29 Things I Do In Finals Week (Procrastination Edition)

It's the most stressful week of my masters program. Unlike undergrad that was riddled with final exams worth 20-30%, I am neck deep in a sea of final reports and presentation decks that actually require me to do a significant amount of work (and are worth a whole heck of a lot more). Obviously I knew these reports were coming due, and I actually did start on most of them a few weeks ago (honestly), but alas the procrastination bug has taken a hold of me and here I am. Writing a blog post. Which I haven't done in almost 3 months.

I'm sure many of you have experienced the below. For those who haven't, enjoy.

29 Things I Do In Finals Week

1. Take off pants. They're restrictive.
2. Eat garbage food. Ain't nobody got time to cook.
3. Clean out closet. Organize. Colour code.
4. Create donation pile of clothes.
5. Make mental note to go shopping when school is done. Question clothing choices and sense of style in general.
6. Not shower.
7. Make mental note to shower.
8. Shower after 3 days of not showering.
9. Drink a gla...bottle of wine.
10. Check Facebook.
11. Check Facebook 3 minutes later.
12. Get upset when nothing has changed on Facebook.
13. Stare at self in mirror. Make mental note to go to gym.
14. Eat bag of chips. And dip. Side of mini eggs (costco sized).
15. Put on large sweat pants to hide self-loathing of abovementioned food choices.
16. Call mom and complain.
17. Call sister and complain when mom says get back to work.
18. Go on Pinterest
19. Go on pinning rampage
20. Pin photos of dream house that's even farther off due to ridiculous amount of student debt. 
21. Create secret wedding board
22. (Kidding... it's already created, obviously)
23. Open the fridge. Close it. Everything is expired or growing new stuff.
24. Watch YouTube previews of Game of Thrones.
25. Spend a considerable amount of time wishing to trade places with Daenerys Targaryen. Bet she didn't have to write reports.
26. ...man she's badass...
27. Write out list of all assignments due next week.
28. Panic. 
29. Sit down and write a first draft of 1/6 reports due.
30. Repeat #1-29

 

Top 5 Reasons Why Women Don't Lift Weights

(This is a long post, but I promise it's worth it)

Too many women are afraid of hitting the weights. No... I'm not talking about your wee little 5 pound pink dumbbells next to your yoga mat in your bedroom. I'm talking squatting, swinging, lifting actual weights that make you sore the next day and make your body change. Over the course of the last 8 or so years I have heard many reasons why my friends, colleagues, and strangers don't weight train. The top 5 reasons I'm told over and over again are below, and are followed by my suggestions on how to overcome those excuses. Let's begin...

5. You don't know the 'other' benefits of weight training
Women oftentimes think that weight training is hard, boring, or only for men that want to be jacked and put on mass. Oh ladies.. shake shake shake your heads. Weight training offers so much more than just aesthetic benefits of looking like a total badass. Besides getting you a solid toned bod, weight training also helps with many other aspects of your health, including (but not restricted to) the below: 

- Improve everyday activities - think: climbing the stairs, playing with your kids, just being your awesome self
- Maintain or lose weight
- Change your body composition
- Improve bone density
- Reduce symptoms of diseases/illnesses
- Protect against injury 

The Change: You need to start with a self-reflection on how much you really know and understand about your health (corny, eh?) and see how lifting a few weights can help lift you to a new level of health and fitness. Understanding needs to come before action. If you truly believe you see the benefits in lifting weights and want to make a change for more than just a great new ass, half your battle is done. But seriously, who doesn't want a great ass?

4. You have no time
Many women (and men alike, for that matter) complain that they have no time in their busy schedules to weight train. While life continuously gets more complicated and full, it may seem like fitness is an easy pusher - you keep pushing it off until magically life all of the sudden opens up a little more spare time. False. This will never happen. As we age, responsibility and priorities increase with us. So if you don't figure out a schedule now, you won't do it. 

The Change: Take an honest look at your schedule and I guarantee you have some time to spare for your health. You do not find the time, you make the time. Find a gym that you know you will actually go to and want to go to. My suggestion is somewhere close to either home or work that has an atmosphere you enjoy being at. That's key: you must enjoy where you train. If that's at home, start building your own home gym collection if you feel more comfortable there. Personally, I prefer boutique gyms (smaller gyms that have only 1 or 2 locations) where you know the staff personally and the regulars personally. Do your research, make a schedule, and prioritize your health.

3. You're intimidated in the gym
We've all seen it. The juicer d-bags in the free weight area hoarding the squat racks, dumbbells, and bench presses with their chests puffed out, walking around like they own the place, and grunt whenever they pick up or lower, well, anything. They're not the type of person you want to say 'oh hey are you done with that rack yet?' while you're rocking your awesome new pink lulu head band. They're intimidating. Especially for a woman who a) doesn't want to look like a fool in front of them, or b) is insecure about what she wants to do, how she looks, and doesn't want other people to realize she's insecure (or even there). I've been there. We all have. They may be the sweetest men in real life but in that moment, they're scary beasts.

The Change: You have 2 options here, ladies.
1) Work up to a point where you have the confidence to own what you're doing at the gym, and get the equipment you need, regardless of who's around. To get to this point (depending on your level of confidence) you may need to start with a trainer first so you can feel confident in what weights to use, how to use them properly, and how to perform the exercise so you're confident enough in the free weight area to own your program. You have every right to lift those weights as he does, woman. You can get yourself to the point where you believe it too. 

2) Change gyms. I know it seems drastic, but what is $10-15 more per month if you will actually feel better about yourself, love going to the gym, and actually feel confident walking up to any piece of equipment you want? Don't ever join a gym where you feel inferior, a second class citizen, or get sick thinking about walking into the weight area. I don't care if you get a company discount. Leave.

2. You're afraid of getting 'too big'
*Insert swear word*. I can NOT tell you how often I've heard this one. Ladies, I'll say it once and I'll say it a thousand times over: You will NOT get this big on your own (see picture below). To reach this kind of muscle mass and definition, it takes individuals months and months - even years - of dedicated training, dieting, hormone changes (in some cases... possibly in the case below...), and life style changes in order to look this way. You will never look like this unless you specifically set out to look like this. Get it? Good. 
 
Now that we've established that, you also will not get a firm ass or perky breasts into your 20's, 30's and 40's unless you develop muscle mass. Seriously. Want your boobs to stay perky longer? Wear that backless dress without a suction cup on the front? Bench press, princess. Incline, decline, barbell, dumbbell, I don't care. Just do it.

The Change: Understand that it will not happen to you (above). That's it. Plain and simple. Understand that you will not get to be a beast by upping your weight limit and getting low down and dirty with a barbell. If ever you feel too 'bulky', just add in extra cardio or change some of your weight days to circuit training. By educating yourself, or working with a trainer, you can understand how lifting certain weights, lifting in specific types of programs, using specific equipment, and doing certain exercises in succession, you can shape your body how you want to shape it. This leads me into the #1 reason...

1. You're not sure what to do and/or how do train
This is the bread and butter from the women I've talked to. It's not that you don't want to lift weights, it's just that you have no effing clue where to start. Completely understandable, ladies. And there are solutions to overcome this. 

1. Get a (qualified, educated, solid) trainer. I highly, highly recommend this to any woman who doesn't know what the hell is going on in the weight room. Even if you cannot afford to have a personal trainer once or twice a week or so, hire a personal trainer for a 2-time or 3-time session to just take you through all of the proper forms of regular exercises so you get your technique correct, and request a workout program based on the moves you've learned. It's worth the fee of these people if you can understand what the difference is between a good muscle burn and a joint or tendon hurting from improper form. It's also a great way to get off to your training on the right foot, both in terms of proper form as well as gaining a program you can understand and follow.

I beg this of you first, though: do your research on trainers. I will do a separate post on what to look for in seeking out a personal trainer, because there are too many out there that really should not be training at all. As a primary tip, a good trainer will ask you on your first assessment if you had/have any injuries, surgeries, c-sections, or health problems before you train with them. Failure to understand/recognize this in a client means the trainer may put your body through certain exercises that will worsen your health.

2. Do your research. 
There are tons and tons of different programs, articles, and circuits on the internet about what to do. Everything from '15 minute abs' to 'Carrie Underwood's leg workout'. Some of them out there are fantastic. Others are so horrendous I don't know who posts those things, or what they actually look like... But the best way to know what ones are great and what ones are garbage is by understanding what your body responds to, what you want from your body, and what your goals are.

Now that we've established the excuses, there aren't any anymore... right?! Ladies, feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions. Happy squatting :)

Grad vs. Undergrad | Finals Week

Ahh beginning of December - the 1-3 weeks of absolute hell for all those in college and university. Cramming, late night studying, a sudden urge to set up permanent camp in the confines of the library (any library) to aid in your study aura. As I reflect on what I went through in the 4 years of undergrad, and am now undergoing my first term of grad, I can't help but draw sharp contrasts and parallels between how I felt and acted in these few weeks that we all love to hate - FINALS WEEK.

**Please note that these experiences in grad school are from courses I particularly chose, which DO NOT include such vomit-inducing courses such as economics, finance, and accounting, which would have likely involved many more issues than what I'm about to outline below. To those in those courses... I pray the force is with you.**

#1 - Sleep
Undergrad: A foreign word. A foreign act. Something that those who are either a) too smart for their own good, or b) decided they'd rather fail than sleep, do. Sleep is a form of weakness. Giving up. For whatever reason you get this rage-competition with friends, saying 'Oh, you studied until 11PM last night? I studied until 3AM, sucka... [definitely going to get better on this exam than you]' mentality. But really you start questioning yourself... did I need to stay up til 3? Did I overstudy? Did I study the wrong thing? Well, time to crack open another red bull, get buffalo tenders from Wilfs, and carry on back to the library to read that text book I just opened the wrapping off of last week. Sleep is for the weak.

Grad: I get a lot of it because I make it a priority.

#2 - Eating Habits
Undergrad: Redbull, coffee, latte, Starbucks, Tim Hortons, Redbull, coffee. Put whipped cream on it. Buffalo fingers, chicken tenders, bags of candy from bulk barn, anything instant or fast. Cry-eating. McDonalds. Basic mentality is that calories don't count because f calories, you just want to get through ECON-3400 in one piece and damnit there is no time to cook something healthy. You'll worry about your nutrition later when you go home for the holidays to mom and dads, where they will stock you up on food, love, and laundry. For now, lets order 2 pizzas and get back to the books.

Grad: I eat the same as I eat any other time of the year, though more frozen foods than usual (faster). I eat what I make/prepare and nothing is really sacrificed to be honest. Although, like pregnant women, I find the excuse pops up that I can eat what I want because I'm under significant stress... but who are we kidding people, really. I use that excuse at times other than finals.

#3 - Stress Level
Undergrad: Well there's an awful lot of my hair there in the shower drain (as you currently stand in 2 inches of shower water). Mental note to get that fixed... after Christmas break... by asking your boyfriend or father to do it for you. This is saying, of course, you make it to the shower at all during finals week. Stress has raged out of control to the point where even taking time for a shower is probably not going to happen. All of the sudden you get nervous ticks, smell like a homeless man, and are so overwhelmed by work you end up taking a nap in the same sweats you've had on for 3 days with your books hoping to learn via osmosis.

Grad: Stress level is pretty much the same as undergrad, if not much worse because your career depends on it and you actually WANT to do well, but the years from undergrad and the years after undergrad have provided you with experience to deal with such stress. All the sudden the same things that used to make you wild are more under control. I sound like an old woman, but with age and experience comes the ability to handle what your own version and response to stress really is.

For those of you going through the above, keep going friends, you're almost there!

Response to "Why I Hate School But Love Education"

I just watched a YouTube video that's been circling around the social media world for the last few days. Usually I jump right on viral videos and share them with my networks immediately but not this one - I was hesitant. I had a feeling that whomever was talking in that video was going to bash what I am currently doing in pursuing higher education just so I can get a better job and make more money in my little black suit (which are all not reasons I went back). I didn't want to be bashed and didn't want to take 6 minutes out of my life to feel badly about my decision.

But after seeing comments of fellow university friends on FB that were inspired and sharing this link, I decided to give it a view. And I'm glad I did - this guy is right on the money.

For those of you who haven't watched it, I'll post the link at the bottom of this page. To recap, this young man, who is standing out front of a university, speaks about how we are programmed to believe education is key to success, less stress, more money. He says society and our parents [generally] believe the only way to be successful is to go to school. This young man goes on to give examples of people who did just the opposite - Branson (my idol), Jobs, Winfrey.. that never achieved higher education and are incredibly successful. Furthermore he expands this list of the newly defined educated-not-schooled into people like Malcom X, David Beckham, and Beethoven. Though not educated through school or by traditional means, these people are educated in their respective fields and masters of their art. So are they any less smart than a piece of paper that states a degree?

School does not equal education. And education does not equal school. In agreeance with this young man I find that we develop understanding and education best outside of a traditional school environment, where tests with specific answers, grading and bell curves, set timelines and strict codes, do not limit one to their thinking and application. I see this all the time with people I've grown up with that cannot focus properly in a classroom environment. Poorly 'educated' (not poorly schooled) teachers would write these people off as being disobedient or stupid, but they aren't - they just learn in a different capacity, learn better at a different time of day, or learn exponentially more when taught via different, non-traditional, means.

I hope we get to a point in the school system where we can foster a culture of learning that does not mark in red pen and cast aside children that cannot focus from 9:14 - 9:49 in second period math class. People learn differently. People envelop education differently. And so we must adjust our school system to reflect the mindsets of all learning types, not just the a-typical types. Though this may not sound feasible, I challenge the traditional means to also step out of the box and find ways to educate, truly educate, not school teach.

As I sit here, about to head off to my higher educated learning, I am thankful I chose a school where I feel like I'm getting educated, not taught. There is a considerable difference between the two, and is a major differentiator between my undergrad and grad program. I am graded on contribution, analysis, and discussions. Not 2 midterms and 1 final per class that have me staying up until all hours in the library cramming useless charts, tables, lists, and dates that I will undoubtedly forget. Just using your mind, opening your thoughts, to how certain situations can be viewed and backing that up. That's how you get graded at this level. And that is what I call education, not schooling.

Check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_ZmM7zPLyI

September Reality Check

Alright so September is over, which means 1 month down, 2 to go in fall semester. In this 4 week span of juggling so many balls (pun intended) that I had a momentary break down that was solved via a raging kettlebell swing episode (.. in my condo... with my cat), I am choosing to tell you all about my top 5 lessons learned this month.

The Top 5 Reality Checks:

1. I am not superwoman (though I would look very badass being her for Halloween...)
Where I thought I could effectively manage my work load, clients, friends, relationship, school work, school activities, school friends, fitness, health, family, and sanity, I am very.. so very, very wrong.  All of those on one level or another have suffered. Every single one. Maybe not to the naked eye or to those that I can successfully fake sanity to, but if I feel something slipping then that's enough for me to raise a red flag because each of these are highly important to me. Changes will be coming and adjustments will be made or else I will be bald, 110 pounds, and resemble Mr. Burns by mid-November. That's the biggest lesson I've learned at this phase of life - I simply can't do it all. Prioritization is essential.. but when everything is a priority, where the hell do you start to trim?

2. Grad school is a lot of work. Like.. A LOT of work
Where undergrad you could basically get by each year by cramming for midterm and final exams, I have next to no exams to cram for. Seriously. 1 midterm and 1 final for this term. So where does the work and grading come in? I have at least 2 cases and 2 articles that I need to prep for for every class I atttend, which is 5 during the week. Do the math - 10 cases, 10 articles, which all have questions to answer before class time. Where does grading come in? Presentations, group assignments, research assignments, individual case analysis, group case analysis, etc. which all involve prep, coordination, group meetings, and work. Work work work. I am going to be starting a new blog entry called 'Undergrad vs. Grad School' so I can identify some key differences in all aspects - profs, work load, quantity of work, quality of work, dressing for class, etc. But for now, know that the work load is significantly more intensive and the whole 'cramming' method is shot to hell. Perfect. Time for a new approach.

3. My friends may not remember me
If you are my friend and you have seen me in September, consider yourself one of the few. I'm a hermit and a loser. I'd love to say that we can get together soon and party, but to be honest I doubt that is going to happen until December, and then again in April, 2013. Even if I can come up for air between now and then I will likely spend it watching Rogers on Demand catching up on the shows that used to bring me joy but now cannot be watched due to class time and class prep. But I'll meet you on my couch? Say 11:30PM on a week night? Done.

4. My body has gone to shit, and I must fix that
Though it may still look (relatively) normal on the outside, my poor muscles have gone soft. SOFT. I have worked out 2 times in 4 weeks (yes, that's right TWO TIMES). A-Cain feel free to yell at me now to make time, I need it. Too bad after paying tuition and living downtown Toronto I don't have any money to spare or I'd hire someone to get my ass back in shape.
 
This is of high priority to change but it all comes down to that - making time. If anyone has any tricks I'm open. Perhaps I need to change my regime to 30 minute planned workouts to account for my schedule these days. But as I take pride in my fitness and work outs it's embarrassing that this has gone so far. Being physically fit is a part of my mantra and self image and without it I feel lost and a little foreign in my skin. And to the ass hole who coined the term 'saddlebag', I wish I could roundhouse kick you in the face. It haunts me.

5. Meals are less standardized, more about convenience.
In addition to my fitness, my diet has also gone to shit. Combine that with lesson numero 4 above  and you've got yourself one angry body and cry-eating-Rachel. Meal planning is essential, and it doesn't stop at packing a lunch the night before. During the week I have to pack for both lunch and dinner since I work during the day and am in class all night. Well that involves prepping the day before, right? Doesn't really happen when you get home from class at 11PM every night. So you can see where this cycle goes. I completely understand the eating out, fast food, quick and convenient lifestyle that is dominating the western culture (ahem obesity rising) but the kicker is it makes you have less energy and feel like ass so is the 15 minutes you spare really worth the outcome? Nnnnoooo. So I must MUST make time to pack healthy lunches and dinners. Feed the brain. Feed the mind. (right, Mom?)

That's all for now. Here is what I look like on a daily basis..

And So It Begins...

Here we go - delving into the world of blogging (as if there aren't enough blogs already infiltrating the internet). Point of this blog isn't to be a writer. In fact, I'm quite certain my writing style and overall study of English is in the 70% grading range as opposed to professional bloggers with English degrees and Journalism majors. My background as it stands with writing is writing reports for business school. Yay charts, appendices, cash flow statements, and marketing campaigns - not exactly what makes up a solid blog (unless you're into that...). What I intend to focus on here is the real world, real life, unedited version of the components that make up my life in an attempt to educate others that may plan on, or are, going through similar experiences as me, and shed some light, experiences, and thoughts into those fields.

Alright... some areas I'll likely stick to in writing, but expand from there:

School
Don't judge me. This isn't a 'yay isn't education just the BEST' type of category (sorry Mom). I'm writing about school because I just went back to graduate school after a few year's break from my undergrad and feel it would be beneficial to tell you how it goes. Why? Because I'm literally biting off way more than I can chew and will likely have a break down at some point over the next 8 months (insert laugh-cry). So you can come on this journey with me and see what it's like to juggle it all - work, school, home life, friend life, my cat... - and perhaps some of my experiences will help educate you in why you should (or shouldn't) go back to school, how to manage it all if you do, and laugh at the [likely] opinions and experiences I encounter along the way. Note: I'm doing my MBA, and can tell you already that there are suits EVERYWHERE. I'll likely write about this topic in coming weeks as I already have some ideas brewing on how I feel about suits...

Health & Fitness
Nutrition, eating gluten free (or trying), weight training, cycling, yoga, eating copious amounts of Sweet Chili Heat Doritos on the couch whilst staring at my kettlebells... I'll discuss anything and everything from supplements, cooking experiences, fitness I love (or hate), and the reasons why my couch overrides my ability to do any of those things sometimes. 90% of the time I'm a healthy and active individual. 10% of the time I'm a bum. I'll discuss all 100%.

Life from the eyes of a mid-20s female
Everyone prepares you for adolescence and the teenage years of absolute hell, but no one tells you that your mid-20s are quite possibly the most stressful time of life. Somehow we have to figure out what we want to do with our lives, make enough money to support our lifestyles, meet a significant other, get married, have babies, and somehow come out of this with a smile on your face and hair left on your head. Say what? (Again, insert laugh-cry).

That's all for now...