This time next week, most students will be posted up on a beach somewhere in the sun, (non-alocholic) drink in hand, on Spring Break with their best friends. Even if it’s not for Spring Break, bikini season is right around the corner. All of our hard work in the gym and dieting has finally paid off and we should have the confidence to wear that new swimwear. So the question is: How do we all get to that feeling of confidence?
Step 1: Go to the gym
What’s more convenient than having a free gym on campus? Fortunately, the Quinnipiac gym offers equipment for both cardio and basic strength training, which are two important aspects of getting our bodies into shape. There is an abundance of treadmills and elliptical machines to use, which are ideal for individual workouts, as well as classes that are available for those of you who need that extra motivation.
“We all need cardio to be heart healthy—so that is very essential and basic strength training is a great idea as well,” said Tami Reilly, assistant athletic director for fitness and wellness.
Using the free weights and machines are good ways to build lean muscle mass. However, there are simple exercises that can be done in your own room such as squats, crunches and push-ups, all of which target a different part of your body.
Incorporating strength training into your exercise will also help “improve your body’s look as well as your metabolism,” Reilly said. “So hitting every muscle groups two to three times per week is important.”
Learning how to use the gym equipment properly will be beneficial to your body, because having that kind of knowledge will make going to the gym more like a fun experience rather than a chore.
Step 2: Time Management
The problem that most of us face is that we don’t believe we have enough time in our day to get to the gym and exercise. The solution is making enough time. By taking advantage of breaks in between classes and maybe sacrificing an hour of Facebook, we could find ourselves one step closer to that confident feeling. Going to the gym and walking on the treadmill is also a great opportunity to read a homework assignment or study for your next exam. It’s all about finding the right time.
“If you are not a morning person, you shouldn’t work out in the morning because you won’t feel like yourself; you won’t have the same energy or attention,” Reilly said. “You should find a time that works best for your own body.”
Making a schedule of times you will exercise at the beginning of the week makes it easier to organize your days and will make it harder to break your plan.
Step 3: Nutrition
Making simple adjustments to your everyday eating habits could have a long-term effect on your body shape.
Kim Shorey, a senior nursing major, gets asked about nutrition frequently at her weekly clinical sites.
“[The most important tools for leading a nutritious lifestyle are] portioning, eating smaller meals more frequently in the day, eating fruit, vegetables, whole grains, specific oils, foods high in fiber, protein, milk and vitamins,” she said.
That confident bathing suit strut may not be just a daydream. Just by watching which foods you eat, controlling your portions and incorporating exercise into your daily routine, you can see results that will make it worth the adjustments. There is no better time than now to start getting into a healthy routine that can last a lifetime.
