Contour Extended – Photos, fitness and finances of a foodie

 According to Merriam-Webster, a foodie is “a person having an avid interest in the latest food fads.” We all have that one friend. The one boxing you out from your utensils until a properly staged and lit photo of the spread is captured. Naturally, this “avid interest” comes in a variety of flavors. Whether we know (or follow) a fit foodie, a vegan foodie, a dessert foodie, or a trendy foodie, etc., a few common links classify them as foodies: They all invest time, stomach space and money to their passions.

Time

The majority of the time, foodies have a social media presence. In fact, much of the foodie persona is built on media sharing platforms. Instagram revolutionized the foodie world with instant shares of dishes and constant competition to frame the best photo or garner the most “likes.” Gaining and maintaining followers on various forms of social media takes time and commitment every day.

Singing the stress away with acapella

My senior year of undergrad was filled with a mix of emotions. Many of my classmates felt relieved at finally finishing up coursework for their degrees and excited to move onto the next chapter in their lives. For me, however, it was about focusing my energy on applying to dental school, transitioning into the real world and making the most of what I had in front of me. One of the most formative experiences I had as an undergraduate was being a part of our school choir.

Music has always been an important part of my life, but being a part of my college choir felt like an elevated version of all of my past musical experiences. I missed this when I started applying to dental school.

New sleep habits for the new year

Getting enough sleep is arguably one of the most challenging aspects of dental school. Between attending classes and studying for tests, working on your lab skills and seeing patients, it can be tough to find enough hours in the day to get ample sleep. While we’re all familiar with the many platitudes regarding ideal sleep schedules and the benefits of getting enough rest, it can be challenging to actually incorporate those guidelines into your everyday schedules. However, there’s no question that getting restful sleep is important. A 2002 study published in Neuron found that a full night’s worth of sleep is correlated with a 20% improvement in motor speed without loss of accuracy. Fortunately, given the many mobile technological advances available today, there are now numerous apps designed to help you achieve this.

Spice up your workout in inclement weather

Saturday has arrived, and it’s time to play outside after a long week! You get dressed and go out your front door and find it’s been raining, it’s been pouring…this is no time to go back to snoring! Perhaps you are so excited about your Saturday morning run that you are ready to put on shades and hit the puddle-ridden road or muddy trail, knowing a hot shower is the reward at the end of this wet workout.

Not your cup of tea? That’s okay! Luckily, the indoor gym scene is off the hook, and I don’t just mean the athletic club down the road. There are many non-conventional options to spice up your rainy day workout plan.

Wellness starts at breakfast

Just like Leslie Knope and Ron Swanson in Parks & Recreation, I can’t imagine why “anybody would ever eat anything besides breakfast food.” According to a recent survey by Kellogg’s, more than 50 percent of adults would like to eat breakfast daily, but only a third take the time to actually do so.

These statistics are baffling, because I couldn’t imagine skipping breakfast. But while I don’t skip breakfast, I have been known to eat breakfast at my desk. That’s a behavior I’m trying to stop.