Spring break is only a month away, which means it’s time to stock up on healthy foods and start a workout routine to get in swimsuit-ready shape. This season is dreadful for many people, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some options for getting healthy for sunny spring break days.
Boxing Inc
What if there were a way to work through the semester’s frustrations while simultaneously sculpting your physique?
Boxing Inc provides the opportunity to do just that. With gyms in three different locations, Boxing Inc offers a variety of classes that are guaranteed to get you into shape. Boxing is an upbeat and out-of-the-box way to work out. The gym’s classes appeal to all types of fitness goals. Its most popular class is boxing, which focuses on training similar to that of professional fighters.
Activities like skipping rope, bag work, plyometric exercise drills and abdominal workouts create a high-intensity experience that allows your body to sweat out up to 1,000 calories in one workout.
“Go into it knowing that you are going to be dedicated to it,” said Matt Garrett, a neuroscience senior. “As far as results go, some of it is wishful thinking, but after three weeks you’ll start to see a difference.”
Student Recreation Center Boot Camp
The fitness and wellness department at the Rec Center has an “Early Bird Boot Camp” for those dedicated to creating spring break-ready bodies.
The schedule of classes is very flexible and gives everyone a chance to participate in a class of their choice.
“The idea is for it to be similar to HIIT, which is High Intensity Interval Training, where one does cardio for five minutes and then switches and does interval drills that work on different parts of the body, and then returns back to the cardio,” said Megan Bidal, a language and literacy junior. “It is a lot of work, and the results are noticeable even after two weeks of participating.”
The boot camp began in January, but has open enrollment all semester.
“Early Bird Boot Camp is a six-week-long specialty fitness class, which meets on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays,” said Casandra Smith, coordinator for the Fitness and Wellness department. “Each day, the class gathers at 7:30 a.m. for a one-hour fitness class, which focuses on cardiovascular endurance, strength and conditioning and total bodywork.”
Healthy eating
One cannot simply exercise and expect to be spring break-ready by that fateful week in March. It’s important to maintain a healthy diet — one that includes fruits, protein, dairy and grains — on top of exercising and sleeping.
Be mindful, though, because all food products must be consumed in moderation. A great way to do this is to plan out your workout routine for each day alongside your sleep pattern and food intake. That way, you can allow yourself a cheat day once a week.
Allowing a cheat day not only gives your body a sign that it can rest, but it also proves to yourself that you have self control. Self-control is the key term; if you control your portions, then healthy eating is a breeze.
A great resource when contemplating a diet change is the Healthy Living page of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention site. It offers tips for those who struggle with self-control and advice to those who are unsure of whether their diet is truly healthy or not. Everyone loves their In-N-Out Burger, and that’s understandable. If you limit yourself and only go once a week, you will likely appreciate it more, while rewarding yourself for your dedication to a healthy lifestyle
