My Life | My Study Abroad Year in Review

If you're reading this, then I'm safely back in the comforts of my own home in the UK. However I'm writing this post with two weeks left to go in Arizona and I can't help but smile when I think about the last 9 months. I really cannot believe it's almost over and that it will by the time you read this. There are really no words to describe this experience. My Study Abroad year has been everything I've wanted it to be and more.

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I'm Headed to the US!

It's been no secret that as a part of my degree, I'm going to spend my third year of study based at an American institution. I recently found out that as of August 2014 I'm going to be studying at Arizona State University!

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I'm Back! Posting as a New Me!

Taken this morning!

It has been so long!! There was a definite Summer hiatus after all of the Greece excitement dissipated!
Don't worry! I'm back and feeling, honestly, amazing. I started my second year at University yesterday and I feel like a completely different person. Something changed me over the Summer!

Greece was amazing, I have never visited anywhere that has made me feel so peaceful. When I came back, I worked like a dog and racked up a LOT of overtime hours! Now that school has started again, I'm back into a regular routine which means Diary of an Aspiring Beach Babe is back up and running too!

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University Life; Fitting Fitness In

As you know, I've recently started University and you may remember from this post that I was nervous about how I was going to continue my health and fitness journey.

Now I'll be honest and admit that I haven't kick-started my regime in the way I would have liked, but following on from my last post about #NoExcusesOctober I have devised a plan and I'm going to share it with you all so you too can adapt to University Life, or any change in environment. 

Looking to continue this progress!

Firstly, you may recall that I joined the gym on campus. I am living off of campus and this gym is further away than the one I was previously a member of. I considered this to be risky and since starting at Uni I have debated whether or not I made the right decision. 

Further to this when I have planned to workout in the evenings, studying or social events have gotten in the way.

To combat this I am going to re-commit myself to Booty Calls! I love Booty Calls because you know that you can get a workout in before your day gets in the way. I need to stop being reluctant to get up and out of bed early, set an alarm and get in the gym. I can do this and am more than capable of doing so. This is action plan numero uno!

Secondly, I am going to begin packing my meals instead of buying them on campus. Not only will I save money this way but will also ensure that I have healthy options available as well as knowing exactly what has gone in to my food. Action plan numero dos.

Thirdly, I will continue to plan but more specifically so. I can't go into a workout, now, when time really is of the essence, without a detailed plan. I need to know exactly what workouts I'm going to do and for how long. I'm going to take the opportunity of a relatively quiet Sunday night to do so for the entire week. 

That's it. This plan needs to be simple in order to ensure I stick to it. I have no intention of gaining any weight but losing it. I will not gain the Freshman 15 but I will lose it. 

Do you have a plan like this? How do you fit your healthy lifestyle in around work and school?

Back to School Goal Setting

It's that time of year! Back to school for so many of us! I always take opportunity of this time of year to re-evaluate my position and look back on my achievements.

I've worked hard for my entire academic career. I've been blessed with good brains and I've worked them hard haha! I've always done well in school and in my opinion that's because I enjoy it! As far as I can remember, I've never not wanted to go to school. I love to learn and that's always worked in my favour!

University has always been something that's been in my path. I never thought that I'd do anything else after college (In the UK we have high school for 5 years between the age of 11-16, then you have the choice to go on to college for another 2 years until you're 18 before applying to University). I know for sure that I'm not ready to go out into the wide world of work yet but I know that some of my friends couldn't even begin to entertain the idea of going back to education. As I mentioned; I've always enjoyed school so this is just the next step for me.

It's also a huge step. To a certain extent, I'm stepping in to the world of the unknown. Nobody in my family has been to University. I'm the first (and yes that makes me so proud!) so there are a lot of things I'm unsure about and I know that I'm going to learn along the way. I'm going to make mistakes but that's part of life! I know for sure that I'm going to try my absolute hardest in all aspects of my University life and maximise the experience. 

Related to all of this is an old tradition of mine; I always set goals for myself at the start of any academic year. They don't have to be school/grade related but it's great to check back on myself at the end of each term/semester to see how I'm progressing.

This year is no different, in fact it's even more prominent. I'm venturing into this new world and I'll need to keep myself grounded!

Some of the goals on my list at the moment (it's not finished yet!) include;

- Make the most of each opportunity presented to me, academically or otherwise,
- Get involved. Become a part of the campus societies and sports clubs
- Continue to actively motivate and inspire others.
- Share the Tone It Up love
- Make new friends!! Don't be shy - be myself!
- Work hard; do my best - don't take it for granted
- Play hard
- Make more steps to reaching my goal body!

My Uni ID picture haha!

That's it for now! Have you got any back to school goals? Share them with me! :)

It's Official - I'm a University Student!

Hey guys! Georgie here! I'm officially excited as this is the first blog post I'm writing on my new Mac! I've been debating whether or not to get one for a while (I had a Dell before), since Charlie got one for his birthday but I hadn't really had a need for one! 

I decided that I would wait for my college exam results as I'd either need one for university, or need one for my start-up business idea (more on that soon, maybe!)!

So results morning came, and as nervous as I was (check out this video to see what I'm talking about) I felt semi-confident as I'd had a good set of results the year before which all contributed to the overall grades. I needed 3 A's to get in to my dream University to  do my dream course; Law with American Studies. I'd received 3 A's the year before and although I felt as if the exams hadn't gone as well, I did feel as if I'd done enough. 

I opened my results and I'd done it! I got an A and 2 B's and they let me in! I was over the moon that's for sure. It was a totally alien feeling and it was the best day I'd had in a long long time!

The brand new Law building at the University of Sussex, where I'll be studying.

Needless to say, me being me, my mind instantly dove to fitness! As you may know, health and well-being is a huge huge huge part of my life and I've come so far, I needed, in my head, to make sure I knew that I could continue with my progress and avoid the dreaded Freshman 15!

Luckily (well luckily for me), I am not moving away from home so in that respect, not a lot is going to change. I will still be able to continue with my diet plan (the Tone It Up plan if anyone is wondering) and have knowledge of the local area for runs etc. 

I had researched the athletic facilities at the University but sports in general are nowhere near as popular in the UK as they are at US Colleges. However, I was pleasantly surprised. There are hundreds of clubs and societies that I can join, many relating to sport which I am very excited about. There is also a fitness centre which has recently been renovated which has a gold membership cost which comes in at £20 a month cheaper than what I am paying for a membership at a different centre now. 

It's a no brainer! I plan to lose the Freshman Fifteen and then some! Forget Gaining!

I don't start at University for at least another three weeks but I am definitely preparing to continue and accelerate my weight loss journey. I will for sure post my top tips to avoiding the freshman fifteen and eating right and working out whilst at school on the blog once I've figured them out for myself after I start!

I. Am. So. Excited!! 

As Elle Woods says...."I'm a Law Student!"

You can guarantee that I'll be wearing something like this on my first day ;) And Yes, Archie WILL be coming with me!