Sports 101- Written By Someone More Clueless Than You

I freely admit that I don’t know jack-shit about sports (except baseball. I’m not an idiot when it comes to that). I do, however, attend a B1G school so sports are kind of a thing here. My understanding of athletics is very limited, but I thought I would share what I do know with you all.

Football: a bunch of sweaty guys (and girls bc #YesAllWomen) fighting over a ball and then running toward the end zone.

1 minute football time=approx. 3 days regular time.

Basketball: my favorite song from the early 2000s. Also a sport where people twice my height run around and try to get a ball in a net...but they can't hold the ball. They have to bounce it the whole time. Why? Idk. Oh and Seth from Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide could spin one around on his finger so that's pretty cool.

Hockey: A bunch of people on ice chasing around a puck while wearing 2x their weight in padding. The whole arena is basically Antarctica so hockey games are a no for me. 

Soccer: Same thing as football but with your feet. So really soccer should be called football but America is too hipster for that shit. I played soccer once. I got a concussion.

Also, David Beckham is really hot

Lacrosse: I honestly have no fucking clue.

So I hope this helped you guys become better versed in the world of sports! Let me know what you would like me to write about next by leaving a comment or tweeting me @allieetzin. Go sports!

xoxo,

Allie

My Workout Playlist!

As you guys may or may not know, one of my favorite things to do is workout. I mostly concentrate on strength training, and sometimes mix in some cardio, but lifting weights is my preference!

A huge part of being motivated during your workout is finding a kick-ass playlist. So this post is going to feature my favorite songs to lift weights to, along with my favorite Pandora stations for working out.

Pandora Stations:

·      Kendrick Lamar Radio

·      Partition Radio

·      Beyoncé Radio

·      Anaconda Radio

·      Childish Gambino Radio

·      Chance The Rapper Radio

·      Sms (Bangerz) Radio

Songs:

·      Drunk In Love-Beyonce

·      Feeling Myself-Beyonce feat Nicki Minaj

·      Flawless-Beyonce feat Nicki Minaj

·      Yoncé- Beyoncé

·      7-11- Beyoncé

·      Only- Nicki Minaj

·      Pour It Up- Rihanna

·      Jump- Rihanna

·      Freaks and Geeks-Childish Gambino

·      Bonfire-Childish Gambino

·      Go DJ- Childish Gambino

·      Sweatpants-Childish Gambino

·      GDFR- T-Pain ft. Joey Galaxy

·      Lady Killers- G-Eazy ft. Hoodie Allen

·      Burn- Meek Mill ft. Big Sean

·      Paradise- Big Sean

·      Snap Yo Fingers- Lil Jon

·      Where are U Now- Justin Bieber

·      Blow My High-Kendrick Lamar

 My full playlist is over 50 songs but these are the ones that get me most hype for my workouts. If you want another playlist post, or a post about my workout routine me know! And also let me know what your favorite workout songs are by leaving a comment or tweeting me at @allieetzin.

xoxo,

Allie

Veganism FAQ

Since becoming a vegan, I have gotten many questions regarding my diet. Some are with good intentions, and others are just to start and argument, but regardless, I figured I would address the main ones right here for y’all!

1.   What even is a vegan?

A vegan doesn’t consume anything that comes from a living being. So that means no meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, eggs, honey, or gelatin. Also, depending on how strict of a vegan a person is, they also may avoid products tested on animals, and most vegans avoid wearing fur, leather etc.

2.   BUT PROTEIN???

plantbaseddietitian.com

There are PLENTY of vegan protein sources that can help your muscles go big and strong so don’t you worry. Some of my favorites include tofu, tempeh, nuts, beans, veggie burgers quinoa, and peanut butter!

 3.   Don’t you miss bacon???!!!

No.

4.   So you only eat vegetables?

Hell nah. Vegans do enjoy lots of yummy fruits and veggies, but we also enjoy grains, nuts, beans etc. I try to keep my diet as plant based as possible, but I also enjoy sweet treats every once in a while.

5.   Don’t you crave desserts?

Who said I couldn’t have desserts? Dairy-free ice cream is delicious, and Oreos happen to be vegan as well! Also, Pinterest is a great source for fun vegan dessert recipes!

greenmomsmeet.com

6.   What about overpopulation?

If everyone began to gradually decrease the amount of meat they eat, then factory farmers would most likely gradually decrease the number of animals they bred for food, and the ecosystem would balance out.

7.   But humans are natural carnivores!

Carnivores: short digestive tracts, sharp claws, and curved fangs

peta2.com

Humans: long digestive tracts for vegetable matter, flat thin nails made for protection from dings, and flat teeth for grinding at plant protein. Even human ‘fangs’ are waaay flatter than carnivores’.

8.   Don’t cows have to be milked?

On factory farms, cows are artificially inseminated so that they constantly have milk. The hormones cause their udders to be engorged with milk, which leads to infection and intense pain. When the cow’s udders are attached to the milking machines, the udders grow external infections. When they can’t produce a large amount of milk anymore, they are slaughtered. They also have their babies taken away from them right after birth and the calf are made into either veal or are raised to be dairy cows. So yes they have to be milked, but not the way factory farmers do it.

9.   Being vegan is expensive!

  Yes, buying mock meats can get expensive, but living a plant-based lifestyle by eating mostly grains, fruits, veggies, beans etc. can be pretty cheap, and extremely doable for a college student.

10. But plants can feel pain!!!

Nah fam, they don’t have a central nervous system sooo…

I hope you guys learned some stuff about veganism! I have only been vegan for 6 months so I am in no way an expert but I do have some experience. Being vegan has been such a rewarding choice thus far and I’m so excited to continue living this lifestyle. Let me know if you have any more questions about veganism and I will be sure to answer them!

xoxo,

Allie

College Has Improved My Mental Health

March 2013

At 15 years old, during my sophomore year of high school, I was diagnosed with severe anorexia nervosa, acute depression, and anxiety. All throughout my recovery, including during my three month stay at U of M C.S Mott Children’s Hospital, college was a huge motivation for me to recover. I knew that if I didn’t get healthy, mentally and physically, my doctors wouldn’t let me move away. For the next 2 ½ years, I worked my ass off in recovery. I ate foods that scared me, got out of bed when all I wanted to do was sleep, and learned ways to calm myself down when I began to feel an anxiety attack coming on. I found an amazing therapist that helps me sort out my emotions, and I’m now on the perfect dose of my anti-depressants.

Move-In Day (August 2015)

During my senior year of high school, my parents and doctors decided that I could move away to college in the fall. I was overjoyed, but at the same time scared. How would I deal with my anxiety and depression without my therapist? How would I manage to adjust to a new environment and new stressors? Would I do okay eating in the dining hall? All of these thoughts terrified me. But with proper planning, by the end of August I felt not only ready, but also very excited to move to East Lansing and start fresh at Michigan State University.

MSU vs. Oregon (September 2015)

Now, a little over a month into my freshman year of college, I can say something that I never thought I would: college has helped tremendously with improving my mental health. Since I moved in, I have not had one anxiety attack. There hasn’t been a single day where my depression has been so consuming that I felt physically unable to get out of bed. I haven’t skipped a single class, and I’ve been taking my medication consistently, which was always a struggle for me before. I’ve been eating what I want in the dining hall, instead of what has the fewest calories (I even ate french fries for the first time in probably four years!). My workout routine has been more consistent than it has been in a long time, which really helps clear my mind. I’ve even met new friends! I’ve become more outgoing and willing to reach out to new people than ever before. I’m confident. I have reached a level of self-love that I never thought was possible. I’m living away from home for the first time ever, I’m on a huge campus with over 50,000 other students, I’m taking 15 credits while being involved in clubs and service learning, and I can honestly say I’ve never been happier.

Now I understand that I’ve only been here a month. I haven’t experienced finals week, a fight with my roommate, or extreme homesickness, and I know these things may provoke my anxiety, or make me more depressed. But as of now, I’m happy, and that is all that matters.

September 2015 (happy)

March 2013 (sick, miserable)

The F Word

(Buckle up kids, this is gonna be a long one)

       Feminism is defined as the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men. Despite it gaining more attention in the media recently, largely due to international icons such as Nicki Minaj, Beyoncé, and Miley Cyrus publicly identifying as feminists, it still remains a movement associated with aggressive, man-hating women. I am here today to tell you that is not the case. I do not hate men. In fact, I like men. I think they’re cute and enjoy kissing them from time to time. However, I do hate the notion that men are more powerful than women. I hate the idea that men are better suited for roles of leadership. I hate that women in other countries are having acid thrown at their faces, and are being shot for standing up for women’s rights to education, and yet there are people who STILL think feminism is a joke. I hate that I am considered an “annoying feminist” for sticking up for the rights of myself and everyone else who identifies as a woman.

Ameneh Bahrami

     People think I’m crazy when I say I can’t see myself ever dating a man who doesn’t identify as a feminist (or at least agree with feminist ideals), but how is that an odd thing? I don’t see a problem with wanting a partner who respects me as his equal, who doesn’t objectify me or underestimate my strength. And if any men out there are reading this, first off, you rock. Second, you are allowed to identify as a feminist! Being a feminist doesn’t make you feminine (not that that would be a bad thing bc duh) and it also doesn’t make you any less of a man! Respecting women is pretty cool in my book, and I think a lot of other ladies would agree.

 I went ahead and asked some fellow Spartans why they feel they need feminism and these are their responses:

“To know that we have a place in the world”

– Anna, 19

“Because I have friends who are female and they deserve the same rights as I get by being male.”

 –Ryan, 18

“Because we live in a rape culture, because there hasn’t been a woman president, because covert sexism trickled into every facet of life. And MOST IMPORTANTLY, because the word ‘feminism’, a word that means a movement for EQUALITY has worse societal connotations than any swear word I could ever say. Because I’m labeled an angry prissy bitch for wanting an equal place in society. And also I need intersectional feminism. If we don’t address it for everyone, then it’s not worth having the rights.”

 –Audrey, 19

“Because people expect me to be emotionless and are surprised when I am vulnerable and do things that are uncharacteristic of men.”

-Justin, 18

“Because I still feel that my intelligence is seen as inferior to men’s intelligence. Because I don’t think its fair that since age 12 I have constantly had to worry about being taken advantage of. I’ve even been harassed in large crowds and in broad daylight. I work just as hard as any man and yet I make less! Fuck that. I believe that women of all races, ages, and classes have been shortchanged by society and feminism is our voice and our way.”

-Eloise, 18 

 

Why do YOU need feminism? Let me know by leaving a comment or tweeting me at @allieetzin using the hashtag #WhyINeedFeminism

MSU Drinking Game

What’s college without Wine Wednesday and Thirsty Thursday? An academic institution meant to further a student’s knowledge and prepare them for life? Boring.

In honor of Thirsty Thursday and in preparation for homecoming weekend, I present to you The MSU Drinking Game.

Take a shot…

·      For every moped you see.

·      Every time someone says the word "combo".

·      For every Yik Yak post bashing the next football team we are going up against.

·      For every “Go Green!” you hear (and for every "Go White!" response).

·      For every long-boarder you see.

·      Every time you see someone wipe out on their bike.

·      For every drunk person spotted at Conrad’s on a Friday/Saturday night.

·      Every time the CATA almost runs someone over.

·     Whenever the train wakes you up.

·      Whenever someone complains about the train waking them up

·      For every complaint heard about the toilet paper

·      For every time you do something just for the free t-shirt

·      Every time you step outside and think, “man, I love my school”

Can you think of anything I left out? Make sure to leave a comment and let me know. Happy homecoming weekend to you all! Turn tf up (safely of course) and use my code for a free Uber if you need it (alliee97ue)!

xoxo,

Allie