We’re so spoiled with the weather here in California that even the few months of cold and wet weather we get seem torturous. Flip-flops and tanks go back in the closet, and out come the rain boots and jackets. Fortunately, spring is here, and with it comes warm weather and bright sunlight. It can be easy to let yourself go during the winter months. We all look shapeless with all those layers on, anyways. With spring arriving, now’s the time when people think about getting back into “swimsuit shape.” We’ve got a harsh reality to share with you: it’s not going to happen overnight. But this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t start. Don’t think of it as getting in shape for swimsuit season. Don’t think of it as a rush diet to drop 3 pounds before we all head to the pool after classes. Think of it as getting in shape for life.
Too much of fitness media is written with bad intentions. Just look at the covers of health magazines. They scream about “new” and “exciting” routines, secret tips and tricks that will help you lose weight quickly and easily. Fitness publications have stopped being about health and well-being. Instead, they’re about gimmicks and destinations. Instead of helping people live healthy, active lives, they talk about looking good for beach season or fitting into a wedding dress. It’s the wrong message to send.
Fitness shouldn’t be about preparing for frivolous goals. It should be about promoting well-being. Otherwise, all the mistakes we make will catch up with us in the end. Right now, we’re in the prime of our lives. Most college students can drink all night and be right as rain in time for class the next day. We can stuff our faces with pizza and chicken tenders and feel perfectly healthy. Not tackling these bad habits will come back to haunt us in the future. Age has a way of making us feel our mistakes. Check out this picture:
The time to start these good habits is now. Not when you’re forty and out of breath from walking up the stairs. It’s time to stop thinking about exercise and eating right as a chore. Think of it as an investment in your future.
Here’s another harsh truth: there are no ‘quick tricks’ to getting in shape. There are no housewives with secret tips, there’s no 20-minute workout routine that’ll solve all your problems. Getting in shape takes hard work and dedication. Nothing you do can get around that. It’s not going to be easy, it’s not going to be quick, but it will be worth it. Taking time now to develop healthy habits will pay off immensely in the future. You’ll look and feel better than everyone else your age.
Here are some tips that will help you get started:
- It’s all about diet. No matter how much you work out, it’s impossible to lose (or gain) weight without eating properly. 30 minutes of running at 7 miles an hour (around an 8 minute mile), burns about 400 calories. You can easily lose all that progress with a couple of cookies (but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t treat yourself every once in a while). Also, make sure you are supplementing your workouts with healthy, nutritious foods that will help your body function at its highest ability.
- Make a plan. Many people set New Year’s resolutions to get in shape. They go to the gym with a smile on their face, not realizing that they don’t know what to do. They wander around aimlessly and end up giving up on their goals. Before you set foot in a gym or on a track, have a general idea of what you want to accomplish, and how you’ll get there. If you don’t, odds are you’ll get confused and lose motivation. Think about bringing a friend who works out regularly to help you or looking up work out routines online. Making a plan will help you maximize your time and get the most out of your workout.
- Be realistic. The point is to achieve long-term health. Yes, you can lose 15 pounds by starving yourself, but you’ll probably gain it all back quickly and risk other aspects of your health along the way. Fitness is a long-term goal. Make sure that every improvement is something you are achieving in a healthy way and can sustain.
- Don’t be afraid of weights. Many girls think the second they start lifting, they’ll turn into a she-hulk. It’s simply not true. “Bulking up” takes a focused program of lifting and eating. Adding some weight training to a workout routine can only have benefits. In terms of effort to calories burned, lifting is one of the most efficient exercises out there.
So get out there and get in shape for life!