As a freshman at BU, constantly surrounded by attractive, fit people, I was the girl who didn’t have exercise as a part of my routine, who never once visited FitRec, and became out of breath after climbing a few flights of stairs. As a small framed Asian girl, I didn’t struggle with my weight, but at the same time, I knew I wanted to make positive changes to my body. After hearing all of my friends raving about the euphoric feelings from their workouts, I realized I could and should join the fun. After 6 months of trial and error, exercise and fitness are routine to me. I am not working out for a temporary “bikini body” but for my own health and happiness. For a girl who couldn’t finish a 5-minute cardio routine involving jumping jacks to now someone who tries spin classes, experiments with weightlifting, and frequently goes on 3-mile jogs, if I could do it, so could you. Below are some tips on how to get started.
1. Start small
No one can go from zero to hero in a day. Getting into exercising can be as simple as brisk walking down Commonwealth Ave or starting with a short, 10-minute jog on the treadmill. Gradually, you will be adding more to your routine and you’d be surprised at how well your body can handle new challenges.
2. Do what you like
If being stuck in the gym sounds unappealing, don’t be afraid to exercise elsewhere. Take a free Zumba class at Fit Rec or play volleyball at the BU Beach with friends. Don’t ever feel limited, because there are so many ways to get active!
3. Utilize the free resources around you
Starting from scratch can be difficult, but there are endless YouTube videos and fitness blogs online to give you directions on anything. Also, you’re paying a 60k tuition, so you might as well take advantage of the state-of-the-art FitRec gym
4. Don’t compare yourself to others
There will always be someone who can run faster, lift heavier, and perform better than you. Don’t focus on the negative thoughts but instead be proud and inspired by yourself. Once you instill confidence in yourself, you can take on the world.
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