Please help us welcome our new fitness guest-writer, Meg Hughes – Garvey! Meg is a northeastern grad-student and the author of the collegiette™ favorite, Dorm Workout. For more information about Meg and her book, please visit dormworkout.com.
If you are anything like me, this semester hit you like a ton of bricks and you haven’t stopped running
around since you unpacked your bags. Phew! Already juggling new classes, roommates, professors, TA’s and co-op. Plus, in your spare time, reuniting with old friends and classmates, etc. Iin the midst of it all you come to the realization that the only time that you have laced up those Nikes or rocked your new yoga pants was on your way to your 8AM bio class. What can a busy collegiette™ do to work a little fitness into her life?!
Take a deep breath and follow a few steps from a collegiette™ fitness veteran. Time management is key: Whether we are talking about keeping up our GPAs or keeping our bodies healthy, there shouldn’t be a difference.
College is a lot of stress, that’s for sure: Having to perform well on papers, exams and presentations while maintaining some form of social life is no easy task. Our bodies tend to take a back seat–even if we were avid gym-goers before going to school.
Putting aside time to take care of our bodies should be just as important as putting aside time to study. Here are three easy tips on sneaking a little fitness into your busy schedule:
1. Realizing that you are not the only one struggling to find balance…and using it to your advantage!
It is always easier to get your butt in gear when you have some workout buddies that have also set aside that time. It doesn’t matter whether you are a new freshman or a third year law student, grab some friends and get moving!
Especially this early in the semester, forget the gym. It is so packed with the start of the semester rush that it almost becomes pointless to go. You wait forever for equipment and see 80 million people that you want to gab with, that by the time you actually get to calorie burning you have to book it home to get ready for the next thing on your to-do list.
Instead, think outside the box and get out into the city. Boston’s weather is still nice for a few more weeks, so grab some girlfriends and go for a run, play some ultimate Frisbee in the park, or join one of the many intramural teams on campus.
Words for the wise: If you do go out running, keep aware of your surroundings. This means not blasting your music and be sure to have a fully charged cell phone.
2. Boston is a super walkable city, whenever possible walk to where you need to go, might as well take advantage before the New England winter-weather is upon us.
Leaving a bit early to take the long way to class, walking up all staircases, and trying to walk at a brisk enough pace to elevate your heart rate will all help burn some extra calories. On average, whether you walk, jog or run a mile, you burn 100 calories. Let’s wrap our heads around that for a moment: One mile is roughly 2000 steps, McGrevey’s pub on Boylston Street boasts being a mere 12,000 steps away from Fenway and according to Google Maps, campus to Fenway equals that 1 mile.
Especially in Boston, walking from place-to-place becomes a way of life (much easier to walk than wait for the green line) so if you add just one more mile per day that burns an extra 500 calories per week! So what if your destination is a bit too far away for a stroll, say for example a co-op across town? Hop on a bike! Don’t have one? Boston offers some great options in bike sharing, hubway.com. Let your commute work for you.
3. Don’t have time to go out and do something? Totally fine, stay in and get a great workout in your own space.
There are loads of things that you can do in your dorm room with no need for loads of equipment or a large living space. Here’s a great lower body workout to get you started:
Grab a paper plate (they easily glide on both carpet as well as hard surface floors; with one foot grounded on the floor and the other on the plate we are set to do some lunges). The stationary leg stays on the floor while, using the plate, glide the other foot straight behind you to lunge, then pull back to the center – repeat on both legs 10 – 15 times each.
Same idea, but this time glide out to the side and pull back to center. Always remember to hinge the hips back and keep the bent knee behind the toes almost like a one legged squat – repeat on both sides 10 – 15 times.
To finish, get into a plank or push up position to heat up and work on the core. Place either your wrists (or for a low or “dolphin plank” your elbows,) directly under your shoulders, legs out long and hold. Your goal is to be able to hold it for 20- 30 seconds, but work your way up to it, repeat 2-3 times and you’re all done.
There you are, three easy tips for sneaking a little fitness into your busy schedule! For even more hints and tips visit dormworkout.com