Getting Physical

By Danielle Rappel on April 3, 2014

The most difficult thing to do in college is workout. Once we get to college, we tend to get lazy. Working out feels more like a chore and a burden than a positive decision. Why go to the gym in your free time when you could lay in your bed and watch Netflix for an hour instead? Then you’re hit with the infamous and dreaded freshman 15. It attacks silently, and you don’t notice you’ve been hit until you try to put your favorite pair of skinny jeans on and you have to jump a couple extra times to squeeze into them. It’s hard to find motivation to workout when you’re swamped with a killer class load and a constant desire to go out with your friends. But you know, deep deep down, that something has to change.

You’ve probably pinned dozens of workouts on Pintrest that you convince yourself you will try out, but you never do. It all sounds good at the time, as you’re aimlessly scrolling through the images online, but how many of them do you actually end up doing? You may even go so far as to contemplate (and maybe even try) a juice diet, a smoothie cleanse…but nothing really sticks and, in the end, nothing really works. A combination of eating right and adequate exercise is the only things that will work long term. Working out will not only make you look better, but you will feel better, too!

image via inspirationboost.com

The hardest part about going to the gym is actually getting to the gym. You can talk about it all you want, but unless you go out and actually do it, it is completely futile. The best way to stay motivated is working out with friends. Working out friends also gives you a dependable gym buddy. You have someone there to encourage you and to help you push through that last set, even though it burns. With a gym partner, there is always at least one person who can go to the gym to do the workout with you. Plus, whether you decide to use a gym buddy or a trainer, they’re able to help you build a workout program that suits you and what you’re hoping to achieve.

Once you get yourself to the gym, the next step is accepting the change in routine. You have to make time for the gym, even if it means going at 9pm –   it is worth it and eventually your body will get acclimated.

The first two weeks of any workout program (and working out in general) are the hardest. Your body is tired and you’ll probably be sore in places you didn’t know could be sore. Using the weight room can also be pretty uncomfortable and awkward at first (and self-deprecating) because you may feel like you don’t know what you’re doing. But stick through it! Once your muscles get used to it and you get more comfortable with the positioning, it gets a lot easier. Plus the constant change of routines is a big help. And once you really start to see some muscular improvements, it makes it all worth the while and actually motivates you more to keep coming back.

I know for me personally I was never a big believer in workout programs. I had always been extremely active in sports since I was little, so coming to college and being plucked out of that lifestyle was a bit of a culture shock. But, having a small group of stable gym partners has really kept me going. There is always at least one person who can go to the gym with me and they’re able to help and coach me through the workout, which makes me feel more comfortable.

I have also learned that what you eat is just as important, if not more important, than the workout itself. Surrounding yourself with people who have the same goals as you is a HUGE help. You learn so much about healthy fats verses bad ones, portion control, and loading up on good calories instead of bad. Basically, you learn how to eat healthy but enjoy it too. I didn’t think it was possible to eat so many egg whites, peanut butter sandwiches and avocados.

In the end, everyone is different. You know your body better than anyone else and it is up to you to keep it in the best condition. If nothing else, try to get to the gym to do a couple machines or go for a brisk jog outside a couple times a week. Start with something light and work your way up. Just put some sort of effort in to doing something. I promise you won’t regret it.

 

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