In addition to the old standards of reading, writing and arithmetic, most American high schools also require students to take physical education. Chances are you never really gave gym class much thought throughout the 13 years your body has undergone some type of athletic activity twice a week.
As you leave high school and enter college, many things about your lifestyle are guaranteed to change. Among them - one thing you haven't given much thought to yet - is that physical education is not a typical college requirement. THERE’S NO MORE GYM CLASS. On top of that, many college students think the four food groups consist of pizza, pizza, pizza, and more pizza.
Lack of exercise plus a junk food diet are what lead many students straight to the "Freshman 15." According to the American Fitness Association, 22 percent of youths, ages 6 to 17, are overweight. That's approximately 10 million kids who, as a result of being overweight when they're young, are at an increased risk to become obese adults.
Avoiding weight gain is just one of many reasons to maintain an exercise program after you begin college. The AFA states that, "inactivity combined with poor diet is second only to tobacco use in causing preventable deaths in the United States."
There are plenty of benefits to moving around. "By being physically active, you'll have more energy, better blood circulation, stronger muscles, bones, and joints, lower blood pressure, and greater self-esteem," says the American Heart Association. College students' schedules are so crazy that it often seems impossible to find time to exercise.
One thing all students should check out right away is the kind of fitness facilities their school offers. Many colleges have gorgeous state-of-the-art equipment for students. Here are a few tips that can help you maintain a fitness program and fight off that "Freshman 15."
FIND A PARTNER If you have a standing date to meet your friend at the gym and you bail, you're going to feel guilty. By teaming up with a friend, you will be much more likely to stick to your exercise routine, the experts say. You can be each other's support systems, offering encouragement and pushing each other to work harder than you might otherwise have done. And face it, the first couple time you walk into a gym jam-packed with rugby players can be a little intimidating if you're new to the workout scene.
MAKE EXERCISE APART OF YOUR SCHEDULE Change your way of thinking from "I'll work out when I have time" to "I'll work out Tuesdays and Thursdays after psychology." After sticking to your schedule a few times, it will become so much a part of your routine that you won't feel right if you don't make it to the gym.
TAKE A CLASS We've already established the fact that P.E. isn't a required course at most colleges, but that doesn't mean you can't take it as an elective. Check out the course catalog - there might be classes such as fencing, modern dance, or yoga. Not only can you learn a cool new activity and get some exercise, but also you'll even get college credit for it.
BE FLEXIBLE So you hate the gym? Is the idea of taking another P.E. class more than you can bear? Don't give up on a fitness program yet. Fitness is a pretty broad term, and there is a whole wide world of other things you can do to keep in shape. For example, many larger universities offer a shuttle service for students to get from their dorms to campus or from class to class. Here's a thought - don't use it. Walk instead. Also, check bulletin boards around campus for fun fitness-oriented clubs, such as ultimate Frisbee.
SET GOALS This advice applies to every aspect of your freshman year, not just the fitness part. Before the semester starts, take time to figure out exactly what it is you want to accomplish. By putting your goals and objectives down on paper, you'll have something on which to focus as time passes. Make the list a work in progress, and update it as time goes by. Maybe you'll start out by hoping to run five miles a week and getting Bs in all your classes. Halfway into the semester, review the list. You may already be running seven miles a week, averaging an A- in one class, a C in another. The important thing is not to be compulsive about your expectations for yourself, but to be realistic and keep aiming higher.
