try out:

This piece combines not only the red lipstick, but the liquid eye liner and voluminous mascara. To get the sleek brows – and to keep them in place all day – I would highlight my eyebrows and then use the clear gel shaping wand. To get the perfect liquid eyeliner look, I always look at my idol, Lauren Conrad, for inspiration! Find this look on Pinterest HERE.

To achieve this hot look, I would use the Lip Intense Liquid Color in coral. Based on the look above, I would then pair it with the liquid eyeliner and voluminous mascara once again. The eye shadow in beach sand would also look phenomenal for the easy going vibe to accent my baby blue eyes! To pin this look, check it out HERE.

When using the pink blush, I would go for a smokey eye. Though Milani did not send me any dark shadows, the Naked palette is perfect for achieving the best smokey eye. Another key concept of achieving a smokey eye is to make sure that your eyebrows are equally as fierce. I’ll be keeping them in check by using the liquid brow shaper! As for lips, I would want to keep it simply – so probably just throw on some chapstick. Eos is my favorite – especially in fruit punch! To check out this look on Pinterest, head over HERE.

P.S. For all of you looking to also attempt a red lip, I also found this awesome red lips cheat sheet for when I attempt to rock bold red lips.

Seventeen Magazine also sent me the biggest key to all summer makeup – sunscreen! Looking like a lobster – and then peeling – won’t make for any successful makeup looks this summer. Make sure to spray on your sunscreen and reapply it to get a nice tan this summer. I’m currently loving the Australian Gold Continuous Spray Sunscreen that I was sent from Seventeen Mag. It’s SPF 30 so it protects me from those harmful UV rays, while still helping me achieve my perfect tan.

It’s also water resistant for up to 80 minutes, which is perfect for beach days, lounging by the pool, or when I’m swimming laps. Julia and I would have been completely burnt on our day off if we didn’t use sunscreen when we were lounging poolside!

After you head out to your favorite drug store to pick up these products to try out your own new makeup routine, I wanted to remind you of a bunch of special events going on right now for “Sparkle and Shine” as I continue to celebrate my one year blogiversary! First, head on over to The Collegiate Standard to get 10% off by using coupon code SAMI10. Then, check out my giveaway with the Comeback Momma HERE.

Enjoy your week readers. Keep sparkling!

20Jun2014

Orchard Valley Harvest & Market Basket Giveaway! {Partnered with Comeback Momma}

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy Friday, readers!

It’s the start of the weekend. With the beautiful weather, it’s the perfect weekend to go to the beach, go for a swim, or even just lay out and tan! (Just don’t get sun burnt like I did this week…oops!)

Don’t only remember to put on sunscreen, but remember to rock that bathing suit. There’s no need to pull a Honey Boo Boo..

If you are feeling a little self conscious (we’ve all been there, don’t worry!), pack a healthy snack and leave the soda and junk food at home.

Fellow Northeast Blogging Network member, Jenn from Comeback Momma, is reminding us all on how to stay healthy this summer. To stay on that healthy track, she’s launched an awesome giveaway!

I’ve decided to join Jenn in her giveaway!

The winner of the giveaway will win….

Variety of Orchard Valley Harvest minis
$250 Market Basket Gift Card
Define Bottle Water bottle
Fitbit Flex Wireless Activity + Sleep Wristband

What a great way to stay healthy this summer! Sound interested?

Find out more and Make sure to enter HERE!

And if you want to find other ways to stay healthy, make sure to check out this post on eating healthy on a college budget!

5Feb2014

Eating Healthy on a College Budget

by sparkleandshinesami

It’s officially February, which means you are probably one month into your yearly “loose weight/get healthy/workout more” New Year’s Resolution.

How’s it going for you?

Well, if your response looked something like a Melissa response from Pretty Little Liars:

Don’t worry. Save your eye roll, ladies, because I have some ways to help you get back on track, while staying on a college budget! You don’t need to go for broke while trying to shed those extra holiday pounds.

1. If you have a meal plan, you’re lucky, so use it wisely! I am on a meal plan at my college, but I make sure to stick to the healthy foods at my school. Every night I can have grilled chicken grilled for me at any time, which is awesome! Or I can get my new favorite, a turkey burger! I also have a salad bar, which most schools have. Every day, even if I don’t get something from the salad bar, I make sure to eat a hard boiled egg from there because it is full of protein! So my whole entire meal was just FREE because it came from my meal plan, which is factored into tuition.

2. Stay away from the soda. When you go out to eat with your friends, ask for water – it’s free. Filling up your water bottle in the cafe – free. Ask for soda at either of these places, not only will you be paying money out of your pocket, but your body will be stuck paying for it because of all the extra calories and sugars that are packed in soda. I will admit, I occasionally do drink soda – such as Diet Gingerale for a stomach ache or Diet Coke for some caffeine (I’m not a coffee drinker), but did you see the key word? Diet. Drink soda sparingly, but when you do – make sure it is diet. Also, drinking water before meals can help keep you from eating more. Plus, you should be drinking eight glasses of water a day (not only will your waist line thank you, but so will your skin!) That $2.50 for a soda will start to add up overtime. Say you get one soda, for $2.50 every day, that’s $70 a month on soda!

3. If you have a kitchen, take advantage of it! If you don’t, get a microwave! Put down that phone and don’t order take out (as easy as it may sound). Yes, it is SO easy to order up Dominoes and cheesy bread while finishing up that last minute essay, but you will most likely regret it the next day. So, if you have a kitchen, or even just a simple microwave, you can take great advantage of this! Get some frozen bags of vegetables, lean cuisines, frozen chicken breasts, Special K frozen meals, and much more. If you do have to buy your own food, coupons are your friend! You can make this work, I promise!

But remember, you must also try and exercise! Take advantage of your college’s gym – because you won’t be paying for a free gym once you’re in the real world. Feel like you have no time to go to the gym? Do what I do – multitask! I will bring notecards to study, read a textbook, or try to help relax my mind by watching Netflix. There are 1,440 minutes in a day – you can try and find 30 minutes of your day to get your butt to the gym! Not only will you thank me come summertime, statistics show that you will sleep better at night and feel better mentally.

Eat healthy, work out, and feel great, readers!