Health + Wellness

making time for the gym with a busy schedule + january habit tracker

January 5, 2019January 5, 2019by The Southern Sooner1 Comment

It’s always easy to get to the gym in the beginning of the new year when we feel all motivated, but then the reality of life sets back in and our schedules tend to get in the way of our good intentions.

The brutal truth I had to tell myself when I was letting my schedule get in the way of my going to the gym is this: it’s an excuse. It might be true, as young or established professionals we’re definitely kept busy and have other things that take up our time and energy, but if it’s something that’s important to you, you’ll make time. Since I’ve had to learn this firsthand, I wanted to give y’all some tips on how I did it for myself!

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Faith + Inspiration, Mental Health

the pursuit of hope

December 19, 2018by The Southern Sooner1 Comment

Hope has been a concept I’ve clung to for as long as I can remember – it’s what pulled me through the hardest of times. I really felt like this is a post that needed to be shared with the holidays coming up. I know there are a lot of people I am close to (and those that I don’t know at all) that have had a challenging year, and I know the Christmas season may not be filled with as much joy as usual. I don’t know if this will resonate with anyone, but as I write this post, know my heart has been broken with those who feel beaten down this season – I don’t know every situation, but God does and I can’t emphasize enough that He sees you exactly where you are.

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Fitness, gift guides, holidays

fitness gift guide

December 11, 2018January 23, 2019by The Southern Sooner3 Comments

this is always a fun gift guide to do because I love getting all the fun workout stuff. I feel like I could go for days with gifts between outfits, shoes, accessories, useful things to have on hand, but I try to not overload you all (and my graphic designer) t o o much!

but if you have a fitness guru in your life or know someone who’s ready to hit the ground running with their new years goals for 2019, here’s the gift guide to get them started, plus some honorable mentions!

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Fitness, Health + Wellness

my current exercise routine

November 11, 2018February 26, 2019by The Southern Sooner1 Comment

looking back on this year, my gym routine has been all over the place. I started off strong; I was going to the gym 3-4 days out of the week and could tell a huge difference in my strength + endurance and my overall health. it was probably the best I had ever felt, health-wise and confidence-wise.

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Faith + Inspiration, Mental Health

idolizing the impossible

October 22, 2018January 10, 2019by The Southern Sooner2 Comments

“God is bigger than the boogieman,” veggietales once told me. growing up in church you hear that concept a lot, and you always seem to know it in the back of your mind but when “the boogieman” creeps up on you, fear + anxiety can swallow you whole. whatever it is that’s haunting you tends to fill your mind and gnaw at you throughout the day, even when you try to push it out of your thoughts. and it’s natural. even Jesus himself said “in this world you will have trouble” (john 16:33) and it’s normal to feel worried about those troubles when they arise.

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adulting, Health + Wellness, money, nutrition + diet, tips

healthier eating on a budget

October 15, 2018January 12, 2019by The Southern Sooner2 Comments

I’m the first to admit I know the benefits of healthy eating – but man, oh man, do I know how hard it is to do when you’re on a budget! some weeks I can allot more money towards groceries and it doesn’t feel so bad, but there are other weeks I feel like I’m going to turn into a Ramen noodle if I don’t chill.

I’m not always the best with my money, but the one thing I always have people asking me is how I manage to spend so little on groceries. on average, I spend about $100 a month on my groceries. granted, my big meal of the day is lunch and I tend to snack around it – breakfast and dinner are generally small. but, for those of you that are looking how to make healthier choices and save a little extra money, here’s how I meal plan + prep around a tight budget.

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Health + Wellness, Mental Health

world mental health day: guest submissions

October 11, 2018January 10, 2019by The Southern SoonerLeave a Comment

for so long my heart has been to help end the stigma surrounding mental health. I am vocal about my own struggles because I believe talking about it not only frees me from what feels like my own personal prison, but allows others to see they’re not alone and hopefully find their own strength to come clean about theirs. but the thing about my own mental health is that I only have my own experience – everyone’s triggers are different and not every person overcomes it in the same way.

I have always wanted to have guest posts about mental health, so I took it to social media to collect stories regarding other people’s experiences. the submissions were made anonymously to make it easier for people to share their hearts. please note that those who shared have made themselves vulnerable and have donated their raw, honest stories for the sake of helping others. please respect their courage to speak out.

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