When the first day of college classes finally came to an end, I face-planted down on my bed and thought, "oh my word I feel like I just walked 200 miles." This was the minute I realized college life would be a constant cycle of walking to class with a heavy backpack, and climbing many flights of stairs only to walk back 50-minutes later. I called my mom and jokingly said, "I need a pedometer." I started looking into Apple Watches but didn't really think that I'd wear one that much. After all, they really didn't go with many of my outfits ;) When I got home this summer, started babysitting again, and was no longer a broke college student, I had this major desire for the watch. So, after a few days of going into every Apple store that I passed just to try it on, I decided to get one. I thought I'd post about why I'm so in love with the watch, and the features that made it so worth it.

Which model?

I ended up with the Apple Watch Series 2, 38mm silver aluminum case with a white sport band. I never thought I would end up with a silver watch since I typically wear gold jewelry. Trying the silver one on in the store is what made me love it so much. The white and silver looked amazing together. I also jumped on Pinterest and searched "apple watch" so that I could see how others have styled theirs!

The other aspect that I contemplated for a while was whether or not I should spend the extra $100 for the series 2 watch or just stick with series 1. After using the "compare models" feature on Apple's site (check it out here) I knew I needed the series 2.

Questions I had:

Will the watch increase my data usage?Nope, not at all. The watch basically mirrors your iPhone, so the amount of data you use on your phone will be the same as on your watch.
How much are extra bands?Standard bands are $50 and come in tons of colors. I'm actually about to grab another one as autumn is quickly approaching. I honestly think $50 is pretty reasonable for an interchangeable band considering Apple's typical prices.
Will the white band get dirty quickly?I have had absolutely zero issues with my watch getting dirty, and this was one of my biggest concerns. The material is amazing. I just run the band under warm water and rub any marks right off. To get anything tough off, use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.
What's the deal with the battery life?I've had a really great experience with the battery so far. I usually only charge it while I'm in the shower, eating a meal, or working on the computer. I wear it all day long, and sleep with it as well. The best thing is that for me, it can be fully charged in less than an hour.

My favorite features:

Sleep TrackerThe "Sleep Watch" app is one of the most exciting parts of this watch that I had no idea would be a feature that was included. I've always wanted a FitBit to track my sleep, but there's something about it that I didn't like. The "Sleep Watch" app is around $5 but I promise it is worth it. All you do is wear the watch at night and it tracks the following:
- Total sleep time
- Sleep Activity- how often you woke up, when you were restless and when you were in a deep sleep
- Total restful sleep time
- Sleeping heart rate dip percentage
- Average sleeping heart rate

GPSWhen you use the GPS on your iPhone, the directions mirror on your watch. The watch vibrates when you're coming up on a turn, which if you think about it, it's a pretty cool safety feature. When I'm on the road, the watch is right in front of me on the steering wheel instead of how I usually have to look down at my phone directions.

"Hey Siri"

Siri can do everything that she can on your phone. The other night I was down on the dock with my dad fishing, and my phone was connected to our Bluetooth speaker. I kept changing the music right from my watch and didn't have to put my rod down! #convenient

Heart Rate Sensor

I have no idea why, but ever since this watch came into my life I have been fascinated by watching my heart rate. It's so cool to see it change throughout the day especially when it changes due to some of the things I'm facing that day.

Exercise

I'm not going to lie, before I did my research regarding what the Apple Watch could measure, I thought purchasing it was a mistake. I was under the impression that it would only be able to track obvious cardio workouts (running, walking, biking) but then one day I was out kayaking and I decided to see if it could measure the workout. I went to my watch and chose the "other" category on the watch and it started an open-ended workout! Then, at the end, it gave me TONS of other workout options to use to label- including paddling. Now I can also use the watch to track my favorite strength training workout, [solidcore] read about it here!

In my eyes, purchasing the Apple Watch was an investment. It pushes me to get outside and exercise every day even when I don't want to. It encourages me to value restful sleep and my mental health. I'm so excited head back to school and see just how much I walk around that huge campus.

Overall, the Apple Watch gets a 10/10 from me!

1 year ago a dear friend of mine said to me, "Molly, I just tried this new workout last night. I can't even walk, and my abs are still on fire. It's called [solidcore]. Come with me next time?" I agreed, however, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I walked into class and little did I know it would be the beginning of a new me.

What is it?

[solidcore] is made up of small, slow moves where there is always resistance attached to your muscles. The machine is made up of two stationary platforms along with one that moves between, called the carriage. The machine goes by the name Sweatlana and is different than anything you've worked out on.

What makes [solidcore] so unique that it is impossible to plateau. The different springs that are attached to the carriage can always be adjusted to make it harder as you become more advanced. Different spring loads also make it possible to achieve greatness in the class even if you're a beginner. There are always modifications to make things simpler and the workout is easy on your joints.

What makes it so special?

One of my favorite parts about [solidcore] is how my body feels during the 50 minutes. I have suffered from asthma my entire life, and I've found it difficult to find a workout studio that would challenge my body, but not my lungs. The slow, intense movements demand hard work from my muscles, and I don't have to worry about puffing my inhaler and catching my breath. I love being able to focus on achieving muscle failure, fighting through the pain, and how much I'm sweating than wondering if I can make it through a class without having an asthma attack.

I think a lot of the reason I fell in love with this class was because of how wonderful the community is and have met some of the most incredible people who have had a very strong impact on my life. Each time I walk into the studio I'm greeted with hugs and smiles from coaches and other regulars who I find myself taking class with often. The coaches are committed to high fives at the end of those painful 50 minutes, and they are the ones who make it so easy to come back to the studio.

When I first started [solidcore], I had no idea how fast my body would change and how addicted I would be to the studio. Within a month my body was more toned, and classes were more enjoyable because I understood the workout. I even noticed that I could carry heavier objects. While this sounds silly, for the first time in my life I could do a complete set of push-ups. When I reserve a spot in a class, I know that I'm setting aside 50 minutes of "me" time. I never knew how important it was to be selfish sometimes and put my well-being first. [solidcore] has taught me just that.

If you have the opportunity to try [solidcore], don't let it pass on by. Jump into it. Give it a good effort, and do not feel defeated once you realize that it is the hardest workout you've ever done. If you really commit, you'll see that [solidcore] will not only change your body but also your mind. You'll find yourself being a more be more focused, and positive person. You'll learn to love your body for what it is and ignore the number on the scale. You'll gain strength in more ways than one, and end up reflecting on your first class and realizing just how much you've accomplished. For more info before jumping into your first class, check out the website here and an intro video here!

There's also a new client special during the month of February! Head on over to [solidcore]'s Facebook page to take advantage of it!