The Big Push

Easter/Passover, which ever you celebrate, has come and gone signaling the last big push for some to get in shape before summer!  I myself am one of those people.  During holidays, my family has a smorgasbord of food all throughout the day that leaves me with a food baby at the completion.  But with a month to go before Memorial Day, where there is a chance I will be donning a swimsuit, I am now renewing my relationship with the gym.

The only problem is, I don’t like my gym (it’s tiny, gloomy and crowded, not to mention people stare and wait for you to be done with the equipment) which interferes with my wanting to go exercise.    

However! I have come up with ways to make it more enjoyable:

• NOT going at its rush hour (afternoon/before dinner) and either waking up or going before bed

• Dragging my roommates with me to have someone to talk with (having a friend that is willing to go is also motivation if you’re not independent like me)

• Making a great playlist

      **I know these all seem generic but they really do work!

Not a gym fan either? The other alternative is to exercise elsewhere.  With the possibility of nice weather increasing, I will be running outside more, doing more athletic activities (most campuses are loaded with various sporting courts/fields), and walking more in general.  I noticed I always decide to drive to my friends’ houses that are only a 10-minute walk or to the Wawa that is only a block away.  If you are not a cardio-junkie, then walking can be the simplest way to lose weight and become healthy.

A routine I also do if the gym is busy or I don’t feel like going is to make a playlist filled with music you love.  During each verse I do an exercise, for example mountain climbers, and when the refrain starts, I rest and begin mountain climbers again during the next verse.  Do this for the entire song.  With the next song pick a different exercise and repeat.  If you’re having difficulty doing the exercise you can sing along with the song to get through.  It is a simple way to be active that’s enjoyable.  

Don’t forget, being healthy isn’t only about exercise it’s about eating right too.  Skipping meals, such as breakfast, to lose weight isn’t going to work.  That meal starts your day and fuels your body with energy.  Try eating oatmeal instead of pop tarts, or if you are off campus make an egg.   Side note, it’s a myth that eggs are bad for you because they are high in cholesterol.  Eggs provide the body with protein, which helps you feel fuller and energized.  There is a higher chance of raising your cholesterol by snacking on chips every day, which only leaves you with greasy fingers and a gut.  Have a salad for lunch, or try a GreenMonster Smoothie, and if you’re trying to cut carbs swap them with quinoa for dinner.  It’s also okay to snack throughout the day, just don’t eat the whole box of Goldfish.