Are you one of the girls at the gym who logs hour after hour on the elliptical but doesn’t see any results? Do you have the same circuit of weights that you do every couple of days? And be honest collegiettes, have you even thought about cranking up the resistance on your spin bike?
One of the biggest mistakes an active gym-goer can make is performing the same workout week after week. The muscles in your body become accustomed to the unvarying setting on the elliptical and will refuse to show any results. Muscle confusion is the key to having toned, sleek legs that you can show off in your pencil skirt on the weekends.
HerCampus is here to help you mix up your workout routine in a fun way. We’ve compiled a list of the best, most creative and hardest sweat sessions on and around campus. You’ll be seeing flat abs and definition in those arms in no time.
Here are some ideas that anybody can try:
• Take a class at the gym
The Penn State Fitness Instructors all do a great job of making you sweat and have fun in every class. All of the classes provide different options, so depending on your skill level and experience, you can make the workout however easy or as hard as you want.
If you’re the type of person who enjoys a hard workout that will leave you feeling sore for days, we recommends going to Calorie Killer. It’s a class based on intervals, with a mix of cardio and weight training.
If you’re the type of person who only likes to work out because it’s fun, grab a friend a go to a Zumba class. Zumba is a fast-paced, upbeat dance class that teaches you the latest moves and allows you to shimmy your way to a killer bod. You won’t even feel like you’re working out.
To see a current list of classes and times at the PSU gym go to this website: http://www.athletics.psu.edu/fitness/schedule_fall_2011.pdf
• Go for a jog on Sunset Trail
Not many people know about the running trails right off campus, but State College’s own Sunset Park provides a scenic running path for you to enjoy. The path is mostly flat but has shortcuts if you’re looking to run hills or for a quick way back to campus. Running burns around 10 calories a minute, so lace up those tennis shoes ladies.
The address of Sunset Park is 850 McKee Street State College, Pa.
• Join a club that keeps you moving
Penn State has a ton of sports clubs for students to join, and most of the time you don’t need experience to play. From swing dancing to cave diving, Penn State has it all. Don’t be afraid to try something new, you never know what you’re capable of until you try. Have you always wanted to run a marathon? Join the club cross country team and find a new running group. Or would you prefer to go to the HUB and hustle some pool tables? Go ahead and give the billiards club a try. As long as you’re moving, you’re getting exercise.
To see a full list of clubs go to this website: www.clubs.psu.edu
• Run the steps at Beaver Stadium
We all know how torturous it is to climb up and down those steps on Saturdays during the football games. Imagine the amazing workout you would accomplish with the chance to run up and down those steps. Running up and down stadium steps for 30 minutes would burn around 425 calories and build muscle in your lower half.
Note: Singing the Rocky song as you go up the stairs may help you to run faster.
• Join Nittany CrossFit
If you’re looking for total muscle confusion, intense interval training, and fast results, give a CrossFit workout a try. Nittany CrossFit is located a few minutes off campus, and the trainers will bring out the best in you. CrossFit is an excellent way to get stronger, faster and healthier.
To find out more about Nittany CrossFit go to this website: www.crossfitnittany.com
As long as you continue to change your workouts, increase your level of work, and go hard, you will see results. Get to moving collegiettes.
Happy sweating!