Monthly Archives: May 2012

Coffee, you should get some

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So as I sit here talking to Alanna about how much we have to do this week we realized the only way we are gonna get through it is with lots of coffee and energy drinks, since there is little time to sleep. Which isn’t exactly a great thing but you gotta do whatcha gotta do in order to get through this week. Energy drinks are not good for you due to excess amount of sugar in them. If you get sugar free energy drinks, think of all the artificial flavorings they use to compensate for not using sugar. And they leave you feeling more tired than before drinking them. But coffee is a magical thing since it’s delicious and has a bunch of health benefits.

Health Benefits of Coffee:
1. Reduces risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease.
2. Prevents brain damage
3. Drinking 4+ cups of decaffeinated coffee can help regulate blood sugar
4. Drinking 1-3 cups a day can reduce your risk of stroke since it can lessen the damage done by inflammation in the arteries.
5. Reduced risk of liver cancer and cirrhosis
6. Curbs appetite

But these benefits only applied to those drinking under 5 cups of coffee a day. Drinking more than that can put you at risk for jitters, high cholesterol, restless sleep, and withdrawal symptoms when you do not consume coffee (Coffee is a legitimate addiction).

So feel free to load up on the coffee to prepare for finals but lay off the Jo next week so your body can re-cooperate. Summer is right around the corner. It’s the home stretch, this is the last sprint to the finish line and I know you will make it. Good luck on your exams, papers, and presentations!

-Meg

AHHHH!

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Yep it’s here. Finals week. Possibly the worst week of the year. Agreed? No one likes sitting the library till 2 am studying for Physics, Art History, Calculus, or Chemistry. But that’s just part of college and since you all survived Fall Semester’s finals week, I have faith that you can do it again. Just remember to take a 5 minute break fro every 90 minutes of studying. Or else your brain is going to feel fried and you’ll stop retaining new information. Also eating foods rich in iron and protein will help get you through the long nights of studying. Avoid sugary foods and drinks because they will a quick rush of energy then leave you more tired than before you ate your snack. One of the best snacks to have while studying is trail mix. The almonds, peanuts, and walnuts will fill you up while the raisins and M&Ms satisfy your sweet tooth.

Since it’s well known that this is the hardest week of the semester, the University and Residence Halls are putting on de-stressing programs all week.

Tonight (May 7th)
Late night breakfast in Bouge!

Tomorrow (Tuesday May 8th):
11am: South Campus Scavenger Hunt: TONS of prizes will be given out.
1pm – 4pm:  There will be a huge block party on South Campus with free food and a moon bounce (and many more activities)
3pm-7pm: Health Services’ Stress Relief Day: Go and take a couple hours to relax. There will be mini-massages, ice cream sundaes, and art&crafts projects. Oh ya and it’s all FREE!!

Wednesday May 9th:
8pm: Smoothie Party at the ICC. Take a quick break with your friends for a yummy fruit smoothie. Or grab one on the go to bring to the library with you.

Throughout the rest of the week, the residence halls will be putting on programs for everyone to enjoy. So keep your eyes open for the signs that will be up this week.

Best tip I can give you for surviving this week is sleep right, eat right, and exercise. Yea we have all heard it a thousand times but its the truth. Schedule these things in so you do not forget to do them. Even just biking for 30 minutes and swapping that bag of chip for a yogurt can do wonders on your grades and studying endurance. My favorite thing to do to keep me interested in studying is using color paper and pens. White paper is going to get bored after a couple hours, while red, yellow, or orange paper will keep you awake and focused.

Good Luck!
-Meg

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Ever watch the show Double Dare on Nickelodeon? I was OBSESSED when I was little. My brother and I would set up a game show board with questions in our kitchen. Then set up physical challenges around the rest of the house. In the living room we played ‘Floor’s Lava’, the Dining Room was an obstacle course, and my dad’s office was a race do something (like stacking blocks). And now that I am all grown up (or sort of grown up) I still have playing Floor’s Lava and doing other physical challenges. But what kind of physical challenges are around since we can’t be on a game show pulling prizes out of a giant plastics nose? Well there are different races such as Tough Mudder, Half Marathon, and the Warrior Dash. What are these about?!?
Tough Mudder: a 12 mile marathon that includes obstacles mud, fire, ice-water, and 10,000 volts of electricity. You are put through a series of challenges and obstacles designed by the British Special Forces to test your stamina, endurance, and determination. Check out their site to sign up: http://toughmudder.com/
Half Marathons: I have always wanted to do one. These races are for those who want to test their determination in running without doing a full marathon. The 13.1-mile race takes place all across the Boston area throughout the year. Here is a schedule of when they are: http://www.halfmarathons.net/race_calendar_massachusetts.html
Warrior Dash is a 5K race that involves 12 obstacles. At the start of the race all participants are given a free shirt and fuzzy helmet, although you do not need to wear them during the race since costumes are HIGHLY suggested (there is even an award that goes to the best costume). Post-race there is a feast of food and tons of entertainment including music, axe throwing contests and fireworks. Check out: www.warriordash.com for more details.
 I decided that I am going to sign up (hopefully this summer) for one of these crazy physical challenges and live out my dream of being on my favorite childhood show.
-Meg