Running Between The Lines: Lifestyle

Hey guys!

So today is...

Anyone who knows me is well versed in how much I'm a stickler for all things eco-friendly. Making your life more environmentally friendly can definitely seem overwhelming, but I'm here to make your life easier...at least I like to think so. Here are my quick and simple tips to making a difference for our beautiful planet.

Recycling bags are my saviors. Not only do I use them at the stores, but most are highly functional bags in their own right. Skip the plastic and gravitate towards the reusable bags. Pro-tip: if you go to any sort of convention, vendors always have loads of free ones on their tables, so I highly recommend taking advantage! It's a money and planet saver; win-win!

Donating you old clothes can seem like a drag (yes, my closet is just as packed and messy as yours), but not only will you be donating clothes to those who could rock them as new, you're also freeing your room of unnecessary items.

Buy in bulk: a story as to why Costco/BJs is your new best friend. Not only is it a money saver (most of the time), it'll also help you reduce the amount of product packaging you're using daily.

Reusable bottles are cute, environmentally friendly, and will save you a hell of a lot of money on water bottles. When I say that I drink a lot of water, I mean that I drink it constantly. Last year, I reached a point where I was disgusted with how many water bottles I was going through (not to mention the cost), so I broke out my trusty Brita pitcher and haven't used a plastic water bottle since. Either utilizing your fridge's water dispenser or buying a long-lasting water filter pitcher will save you countless bottles in the long run.

Use your leftovers in other meals. Few things drive me crazier than food wastefulness. Seeing others throw out food that could've been eaten if proper food planning was implemented is sad. It's easy to make a larger component and repurpose it into other meals during the week. Chicken is my go-to here.

Recycle recycle recycle. Chances are that if you're questioning if something's recyclable it is. Things like batteries, phones, body wash tubes can all be recycled properly. It takes a simple Google search to find places that will take your odd items and break them down to be used again, if they're not taken in your local recycling systems.

Let me know in the comments your favorite eco-friendly tips!

Katherine

Earth Day Lifestyle

11:46 PM

When it comes to working out and staying healthy, I am the type of person that craves routine.

Sticking to a routine provides me with less opportunities to talk myself out of it, especially in those first few weeks when sometimes you have to force yourself to get on that treadmill, take out that yoga mat, and get to it.

My latest venture is with Kayla Itsines' fitness empire: Bikini Body Guide. Personally, the program's name sounds super demeaning and doesn't nearly encompass what BBG does for its followers and what is has done for me over the past few months.

It was initially recommended to me by one of my best friends, Tama, who wanted to get fit and healthy once and for all. Tama's like me, tried doing it countless times before, but couldn't ever quite get it to stick. For the couple months I followed her progress, seriously skeptical of the program, her confidence was rising while her body was starting to become what she always knew it could be. But the thing that really sold me to start the program was how much more positive she was about herself and her body, regardless of the numbers on the scale.

So I started it. To say that the first few weeks are tough is an understatement. It's an adjustment, because even though each of the three thirty minute workouts a week wears you down physically, I find that it's more emotionally taxing for me. Mostly due to the fact that sometimes I get in my head too much and doubt my physical abilities. I'm working on it!

There's something so satisfying, too, about completing these seriously tough workouts and feeling on top of the world with your sore muscles the next day. Well, of course, this is after the immediate post-workout jello-legs, but the sense of accomplishment that you did just kick on serious ass and you can do it again.

One of the things I love most about BBG is the community. Personally, I follow the majority of it on the Instagram hashtags BBG and BBGGirls. They're both filled with inspiration, tips, and positivity. In my experience, there isn't much in the way of negativity, only those excited about their progress, new recipes they've found, and tackling that latest legs workout.

Currently, I'm on Week 15 of BBG 2.0, the second string of workouts. I've really learned not to be so hard on myself. I do spend a lot of time working out, but that's as much of a benefit for me physically as it is emotionally. BBG is about a lot of hard work, but it's also about discovering and harnessing the strength that you might not have known you had.

To check out Kayla's BBG plans and more click here! I highly recommend them if you didn't already surmise that yourself.

Katherine

Tell me in the comments what keeps you healthy and fit!

BBG Lifestyle

11:55 AM

We've all been there. You're having an off day and/or week. Things just aren't how they should be. This used to be my daily life. Then one day it all just clicked.

Source

I wanted to share some of my keys to my positive (yet realistic) outlook on life. Some are longterm ideals while others are quick mood fixes, because we all have bad days!

Ready? Okay, let's get to it!

Surround yourself with good people. This may seem obvious, but until you take a step back and look at your close circle, you may not see what's right in front of you. The people closest to you tend to have the greatest influences on your well-being, so locate the rays of light and keep them near.

Exercise and eat well. Ah, yes. The good old cliched 'exercise and healthy food will make you feel better' mumbo jumbo. But, really. It is TRUE! When you're feeling off, endorphins are key and without junk food weighing you down (yes, I love fries too, but moderation!) your body and mind alike will feel the difference. The strength you're building will make you feel beyond powerful. But babysteps...

Harness your power. Whether in your work or personal life (or maybe a bit of both!), it's key to our egos to feel powerful and successful, especially in times of stress or unease. Reading one of my new favorite sites, Wild Woman Speaks, helps me take a metaphorical chill pill, figure out the core of the issue, accept that there are some things I cannot change, and move forward. Harping on things doesn't benefit anyone. Discovering my power and true nature have been critical for me. You do you!

Create your own mantra. It doesn't have to be anything elaborate. Just something to say/think in times of anxiety to pick yourself up and know that you can do it. Because you can!

Drown in your favorite things. Watch your favorite film. Do that Veronica Mars rewatch you've been wanting to do for ages. Delve into your favorite literary worlds (although, maybe try to avoid the super angsty ones). Do what soothes your soul and revel in it.

Make your own get-psyched playlist. Barney Stinson may have been wrong about a lot of things (read: most), but his get-psyched mixes got the job done! What songs make you want to dance? Make you feel free and alive? Mash all of your favorites up and hit play! Here's a playlist of my current go-tos when I just want to dance and let it all out:

Positivity and optimism do not become who you are overnight, but weaving them into your everyday life will promote positive change towards who you truly want to be.