Social Media and Society

It's pretty crazy to think about a world without Facebook, Twitter or whatever kind of app that allows you to connect with one another, but the question is, is social media a fad or is it the biggest shift since the Industrial Revolution? My understanding is that it is in fact a major shift in society because almost all of us use a type of social media on a day to day basis, I know I do. For those of you who don't know what a fad is, it's something that is temporarily "hot" -something that burns out fast. Social media is definitely not a fad, and I believe most of you will agree with that.

So why has it become a shift in society? Well not only is it easier for people to stay connected, but many companies and businesses use it as a tool to promote and market their products and/or services, a lot of people actually get paid to be on social media all day long. Its the newest way to get your name out there, and essentially make a profit. Take LinkedIn for example, most recruiting agencies use it as a form to seek out professional individuals in the marketplace.

Schools are also utilizing social media and incorporating it into their curriculums. Post-Secondary schools now offer online coarses. Interracting with professors via e-mail has become the easiest way to get in touch with one another.

Social media is becoming a way of life, its easy for us to go online and discover what top stories have made news headlines, or to find the Sunday Night Football scores. We are becoming dependent on social media and if it were somehow taken away, some of us might not know what to do with our daily routine. Social media has now given us the opportunity to express our own beliefs and opinions online, through blogs, status updates or tweets.

Social media is just like television and newspapers, but an easier way for all of us to share ideas, and since when has that been a bad thing? Just be careful how you use it because once you put something on the internet it stays on the internet. It's safe to say that not only has social media shifted modern society, but it is still growing at a rapid rate.

What Do You Want in Life?

Some advice for young individuals:

So you just finished high school and you have no clue what you want to go to college/university for, or what kind of career you want when you're older. I was 18 when I finished high school, thought I had it all figured out, knew what kind of path I was headed in but the truth is I really had no clue what I wanted to do, I didn't really take the time to think about what I was good at and what the best career path for myself would be. It costed me a year of university tuition in a program that I wasn't even remotely interested in but on the bright side it did lead me to a program that definitely fits better to my lifestyle - Marketing.

If you're having a difficult time figuring out what you want to do in life, what school to go to or what kind of job you want then you have to ask yourself what are you good at? Don't choose something because you don't know what else to do, get inspired! Imagine yourself when you're older having a job that you actually like instead of a job that just pays the bills. Think of how many possibilities are out there that you don't even know about.

Travelling is a good way to see whats out there, to experience different cultures and see how the rest of the world works. Getting a hobby (like blogging) might also help you to figure out what makes you happy. Don't be afraid to try new things because if you don't, chances are you won't discover what you really enjoy doing. 

If you chose a certain path but you don't necessarily like it, you should still enjoy every moment of the experience  because it's a way to learn from it, make mistakes that way you can make room for improvement and you can use it as a form of motivation later on in life. 

Weight Loss Advice

These days, weight loss is an extremely popular topic that we see online, in newspapers, magazines, and all kinds of articles or journals. In fact, as of November 2014, Google alone had over 181 billion page results when you search “weight loss.” I’m writing about this topic because people are always asking me how I managed not only to lose weight but also how to keep it off.

We all have different body types and metabolisms, but losing weight can be as simple as increasing your water intake, exercising regularly, and cutting back on the junk food you consume each day or week. It’s important to understand that losing weight quickly is possible, but it’s not healthy. Losing weight super fast often makes it easier to gain it back just as fast. When your body loses weight too quickly, your metabolism can slow down, and you may lose muscle along with fat. On top of that, your hunger hormones can increase, making you more likely to overeat once you return to normal eating habits. That’s why slow, steady weight loss is usually the best approach; it’s safer and easier to maintain.

Food was the biggest part of my weight loss journey. It was honestly so difficult for me to stop eating fast food, chips, ice cream...you name it I ate it. The first step I took was cutting out foods that contained a high amount of fat and sugar such as chocolate, candy and pop, basically all junk food had to be cut. I cut out any wheat products that were not whole wheat or whole grain and also ate less of it. Now calories...I used to count calories with literally everything I ate, but you need to realize that calories aren't necessarily bad, if you eat an Activa yogurt which is 100 calories it really doesn't matter because its a good kind of calorie. Another important step I took was substituting my usual snacks with fruits and vegetables, which are still really tasty and also filled me up. The odd cheat day won't hurt, in fact I used to have a cheat day once every two weeks and I would either go to the gym that day or eat extra healthy the next day.

Exercise was always something that I was used to, I was always an active person considering I was a competitive dancer for many years, but I needed to step it up a little bit. I didn't really have a routine which many other people do, I either went for a run outside or went to my school gym and used cardio equipment which I did 3-5 times a week. I started looking online for a specific gym plan that I could follow which would make going to the gym a lot easier. If you go to www.bodybuilding.com you can find many different types of plans, some for weight loss, toning and muscle gain whatever you are looking for it will be there.

Water water water...not only does it keep you hydrated but it also promotes weight loss by reducing your metabolism, reducing byproducts of fat and also reducing hunger...it also zero calories and many other benefits for a healthy lifestyle!

You need to take into consideration portion size of your meals. I learned how to properly portion all of my meals because prior to eating right, I would eat until I was uncomfortably full which isn't good. Eat until you feel satisfied but at the same time still comfortable so you don't have to undo your belt buckle.

Don't be one of those people who complain about losing weight and next thing you know you're mowing down a double whopper at the BK lounge, get off your butt and do something about it! If I can do it, you can too. So set a goal and dedicate yourself  until you reach it! If you need someone to help you keep motivated find someone who will be there to push you...or you can message me and I'd be happy to help you out anytime! 

If you would like more details about what foods I ate or any other concerns/interests please send me an email at evanas.f@gmail.com