My article that will appear in the voice this week: =)
Getting Fit For Summer
With the summer months finally in sight and the bitter cold days behind us, we are all starting to realize that a little exercise might be necessary. It is now that time to break out the bikinis and board shorts, drop the extra layers of clothing and maybe even a couple of pounds.
It is no secret that everyone tips the scale a little bit throughout the winter months, especially as college students. With winter comes many holidays that focus on plenty of special dinners and party after party. Along with the shorter days come cold miserable weather, increased sleep and lack of exercise. Campus dining also offers a variety of delicious burgers, cheese-steaks, French fries, bagels, and many more carb filled treats. These are all essential ingredients for weight gain.
So now that its time to expose some skin, you’re probably thinking ‘What should I do to look good for the summer’?
There are a lot of ways to work on your figure, especially as a member of a community like Bloomsburg. The student recreation center is open everyday until 11pm Monday through Thursday at 10pm on weekends, making it easy to find time during the day to make a trip. The rec is full of cardio machines and weights and offers many aerobics classes to fit anyone’s needs. The rec also offers a free personal training session to show you how to tackle your problem areas. It could be a big help if you grab a friend and take them with you or join a class to help build up some motivation.
The pool in Nelson Field House is also available to all students for certain hours throughout each day. Everyone loves to jump in a pool, and a refreshing swim also offers you a great amount of exercise without even realizing it. The pool is open until April 25th and its hours can be found on the bloom website.
An even better way to get some exercise without really knowing it is to get outside. Now that the weather is warming up you can go for a walk through town or down to the park with a friend. At the park you can play tennis, pick up a game of soccer, hang out at the skate park, or walk down to the river. Take a Frisbee or a baseball up to the quad and throw it around with your buddies; as long as you are outside moving around, you’re making progress and getting exercise!
Personally, I think the best motivation to shape up is planning a summer vacation. Plan a trip with friends to the beach or to a lake; this will not only give you a deadline but also some incentive to drop the pounds and firm up. Spring is the prime time for bathing suit shopping and when we look in the mirror we want to love what we see, not be afraid of what we are looking at.
To top it off, one of the best things you can do for yourself is keep track of what you eat. Keep a journal or a notebook and write down everything you eat in a day and every type of exercise you do. When it is written on paper you can see how much you have consumed and how much exercise you have gotten. Also, when the food is headed toward your mouth, you think ‘Do I really want to write that down and look at it again later?’ and you may change your mind.
Now that it’s nice out, barbeques are taking place again and we all know how hard it is to stay away from the mouth-watering burgers and greasy chips. It is also hard to avoid the grill at the Commons; but instead of heading straight for the pile of French fries, think about the other choices you have available to you on campus. Stick to healthy sandwiches that you can make yourself at the Commons, or have one made for you at the Husky Lounge. You could also try out the new “make your own salad” at the Union. And don’t forget, skip the sugar-filled soda and drink a lot of water! Water keeps your energy up and helps you maintain a healthy weight.
When it comes down to it, losing a little bit of weight only takes a few easy changes in your daily routine. If you follow some of these easy tips you will be fit for summer in no time. So get outside and get moving!
Wall Pushups: If you’re just getting started with pushups, the wall pushup (or, as shown here, on a stair railing) is a great way to give your body support while you practice your form. By staying upright, you don’t have to lift all your body weight. Once you perfect this version, you can move on to a more challenging version below.
Pushups on the Knees: For this version, you’re on your knees with the back flat and the abs contracted. Being on your knees makes the move easier than when you’re on your toes.
Modified BOSU Balance Trainer Pushup: This pushup is shown using a BOSU, which adds a core challenge but also can make the move a little easier, since your upper body is elevated. You can also do this on a step or platform.
Pushups: Traditional pushups are done on your hands and toes, a real challenge for the upper body as well as the core. If you having trouble doing full pushups, try keeping one knee down for support.
Pushups on the ball: Decline pushups are more advanced and placing your feet on a ball will add even more intensity. You can always put the knees/thighs on the ball to make the move easier.
