It's beginning to get warm again and Spring Break is less than two weeks away. The pressure is on to look good in that swim suit but why do we always feel the pressure to look good and what is the best way to tone up in time? When the spring season comes around everyone notices the increase of people at the gym. Students usually procrastinate to get in shape just like they do to study for a test usually waiting for the last minute or in this case a couple of weeks to lose a few pounds. Why do we do it to ourselves? Lauren Davis, a freshman Business Major, puts it best girls are, "trying to look better for the guys". Carrie Brady, a sophomore Elementary Education student, says it's a, "confidence builder and even if I don't lose weight I'll feel better".
Cindy Stephens the Director of Health Central of Augusta, Georgia also says as Spring Break approaches they, "see more people in the gym as well as increase in memberships". According to Stephens the best way to tone up for swim suit season, “is a combination of cardio and weight training exercise. Cardio as in running, swimming, cycling, step aerobics, or anything that gets your heart rate up for at least thirty minutes three to five times per week can help burn calories and improve your health. Weight training two to three times per week with a day of rest in between will increase your muscle mass, bone strength, and improve your metabolism so that you burn more calories even at rest. To lose weight, you must burn more calories than you consume, so what you eat is as important as exercise. Eat food that is closer to its natural state including fruits, vegetables, lean protein and whole grains. Avoid foods that are over processed, fried, or full of sugar and saturated fat. It is also important to stretch your muscles after every workout".
Stephens also believes gyms like South Carolina's Strom Thurmond Center are a more effective way of getting in shape rather than doing it on your own. "Joining a gym with a good variety of equipment and classes and a professional staff is a great way to get in shape. There are less distractions than at home & trained professionals to motivate you and make sure you are working out in a safe, effective way. It also helps to have a workout partner or someone to encourage you and hold you accountable. It is important to set aside time to work out and stick with your plan. Joining a gym or buying home equipment won't help you if you don't use the equipment or make time to go to the gym".
South Carolina students are lucky to have such a great facility as The Strom Thurmond Fitness and Wellness Center. The Strom has everything you could ever need from a climbing wall to a sauna. Classes are offered at the Strom called Group Exercise or GX for twenty dollars a semester. They offer many types of classes and even classes for beginners for those who are new to the gym scene. So if you’ve already faced the facts that you won’t be getting in a swim suit any time soon it’s not too late to hit the gym to be looking good before Spring Break.
