By Brianna Llewellyn, Staff Writer
At times, it may seem impossible to find time to exercise in between rushing back and forth to classes, doing homework, and preparing a worthwhile meal. However, with just a little effort such a mission can be accomplished. Over the years many college students have let the weight of their textbooks weigh them down. Still the story doesn’t have to be the same for everyone. The infamous ‘freshman 15’ is not mandatory.
Here are a few tips that may help a busy college student keep up with their health and fitness and still find time to hit the books.
Take the stairs. A little bit of effort can make a big difference. Stair climbing can help increase strength and metabolism and as a result help burn more calories.
Hit the gym. Even if only for 30 minutes daily, all it takes is a bit of consistency to help maintain a fit and active lifestyle. The university gym is 3500 square feet and consists of many different machines that can be used to gain muscles and maintain fitness. Some equipment available for use at the University gyms include: treadmills, stair climbers, ellipticals, bicycles, weights, and jump ropes. Also, knowledgeable staff members are always at the front desk and willing to give a helping hand.
Walk to Marmion and Snyder. Walking the hill will get the heart pumping to help burn calories and breathing in the fresh air will make the journey much more bearable.
Try an intramural sport. There are many teams and sports available such as basketball, flag football, baseball, Frisbee, bowling, tennis, as well as ping pong. Visit: http://www.saintleo.edu/campus-life/health-wellness/athletics-recreation/recreation.aspx to find out more information about times and places for each tournament.
Maintain a healthy diet. One of the most important parts to maintaining fitness is eating healthy. Of course, there will be times when it is too hard to resist temptations and that’s okay. However, make it a habit to try to drink more water and eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.
Make use of the Residence Halls. If the gym is intimidating as a beginner, utilize the space in your room. Or check out the 24 hour fitness rooms in almost every residence hall except for Apartment 6, Roderick, Alumni, Benoit, and Henderson. Students living in these residence halls are allowed to use the fitness room in Apartment 5 instead. Also, there are various videos and fitness gurus on the Internet that can help a beginner start or maintain various fitness goals along any fitness journey.
Bring a friend along. Encourage friends to set fitness goals and be more active. Also, for some people exercise is much more fun if friends are there to cheer them on, or even challenge them to a bit of friendly competition.
Ride a bike. Instead of driving to the store, save gas and stay fit at the same time. Also, be careful on the roads, and be sure to wear a helmet.
Invest in a pedometer. A pedometer tracks steps and can help a beginner achieve fitness goals. Some pedometers have alarms that go off when a user has been sitting in one place for too long. This is supposed to remind the user to form healthier habits.
Be kind. The journey to fitness can be difficult at first but it is important to still be kind to one’s self. It is also important to be patient even when the results of hard work are not showing. Taking the steps towards being healthier and more active is all that matters.
All it takes is to burn 3500 calories to lose a pound and choosing even two of these options could result in a more active lifestyle on campus. However, before starting any new fitness regimens it is important to have a physician assess personal fitness levels and help predict healthy ways to attain future fitness goals.
