Monday, August 29, 2016

Work Out Day One

So I am trying to get abs. I want to get fit in college, eat healthy and feel good about myself. To do this I knew I would need motivation. I found this in the wonderfully brilliant and creative Kathryn. She has a very popular Pinterest page full of amazing ideas and one of the pages includes workouts. She knows everything that needs to be known about how to get an efficient workout. Here is the plan of what I ate and did during day one of hard core workouts.
Monday Food:
Breakfast: Oatmeal with Bananas and Walnuts
Snack: Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
Lunch: Stir fry
- Broccoli
-Zucchini
-Water Crest
-Baby Corn
- Spinach
- White Rice
Dinner: Kale Pineapple Smoothie, Popcorn


Monday Workout:
Walked to URec: 15 min
So Kathryn had the amazing idea to mix up our normal ab routine with running and other cardio workouts in between. We did two ab workouts then one of us ran one lap while the other did a cardio workout. We did this for three laps each switching every lap to do cardio. Here is what we did.

Right side V crunches
  • For this exercise you lay on your side with your right arm straight out and your other arm on the side of your head.
  • You lay your legs on top of each other and crunch them into your stomach and straight out again
  • Do this 15 times slow

Spiderman Plank
  • Set up for a normal plank
  • Instead of staying still you lift your right leg up to meet you elbow and do the same to your left side.
  • Do this 50 times

Running and Cardio
  • Kathryn ran a lap
  • I did jumping jacks
  • I ran a lap
  • Kathryn did jumping jacks
  • Kathryn ran a lap
  • I did jumping jacks
  • I ran a lap
  • Kathryn did jumping jacks
  • Kathryn ran a lap
  • I did jumping jacks
  • I ran a lap
  • Kathryn did jumping jacks

Left Side V Crunches
  • Same as Right side V crunches except on the left side

Elbow Plank Butt Ups
  • Get in the normal plank position
  • Move your butt up and down so it looks like a little hill then back to the normal plank position
  • Do this 50 times

Running and Cardio
  • Do the same as above but instead of jumping jacks do arabesque ponches
  • For these you put your hands flat against the walls with your toes pointing towards the wall
  • Point your toe and lift your leg up using your lower butt to lift your leg.
  • Do 5 for one side then switch

Lying Knee Tucks
  • Lay flat on the ground
  • Bring your knees up to your chest and back down but not all that way. Have your legs hover over the ground then bring your knees back up to your chest.
  • Do this 15 times

Windshield Wipers
  • Lay down on the ground with your legs as straight up in the air as possible
  • Lay your arms down on your sides
  • Twist your stomach side to side so your legs move from side to side
  • One of these is going left and right
  • Do 50 of these

Running and Cardio
  • Same as before but clam shells instead
  • For clam shells lay on your side with your legs at 90 degrees by your side.
  • Lift the leg on top up so your knee is towards the sky and bring it back down to touch the thigh of your resting leg. Do this until your partner gets back then switch sides after each lap.

Knee Hugs
  • Lay flat on the ground with your arms reaching above you
  • Bring your legs up like the knee tucks but instead lift your whole body up so that you are sitting on your butt.
  • Do this 15 times

Scissors
  • Lay flat on the ground
  • Lift your legs slightly above the ground and kick your legs up and down like scissors
  • Do this 50 times

Running and Cardio
  • Same as above but with bicycles instead
  • For bicycles lay flat on the ground with your legs at a 90 degree angle above your waist.
  • Put your hands to your head so your elbows are sticking out and extend your legs like you are riding a bike while bringing your elbows to your opposite leg.

- Walked home from URec 15 min

I love this routine. It makes you feel so good after and I plan on doing this three-four times a week:) Hope you enjoyed.




Saturday, August 27, 2016

Breesin'

One of the many things that I have to check off my App State bucket list is to hike on every trail in Boone. Luckily, I got to check Rough Ridge off my list today! The youth group at the Church of St. Luke's planned a hiking trip & they counted me in. Hopefully, GiGi will be able to come with me next time.
The hike to the top took about 40 minutes. After slipping a couple of times & running into a few branches, we finally got to the top. The view was totally worth the hike! The trees looked like small blades of grass. The scenery looked as if someone woke up at some ungodly hour in the morning & painted the blue mountain range.


If you ask me, I'd say that hiking down a mountain is much more difficult than hiking up. I think we all slipped a couple of times. 
For lunch, we decided to go to The Come Back Shack. Everyone told me that this place is famous for their burgers & their fries. I got a hula burger, which had mustard, pineapples, & bacon added to it. Nick ordered fries dipped in cheddar cheese & ranch with bacon bits. My jaw dropped when Nick opened the box of fries. If you ask me, I'd say "Diabetes" is that dish's middle name.


& that's a wrap up for a great weekend, until next time!

Thursday, August 18, 2016

GiGi

There is no such thing as too much freedom, I am a strict follower of my morals and I know I can survive without my parents supervision. Waking up in an unfamiliar place felt strangely normal. The beige cinder block walls felt comforting knowing I had my own freedom. But these walls washed out as my attention turned more towards the things I loved. I had brought my Zayn poster( whom I adore more than anything), all my elephant belongings, and my LOOK: Grace Kelly Magazine framed. The only thought lingering over my head was that I had yet to make any new friends other than my roommate.
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The night before the first day, Kathryn had already picked out an outfit for me. Steve Madden velvet flats, a leather skirt, and a mustard yellow v-neck. I ran down the stairs at 8:45 to meet my former Chapel Hill High classmate Nick. He was waiting for me downstairs on the bench. I was pretty nervous but I felt fine knowing I had a friend.
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Chacos, open mindedness, and beautiful mountains are some of the few things that I constantly came across whilst walking to the central dining hall with Nick. We ate breakfast and walked to class early, waiting for Nutrition and Health to start.

After my first class Nick and I walked around and it began to rain, I have always enjoyed rain and thunderstorms which there seem to be a lot of here. After NUT I went back to my dorm and I got ready for my next class. A sense of humor mixed with long brown hair and a thin body stood before me and my classmates when I arrived.

Professor Jenkins was pretty charming and funny. He carried himself in an odd way, with a slight lean when he walked and a naturally wiry frame. Alas, he was my professor and he taught Biology and Society. I enjoyed the class and his teaching a lot. I called my mom after class and walked around campus by myself. I was walking towards the dining hall when all of a sudden a voice echoed over towards me saying “Do you wanna try the slackline”? There was a young guy standing with a smile and an interest to meet me. He was tall and had dark brown hair and looked full of energy.

I was excited to meet new people and he came across as a nice guy. I had never tried slacklining before and was really not going to succeed, but I was eager to meet new people so I told him, “If you will hold my hand while walking across, so I won’t fall maybe I will try” and he replied “oh you’re already trying to put the moves on me”.  I laughed and walked towards the thin line tight between the two trees really hoping I wouldn't fall. I hopped on the line and my legs instantly started to shake. I walked halfway to the other tree with my new friends help. Then I fell off and introduced myself. He really seemed like an open book. He asked if he could get lunch with me and I happily said yes, and with that I had made my first friend in college Christian.
Christian.jpg

Since the first day, I have arrived successfully to all my classes, stressed about all the homework, hung out with some great people and gone to the gym with Kathryn. On our gym trips, which are four times a week, we discuss plans for dual blog posts, kick ass workout plans and drink kale smoothies.

katyandme.jpg


Along with these I have skyped my boyfriend every night. We are trying long distance which is a thing we have tried since the beginning because he is an Italian living in Mexico. I met him over the summer when I traveled to Playa del Carmen. He is a professional photographer there and has lived all over the world. He is coming to visit in October for two weeks to a month:) Here are my favorite pictures of him.
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Can’t wait for more adventures to write about! Ciao!











Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Breesin'

Today marked the first step in my 1,000 mile journey-also known as college. Of course, I had to wake up bright & early to get over this stepping stone. I was also walking to the dorm restroom & I noticed that the few exhausted girls in the bathroom were all dressed up nicely, so I decided to follow suit.


Based on the countless amount of walking I have been doing around campus, I have come to the conclusion that no one gains the Freshman 15 on campus. Yes, walking up all these hills makes you want to faint, but the breathtaking views make the trek worth your while!


Before my 12 PM piano class, I had time to grab lunch. Of course, I got distracted & bought a fabulous poster. I bought a poster of London because I was born in England. I visited London two summers ago & I would totally live there if it was a Spanish-speaking city. But alas, it's not. I plan to visit a bunch though! Anyway, I hung the poster above my bed & so far, it has not fallen down. 


After my piano class, I bolted back to my room for a quick Pretty Little Liars & burrito break. As soon as I headed back out for symphony rehearsal, I saw GiGi rocking the outfit I picked out for her last night. GiGi loves minimalism & I gladly support her choices in fashion!


After symphony, I headed to my first meeting for the Episcopal club at Third Place. I don't know if it was a coincidence, but the club meeting was set up the exact same way the church I attend in Chapel Hill (Church of the Holy Family) is set up. There were a bunch of games, we said our prayers, we introduced ourselves, the church staff prepared dinner & brownies for us (church brownies are life), & they had those sofas that eat you up!


As soon as the meeting was finished, I left feeling very happy that I found a club I feel truly welcome in. I can't wait to find out how I can serve the community of Boone through this club. It was the perfect way to end my thirteenth first day of classes. Hasta la próxima.








Monday, August 15, 2016

Breesin' with GiGi

In less than 12 hours, classes will be starting at Appalachian State University, along with many other adventures to come.
Not only are we nervous about classes starting, we are excited to see how we can get involved in the community. We are excited to find out what wonders of nature Boone has to offer. We are excited to try lots of delicious foods (don’t worry, we’ll be working out too!). We are excited to possibly travel abroad. We are excited to get to make new friends & to get to know each other better than we ever have before.
Anyway, who are we?
I am Kathryn Brees. Every time I write my own blog post, I will be introducing myself as Breesin’. I moved to Chapel Hill, NC in 2010 & ever since I have moved there with my family, we have never been prouder to call a place home. Thanks to my dad getting the cool assignments around the globe from the Navy and thanks to my family’s wanderlust, I have been to some of the coolest places the world has to offer. I still have a lot of places to check off my list (such as Peru and Iceland!) and hopefully I’ll find a way to study abroad during my time as an undergraduate at Appalachian State University. I chose to come to Appalachian State University because of the fabulous viola professor and because the school of music offered me a full ride. Not wanting to be bogged down by student debt, I gladly took the scholarship. I am planning on majoring in viola performance with an International Business minor. I have only been on campus for three days & I have fallen in love with App State in ways that I never thought I would. My goal after Appalachian State University is to take at least two years to volunteer in the Peace Corps, enter a master’s business programme, and then live in Spain (again) with my friend, Sarah. When I’m not on campus, I stay at home with my mum, dad, sister, and Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Reese.

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I am Gabriel Chew. But you can call me Gabe. When I write my own blog post, I will be under the name GiGi. I am from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. I moved there from Atlanta, Georgia when I was six. I chose Appalachian because I wanted something different. I love the beach and have not spent too much time in the mountains. I needed to step back from life and think about what I really wanted and who I want to be and I believe Appalachian will help me with that. At App I am majoring in Healthcare Management and hopefully double majoring with Hospitality and Tourism. It is a weird pair but I promise I have an explanation. In 2014 me and my mom along with a few others traveled to Molas, Haiti to help with a medical clinic there. Molas is a small mountain village and I fell in love with the outgoing people. I want to be able to go back one day and make a difference. That is why I picked Healthcare Management. The Hospitality and Tourism part comes from my dream to be a wedding planner. They are two totally separate dreams but I hope one day to make them connect into something wonderful. At App, I hope to do some studying abroad. My family has been to Mexico, China and Malaysia. My dad is Malay Chinese so that explains the travels to Asia but I have always wanted to go to Europe. Hopefully that will happen soon. After Appalachian, I hope to find a job overseas and do some traveling with my boyfriend. I want to go back to Haiti and stay there for a while. Then, I plan to settle down and build a family and be an event planner. We will see how everything goes. When I am not here, I am with my mom, dad and brother reading books and watching Grey’s Anatomy and Stranger Things.


Sometimes, we'll write dual blog posts & when we do that, the title of the blog post will be Breesin’ with GiGi. We intend to write these blog posts on the many odysseys we will experience together.
Technically, if it weren’t for GiGi, we wouldn’t have come up with the idea to start a joint blog. We hope that this epiphany that started at The Carrboro Eye will blossom into something beautiful. Until next time.