Hey everyone! I hope you all enjoyed your week-long reprieve from school and responsibility and are ready to finish the semester strong.
The Home Stretch
Believe it or not, six weeks will quickly pass and spring 2010 will be a memory.
The weeks between the return from spring break and the beginning of finals mark a period of time when students will dramatically lose interest in going to the gym, and gym attendance will plummet. Gross amounts of caffeine, sugary junk food and pizza will be ingested, and students won't have time for much else other than cramming and pulling all-nighters.
Sadly, that's how the semester ends with students stressed out because of final exams and projects, leaving their health as an afterthought.
Throughout the semester, I have written about the many benefits of working out from getting in shape and feeling better to looking better, but exercising also helps relieve stress, which will go a long way toward your health - especially during finals. Studies link exercise as a means of reducing stress and providing a great outlet for frustration and anger.
Unfortunately, many people fall into a slump where they find themselves so busy that they don't have any time to exercise in addition to all their other priorities. According to MC newsletters.com, people who say that they don't have the time or energy to exericse can stand to benefit the most from working out because a higher level of fitness will increase their tolerance to physical and mental stress. Thus, they will have more energy that will allow them to do more throughout the course of the day in a more relaxed manner.
Reducing stress in a fun way
Last month, I interviewed Chris "Boris" Marhefka, certified personal trainer and owner of the personal training company Body by Boris, about cardiovascular exercise and what benefits it brings to the body.
As Marhefka mentioned in my cardio special, finding an activity that you enjoy doing will leave someone less likely to quit his or her training to get in or stay in shape. It also makes sense when you're trying to reduce stress - if you feel like going to the gym and working out is a chore instead of a release, it will create more stress instead of reducing it.
For those looking for something different and fun that doesn't require any skill, I would highly recommend Marhefka's "Boris' Bootcamps." This past week, I got a chance to catch up with Marhefka and take part in his boot camp fitness classes on Norman Field. I can honestly say that I haven't had a workout that had my heart beating out of my chest and my legs twitching in a long time.
I would highly recommend Boris' Bootcamps because the classes focus on interval training, and there's never a dull moment when during one 30-second spurt you're pressing a tire over your head and the next you're doing 10 burpees followed by a 40 yard sprint. While it may sound intimidating, boot camps are a fun and enjoyable activity that anyone can do whether you're just starting to get in shape or are a seasoned athlete.
This upcoming week, check out my Avenue story and multimedia feature about Boris' Bootcamps and remember during these next couple of weeks to find some time to at least go for a walk when you're feeling stressed out from school or anything else life throws your way.
Stay healthy, Gators!
