As we enter a busy semester with big plans and high expectations, a healthy lifestyle doesn’t always fit into our hectic schedules. With the crazy schedules, family and friend obligations and jobs, it might be cruel to add another commitment to our tiring days.
Whether you’re a new student or a returning student, if you think of fitness as a social outlet and a way to get involved on campus, implementing a workout schedule will be a more achievable goal.
Valerie Valenti, RecPlex yoga instructor said, “Schedule an hour or half an hour and make it a date with yourself, it’s so important to give yourself that time to disconnect from school and life in general so you can be able to go back and fight and work hard the following day.”
Although there isn’t one solution for everyone’s workout situations, these tips should help get you going for the semester.
Make a plan
When it comes to personal fitness, the most important thing to do at the beginning of the semester is to make a plan. No matter how bad you want to work out every day, if you don’t plan it out, you’re less likely to work out. By planning your schedule ahead of time, you’ll have the chance to plan out your workouts ahead of time so that you don’t get sick of running the treadmill every day. Will you take your bathing suit to your afternoon class and head to the pool after class? Or, will you be biking to and from class?
Anita Taylor, Zumba-certified instructor, emphasized the importance of planning workouts ahead of time and reminding ourselves of the benefits and ultimate outcome.
“The point is to get moving,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if you master the moves to your workout or not.”
Get hydrated!
At this age, we all know how important water is. But, knowing is one thing and applying what you know is something else. Whether you’re a competing athlete or just someone who runs on the treadmill for half an hour every day, staying hydrated is extremely important. Water regulates your body temperature and lubricates your joints. It also helps transport nutrients throughout your body to give you energy and keep you healthy. If you’re not hydrated when you exercise, your efforts are going to be wasted because your body isn’t performing at its highest level.
“Water, water, water,” Valenti said. “I can’t stress enough how important getting hydrated is, so just drink about 10 ounces of water every 10-20 minutes while you’re exercising.”
Take a walk around campus
You don’t really have much of a choice when it comes to walking to class, so make it a choice and take longer walks. Whether you decide to take the long way to class or walk around campus in the evening when you’re done with all your classes, this is a great way to stay fit. If you follow this calorie-burning routine, even if you skip the gym for a day or two before exams, you won’t feel as guilty. And, while you’re at it, don’t push that elevator button. There are plenty of staircases to choose from around campus.
If you don’t feel like doing any of these and you’re busy around your apartment or room, do what Anita Taylor does.
“As I listen to music and do chores around the house, I like to do squats when the chorus is singing,” she said.
Don’t be intimidated by the pros in the gym
The muscular people in the gym and those that memorize fitness class workouts can be a little daunting to beginners. To overcome this fear, remember that these individuals were once beginners, too. They didn’t walk in the gym the first time looking like this.
“You have to remember that there’s one common goal, which is being healthy and staying fit,” said Valenti.” Think of them as part of the encouraging gym environment.”
Nutrition
Just because you work out doesn’t mean you can eat whatever you want. Of course, if you want to look better than average, you have to eat better than average.
“You have to plan to eat correctly just like you plan your working out schedule,” said Michael Davis, certified personal trainer and spinning-certified instructor in the Recplex. “The best way to do that is to keep junk food out of your fridge and plan your meals ahead of time.”
We’re not talking about a strict diet here, but rather smart food choices. Eating healthy not only makes you feel good, but you also have to put into your body what you expect out of it. Healthy eating equals more energy, junk food equals fatigue— it’s this simple.
Break the rules and cheat
Skip the gym or fitness class, grab a slice of pizza or grab a big bowl of ice cream and treat yourself once a week. It’s been proven that cheat meals don’t affect the overall fat-burning process, and, in fact, they help you lose weight and stay in shape.
“It’s important to treat yourself to something special every once in a while so that you don’t feel like you’re depriving yourself,” said Taylor.
These cheat days provide you with the mental break from working out and dieting, and they get your metabolism going. The hardest part can be going back to your healthy routine the next day, but after a couple of weeks, you’ll appreciate the breaks even more, and you’ll definitely be looking forward to them.
Whether you run the treadmill, attend fitness classes or walk outside, the ultimate goal is to be healthy and stay in shape. The best way to achieve this goal is by listening to your body and doing what makes you comfortable. Remember that the most difficult part of working out is that one push to go to the gym. Once the sweat starts dripping, you’ll find that it’s totally worth it.
