2008 Woodie Awards
Living healthy after the holidays
Adria Eichner
Issue date: 1/25/05 Section: Features
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So now that all the decorations and presents have been cleared away and life has returned to normal, it is time to take real responsibility for the bad health choices that often get overlooked during the holidayseason.
If all those extra cookies, cakes, and various other tasty treats were too tempting to pass up this year, a few extra pounds may have settled in as a result. Donʼt get too upset, because there are several strategies that can make that excess weight disappear. But donʼt expect it to happen overnight. Weight loss is a process that takes time and commitment. Most of these strategies are relatively minor lifestyle adjustments, and the key to success is not to get overwhelmed. Instead, remain committed to a long-term goal of healthier living. The truth is that calories burned through both activity and at rest must be less than the number the body is taking in.
That does not mean that one has to spend the entire day on the treadmill or running through the frigid cold. Experts recommend 30 minutes of exercise per day to remain healthy, but someone who is looking to lose a few pounds should aim for 40 to 60 minutes of physical activity. This may sound like a long time to spend at a gym, but any activity that is participated in throughout the day counts towards this target time. This includes walking to classes, climbing the stairs in the dorms or running in place while watching television. Activity does not have to be accomplished all at once. Aerobic exercise is like collecting change: no matter if it is done all at once or spread it out, everything adds up.
There is now a program on campus that encourages this idea of increased activity among members of the student body. Moving Company is a new program that promotes the 30 minutes per day of necessary physical activity, which is equal to about 10,000 steps taken in 24 hours.
To help students track their number of steps per day, pedometers and campus maps are offered, along with lists of possible walking partners and some extra tips for easily increasing activity levels. All of this vital information is available for $5, and interested students can sign up or find out more at the SSI booth in Sykes. Gyms can sometimes be intimidating, so fitness gains can also be made in the comforts of home.
If all those extra cookies, cakes, and various other tasty treats were too tempting to pass up this year, a few extra pounds may have settled in as a result. Donʼt get too upset, because there are several strategies that can make that excess weight disappear. But donʼt expect it to happen overnight. Weight loss is a process that takes time and commitment. Most of these strategies are relatively minor lifestyle adjustments, and the key to success is not to get overwhelmed. Instead, remain committed to a long-term goal of healthier living. The truth is that calories burned through both activity and at rest must be less than the number the body is taking in.
That does not mean that one has to spend the entire day on the treadmill or running through the frigid cold. Experts recommend 30 minutes of exercise per day to remain healthy, but someone who is looking to lose a few pounds should aim for 40 to 60 minutes of physical activity. This may sound like a long time to spend at a gym, but any activity that is participated in throughout the day counts towards this target time. This includes walking to classes, climbing the stairs in the dorms or running in place while watching television. Activity does not have to be accomplished all at once. Aerobic exercise is like collecting change: no matter if it is done all at once or spread it out, everything adds up.
There is now a program on campus that encourages this idea of increased activity among members of the student body. Moving Company is a new program that promotes the 30 minutes per day of necessary physical activity, which is equal to about 10,000 steps taken in 24 hours.
To help students track their number of steps per day, pedometers and campus maps are offered, along with lists of possible walking partners and some extra tips for easily increasing activity levels. All of this vital information is available for $5, and interested students can sign up or find out more at the SSI booth in Sykes. Gyms can sometimes be intimidating, so fitness gains can also be made in the comforts of home.
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