It’s that time of year again: The pre-spring break panic. Everyone wants to have a killer spring break body to flaunt in photos on Facebook and Instagram, but you probably don’t have the time or motivation to hit the gym every day. And let’s be honest, some of us get out of breath climbing the stairs of the Integrated Learning Center, so an intense boot camp workout regime is probably not for everyone. Here are some tips for getting that slender beach body the easy way: A sort of “How to look hot for lazy people,” if you will.
The key to being healthy and fit, without much effort, is adding as much extra walking into your day as possible. Walking is easy; we do it all the time. One way to utilize this easy form of exercise is to park as far away from your destination as possible. Just make sure to give yourself extra time for the longer commute. The average person burns about 2,000 calories per day without exercise. That’s about 1.4 calories per minute. Let’s say you add on an extra hour of walking a day for the month of February.
For the days you’re feeling especially ambitious and have time for the gym, plan your trip around the time of your favorite TV show. For example, new episodes of “The Walking Dead” are on AMC on Sundays at 9 p.m., so hit the elliptical during that time, and working out won’t feel like such a chore. Most television episodes are 30-60 minutes, and on an elliptical or treadmill, that adds up to quite a few calories burned (the exact number will vary depending on your height and weight).
If going to the gym for an hour is just too much to ask, there is another 30-60 minute activity that is much more enjoyable, and burns just as many calories as a treadmill workout. Believe it or not, sex is also a great form of exercise. It’s not only good for your mental health, but it is proven to burn at least 300 calories in an hour.
Lastly, perhaps the most difficult part of getting your perfect spring break body the lazy way is your diet. Diets are arguably the worst things in the world, but for lazy people like myself, they can be kind of fun.
Instead of stopping at Starbucks for a venti iced coffee and nothing else in the morning, go for a 24 ounce smoothie with an extra energy boost. It will still provide you with the caffeine necessary for basic college survival, but unlike coffee, it is full of nutrients rather than empty calories. Plus, you can walk to Jamba Juice or the Student Union Memorial Center on the way to classes, and knock out some of your walking right there.
For lunch, a little Chick-fil-A is okay; just add a banana or apple, or something of nutritional value to balance out the delicious deep-fried grease. Basically, eat what you want in small amounts, add some fruits and veggies and you’ll be golden.
Being healthy isn’t so bad when you don’t even have to compromise your lazy lifestyle to look fantastic on the beach.
