Staying fit is a constant challenge. I don’t know about you, but I always ask myself so many questions before I actually decide to go to the gym. These questions include: can I make it to boxing class? Are those extremely comfortable leggings clean? Do I want to walk in the cold?
Despite knowing the answer to all of these well before I plan to go to the gym, I’m absolutely positive that working out has to be a part of my routine. I try to exercise at least 4 times a week. That could mean taking a class at the gym, doing HIIT exercises (high intensity interval training), or even walking several miles while shopping in the city with shopping bags on each arm. For me, exercise is very cathartic. It has a dual function, in that it keeps me leveled, and is good for my body.
Since diabetes and heart disease run in my family, I have recently begun paying more attention to my health, and most importantly, my exercising and eating habits. Ensuring that you have the correct amount of carbohydrates prior to exercise is very important, in that it helps your body function. Following exercise, it is best to replenish your body with protein and fats to refuel your muscles. Eating healthily doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go on diets or even remove certain food items from your diet. But, instead, something small such as, changing your drink order from Pepsi to Water every time you go out might work wonders for you!
As a college student, penciling in time to go to the gym is tough. In a study conducted by the Journal of Exercise Physiology, the top three reasons why college students don’t exercise is because of lack of time, laziness, and other priorities. To debunk those reasons, create a schedule that you know you can commit to. The average adult should get an average of 75 minutes of exercise a week, according to the CDC. So ideally, that can be broken up into three 25-minute work outs every week. Which, in my opinion, isn’t too much to commit to.
There are various benefits of exercising. According to the CDC, “regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health.” It can help control your weight, reduce risk of cardiovascular disease, reduce risk for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, reduce risk of some cancers, strengthen bones and muscles, improve mental health and mood, improve ability to do daily activities, and increase chances of living longer. More specifically, exercise reduces the risk of some cancers, such as breast and colon. The CDC’s Physical Activity and Health page states that “physically active people have a lower risk of colon cancer than do people who are not active. And physically active women have a lower risk of breast cancer than do people who are not active.
Exercise and eating healthily are more important that many think and including both into your daily life might just brighten your mood, or even reduce the risk of a long-term illness.