WoHooo!

First post! Lets get this going! Here's a little intro.

I'm Hannah. I'm a 19.5 year-old college student in Idaho. I started off my college career not really paying attention to my weight or general health, and it showed. I gained weight faster than... okay, well really fast. I felt miserable when I went home for Christmas! I just wanted to return to the land of sweatshirts and yoga pants. So after two semesters, I decided I needed to change. I started with weights which built my arms really fast. I changed my diet a little (mostly just ate less), and I lost weight like crazy (I started off around 135 and was 118 at my lowest). However, I only lost weight by the scale's view. I wasn't feeling or looking any less huge.
Thats when I got a new roommate- a roommate who was crazy about working out. It was awesome! She didn't just give me great tips and tricks, but she also motivated me due to the fact that she was super fit. I didn't want to be "the fat roommate!" So then, my best friend Erin and I were hitting the gym 6 days a week that Spring semester. We toned up fast! It was amazing! I learned not to eat less, just eat better. I learned that how to improve my everyday workouts to get the most out of them. And most importantly, I learned that I'm doing this for me.

Now, I'm at the gym 5 or 6 days a week and have never felt better. So to start off my blog, heres a few tips I've learned to start off your healthy-living lifestyle change:
1) MyFitnessPal app is great for starters. I used it mainly just to track what I ate during the day. It surprised me how many calories I was taking in per day! I used the app for a few weeks, mainly just to learn which foods were good, which were bad, and which were treats I could reward myself with every now and then. Now, I don't use it too often. I do use it sometimes when I'm feeling a little heavy and can't seem to find out why; I'll use it to make sure I'm not going over my caloric intake for the day.
2) WEIGHTS ARE GOOD! Don't you dare say "I'm just trying to lose weight, not build." I'll freak. I've never felt better about my dear biceps or quads, and it's mostly because of weights! I love them! Lifting is your friend!
3) Pre-workout! I love C4 (you can get it on Amazon or some grocery stores). I've used a couple others, but C4 is my favourite. It just gives you that little kick you need to get excited for your workout. I don't use it every day though; I really just use it when I know I'll be working with weights. Sometimes I'll take half a scoop before a run just to get some energy.
4) CARDIO! For those who have weight to lose, I''ve learned that 30-45 minutes of cardio a day is ideal. This includes: running, jogging, stairs, biking, etc. Anything to get your heart pumping! For those who are really just trying to get off the "last ten pounds," I'm really digging sprints. I'm talking 8.0 mph for 20 minutes (1 minute sprint, 30 second rest). I've noticed changes already & I've only been doing this (every other day) for a week or two now.
5) Resting is important! Take Sunday off. Give your body some rest and relaxation. If anything, do some meditation and yoga.

I hope, if anything, this blog inspires. I've never felt happier ever since I've started focusing on my health. I'll try to post weekly, but I can always be contacted through Facebook, Twitter, etc. if any anyone has questions, advice, or just needs that extra ounce of motivation. Thanks for reading!