I am a TERRIBLE patient when I’m sick. For someone who’s constantly on the go, being forced to take some down time makes me antsy and resentful at myself for getting sick.

And I don’t write much about dating on here, but I met a lovely man and went on a few dates with him and was told via text the other day that he wasn’t interested. So that was fun. He should have just left me a Post-It.

And I haven’t worked out since Wednesday because I’m sick, and I’ve definitely become the person who gets grumpy when she doesn’t work out.

So let’s talk about Instagram instead?

I’m obsessed with it. I don’t post super super often, but I am on there creeping like all the time, and I run my work Instagram as well. Like any good social media professional, I started using it when it came out a few years ago, but then I abandoned it when nobody else joined, and then picked it up fervently a year or two ago.

While the built-in filters are great, there’s also a bunch of apps that you can use to enhance your photos.

Here’s a few of my favorites!

Snapseed: This Google app is AMAZING. It does all of the basic photo processing you’d do in a PhotoShop-like program. I use their Tune features the most – saturation, brightness, etc.

Squaready: While it’s awesome that the new iOS lets you take square photos, sometimes you forget to turn to square mode, and then you want to Instagram a pic. This awesome app squishes your pic to either a horizontal or vertical format so that you can fit it all in the frame.

Lumie: For when you want to put a dreamy bokeh filter over your sweet little dog.

A Beautiful Mess (aka ABM): This app is both fun and ridiculous. There’s all kinds of fun overlays you can put on your photos, such as a random bike becausewhynot? or an anchor, and you can also use this one to write on your photos.

Diptic: This is a solid one if you want to make a collage of photos.

You know, of before-and-after lobster-holding expressions.

Also, I feel like I need to credit Erin for everything I know about Instagram. She is always ahead of these app trends. You can follow her here.

 Are you obsessed with Instagram? What are your fave Instagram-editing apps? 

Also, a little shameless work plug: we just put up an article this week on inspiring health/fitness Instagrams. Go see who I named as my fave. 

Yesterday morning, at the end of class at Uplift, the instructor, Rachel came up to me as I was wiping down my mat and putting my equipment away.

“I love how you just put your all into every workout,” she said.

Annie said something similar at the end of the CityRow class I took.

“Thank you!” I said, caught a little off guard. A few years ago, when group fitness was new to me, I slunk to the back of any class I took, unsure of myself, my body and my abilities.

While I’m back at feeling somewhat uncomfortable with my body, I’m more sure of myself and my abilities. I’m also sure of my strength and grit. I’ve fought my way through 4 marathons? I can fight my way through another tabata. I can fight my way through another few reps of my bicep quivering as I attempt a heavier weight.

I equally love and hate the tabatas. Twenty seconds doesn’t sound that long, but when it’s at all-out intensity, it’s a freaking eternity. But I still love pushing through them. It took me a while to get to the point in working out where I stopped caring how I looked after working hard. Now, I wear it like a freaking badge of honor.

I usually go to the 6:30am Uplift classes, and the instructors usually say something like “Think about why you’re here. You got up to come to this class, so make it worth it!”

I’ve always worked hard in my Uplift classes, but the Strengthen Up(lift) Challenge I’m doing with them really has me cognizant of working harder. Not getting comfortable with the 10 pound weights, and reaching for the 12s and 15s. Squatting deeper, lunging lower, tabata-ing harder.

Any time I catch myself wanting to slack, thinking the instructor is correcting someone else, I catch myself. I’m only cheating myself and future results. I spent seven years half-assing it at the gym; now I give it my all.

Or…in a few days. I’m sick AGAIN, which I’m really frustrated with. I had strep at the beginning of the month, and now I have sinusitis. I work hard at trying to stay healthy, and this is what my body gives me in return? Being sick twice in one month? Fail.

I’m currently giving my all to getting better, so that I don’t get sick AGAIN, but I’m still doing things like some push-ups and planks around my apartment.

Do you give it your all in your workouts?