Shaping Up for Summer

We all know that college can be extremely stressful and face-paced. When you consider that you’re running from class to campus clubs and different organizations and then factor in the fact that you still need to do homework and want to spend time with your friends, taking time to eat right and work out can be a challenge. 
This is especially true when you’re living on a college budget because healthy food can be expensive.  But, with summer sneaking up on us, fitness comes to the forefront of our conscious, so here’s a few tips to get your motivated. 

First, write down your fitness goals. I find that by writing down what you want to achieve, you can look back and really encourage yourself. When you fall off track, no problem. You can always refer to your long-term goal.

Second, try to set aside time to sit down and really enjoy your food—every bite of it. When I studied abroad in Europe this past summer, I couldn’t help but notice the tremendous difference in the way that Europeans eat.  By chewing every bite, and really tasting the food you’re eating, you’re not only making it easier on your body to digest, but you will eat less by feeling fuller faster. Dining on campus can sometimes can be a challenge because of buffet style food in the commons, so always remember portion control when you eat in there.  However if you’re dining downtown, I recommend these amazing places.

        Crisp: Located on Pugh and College Avenue, this place offers delicious salads for an affordable price. Some great choices for toppings include almonds, avocados, edamame, and sunflower seeds. For dressings, pomegranate acai and apple cider vinaigrette make for the perfect combination!
        The Enchanted Kitchen: Located on Pugh Street between College and Beaver Avenue, this modern, beautifully decorated café is a State College gem. Specializing in vegetarian, raw, and whole foods, The Enchanted Kitchen offers a wide array of organic greens, vegetable juices, and fruit smoothies. What’s even better is that Lotus Center Yoga is right next door!

Third, always remember water.
Penn State is a huge campus, and running around all day can leave you dehydrated. Taking a water bottle with you throughout the day can quench all of your thirst needs and the filling stations around campus make it easy to replenish.  I love squeezing a little bit of lemon in my water to give it some tang.

Lastly, exercise does not have to be a chore. What’s important in making working out enjoyable is realizing what type of physical activity you actually enjoy doing. Whether it’s dancing, hiking, yoga, or swimming, the important thing is that you keep your body moving. 
Luckily here at Penn State we have options.  You always have the ability to go for a run outside, but if working out inside is more enjoyable to you, you can go to the White Building or Rec Hall.  The White Building also offers a long list of work out classes that, with a gym membership, you can take.  Some classes include Zumba, calorie killer and yoga.  There’s also the Pennsylvania Dance Workshop located on South Fraser, which offers various dance classes.