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(03/25/14 4:08pm)
“Fit” seems to be slowly taking over as the new skinny as people are beginning to dish out their money on that organic-kale-antioxidant boost-green drink-thing and hot yoga instead of a burger and concert tickets. While there are people out there who are both pro-health and pro-burger, many blogs, Instagram accounts and other social media seem to be very one-sided.
The world is filled with social media hypocrites who will get annoyed at the people who insist on posting a picture of their lunch on Monday, and then post a snapshot of their own macaroni and cheese on Tuesday. The issue here is not the lunch-posting epidemic (unless, of course, you are a hungry scroller), but the fact that more and more accounts are popping up that make some feel guilty for eating that macaroni and cheese while they upload a picture of their grass-fed steak and organic brussel sprouts next to their perfectly-tanned stomach resting between a bright pink sports bra and tight Nike Pro shorts.
Like a drug, scrolling through this fitness porn has become addicting, and many have fallen prey.
“I think fitspo is a great idea for social media,” Jackie Kuczinski, a sophomore communication studies and psychology double major said. “I actually follow a lot of fitspo Instagrams to get ideas for when I want to change up my workouts or get recipes for healthy meals.”
However, others may not feel the same way.
“Looking at that would make me feel bad for taking an off-day,” said Mitch Benyon, a sophomore psychology major.
While reading health and fitness articles may have a response with some, constant pictures of “what you can look like” along with motivational slogans are bound to make a greater amount of people lace up their Nikes.
Some see this as inspiration, while others roll their eyes at these seemingly self-centered and overly proud lunatics. But seeing those “before and after” pictures of a complete stranger might make a dream real to someone who otherwise would not have been motivated. Something we all need to acknowledge is this fitness movement sends out a much different message than previous social Internet trends, such as “thinspo,” which often encouraged unhealthy habits.
However, at what cost are we making these better decisions? Should social media pipe down and let people enjoy their cupcakes?
(02/18/14 6:25am)
The gym was packed all throughout January, as people laced up their sneakers from Santa and went out to conquer their New Year’s resolutions. But will the motivation last until the end of February? March? The year? While many people fall out of the fitness habit just as quickly as they fall into it, there are many reasons why you should push through and continue to workout — and the reasons go beyond losing weight.
1. Better skin. Many people think sweat is pretty gross and slimy (and it is), and that it can make acne-prone or greasy skin even worse. But it’s actually just the opposite. Sweat drags impurities and bacteria out of your skin when it otherwise would have been trapped and caused pimples. Be sure to never wear makeup to the gym because it can actually prevent all this bad stuff from leaving your pores. Wash your face immediately after the gym and within weeks, watch your body get toned and your skin get clear.
2. It makes you happy and can lead to better grades. Working out releases endorphins, which can greatly boost both your mood and concentration. So if you think that daunting exam coming up is a reason not to go to the gym, it’s actually just the opposite.
3. It promotes you to make better choices. If you just spent a grueling hour on the treadmill, in a yoga class or hitting the weights, why counteract that hard work by scarfing down 10 Eick cookies as soon as they come out of the oven? Sure, some exercise may give you leverage for one or two, but statistics show that people who workout are more inclined to make other healthier habits, including those regarding their diet.
The benefits of frequent workout sessions stretch far beyond looking great. What’s the point in looking good if you feel terrible? Working out gives you the opportunity to do both — and then some!
(02/05/14 12:48am)
When flipping through a lingerie catalog or shopping online, many women seem to notice a huge difference between theirs and the models’ bodies. In addition to dieticians, personal trainers and makeup artists making these women photographically flawless, models also have Photoshop and other retouching systems to make their bodies look perfectly proportionate, toned and tanned.
Aerie, American Eagle’s lingerie line, is trying to bridge this gap between models and the “real world.” They recently introduced a series of ads in which their models are unretouched.
“I thought the new campaign was a refreshing and honest take on advertisement,” sophomore finance and pre law student Jordan Koziol said.
In almost every picture, the company wrote the comment, “The real you is sexy,” and urged girls across the nation in every shape and size to send in pictures with the hashtag #aeriereal to be featured on their site. Instilling the fact that every woman is beautiful, regardless of how big or small, can have long-term effects on the confidence of women.
“If the media starts to showcase more average, healthy looking models, hopefully it will start to erase the effects that society’s preconceived notions of beauty have on young women today,” sophomore history major Emily Montagna said.
According to dosomething.org, a nonprofit site that acts as a catalyst for social change in young people, about 58 percent of college-aged women feel pressure to be a certain weight. Even scarier, the site notes that 91 percent of women claim to be unhappy with their bodies.
Many blame statistics like these on the media, and their portrayal of what “beautiful” should be. Aerie is out to change that.
However, the models in the Aerie ads are still models. While some of them are embracing their curves and not perfectly flat stomach, a pimple or flyaway hair is still unlikely to be found.
Regardless, most people are coming to the consensus that American Eagle is making a step in the right direction with their naturally beautiful campaign.
(01/28/14 11:06pm)
By Brielle Urciuoli
Columnist
With the start of the semester, many college students find themselves with empty wallets after spending what seems to be their life savings on books, meal plans and all the other start-of-the-semester expenses. When it comes to skincare, health and beauty products, you don’t always need to break the bank to be fabulous, although sometimes, it is worth it. Here’s a guide to when you should save and when to splurge.
1. Mascara: Save. Every three months, you should get new mascara because bacteria builds up on the brushes, which can cause eye infections. Why splurge on something that will be thrown out in a few months? Maybelline’s Great Lash Mascara is under $10 and has been one of the highest-selling mascaras for over a decade. And if you want a “high end” mascara, go with the smaller, cheaper trial sizes. It will be less expensive and will most likely run out around the time it should be tossed anyway.
2. Lotions: Save. From Aveeno to St. Ives, the drugstore shelves are lined with nourishing moisturizers under $15. Burt’s Bees body butter has natural shea butter for the driest of skins, while Aveeno has gentle, yet effective moisturizing agents for sensitive skin.
3. Gym Membership: Save. Physical fitness is a huge part of being healthy and both looking and feeling great. But you don’t need to dish out the big bucks to get in a good workout. Using the PEC is obviously the cheapest solution (it’s free!), but for those of you who don’t want to bear the burden of some broken machines and reserving a treadmill, try taking an on-campus yoga or Zumba class, joining the crossfit club or a club sport or even seeking an off-campus gym membership. There are many in the area that are less than $30 a month.
4. Hair tools: Splurge. Unfortunately, the healthiest of hair does not come cheap. Constantly straightening or curling your hair with a low-grade, high-heat product can leave it unhealthy and lifeless. However, the CHI straightener uses infrared technology and ceramic plates to retain moisture in your hair, causing much less damage. The downside? They can cost over $100.
5. Vitamins: Save. Vitamins are worth spending money on to promote general health and well-being, but oftentimes the generic or children’s brands offer the same benefits, but with a lower price and yummier chewable flavors. Look for something with the daily value of folic acid, because this vitamin helps create healthy and strong skin and hair.
6. Razors: Splurge. Many people may argue that reusable razors give a closer and smoother shave, but are afraid to dish out the big bucks and refer back to disposable razors instead. However, after calculating the yearly cost for both, it actually costs less to make the initial investment of a good razor and then replace the cartridges when needed.
College life requires a great deal of making decisions. Just like budgeting your study time well will result in better grades, budgeting money for your beauty routine the right way can be just as rewarding.
(01/21/14 5:51pm)
From foods to skincare and makeup, people are excited to purchase items with the label “natural” or “organic,” and they are willing to pay more money for what they think are better and greener items. But how can you be sure these beauty products really are what they claim to be and do what they claim they do?
The Food and Drug Administration does not regulate the use of the word “natural.” That means you need to do more investigating into what you think is a “greener” skincare approach. Check the label for ingredients like fragrance (which also cannot be regulated), parabens for preserving and sodium lauryl sulfate, which acts as a foaming agent. All of these point to a not-so-natural product. Also, if you think that mask or lotion is green because of all the wonderful leafy ingredients, you might want to double check. Most coloring is unnatural and man-made.
Know what to look for when searching for natural products. Ingredients are usually listed in order of volume — the first two ingredients usually make up the bulk of the product. Look for essential oils for fragrance instead of just the term “fragrance,” and coconut and shea butters as moisturizing agents.
Be weary of expiration dates. If you finally find an all-natural product, be careful to note when it will go bad. These plant-based products can spoil, just like the fruits and veggies in your fridge. Read labels closely for expiration dates (usually marked in months) and use a permanent marker to write when the product should be thrown out and repurchased to avoid spreading germs and bacteria to your body.
Consider looking to the supermarket instead of the drugstore or department store.
Many natural products can be found in food and herbal products. By making your own remedy, you can avoid scrutinizing labels and will know exactly what goes into it. Mix up a mask made of honey, milk and avocado for glowing skin. The avocado and milk moisturize the skin, while honey acts as a natural disinfectant to get rid of germs that could cause acne!
Not all products that claim to be natural are good — though not all are bad — and they all are certainly not natural. Be careful before you dish out big bucks for these items that are more prevalent now than ever.