Work It Out

In college, it is always a balancing act. A student has to maintain social connections, preserve their good grades, and also find the time to stay fit and active. Believe it or not, there are easy, beneficial ways to incorporate exercise into the daily routine.

One tip is to squeeze a quick workout in the morning. According to Women’s Health, working out in the morning rev up the metabolism, which meaning, “[You can] burn off the food you eat during the day, rather than when you’re sleeping.” Another added benefit of morning workouts is increased concentration. Also, going for a 30 minute workout in the morning before class is one of the best, most natural stress relievers.

Want a way to burn off a few extra calories throughout the day? Try walking to class instead of driving, if the weather permits. Or for students who live far away from campus, park a little farther away than usual and walks the rest of the way. Students would be surprised at how beneficial just a couple minutes of walking a day can be.

Testcoliving.com states that walking is a low impact exercise, yet it still engages all the muscles. Walking has been known to keep weight in check while strengthening the heart and circulatory system at the same time.

Students searching for something more intense should try running.  Running has the same added benefits, with more results, such as increased metabolism, higher calorie burn, and extra lower body toning in the glute, thigh, and calf muscles. Research shows that just walking or running briskly for 30 minutes a day can help prevent and control high blood pressure, increase muscle mass, and tone up the muscles.

Several students here at Frostburg State University understand the importance of staying healthy. Essence Moseley, a communication major, does not particularly enjoy exercising but believes in its purpose. She states, “I don’t like going to the gym. I do it because I’ll be too old and weak one day too. I’m trying to push that back. I want to build up my muscles now and take advantage of the time I have while I am young and fit.”

Another student Taylor Williams states, “The first couple weeks were the hardest to get through, but once I started seeing results, it made me want to work out more and set more goals for myself.”

Some other helpful suggestions include opting for the stairs rather than the elevator, as well as engaging in physical activities with friends such as basketball, volleyball, rock-climbing, or anything increases heart rate. Exercise does not have to be discouraging. The best way to ensure a healthy lifestyle is to fit at least get 30 minutes of exercise daily. The key to exercise is that some is better than none.

Featured image by: LocalFitness.com.au