My Best Body

27 December, 2012 by Claire | 2 Comments

Slender goals for the new year! | The Slender Student

In a shocking turn of events, the world didn’t end in 2012. Know what that means? We all have another chance to slender down and earn our best bodies in 2013. I’ve set some goals for myself, both short and long term.

- Before 2013, squeeze in a two day skinny bunny cleanse.
- Continue to take advantage of the gym near my parents’ house and keep hitting the tred and weights for the duration of winter break.
- Get back into boot camp next semester.
- Step it up from the 5K to the 10K Turkey Trot next Thanksgiving.
- Create more prep/freeze meals to free up time.
- Eat more plant food.
- Incorporate more healthy fats into my diet.
- Buy Starbucks less often… and consume less coffee while I’m at it.
- Promote positive body image, starting with my own. Girl power.

What are your goals? Sometimes it helps to “time stamp” things. What do you want for yourself by spring break? What about a full year from now? I’d love to hear!

The Slender Set II: Abdominals

26 December, 2012 by Claire | Leave a comment

Every woman has one. Some are short, black and fitted. Others are sequined and backless. Your freakum dress is probably in your closet, tucked away in the back, awaiting the next time you feel slender enough to slip it on. Well, this ab workout (and the rest of The Slender Set and The Slender Set II) will have you well on your way.

Fun ab workout set to music! | The Slender Student

- Bicycle crunches are a triple threat ab workout. They target your lower abs, upper abs, and obliques. Difficult but worth it.
- Here’s how to hold your elbow plank. Because of the stabilization required, you’ll definitely feel this working your obliques. For an added challenge, reach your outer arm to the ceiling.
- This is a muscular, highly energetic guy with a New York accent demonstrating how to do a front plank. Do it from your elbows or your hands. This works your abs, obliques, shoulders, and back.
- For this workout, do your Russian twists unweighted.
- Finish up the plank exercises with a plank saw, which involves getting into a regular plank position and rolling back and forth on your toes.
- Here’s how to do a toe touch. It hones in on your lower abs more than a regular crunch does.

Have you caught on to the theme in The Slender Set II?

Slender White Russians

25 December, 2012 by Claire | Leave a comment

What drink could be more festive than a white Russian? They’re rich, creamy, and at 300 calories each, have a few too many and you’ll end up looking like Santa.

Try out my recipe and cut out almost half of the calories without sacrificing any of the signature coffee-flavored sweetness.

Slender White Russians | The Slender Student

ingredients:
1 C skim milk
1/4 C fat free coffee creamer
2 t instant coffee
1/4 C vodka

directions:
1. Dissolve the coffee in the creamer.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and pour over ice.

Slender White Russians | The Slender Student

Team Slender: O Come All Ye Feastful

24 December, 2012 by Claire | Leave a comment

Remember Alexis, our Team Slender sophomore? Here are her creative suggestions for staying fit in the winter!

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Creative suggestions for staying fit in the winter months! | The Slender Student

You know the feeling. Finals have come to an end and the temperature is starting to drop—along with your motivation. All of the sudden, the gym is about ten miles further from your house than it was last week and, for some reason, you just cannot stop thinking about a warm, decadent slice of your grandmother’s famous Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie.

“Holidays” (in America, at least) are synonymous with “fatty food free-for-alls”. Now, I am all for indulging, but with this indulgence must come a healthy dose of exercise. It’s always hard to get yourself to go for a run or a long walk when the amount of layers you have to wear is directly proportional to the number of miles you plan on running, but fear not: in a world where even video games have fitness settings, staying slender can be simple and easy.

Pre-designed workouts like P90X and Insanity only require a mat and some hand weights (and a TV or computer, of course), and are guaranteed to help you shed the pounds (or maybe just those extra chocolate chip cookies you snuck after dinner last night). Gaming systems like the Wii have programs like WiiFit—even Xbox’s Dance Central has a fitness setting! Select the workout mode and keep track of the calories burned per song.

Not willing to shell out the big bucks? Check out daily deal sites like LivingSocial and Groupon for discounted gym passes, or websites like Fitness.com and Womenshealth.com (and TheSlenderStudent.com!!) for simple, step-by-step workouts. I know the idea of staying slim throughout these winter months can be daunting (believe me, I’ve already begun to slack and, here in Texas, the needle hasn’t dropped below 50 yet!) but just avoiding the couch can make a huge difference! So trade in that box set of FRIENDS for a month-long pass to the gym and get going, already! Your love handles (or lack thereof) will thank you.