My Top 20 Running Songs

Running has never been my favorite form of exercise. In fact, I usually dread it, so naturally I decided to sign up for my very first half-marathon this summer! What was I thinking?! Well, I thought the best way to conquer my dread of running was to face it head on, and I was right. I have logged about 50 miles worth of training runs over the past month and a half, and let me tell you, I would not have be able to even fathom the IDEA of going out on a run if it weren't for my handy-dandy running playlist. I am a very rhythmic person, so when I workout, I need to be doing whatever I'm doing exactly to the beat of my music. I chose most of these songs because their BPM (beats per minute) matches my stride when I run, and because they motivate me. So without further adieu, here are my favorite top 20 running songs (in no particular order):

1. Magic (feat. Rivers Cuomo)- B.o.B
2. The Art of Losing- American Hi-Fi
3. Hey Ya!- OutKast
4. All I Do Is Win- DJ Khaled
5. Revolution- The Veronicas
6. Bottoms Up (feat. Nicki Minaj)- Trey Songz
7. Can't Hold Us (feat. Ray Dalton)- Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
8. More Than I Should- Hunter Hayes
9. A Milli- Lil Wayne
10. My Songs Know What You Did In the Dark (Light Em Up)- Fall Out Boy
11. 6 Foot 7 Foot (feat. Cory Gunz)- Lil Wayne
12. Cruise (Remix) [feat. Nelly]- Florida Georgia Line
13. Forever- Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, & Eminem 
14. 'Till I Collapse- Eminem & Nate Dogg
15. Our Song- Matchbox 20
16. Power- Kanye West
17. Let's Go (feat. Yelawolf, Twista, Busta Rhymes, & Lil Jon)- Travis Barker
18. Got Money- Lil Wayne & T-Pain
19. Sugar We're Going Down- Fall Out Boy
20. Unstoppable (Olympics Mix)- Rascal Flatts

Wether you're new to running, or you just love finding new workout music like I do, I hope that everyone can discover at least one new song from this playlist to get you through your next workout. Enjoy!

The Most Amazing Peanut Butter Oat Protein Balls

Try saying THAT title ten times fast! Seriously though... these dynamic little babies are so good!! It all started when my mom saw a recipe for peanut butter balls on Pinterest, which she tweaked and modified until the "The Most Amazing Peanut Butter Oat Protein Balls" were born. They are a staple at home because they are great before a workout, after a workout, for breakfast, or even for dessert. They contain similar ingredients to what you would expect to find in a granola bar, minus all of the artificial ingredients and preservatives! And the best part is, they are easy enough to make in your dorm room. All you need are the ingredients and a refrigerator, and you will have the perfect snack right at your fingertips!



Ingredients: (makes 15-20 balls) 

1 cup all-natural nut butter (any kind will work, but I prefer peanut butter or almond butter) 
1 cup plain rolled oats
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup flax seeds
1/2 cup coconut flakes 
1/2 cup mini dark chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla extract 
handful of slivered almonds
handful of chia seeds
handful of sunflower seeds 

Directions:

Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl until everything is sticking together. If the mixture is not sticking together, you may need to add a bit more nut butter or honey! Once the mixture is cohesive, let it sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before forming the mixture into balls! Once they are formed, keep them in the refrigerator and ENJOY!

"Candy Bar" Oatmeal

I think it's safe to say that we all have those mornings (I'm talking to YOU, Mondays) when we feel like we need a candy bar. It's also safe to say that eating a candy bar for breakfast probably wouldn't be the best idea! I had one of those mornings today, so I decided to experiment with a healthier alternative to satisfy my sweet tooth and give me enough nutrients and energy to start my day off right. Thus, "candy bar" oatmeal was born! This tasty breakfast is full of protein, fiber, and lots of flavor!

And the best part is, it's simple enough to make in a dorm room without a kitchen! It was so delicious and easy to make that I'm already looking forward to eating it for breakfast tomorrow.

Candy Bar Oatmeal: 

1/2 cup rolled oats
1 cup water
1 spoonful chia seeds
1 spoonful flax seed
2 spoonfuls of coconut flakes
1 spoonful chocolate chips
1 spoonful natural crunchy peanut butter
Frozen raspberries (as many as you'd like) 

First add the water to the rolled oats and pop it in the microwave for a minute and a half. Then, add all of the toppings, stir it all together, and ENJOY! 

Coffee Lovers Rejoice!

Coffee is something that I have always heard contradicting claims about. It seems as if one day coffee is bad for your health, and the next it is preventing cancer! I was never sure what to believe. Luckily, a lecture from my Exercise and Nutritional Sciences class this year confirmed what I had hoped would be true: a few cups of coffee a day can do wonders for your health! 

Benefits of coffee:

• It is chalk-full of antioxidants
• It stimulates your muscles (drink some before exercise to maximize your workout!) 
• 3-5 cups of coffee a day can decrease the chance of getting Alzheimer's disease by a whopping 65%
• It increases metabolic efficiency
• Also lowers risk of developing type 2 diabetes, abnormal heart rhythms, and even stroke

Clearly, a little coffee does the body good. However, coffee becomes more harmful to your health than beneficial when artificial sweeteners and heavy creams are added. Try to avoid adding these, and focus on adding healthier options to flavor your coffee, such as almond milk, cinnamon, agave, etc. My personal favorite is just a splash of vanilla soy milk! Enjoy!