I did it!! Okay, maybe the title is a little biased, but that's how I feel. GO GATORS!! Our graduation was in The Swamp (football field) for the first time in 44 years, so that was pretty awesome. The weather could not have been more perfect. I was a little worried because Florida in May can be very bipolar - it rained the entire week leading up to graduation! The Gainesville Graduation Gods were watching over.

All of my immediate family drove up for the occasion, including my sister who will be starting at UF this summer!

It was a wonderful graduation and the best way to close out my college career. It still hasn't hit me. I honestly feel like I am moving up to Philadelphia for the summer and coming back to school for fall....I just don't know any other way! It was very sad to say goodbye, but I'm so excited for what's to come.

On to the next one! But I'll always be a Gator.

- Rach

#ItsGreatUF!!!

Good morning everyone! I taught my last group fitness class ever at UF bright and early this morning (6:15 a.m.) and it would be an understatement to say that I am going to miss it. Teaching here has been such a valuable experience that I will take with me when I leave, but I just feel like it's going to be hard to find a similar atmosphere that we have here. Nothing beats it! This morning's workout was an awesome 45 minute interval training workout. All intervals were 30 seconds with only 15 seconds of rest. It was the perfect combo of strength and cardio and everyone walked out really sweaty at 7 a.m.! Such a great feeling.

The equipment I used for this class was a bench, a light set of dumbbells and one heavier dumbbell for single side exercises.

I got the idea for the side lunge hop from pumpsandiron.com and she demonstrates them in this workout. A half burpee looks like this. Essentially, you start in a plank position and jump your feet to meet your hands to come up in a squat and hold for a second. Plank rows on the bench (:45) are also a great exercise! Really tests your core stability.

After teaching, I worked for a couple hours, came home and enjoyed some oats...

And now I am getting ready for my FINAL public relations presentation for my major. After today I'm freeeee!!!! Until I start my job in less than two weeks. It's so weird being done, I kind of never thought this day would come and I wish it didn't come so fast, but that's life! After my group's presentation we plan to celebrate a little and then I will be spending the rest of the week packing up my apartment.

Have a great Tuesday!

-Rach