Fitbit Flex

{Fitbit App}

{Sleep Log}

At the beginning of this summer, I purchased a Fitbit Flex for myself from Target. In general, I am a very active person, so a Fitbit seemed to be a great investment. The Fitbit Flex is a tracker that is worn inside of an adjustable bracelet, and tracks your daily steps, milage, sleep and calories burned, and syncs to an app on your phone. The sleep log works by detecting when you go through a cycle of REM sleep, and shows when you are restless throughout the night. You can also enter your daily intake into a food log, which is great! I use my Fitbit mainly for the total daily milage (so that I can see how far I've run if I run outside), the sleep tracking, and the burned calories (which is calculated based off of the weight you enter). The device is also waterproof, which has been great for me this summer. Overall, I am very pleased with my Fitbit and would recommend them to anyone living an active lifestyle. I'm planning on using mine in college to see how far I walking each day (my dorm is up on a huge hill). I have also used mine to calculate how far I walk when I'm in NYC (I never take public transportation; walking is the way to go). And to add to the excitement, Tory Burch has released a line for Fitbit which is now available for pre-order!

Do any of y'all have a Fitbit?

My Yoga Practice

Yoga Mat // Strap {Similar} // Mat Towel

Over the past few months I have become very interested in the practice of yoga for strength, flexibility, and mindfulness, and I wanted to share some of my thoughts with y'all! I usually go to my studio a few times a week and take either a Vinyasa flow or Bikram class. As some of y'all know, I run every day, so adding yoga to my daily routine leaves me feeling so great!

 My new love for yoga has definitely left a dent in my wallet; shopping for athletic apparel might be my new favorite thing. I have become a Lululemon addict, whether it be their running apparel or yoga mats- I love it all. I also find a lot of fun leggings at Gap and TJMaxx. I have heard wonders about Manduka yoga gear as well!

I get a lot of fitness inspiration from the internet, whether it be Tumblr or Pinterest, the inspiration is everywhere! Rachael Dee's Tumblr is one of my absolute favorites! She takes wonderful pictures and gives great advice! I also have Pinterest boards dedicated to Yoga and Fitness where I pin all of my favorite tips and ideas!

I would love to hear about your fitness routines! What are your favorite ways to stay in shape?

My Running Essentials

{Armband for iPhone / Nike Flyknit Lunar2 / Running Socks / Headband}

For the past year, I have made an effort to go running, or do some type of cardiovascular exercise every day. Now that the weather has warmed up, I have begun to run outside on a path near my house. I usually run 4+ miles each day, and when I don't run outside, I run on my treadmill. I used to absolutely hate running. I grew up as a competitive gymnast, and that was my exercise. Due to an injury, I am no longer able to do gymnastics as rigorously as I used to, so I began to run. Now that I have been running regularly for about a year, I love it. My runs are usually one of my favorite parts of the day. It keeps endorphins flowing and is a great way to de-stress. 

I always listen to music while I run, so an iPhone armband and earbuds are a must! I recently got a pair of Nike Flyknit Lunar2 running shoes to replace my old Nikes, and these are my absolutely favorite. They are more minimal, but still have great support and are extremely comfortable. Lululemon headbands are my favorite to keep my hair out of my face during my runs; they are definitely worth the price! I recently bought myself a Fitbit Flex, which I will be doing a separate post on soon. It has been a great way to monitor my running and sleep schedule!

What are some of your exercise essentials?

Becoming a Better Runner

For the past few months I have gotten in the routine of running everyday. I am not going to lie, I haven't always been such an avid runner, I used to despise running. While on vacation this past summer I decided to give it a go, and now I love running! Usually, I run on my treadmill but I will occasionally run outside if the weather is nice! At first it wasn't so great, but now that I have my systematic way of running, it has become another part of my life. Here are some of my tips on becoming a runner...

1. Wear good socks- This first tip may seem a little strange, but I have found that good socks make a world of a difference! These Asics socks are my favorite.

2. Wear supportive running shoes- Next, of course, is having supportive running shoes! Good shoes help to protect from injury. Nike is my favorite brand for running shoes. I just recently bought these Nike Air Relentless 2 running shoes, and I love them so far! I literally ran straight through the soles of my old Nikes, so it was time for a new pair!

3. Listen to upbeat music- Running to fast paced music will help keep you motivated and set your pace for running! Pandora Radio has some great fitness stations for working out!

4. Keep your body hydrated- Staying hydrated before, during and after working out is essential to your health. My favorite water bottle to use while working out is the Camelback Eddy Water Bottle

5. Stay motivated- Many people have a hard time staying motivated to work out. Personally, running makes me feel a whole lot better after a stressful day, and keeps me fit! Just remind yourself of all of benefits and stay motivated!

Healthy Living: Snacking {1}

I get A LOT of questions from my friends about my food choices and healthy lifestyle. I know for some people it may not work, but it works great for me! Hopefully you can take some of my tips and make them your own!

When I get home from school, I always exercise immediately to relax and release endorphins into my brain. This always makes me feel better. Afterwards, I generally have some sort of snack, it usually being a bowl of fruit or veggies. 

My favorite fruits are strawberries, pineapple, cantaloupe, watermelon, oranges and grapes. I usually choose about four of these different fruits (depending on what we have in the house) and have a bowl of fruit. If I don't have fruit, and I usually do, I have veggies and fat free ranch. I love all vegetables, but  I have currently been eating a lot of sugar snap peas, raw green beans and carrots. This fills me up enough to get me through my homework and until it is time to eat dinner.