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Skinny vs. sexy vs. healthy

I want to share my opinion with you all about this. I've been "skinny" since I was young. I always played sports but mostly I just had a fast metabolism. During middle school I got made fun of for being skinny. I was in multiple fights. One girl used to call me chicken legs because my legs were so thin. Another girl started a rumor that I wasn't a virgin because I had a gap between my thighs. I ate like a teenage boy but I'd be accused of being bulimic. The list goes on.

I remember taking health class and learning about bullying and the teacher went on about not making fun of "heavier" people, but she never mentioned not making fun of any weight. By the time I reached high school the bullying had stopped, mostly because of the rumors that if you were rude to me, I'd fight you... not true. In my sophomore year I was really sick. I had mono for almost 5 months and missed a lot of school. Obviously I lost weight and I the teasing started again. This time from my friends, telling me I need to eat more and I'm too thin.

Junior year I began to run cross country and track, the crazy workouts finally had me building muscle and my legs started to look better, and less thin. I gained weight and muscle and I finally felt happy with the way I looked. Freshman year in college I gained more weight from not such an intense workout schedule and more crappy food. After talking to my girl friends and reading about workouts online, on pinterest and tumblr, I wanted to share my story.

I HATE the fact that people say "healthy is the new thin", heavier girls say things like "A real man wants curves, not bones". This kind of mindset is completely ridiculous. Posts saying that people want a gap between their thighs, or to be able to see their hip bones- NO NO NO. I do not understand girls. If you want your body to change, CHANGE IT. Do it without putting other's down to make yourself feel better, do it for your health, and not your looks, and most of all- do it because you want to, not because you think you have to. There is no perfect body. Everyone has different bone structure, metabolisms and workout routines. There is nothing wrong with weighing 200 pounds and being happy with it. And there is nothing wrong with being 95 pounds and being happy.

It took me such a long time to get rid of the "thigh gap" that so many girls crave. It took years to finally put 15 pounds on, so you couldn't see my ribs when I wore a swimsuit. And now in college when my friends tell me I should workout to get abs or see my hip bones, it pisses me off.

Stop judging how people look. You can be sexy at any weight, you can be healthy at a small or large weight and there is nothing wrong with being skinny. Stop looking at other people and just look at yourself, because in the end, it's only your opinion that matters.

DIY- Body Scrub

Today I made a body scrub that you can use before/after shaving your legs, and to help hydrate and sooth skin. I use it in the shower after shaving and I don't get razor burn or dry skin anymore!

Here's the ingredients

• 1/2 cup of green tea (brewed)


• 1/4 cup of salt


• 2 tablespoons of coconut oil


• 2 tablespoons of witch hazel


• 1 tablespoon of honey

Mix all these together into a tupperware and refrigerate for 2 hours before use. Then shake it up and use as a scrub in the shower. I use this daily and it lasts about 2 weeks for me. It's helped my skin stay hydrated and smooth, i haven't had razor burn since I started using it, and it exfoliates my legs. Try it and let me know what you think of it.

Uses for Coconut Oil

I've heard so much about coconut oil, I decided to give in and buy some. Oh my goodness, this stuff is amazing! I thought I'd make a list of things I use coconut oil for- P.s. I live in a dorm so no cooking is involved :)

1. Oil PullingTake a spoonful of coconut oil, and for 10-15 minutes swish it around your mouth like mouth wash, then spit it out. This will help pull toxins out of your body and make your mouth feel clean.


2. Make-up removerPut some coconut oil on a tissue and wipe off your makeup from the day


3. Hair MaskApply coconut oil to hair until it's completely saturated, leave in for 20-50 minutes then wash out in the shower.


4. Cuticle CreamRub some coconut oil around your nails to help them stay healthy and grow strong.


5. Chap-stickPerfect for dry and cracking lips, can help your lips heal.


6. Fade Acne ScarsApply coconut oil as a moisturizer over night to reduce acne and fade acne scars.


7. Whiten TeethUse a mixture of coconut oil and hydrogen peroxide as mouthwash to help whiten your teeth.


8. LotionUse on dry hands, elbows and knees to keep hydrated.

There are a ton of other uses for coconut oil, I buy mine at target for $7 per jar (14 FL OZ). I also add the oil to my tea to help boost my immune system and relieve sore throat. The oil is solid at room temperature, it's a similar constancy to butter but it smells amazing and doesn't have much of a taste. I highly recommend trying coconut oil for a few weeks, I promise you'll love it!

The best change I made for my health, appearance and fitness.

I've always been an active person, I always did sports; soccer, track, cross country. But I had a hard time eating healthy and I always seem to get sick.
After a ton of research, trial and error I finally found some simple things that have improved my health so much.

1. Every single night I drink green tea with honey, cinnamon, and coconut oil.
   This stuff is amazing. All four ingredients work wonders on your immune system and together they taste great.
2. Washing my face with apple cider vinegar  I am not kidding, I used to break out like crazy, I have a ton of acne scars and after just a month of using ASV as a face wash, my skin was clear. I also use coconut oil as a moisturizer and most of my acne scars are gone or at least faded.
3. Eat an apple a day. Seriously, apples wake you up better than coffee, I've started eating apples in the morning and completely cut out soda, still working on my starbucks addiction- but it's getting better (only once or twice a week).
4. Working Out. Not just running but lifting. I've started a workout routine I do every night before bed and I feel healthier, stronger, less sleepy and just happier.

I hope these helped inspire you to make a few changes. It's amazing what small things you can do to make yourself feel better and look your best.

How to Handle Stress And Take Care of Yourself!

As promised this is my list of what I do to relax and eliminate stress. When you're feeling overwhelmed or just exhausted, try some of these tips. If you have anything you'd like to add please comment... I may add things as time goes on as well.

1. Sleep
   getting plenty of sleep (8-10 hours) is critical to stay healthy and refreshed


2. Drink Tea, not caffeinedrinking less caffeine will help you get a better night sleep and it can help with overall health


3. Take time in the morning to stretch and just breathe
   dedicating 5 minutes to stretching and breathing deeply will help you feel more awake, and try to think positive thoughts while you do this!


4. Take breaks every hour
   if you're busting out some homework or exercising or whatever, make sure you take 5 minute breaks every hour to help your brain stay alert and your body relaxed


5. Break self-care list into days
   nails on Mondays, deep condition hair on Tuesdays, pedicure on Wednesdays, etc... by breaking your se;f-care habits into days they become less time-consuming and more of a treat at the end of a long day


6. Make a plan
   plan out and write down your to-do list and check things off as they get done, make a daily, weekly and long term to-do list


7. Write your blessings
   before bed, daily write down things you're thankful for, happy about, scared for, nervous about, etc. This helps you realize what's important in your life and it can calm you to write it down.


8. Spend breakfast as "you time"
   ...or lunch or dinner. Use this time to blog, write or just reflect on you


9. Exercise
   staying active helps you with stress, staying healthy and keeping your mind clear


10. Breathe.
    deep breathing daily will help you to calm down and focus


11. Create Routine
    it's much easier to clean or workout when you work them into your daily routine. Make a schedule for when you do what and build in time to relax, exercise, clean and work


12. Don't hold it in
    sometimes all you need is a good cry, let it out- you'll feel better after


13. Take vitamins, drink water
    keeping your body healthy will help eliminate stress and help you stay awake and moving


14. Resist the urge
    you don't need to always be doing something. Resist the need to always be productive and just sit and do nothing sometimes


15. Get the worse out of the way
    do those things you hate and dread first, then after you'll feel more calm, and successful


16. Organizeclean your work space and tidy up, it'll help you focus on what you need to get done when you're not looking at the mess around you every few minutes.

When you're too young for makeup

A girl asked me this: "How can I look nice without makeup? My parents wont' let me wear any."  There’s a lot you can do without makeup that will still help you look and feel amazing about yourself.

1. Curl your eyelashes, they will longer and more flirty


2. Pluck your eyebrows, just google or check youtube if you don’t know how, it can transform your look


3. Work out! It helps your skin stay clear and you’ll look/feel great


4. Wash your face every night. Keep those pimples away, invest in good acne medicine


5. Keep your hair shiny and smooth. Make sure you buy the right shampoo and conditioner for your hair type and use lots of conditioner!


6. Lip gloss, or even chapstick! It will make your lips softer and add some shine.


7. Eat healthy and drink lots! This will keep your skin and hair nice plus it gives you a healthy glow.


8. Wear sunscreen! It may be nice to get a tan but you can easily ruin and age your skin if you go out without protection.

Goodluck!!